Planning & Retirement
Prepare for financial milestones and events
Financial planning
Small Business Reporting Rules
What small-business owners need to know about the new Corporate Transparency Act.
Should I Join a Nonprofit Board?
What should you consider before serving on the board of a nonprofit? Schwab wealth expert Susan Hirshman breaks it down.
529-to-Roth IRA Rollovers
The SECURE 2.0 Act allows savers to roll unused 529 funds into the beneficiary's Roth IRA without a tax penalty. But that's probably not a reason to overfund 529s.
College and education
Save or Pay Off Student Loans?
Just because you have student loans to pay off doesn't mean you should put investing on hold to do it—you don't have to prioritize one over the other.
Education: 529 Savings Plans
A popular college-savings vehicle is the 529 savings plan, which provides several tax advantages when used for education expenses.
Budgeting for Student Loans
Ready to face the return of student loan repayments? Conquer your budget by tracking expenses, cutting back on non-essentials, and balancing debt payment with retirement savings.
Estate planning
Tax-Exemption Countdown
Lifetime Estate and gift tax exemption thresholds are poised to be cut in half at the stroke of midnight December 31, 2025, leading to a potentially sharp jump in some estates' tax liability. But there's still time to prepare.
Small Business Reporting Rules
What small-business owners need to know about the new Corporate Transparency Act.
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before You Retire?
If you are nearing retirement, does it make sense to pay off your mortgage in advance?
Saving for retirement
Saving for Retirement Without Steady Income
For the millions of workers without the steady income of a 9-to-5 job, here's how to save for retirement.
Which Retirement Is for You?
What will your retirement look like? Will you travel? Go back to school? Or just work less and enjoy life more? Here are three scenarios to help you turn your vision into reality.
Save or Pay Off Student Loans?
Just because you have student loans to pay off doesn't mean you should put investing on hold to do it—you don't have to prioritize one over the other.
In retirement
Social Security Inflation Bump
Social Security benefits are getting another sizeable bump next year. Unfortunately, it won't be as big as the jumbo-sized increases of the 2023 and 2022.
Periodic Roth Conversions
Periodically converting a portion of your retirement savings into Roth assets can give you a flexible source of income and help lower the taxes you pay over time.
Tips on Retirement RMDs
Avoid required minimum distributions (RMDs) penalties by taking RMDs as required, and learn know how the SECURE 2.0 Act updates can impact your retirement savings.
Tax planning
Tax-Exemption Countdown
Lifetime Estate and gift tax exemption thresholds are poised to be cut in half at the stroke of midnight December 31, 2025, leading to a potentially sharp jump in some estates' tax liability. But there's still time to prepare.
Save with Tax-Gain Harvesting
Strategically selling your winning investments could reduce current and future taxes.
Year-End Tax Ideas to Consider
From maximizing tax-advantaged savings accounts to donating to charity, here are strategic tax moves to consider before year-end.