Category Archives: Taxes

Insight to help you understand tax law and its impact and opportunities for management of your income, your business and your investments

2012 tax changes and contribution limits

Posted on December 1, 2011 by BH&J

EMPLOYER RETIREMENT PLANS Participants in employer retirement plans such as 401ks and 403bs will be able to contribute an extra $500 as the limit moves up to $17,000 in 2012. Catch-up contributions, allowed above the $17,000 level for people over … Continue reading →

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Investors overreact to municipal bond fears

Posted on March 7, 2011 by BH&J

This video from Vanguard Investments is a helpful reviewof the current state of the municipal bond market. Three turbulent months based on speculation about future defaults have shaken munis. The risks appear to be overblown.

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Ten things to know about estate planning after the new federal tax bill

Posted on January 25, 2011 by BH&J

This post is provided by attorney Alan Macpherson and his colleagues of the Trusts & Estates Group at Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP. After almost a full year of complete uncertainty about the estate tax, Congress abruptly adopted a bill in … Continue reading →

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Medicare costs can increase due to unintended consequences

Posted on November 3, 2010 by BH&J

In the Weekend Investor section of the October 30, 2010 Wall Street Journal, Ellen Schultz wrote an article outlining often overlooked considerations that can cause personal Medicare costs to rise and more of Social Security benefits to be taxed. In … Continue reading →

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Not all municipal bonds carry extremely low risk of default

Posted on October 4, 2010 by BH&J

With income tax rates set to rise in 2011, tax free municipal bonds are gaining more attention. There are three broad types of municipal bonds, those that carry an “investment grade” rating of A or above, those that are lower … Continue reading →

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Six Rules for Including Rental Real Estate in Your Investment Portfolio

Posted on September 28, 2010 by BH&J

For many people, investment real estate makes up a large percentage of their net worth. Rental property has been a more consistent part of the financial picture for our clients than we ever assumed would be the case. From a … Continue reading →

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Don’t let the tax sunset leave your portfolio in the dark

Posted on August 31, 2010 by BH&J

At the end of 2010, tax rates will go up unless there are legislative changes amending the coming “sunset” of current tax provisions. This note takes a brief look at some of the strategies investors can use to ensure their … Continue reading →

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Coming Tax Changes Create Incentive to Act Now

Posted on June 2, 2010 by BH&J

Most of us prefer to think about taxes only once per year. However, with significant changes coming in 2011, tax considerations of financial planning and investment management will be prominent for the remainder of 2010. Taxes on income, capital gains … Continue reading →

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