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Sunday, October 29, 2023

As 2023 winds down, your focus may begin turning to holiday planning, family gatherings, and delicious food. You might even entertain the idea of getting your tax documents in order. Consider going a few steps further and preparing for...

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

As people retire healthier and better educated than ever before, the traditional picture of retirement is changing. Many retirees aren’t ready to settle for an unstructured life full of Sundays. Instead, they’re busy pursuing their ...

Monday, April 17, 2023

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account designed to help families save for a beneficiary’s educational expenses. The rules for such plans—formally known as qualified tuition programs—are defined in Section 529 of the...

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

With the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, many people have been asking questions about our banking system and the protections provided should a bank fail. Here are some of the questions I’ve been answering ...

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

The process for enrolling in Medicare is surprisingly easy. But before enrolling, you will need to make a choice about how you want your Medicare delivered. Unlike an employer’s health plan, you may have dozens of options from which to...

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Wednesday, April 20, 2022

As humans, we are notoriously bad at assessing risk. A prime example being the fact that most of us get in our cars everyday and accept the inherent risks of driving at 65 miles an hour in a nearly two-ton vehicle surrounded by other ...

Friday, October 1, 2021

For many investors, capital gains tax is among the more confusing financial topics. Yet a basic understanding of capital gains is key to building a financial plan that reflects your goals and needs. It’s important to be aware of the tax...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Living in an increasingly paperless world has its benefits, but when it comes to records retention, does it make a difference? Sure, digital recordkeeping on the cloud means more storage space, easy access, and less vulnerability to...

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Make preparing for your tax appointment easier, with these 3 tax prep tips: 1. Keep a folder where you put all of your tax documents throughout the year: donation receipts, property tax bills, etc. This makes tax time easy by having...

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, into law. In addition to funding the U.S. government through September 2021, the Act provides additional relief for Americans who have been struggling..

Thursday, November 12, 2020

10 Suggestions to Help You Stay on Track Although 2020 has been a year of unexpected changes, one routine has remained consistent: the fourth quarter means it’s time to begin organizing your finances for the new year. To help you get...

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

September was a difficult month for investors, as markets dropped. As we head into October, with a contentious election less than five weeks away, it’s easy to see why investors are even more worried about what might be next. How big a...

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

With many individuals and families facing catastrophic hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic, charitable giving to those most adversely affected has become increasingly important. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security...

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

As the U.S. presidential election draws closer, there are growing questions (from both sides) on whether the outcome will negatively affect the markets. Of course, this is not unusual. As you may remember from the last election cycle...

Monday, July 13, 2020

This year many families are faced with unprecedented financial challenges and economic anxiety. Our early experiences with money set the template for how we approach work, spending, debt and our ideas about wealth. The way a family...

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

While mid-year is always a good time to reassess our finances, it is especially essential this year amid the pandemic. At Hawekotte Financial Group, we have been working remotely with our clients to help them stay on track with their...

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

March 2020 has not been kind to the markets.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

It’s not too late to set your personal goals to make 2020 a great year financially. When you plan well, you can be well, now and in the future. Some people may set their sights on losing a significant amount of weight or training for a...

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

On December 20, 2019, the SECURE Act was signed into law. The SECURE Act contains 29 provisions, encompassing many aspects of financial planning and retirement saving. Once treasury regulations are released, nuances in interpreting...

Monday, December 16, 2019

Yorba Linda Lifestyle Magazine graciously invited us to share some year-end financial planning tips -- read all about it here: www.lifestylepubs.com/YorbaLinda/2019/11/27/expert-tips-for-year-end-finances

Monday, November 18, 2019

For many investors, capital gains tax is among the more confusing financial topics. Yet a basic understanding of capital gains is key to building a financial plan that reflects your goals and needs. It’s important to be aware of the tax...

Monday, October 7, 2019

Many people don’t understand the importance of establishing and maintaining an emergency fund until it’s too late. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be...

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

When you decide how to get your Medicare coverage, you may choose a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and/or Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). There are specific times when you can sign up for these plans, or make changes to...

Monday, August 12, 2019

Fluctuations in your 401(k) or workplace retirement savings account can stir up negative emotions, making you want to hit the panic button. But in turbulent times, it’s more important than ever to remain calm and stay on course toward...

Monday, June 10, 2019

Retirement planning is complicated. Many individuals put off saving, thinking that retirement is years away—until it isn’t. Then, in their 40s and 50s, they start to panic and wonder how they’ll catch up. One strategy, made possible...

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

To parents with aspirations of sending their children to college or university, the costs associated with doing so can be daunting. For decades, the price of higher education has risen at a rate close to three times that of the Consumer...

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Planning Your Charitable Giving for 2019 A new year has begun. It’s time to evaluate what worked well for you financially in 2018 and whether you need to make any changes for 2019. As you do that, you’ll want to put together a plan for...

Sunday, March 10, 2019

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery Every time I hear this quote, I think about how true it is. Don’t get me wrong, wishes are good things. I still make a wish when blowing out the candles on my birthday...

Friday, February 8, 2019

As a self-employed individual or small business owner, you have the ability to establish a simple and cost-effective retirement plan for you and your employees. There are a few options available, but one you may want to consider is the...

Sunday, January 13, 2019

For many of us, the start of a new year is synonymous with setting new goals, and while this is an important first step, achieving the goal requires more than simply writing it down on paper. Whether your goals are related to your personal

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

When it comes to retirement accounts, many investors fail to think about required minimum distributions (RMDs). This oversight can lead to unnecessary tax burdens and other financial issues. In order to handle RMDs effectively, an...

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

According to the department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people over age 65 will need some type of long-term care services and support during their lives, and 20% of those will need it for longer than five years...

Thursday, September 6, 2018

As consumers, we know that having a good credit score is important. Whether you are applying for a loan or signing up for a credit card, your credit score plays a major role in determining if you will be approved. Your credit score can...

Friday, August 10, 2018

When it comes to talking to kids about money, many parents can be a bit nervous. An annual “Parents, Kids and Money Survey” conducted over the past 10 years by T. Rowe Price has consistently found that parents are just as uncomfortable...

Monday, June 11, 2018

One of the things I frequently ask clients is “How much money do you need every month?” Not surprisingly, the most common answer is “I’m not sure.” It’s easy to not pay attention to how much we’re spending – we’re busy, and if we’re not.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Although many of us don’t like to think about planning for a future that we won’t be around to experience, a well-thought-out estate plan helps to manage and preserve assets during life and conserve and direct the distribution of assets at

Friday, April 13, 2018

Spring is in the air, which for many means waking up from hibernation and cleaning out the clutter. But don’t forget about clearing the cobwebs from your “financial house,” too! Even if you recently took a look at your finances as you...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

When it comes to saving for retirement, one of the most important things you can do is contribute to a retirement account. Whether it be $25, $500, or $1500 per month, getting started and automating the process is a huge first step.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Many of us have questions about how the new tax law will affect us going forward - namely, will I be paying more or less tax?! Here are a few things for you to keep in mind as you prepare to meet with your tax professional this year:

Thursday, January 4, 2018

On December 22, 2017, the President signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the act or TCJA). The legislation makes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), including individual, corporate, and gift and estate taxation.