Over the years, a handful of changes have been made to the IRS-mandated required minimum distribution (RMD) rules. When someone is not familiar with how RMDs work, it can be easy to miss a required…
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Your Medicare Enrollment Window
When you become eligible for Medicare (most commonly at age 65), there is a specific enrollment window when you can sign up to avoid late enrollment penalties. However, the signup window is different for every…
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Using Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCDs) to Maximize Charitable Donations
The IRS has carved out a way for individuals over age 70.5 to make certain IRA distributions to charities that can be excluded from taxable income. We define this as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)….
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Washington State Inheritance Tax: A Comprehensive Guide (2026 Update)
Editors Note: This post has been updated to reflect recent legislative changes that happened July 1, 2025. Key Takeaways: Washington state doesn’t have an inheritance tax but it does have an estate tax for estates…
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Charitable Giving Tax Strategies for Retirees: How to Maximize Your Tax Benefits
Key Takeaways: Most retirees miss out on major tax benefits because their charitable gifts don’t exceed the standard deduction. Using tools like donor-advised funds, appreciated asset donations, and QCDs can dramatically increase the tax value…
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