Bedel Blog

It’s almost tax time, and along with that comes a new standard deduction that could shake up how you file your taxes. If you’ve been used to itemizing your deductions, this year might be the first where you take the new larger standard deduction. We’ve broken down who might itemize versus who will likely benefit from taking the deduction, along with tax strategies you can employ right now to benefit your tax situation in 2019.

Medicare can create quite a bit of confusion: When should I enroll? What coverage do I need? What happens with my HSA? Unfortunately, if you’re contributing to a Health Savings Account, enrollment in Medicare can create an issue. Be sure you understand how Medicare will impact you and your family so you can make informed decisions about your health coverage and avoid any penalties.

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 took investors on a roller coaster ride in December 2018. While the market volatility left investors feeling uneasy about their portfolios, it’s important to keep these fluctuations in perspective. We’ve compared the recent highs and lows to those of 2008 to better understand just how recent market swings really stack up.

A 20% down payment used to be the rule of thumb when purchasing a home. Avoiding private mortgage insurance (PMI) and lowering the interest rate on your loan were some of the benefits. But times have changed! If you’re unable to afford a 20% down payment, you have options - but be sure you understand the pros and cons first!

What is socially responsible investing? While there’s no standardized definition within the investment industry, there are definitely certain steps you should take when considering adding socially responsible investments to your portfolio. We’ll walk you through the basics of socially responsible investing and share what to look out for when adding SRI to your investment portfolio.

Most investors will remember 2018 for the stock market’s wild ride in the 4th quarter. But there was plenty more going on this past year. We’ve outlined our top three investment strategies for 2018 that stood out, either for good or bad reasons.

There are a plethora of tools that can help you streamline your finances – from automatic transfers to bill paying services to auto escalation for retirement accounts. Taking advantage of this technology can go a long way in helping you meet the financial goals you’ve defined, setting you up for continued success in the future.

Who’s your financial role model? It makes sense to turn to experts for advice and guidance when it comes to things like investments, retirement planning, and tax strategies. But what many might not realize is that each of us has someone who shaped our financial literacy and perception of money at an earlier stage in life – be it good or bad. Kate shares three money lessons she learned from her financial role model – her Dad – and demonstrates the importance of playing that role in a child’s life, shaping their future perception of how to handle financial decisions.

Chances are you’ve crossed paths with Amazon at some point recently – purchasing a Christmas gift, ordering groceries for the home, or even researching products and their customer reviews. But Amazon's impact extends far beyond the way you shop - but just how far remains to be seen.

Last minute shopping…It’s not nearly as popular as it once was, thanks in large part to online shopping. But 57% of holiday shoppers still believe they’ll be finishing up their gift-purchasing in December.

Concerned about your elderly parent’s safety or ability to make sound decisions? It might be time to consider becoming a legal guardian for your parent. We’ve laid out the basics of legal guardianship and what the process might entail for you.

The standard deduction has nearly doubled under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and as a result, many may no longer itemize their deductions. We’ve outlined three options that will allow you to support the organizations you’re passionate about while also reducing your tax liability at the same time!