Planning

When gas prices rise, many drivers start looking for the cheapest station in town. While saving a few cents per gallon helps, the biggest opportunities to reduce fuel costs often come from how you drive and maintain your vehicle. The good news is that most fuel-saving strategies cost little or nothing to implement. Better yet, many of them also reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. Here are some of the most effective ways to save money at the pump, along with realistic estimates of their impact. Drive More Smoothly Potential Fuel Savings: 10%–40% If there is one strategy that…

One of the biggest decisions homebuyers face is choosing between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). While most people focus on which loan offers the lower payment today, the better question is often which loan best matches your future plans.Neither option is inherently better. The right choice depends on your timeline, financial flexibility, and tolerance for uncertainty.See Fixed Mortgage vs Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Calculator – Gilbert WealthUnderstanding the DifferenceA fixed-rate mortgage provides an interest rate that remains unchanged for the life of the loan. Whether interest rates rise or fall in the future, your principal and interest…

How to Get an EIN (Quick and Simple) Obtaining an EIN is fairly straight forward and, in most cases, very quick. See this article for more information: A Simple Guide to EINs for Business Owners and Individuals – Gilbert Wealth Step 1: Apply Online with the IRS Go directly through the IRS website. It’s free. Get an employer identification number | Internal Revenue Service You can submit an application via fax or mail but this will take much longer. Step 2: Choose What You’re Creating You’ll select: Business (LLC, sole prop, etc.) Trust Retirement plan Step 3: Enter Basic Info Name…

When people hear the term “mortgage points,” they often think of them as some kind of mysterious fee. In reality, points are mostly a pricing mechanism lenders use to adjust the interest rate on your loan.At its core, mortgage points are a tradeoff:Lower Up front costs but a Higher RateHigher Up Front Costs but a Lower RatePoints are how lenders move you along that spectrum. How Mortgage Pricing Actually Works There is usually a “base” or “par” rate available for a mortgage. This is the rate where the lender is neither charging significant discount points nor giving significant lender credits.From…

Many people wonder whether they should have a trust as part of their estate plan. Sometimes that question is framed around wealth: “Do I have enough money to need a trust?” But in many cases, a trust is less about estate size and more about purpose.A trust can be a versatile planning tool used in many different ways and for people at many different wealth levels. It may help provide structure, protect beneficiaries, preserve privacy, reduce administrative burdens, plan for incapacity, or give more specific instructions about how assets should be managed and distributed.At the same time, a trust is…

iPhone / iPad Instructions These steps work best using Safari.Open the Safari app.Go to the website you want to save.Tap the Share button.This is the square icon with an arrow pointing upward.Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.Edit the name if you want a shorter app-style label.Tap Add in the top-right corner.The website icon will now appear on your iPhone or iPad home screen. You can tap it just like an app.If you are using Chrome, Edge, or another browser on iPhone, the Add to Home Screen option may not appear the same way. Safari is usually the simplest…

Compensation for insurance and annuity products is complex and has evolved over the years. Broadly speaking, there are two main ways an advisor can receive compensation from these products. Commission This is the predominant model and has existed for many years. Essentially, commissions are a percentage of the premium paid into the product.For example, if a product has a 2% commission and you put in $250,000, the commission will be $5,000. Commission rates vary significantly by product. Some products have lower commission rates than others.Commissions can also be paid by one of two parties: the client or the insurance company.When a…

For many individuals, the gap between early retirement and age 59½ presents a planning challenge. Retirement accounts are often the largest source of wealth—but accessing them too early typically triggers a 10% penalty.However, a lesser-known provision—the Rule of 55—creates a powerful exception. When used correctly, it can provide meaningful flexibility for early retirees, career changers, or those facing unexpected job transitions. What is the Rule of 55 The Rule of 55 allows individuals to take penalty-free (but not tax-free) withdrawals from certain employer-sponsored retirement plans if they separate from service in or after the calendar year they turn age 55. To…

Retirement can create a strange lending problem.A retiree may have a paid-off home, a large investment portfolio, excellent credit, and decades of responsible financial habits, yet still struggle to qualify for a loan because they no longer receive a regular paycheck.That can feel backwards. After all, a person with $1 million in retirement savings may be in a stronger financial position than someone earning $80,000 per year with little savings. But lenders are not simply asking, “Is this person wealthy?” They are asking, “Can we document a reliable way this person will make the payments?”That distinction matters.Getting a loan in…