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Articles
75% OF AMERICANS AGREE THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING BASIC FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.

Source: The 2016 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.
​ESTATES & TRUSTS
ESTATE PLANNING​
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
LIVING TRUSTS​
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
AVOIDING PROBATE
​
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
CHARITABLE GIVING
​
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
PRESERVING MY ESTATE
​
Life insurance can be used to help preserve your estate’s value for your heirs.
CONTROLLING THE DISTRIBUTION
​
If you haven’t taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of your estate’s assets.
PAYING ESTATE TAXES
​
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
BENEFITS OF A-B TRUSTS​
An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.
GIFTING STRATEGIES
​
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
CHARITABLE LEAD TRUSTS
​
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS
​
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
WEALTH REPLACEMENT TRUSTS
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS​
One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP​
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL ESTATE TAX​
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
RETIREMENT
SEP IRAS​
A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.
SIMPLE IRAS​
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
STRETCH IRAS​
A “stretch” or “multigenerational” IRA may be a useful approach to extend tax-deferred savings that can benefit your heirs for generations.
IRA ROLLOVER​
If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.
ROTH 401(K)
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
PROFIT-SHARING PLANS​
Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLANS​
A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.
403(B) PLANS​
A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
WHY PURCHASE ANNUITIES
​Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.
SPLIT-ANNUITY STRATEGY​
A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.
ANNUITY LIVING BENEFITS​
Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO SAVE?​
Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR RETIREMENT​
With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.
1035 EXCHANGES​
A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.
UNFORGETTABLE BIRTHDAYS​
There are key dates after you turn 59 that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.
YOUR BUSINESS AND RETIREMENT​
Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.
PLANNING OPTIONS​
There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.
FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
​
Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.
SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME​
The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
SELF-EMPLOYED RETIREMENT PLANS
​Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
INDEXED ANNUITIES​
An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.
RETIREMENT PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS​
When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.
TRADITIONAL IRAS​
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
401(K) PLANS​
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
MANAGING RETIREMENT PLANS
​
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
SAVE NOW OR SAVE LATER​
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
ROTH IRAS​
Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.
TAX PLANNING
CAPITAL GAIN TAX​
Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.
ESTATE TAX​
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
GIFT TAX​
The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.
RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS
​
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS
​
Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
CHARITABLE TRUST TAX BENEFITS​
For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.
RETIREMENT PLAN TAXES​
With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.
WITHDRAWING BEFORE AGE 59.5​
Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.
TAX DEFERRAL​
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
TAX-ADVANTAGED INVESTMENTS​
Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
TAX DEDUCTIONS​
Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.
TAX-ADVANTAGED ALTERNATIVES
​
While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
TAX STRATEGIES FOR RETIREMENT PLANS​
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
TAX-FREE INVESTMENTS​
It’s important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.
MUTUAL FUND PROFITS​
Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.
TAX-FREE INSURANCE UPGRADES​
A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.
UNITED STATES TAX HISTORY​
American tax law is a constantly changing landscape. The latest major piece of tax legislation is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
INVESTING
how-are-annuities-taxed.htmlANNUITY TAXES
​
One attractive feature of an annuity is tax-deferral but qualified and non-qualified annuities are taxed differently.
BOND LADDERS​
A bond ladder is a strategy involving the purchase of bonds that have staggered maturity dates.
COMMON STOCK VS. PREFERRED STOCK​
It’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of common stock versus preferred stock.
DIVIDENDS​
It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS​
ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.
GROWTH STOCKS VS. VALUE STOCKS​
The labels “growth” and “value” reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.
MUTUAL FUND TAXES​
Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.
STOCK​
Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.
ZERO-COUPON BONDS​
Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.
DIVERSIFICATION​
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
TYPES OF BONDS​
Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.
BONDS​
A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.
BOND RATINGS​
Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.
STOCK INDEXES​
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
MUTUAL FUNDS VS. STOCKS​
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
MUTUAL FUNDS​
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
CLOSED-END FUNDS​
With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.
MUTUAL FUND LOADS
​
It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.
ANNUITIES
​
An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.
