Spark Wealth Advisors

What happens to your retirement plan if the stock market crashes shortly after you retire? This is known as sequence of returns risk, and it can drastically affect the long-term success of your plan.

Watch this video for 3 ways you can minimize this risk!

The BIGGEST Risk in Retirement... And How To Minimize It Start optimizing your retirement plan today! Schedule an appointment here: https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/contactHistorically, the long-term average re...

Want to retire early? If so, you need to know about the Rule of 55.

Normally, you have to be age 59.5 to access retirement accounts without a 10% penalty on top of income taxes.

But the Rule of 55 says if you leave your employer during the year you turn 55 or later, you can access your 401(k) or 403(b) savings penalty-free! (per the Internal Revenue Code)

But, there's a big caveat to know about and it's specific to your employer...

Check out the latest YouTube video to learn all about it 😎

Retiring Early Using The Rule of 55 's start optimizing your retirement plan! Answer a few short questions and schedule an appointment here: https://www...

The 4% Rule is a widely-used rule of thumb to determine how much you can safely spend from your investments each year without running out of money after you retire.

(You can also flip it to determine how much you need to save in order to retire, i.e. 25x your annual expenses.)

But the rule's author, Michael Bengen, recently revised it and changed the "safe withdrawal rate" to a higher number.

Check out this video for our thoughts!

The 4% Withdrawal Rule Has Changed: How To Spend MORE in Retirement Get the most out of your retirement with a personalized withdrawal strategy!Start here:https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/contactWilliam Bengen, the "father...

Thinking about investing in gold? Read Jake's thoughts in this Business Insider article before adding it to your portfolio:

Note: Jake not pictured here 😆

I want to diversify my investments with gold, so I asked a financial planner what I should know before starting I've been curious about investing in gold, so I asked CFP Jake Skelhorn what I should know before making the plunge.

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Happy Independence Day from the studio! There’s nothing more American than helping others become financially free! 🦅🇺🇸

Where do you stack up against your peers? Recent data from Empower shows the average and median 401(k) balances by age.

Keep in mind this data does not tell the full picture -- It doesn't include other retirement assets like IRAs, debt, income, expenses, etc.

How much you should be saving in your 401(k) is completely based on your personal goals and these other factors.

Watch the full video for our thoughts:

Average 401(k) Balance By Age: 2024 Data Visit our website to learn more about us! https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/"Comparison is the thief of joy" - President Theodore RooseveltWhile I wholehea...

You pay 6.2% of every paycheck towards Social Security (12.4% if you're self-employed!).

Even if you're decades away from claiming it, you should know how it works and how to maximize it!

Check out the latest YouTube video - I bet you'll learn something new!

How Social Security Works & 4 Tips To Maximize It Half of Americans age 65 or older rely on Social Security for 50% or more of their income. A quarter of them rely on it for 90% of their income. With this in...

Whether you are 3 years or 30 years away, do you know how much you'll need to retire?

Check out the latest YouTube video where we cover a case study of a couple of clients we recently started working with and helped them determine the magic number.

I’m 60 And Want to Retire ASAP. Is $1million Enough? We offer a free retirement analysis for anyone considering working with Spark. After that, you can hire us to execute it or we can part ways as friends!Sched...

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Planning on retiring early? Accessing your retirement accounts before age 59.5 can come with hefty penalties...

Build up these 2 accounts if you plan to quit work before then!

2 Accounts You NEED To Build Up To Retire Early Considering an early retirement but not sure if you can make it work? Schedule a complimentary consultation with us at https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/co...

Could you be getting a better return (and less headache) by selling your investment property and investing the money elsewhere?

Watch our latest YouTube video where we weigh the pros and cons of keeping vs. selling a rental property for one of our clients.

Should I Sell My Rental Property When I Retire? Owning rental properties can be a great way to diversify your income in retirement. It's more or less "guaranteed" income that you can expect each month and ...

It's never too early to start saving for your kids' or grandkids' future!

If you save $2,000 upfront and just $200/month for a newborn, they could have just over $94,000* by the time they are 18 to be used for education, or a head start on retirement, a wedding fund, down payment on a home or anything else!

There's 3 major account types used to save for minors, all with unique benefits. Check out the latest YouTube video for all the details!

*Assumes a hypothetical 7% annual rate of return compounded monthly. Results not guaranteed*

What's The Best Investment Account for Kids? The earlier you can start investing for your kid's or grandkid's future, the better! With time on their side, compound interest can work wonders.In this vide...

