Megan Russell

Chief Operating Officer, CFP®, APMA®

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Freedom Investing in Review (December 2025)
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This quarter, Overall Freedom Investing presented a 1-year return of 33.89%. This is a +1.29% advantage over MSCI ACWI ex US.

Year of Death RMD: Immediate Required Minimum Distribution Rules for Heirs
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Because of how beneficiary designations and RMD tax requirements play off of one another, there are some odd realities for this odd distribution requirement.

Virtual Class: Success and Significance in Retirement (OLLI 2026)
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The class will be held virtually on Zoom from noon to 1:30 PM EST on the four Thursdays between February 12 and March 5, 2026. We hope to see you in class!

David John Marotta

President, CFP®, AIF®, AAMS™

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Virtual Class: Success and Significance in Retirement (OLLI 2026)
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The class will be held virtually on Zoom from noon to 1:30 PM EST on the four Thursdays between February 12 and March 5, 2026. We hope to see you in class!

How to Read Your Schwab Trade Confirmation Summary
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Depending on your delivery preferences, you may receive these trading notifications physically in the mail, in plaintext in your email, or in summary in your email and in full online only after you login to Schwab.

Vanguard 2025-2026 Vote: Diversified or Non-Diversified ETF?
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We aren’t worried either way. By default, we recommend that shareholders skip voting in this election.

Libby Horbaly

Client Services Associate, CFP®

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How to Contribute to a 529 Account on AmericanFunds.com
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There are four main ways you can contribute to a 529 account through American Funds.

New Roth i401(k) at Schwab
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As part of SECURE Act 2.0 legislation, an Individual Roth 401(k) plan is a new account registration type available to Schwab clients.

How to See Your Schwab RMD Online (2024 Update)
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On June 2024, Schwab provided an update about viewing and taking your RMD on Schwab.com.

Courtney Fraser Regan

Relationship Advisor, CFP®, CFT™

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How to See Closed Account Information at Schwab
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If closing an account at Schwab is in line with your goals, take comfort in knowing that you are able to close your accounts at Schwab without losing access to your important documents.

Distribute Your First 401(k) RMD in April or December?
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Within employer-sponsored retirement plans, there are special provisions for employees (not owners) who continue to work beyond their typical required beginning date.

How to Set Beneficiaries on Your HSA with Fidelity
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Once you’ve open an HSA and have started making contributions, it is important that you set beneficiary designations on the account.

Greg Vairo

Financial Planner, CFP®

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Q&A: Wash Sale: VFIAX and VOO?
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The IRS has very limited case law on what constitutes a substantially different fund. However, here is what we do in our own trading.

How the Kiddie Tax is Calculated
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Some investable assets in the name of the child can currently keep $2,300 of unearned income from the tax rate of the parents.

Can Taxable Life Insurance Benefits Contribute to an IRA?
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If you have this fringe employer or former employer benefit, I hope you are able to take advantage of making small Roth IRA contributions throughout your retirement.

Jacob Massanopoli

Financial Planner, CFP®

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Comparing Vanguard Total Market Fund Strategies (VT vs. VTI and VXUS)
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By adding a little complexity and blending a portfolio of VTI and VXUS, you create the opportunity for three layers of benefits.

Protect Yourself By Silencing Unknown Callers (Android)
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Once you have a smart phone, you can prevent the ringer from ringing unless the person calling you is listed in your phone. This article explains how to silence unknown callers on an Android phone.

Why I-Bonds May Not Be As Great As They Seem
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If you’re thinking about buying an I Bond, make sure it fits properly into your financial plan, and you aren’t just chasing the high interest rate.

Elizabeth Brew

Client Services Associate, CFP®

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Two Ways to Fix Social Security Filing Mistakes
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If you are still in your 60s, the good news is your decision doesn’t have to be permanent. You actually have two ways in which you can change your benefit amount.

Who Should Own My Child’s 529 Account to Assist the FAFSA?
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With the grandparents as the owner rather than the parent, the student may have a better chance of receiving financial aid.

What Happens to Your College Savings Plan When You Receive a Scholarship?
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What will happen to all the money I have saved for her college expenses now that she doesn’t need it?

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