FIXED VS. VARIABLE ANNUITIES​
Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.
INVESTMENT RISKS​
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
ASSET CLASSES​
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
ASSET ALLOCATION​
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS​
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
COLLEGE INVESTMENT OPTIONS​
Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.
STOCK AND BOND INVESTING ALTERNATIVES​
There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.
DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING​
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
529 PLANS​
529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
CASH MANAGEMENT
CASH MANAGEMENT BASICS
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
DOUBLING YOUR MONEY​
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
CASH MANAGEMENT TOOLS
​
Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS​
Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.
MANAGING CASH​
There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.
BIWEEKLY MORTGAGES​
Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.
REVERSE MORTGAGES​
There are techniques that can enable older homeowners to use their property to finance their lifestyle.
SMART FINANCING IDEAS​
Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID​
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
SAVINGS ALTERNATIVES​
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
EFFECTS OF INFLATION
​
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
HOME EQUITY LOANS​
Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
RISK MANAGEMENT
WHY PURCHASE LIFE INSURANCE​
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
ANNUITIES AS AN INSURANCE PRODUCT
​
An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.
PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE​
Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.
BUSINESS OWNER POLICIES​
A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.
LIFE INSURANCE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS​
Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
SPLIT-DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE​
Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.
LAST-SURVIVOR LIFE INSURANCE​
Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.
DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
​
As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.
TERM LIFE INSURANCE​
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE​
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE​
Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.
VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE​
Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
AUTO INSURANCE​
Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.
INSURANCE CLAIMS​
When it is time to make an insurance claim, it helps if you are familiar with your policies and the steps you should take to file a claim.
MAXIMIZING YOUR INSURANCE BENEFITS​
Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.
INSURING YOUR FUTURE​
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
PROTECTING YOUR HOME​
Since your home is one of your greatest assets, you should make sure it is adequately protected. That's where homeowners insurance enters the picture.
ASSESSING DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE​
Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.
TYPES OF HEALTH COVERAGE​
There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.
ADDITIONAL LIABILITY COVERAGE​
Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits
EVALUATING INSURANCE COMPANIES​
Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.
LONG-TERM CARE COSTS​
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
MEDICARE COVERAGE​
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?
LONG-TERM-CARE NEEDS​
If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?
TYPES OF LIFE INSURANCE​
When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type
Tax Library
​
We've put together a collection of resources to help you manage your taxes as well as prepare for the upcoming tax season. Simply click on one of the topics below and you'll find a selection of tools and information related to taxes and tax strategies.
FEDERAL TAX FORMS​
​Access IRS tax forms.
FEDERAL TAX PUBLICATIONS
​
Access IRS Publications.
FEDERAL TAX CALENDAR
​
View key dates for the upcoming tax season.
FEDERAL TAX CALENDAR
​
View key dates for the upcoming tax season.
FEDERAL TAX RATES
​
Find your tax rate.
FEDERAL TAX FORMS​
​Access IRS tax forms.
FEDERAL TAX FORMS​
​Access IRS tax forms.

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© 2021 Sunshine Financial Solutions of South Florida, Inc.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Our Promise
    • Brokerage Services
  • MISSION STATEMENT
  • OUR SERVICES
    • Your Growing Family
    • Planning for Your Future
    • Plan Your Retirement
    • Business Owners
    • Retirees/Medicare Eligible
  • PLANNING
    • Life Insurance
    • College Planning
    • Retirement Planning
    • Build Wealth
    • Disability Income
    • Mortgage Protection
    • Small Business Valuation
    • Long Term Care
    • Final Expense
  • GROUP PLANS
  • BUSINESS
    • Business
    • Key Employees
    • Employee Benefits
    • Financial Management
    • Protect Your Business
    • Retirement Planning
    • Succession Planning
  • CAREERS
    • Careers
    • Careers Sampling
    • Careers Training
    • Internships
    • Producers
    • Join Our Team
  • RESOURCES
    • Articles
    • Market Watch
    • Newsletter
    • FAQs
  • OUR PARTNERS
  • CONTACT US
    • Contact Us
    • Request a Quote