Medicare IRMAA in 2026: Surcharges, Income Limits, and How to Appeal Originally posted May 2023 / updated September 2026 Planning for Medicare is an important part of retirement planning, but the cost of Medicare is not the same for everyone. Higher-income Medicare beneficiaries may pay an additional surcharge on their Medicare Part B and Part…
2025 Tax Law Changes for Workers: 9 Key Highlights from the One Big Beautiful Bill The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025—an 800+ page tax overhaul with wide-ranging implications. While the headlines have largely focused on retirees and high-income earners, the 2025 tax law changes for workers…
2025 Tax Law Changes for Retirees: Top 10 Provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Last week, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) — a sweeping 800+ page piece of tax legislation. While most people haven’t made it past the table of contents (and who could blame them), it includes some…
Where’s My Refund? Tax Planning for Retirees and Oregon PERS Members The question “Where’s my refund?” is on many of our minds as taxpayers search for answers and monitor their refund status. For retirees and members of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), the tax landscape includes unique factors that can significantly influence…
Trump Tax Law Changes – 2025 and Beyond Acknowledging the Changing Landscape With Donald Trump re-elected as President and Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, the stage is set for potential tax reform reminiscent of his previous administration. During Trump’s last term, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) brought about some of the…
The Oregon PERS Tax Remedy: A Key Benefit for Tier 1 Members Working with many Oregon PERS retirees, I often get questions about the Oregon PERS tax remedy—especially from Tier 1 members. This post will break down the tax remedy, explain qualifications, and answer common questions about it. If you learn best by video, you…
What Happens to Your Tax Liability With Proper Financial Planning? When we think about managing our finances, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of taxes. Taxes are integral to our financial lives, affecting everything from our income and investments to estate planning and retirement. The decisions we make in our financial planning have direct consequences…
Last month, we discussed creating your philanthropic philosophy – a personal, repeatable framework to guide charitable giving. This month, we’ll cover the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). This gifting strategy ensures that you apply your philanthropic philosophy in the most tax-efficient way. If you want to sit back and watch me walk through this, along with…
What to do With Inheritance What to do With Inheritance: It’s Practice and Emotional Sorting out what to do with inheritance dollars often involves a combination of emotional fortitude and practical strategy. In this video, I share some key questions, the financial implications for planning, and share several resources to learn more as you determine…
As we inch toward April 18th, it’s a good time to remember the essentials of a tax return review. Whether you prepare them yourself or work with an accountant, reviewing last year’s returns is a great idea to help ensure you implement planning opportunities early in 2023. Checklists Here are two very helpful checklists I’m…