Choosing a financial advisor among the thousands of options can be a daunting task. Asking the right questions can narrow it down to make sure you're getting the best experience.

Here's a short list of questions you should ask any advisor you're thinking of hiring, even if it isn't us 😉

9 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor [BEFORE Hiring Them] Verify an advisor's licenses and disclosures at https://www.brokercheck.finra.orgWith near limitless options to choose from, there are a few vital questions...

The order in which you withdraw from various retirement accounts can make a huge difference in your lifetime tax bill during retirement.

We're all for everyone paying their fair share, but also not leaving a tip to the government if it can be spent on a nicer retirement vacation!

In this video, Jake covers some basics as well as a detailed client example displaying the potential savings.

Hope it helps!

You Just Retired. Which Account(s) Should You Withdraw from First? Schedule a free consultation to review your retirement withdrawal strategy:https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/contactOver the course of your working life yo...

PSA: Estate planning is not just for the elderly & the rich!

Married?
Kids?
Business owner?

None of the above but still don't want the government deciding what happens to your stuff after you die?

You need an estate plan!

The latest blog post covers issues to consider when drafting your estate plan:

Estate Planning: Key Terms & Issues to Consider Estate planning is a deeply personal and complex process that should be regularly reviewed and updated as your life circumstances change

Changing jobs? Retiring? You might be wondering what you can do with your 401(k) or 403(b) plan. There's pros and cons to each of the options - this YouTube video will cover it all and help you decide!

Free downloadable flowchart for easy reference:

https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/rollover-old-401k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aoBCOk-gEI

5 Options for Your Old 401(k): Which is best for you? Free flowchart to guide your 401(k) Options decision:https://www.sparkwealthadvisors.com/rollover-old-401kLeaving your job, whether it's to retire or move on...

Roth IRAs are popular among the younger crowd - and that's great! They have many years of tax-free compounding ahead of them.

But how do Roth IRAs fit into the picture for those closer to, or in, retirement?

Check out the full YouTube video for the answer!

Starting a Roth IRA After 50: Too Late or Perfect Timing? [Client Example] Many people think Roth IRAs are only for those early in their career before their peak-earning years. I couldn't disagree more.If you're at the tail end of y...

After covering your essential living expenses, there’s a hundred different ways you can allocate your extra cash.
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Consider this financial order of operations to give yourself the best chance at building wealth!
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*Everyone’s situation is different. This is a general guideline and not to be taken as personalized investment, legal, or tax advice*
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Equity compensation has become increasingly popular among employers, especially in the tech industry.

If you receive Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of your compensation package, watch this video to learn everything you need to know about how RSUs are taxed.

From Confused to Confident: Mastering RSU Taxes in 12 Minutes! [Including Info for $200K+ Earners] Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs, are an increasingly popular form of compensation.But they can create confusion when it comes to tax time.In this video Jake ...

Did you get owe taxes or get a refund this year?

If you hold employer stock in your current or previous job’s 401(k) plan, this one’s for you!

NUA can save you thousands in taxes if the conditions are right. Check out the full video below:

Net Unrealized Appreciation: How To Reduce Taxes On Employer Stock Gains [With Example] NUA, or Net Unrealized Appreciation, refers to the gains (if any) on employer stock held inside a qualified retirement plan like a 401(k) or Employee Stock O...

Latest YouTube video is live!

3 Common Tax Mistakes Retirees Make & How to Avoid Them [With Real Client Example] Taxes are a huge part of retirement and how successful your financial plan will be.After working with hundreds of retirees, I've noticed a few areas that peo...

If you’re saving money each paycheck, you’re already ahead of the game!
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But don’t just save with no end goal in mind. Save with a purpose.
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Create a goal to save $X by Y date to spend on Z. You have a better chance of reaching your goals when you define them upfront.
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What are you saving for?

We’re all for paying our fair share in taxes, buts let’s not leave Uncle Sam a tip if we don’t have to. 💰
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Here are a few ways you can legally pay 0️⃣% in capital gains taxes!
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Full blog post on the website!

Don't settle for a low rate on your savings!

Tax loss harvesting: the silver lining of a poor investment📉
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Proper tax loss harvesting can save thousands in taxes over a lifetime. That’s thousands more dollars in your pocket, not the government’s!💰
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Make sure you or your advisor is using this strategy to maximize your after-tax returns📈
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