Bedel Blog

Leaving a legacy through charitable giving is a financial goal for many. Unsure where to start or how to most efficiently donate to the causes closest to your heart? Read on for several options for gifting money to your favorite charities.

Most of us are familiar with the terms HSA and FSA, but chances are you might not understand the differences between the two medical savings accounts. While both can be offered by employers in conjunction with a health insurance plan, the two accounts have some marked differences. Read on for the details.

Mortgage rates are at historically low levels, and many are refinancing to take advantage of this. How do you know if refinancing makes sense for you? You’ll need to consider three things – closing costs, the interest rate differential, and how long you plan to stay in your home. We explain all three in detail so you can make the right decision for your situation.

Not all retirements are created equal – in fact, a 2018 study indicates that 72 percent of today’s workers are looking forward to semi-retirement rather than leaving the workplace altogether. What are the advantages and disadvantages of semi-retirement, and how do you prepare for it in your financial plan? We have the details to help you decide if semi-retirement might be the right choice for you.

Looking to provide scholarship funds to your alma mater or favorite school? Gifting to a scholarship-granting organization (SGO) allows you to do just that while also realizing great tax benefits. Read on for all the details to help you put money in your alma mater’s pocket, while keeping a bit more in your own!

Welcome to To Your Wealth, a simplified, weekly, personal-wealth Q&A! Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know…Or perhaps you just have that one issue keeping you up at night. Either way, every Tuesday, we’ll be answering one of your personal finance questions, so be sure to keep those queries coming. Click on Submit a Question below, and then keep an eye out for when your question will be featured!

Looking for a way to diversity your portfolio from traditional stocks and fixed-income investments? An investment in timber might be a good opportunity for you. We’ve explored the options for investing in timber and detailed the pros and cons of both options. Read on for the details.

Any parent knows how difficult it can be to watch your children struggle, and the urge to step in and help out financially can be a strong one. But it turns out you could be doing more harm than good, especially when it comes to your own finances. Be sure you’re funding your own needs, such as retirement and savings accounts, before you open your wallet to your children.

Paying off your mortgage can be a very attractive option when you find yourself with extra money. Not so fast, though! Is paying that mortgage off really your best financial option? While being mortgage-free can definitely be a good thing, you should be sure it doesn’t make more sense to invest that money. We’ll walk you through what you should be thinking about to make the best decision for your situation.

Equity compensation can be a confusing topic for many workers, but it’s becoming a more common and accepted method of payment to workers, especially in the tech sector. We explore the types of equity compensation and what a payout might look like for you.

Retirement changes are on the horizon with the House’s passing of the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act. The act is designed to encourage saving for retirement and promote long-term financial stability. Read on to see how the proposed changes might affect your retirement planning, and when the bill could go into effect if it passes the Senate.

Investing in farmland used to mean purchasing and running a farm. These days, it’s possible to invest in farmland through two different investment structures. We explore both and weigh the pros and cons.