CLAIM: The IRS would collect nearly $850 million in taxes from a more-than $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot. THE FACTS: The winner of the lottery jackpot that sat at $1.1 billion earlier this week, when the claims circulated, would expect to pay at least $135 million in federal income taxes if they choose to receive their earnings all at once, rather than over 30…
DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2023/ PRNewswire/– Integrity Marketing Group, LLC, a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced the closing of its acquisition of Gladstone Wealth Partners, LLC, a leading wealth management firm offering registered independent advisor and…

CEO survey: Recession is the biggest worry in 2023
The Conference Board survey also found that most executives don’t think stronger economic growth will return anytime soon.
While flexibility is a top driver, ethical concerns with corporations figure in gig workers’ choices.
Even though 69% of private industry workers had access to workplace retirement benefits, only 52% participated in them, according to a report by the Department of Labor. "When retirement is a decade or more away, it's easy for individuals to forget to make time to set up their 401 plan," General Manager for Betterment at Work Kristen Carlisle said.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said nothing about rate hikes during a speech in Stockholm Tuesday. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's decision to sidestep the issue of inflation and rate hikes during a central banking conference in Stockholm this week, as markets bet against his previous hawkish signals, may prove as pivotal as his late…

LUTCF program returning to NAIFA in 2023
Nearly 40 years after developing the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designation, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors will launch a new LUTCF program by mid-year.
A 42- year-old Worcester-based investment advisor who pleaded guilty to defrauding and stealing more than $2.8 million from his clients is expected to be sentenced Wednesday in Boston Federal Court. On Sept. 8, 2022, James Kenneth Couture, 42, of Sutton, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of…
Nearly one-third (32%) had to withdraw some of their retirement savings in 2022 in order to keep up with the rising costs of living.
If you receive Social Security, you’ ve probably already heard that your checks in 2023 will be bigger— considerably bigger, in fact. Here’ s what’ s happening: For 2023, there’ s an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits— the largest increase in 40 years. Also, the monthly Medicare Part B premiums are declining next year, to $164.90/ month from…
What steps need to be taken after a loved one dies? My 71- year-old uncle, who' s divorced with no children, has terminal cancer. For starters, find out where he keeps all his important papers like his trust and/or will, birth certificate, Social Security information, life-insurance policies, military discharge papers, financial documents, key or combination to a…

What wealthy clients need to know about SECURE 2.0
SECURE 2.0 contains a number of provisions that advisors who work with wealthy clients need to know.
Rebecca Bush started her home search in January of 2020.. Home values increased nearly 20 percent across the U.S. between September 2020 and September 2021, according to Real Estate Witch. Then came inflation and the Federal Reserve's attempt to combat it, which pushed some interest rates on mortgages to above 7 percent.

Study looks at top reasons consumers move investment dollars
Simplifying finances, getting more involved, and consolidating for better planning, are the top three reasons U.S. consumers move their money between financial-services companies, according to a recent study.
For 2023, you can put an extra $1,000 in your IRAs and an extra $7,500 in a 401 plan. Once you turn 55, you can put an additional $1,000 in an HSA each year. For instance, instead of wages, which are 100% taxable, at least 15% of your Social Security benefits are tax-free, and lower-income seniors won't pay any federal tax on their benefits.
Approximately 70 million Americans will see an 8.7% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments in 2023. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January. But if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice…
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell was asked what was in store for the economy after yet another rate hike intended to tame inflation. "I don't think anyone knows whether we're going to have a recession or not and, if we do, whether it's going to be a deep one or not," Powell said on Dec. 14, after the Federal Open Market Committee's final meeting for 2022. "It's just not…
This is the conundrum consumers, investors and central bankers with the Federal Reserve keep struggling with— slowing, yet still fast inflation. Then, due to lots of factors, prices didn’ t just accelerate, they blasted off about one year into the COVID-19 pandemic that started in March 2020. That was the spring and summer of 2021, as consumer inflation sped up on its…
Lawrence Isen, age 69, of California, was sentenced to five years behind bars in federal court in Central Islip Friday, Jan. 6. Federal prosecutors said between 2014 and 2016, Isen and others worked with a Melville- based "boiler room" to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of stock in struggling companies with poor prospects. Islen was accused of…