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How the Social Security Fairness Act Affect You? by Michael Franks, Senior Wealth AdvisorOn January 5th of this year President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act. This Act has caused significant changes in how individuals qualify for retirement income benefits.What You Need to know About the Social Security Fairness Act:For retirees and government employees, Social Security Benefits play a crucial role in financial planning for the future. However, if you dedicated your career to public service and either you or your spouse earned the required 40 work credits in the private sector to qualify for Social Security, you may

Planting for Tomorrow: Building Your Financial Legacy by Michael Franks, Senior Wealth AdvisorFor young professionals, new investors, and entrepreneurs, the idea of building a financial legacy may feel far off, like something reserved for another stage of life. But the truth is that the trees you plant today will define the shade and fruit for future generations to enjoy and build on.Start With VisionYour legacy begins with clarity. Take the time to envision the future you want to create. What are the values you want to pass on? How do you want your efforts to impact those around you? It

Simplifying Your Tax Planning:  Introducing the 1040 Tax Estimator for 2024Tax planning can often feel like an overwhelming task, especially when dealing with complex numbers and multiple forms. To ease the burden and give you a clearer picture of your financial future, we’re excited to introduce the 1040 Tax Calculator. This simple and effective tool can help you estimate your taxes, whether you’re planning for a refund or calculating what you might owe the IRS.Why Use the 1040 Tax Estimator?The 1040 Tax Estimator makes tax planning easy by allowing you to enter key financial details—such as filing status, income, and

The Importance of College Savings In today’s fast-changing educational landscape, ensuring your child has the financial means to pursue higher education is crucial. However, many parents struggle with where to start or how to make the best financial decisions for their child's future. At Vantage, we believe starting an educational savings plan early is essential. Like retirement savings, the sooner you start, the more time you have to grow your savings and ease future financial stress. Why Start Saving Early? Compound Interest: Starting early lets you benefit from compound interest, which can significantly boost your savings. Rising Education Costs:

Planning for Retirement? Meet the Future Value Calculator Retirement planning is no small feat, but with the right tools, you can take the guesswork out of your financial future. Enter the Future Value Calculator—a vital component of wealth projection that helps you visualize the growth of your investments over time. What is Future Value? Future value (FV) is the value of an investment at a specific date in the future, taking into account its initial amount, interest rate, and the time period it is invested for. By calculating the future value, you can estimate how much your current savings

The Cornerstone to a Wonderful Retirement: Strength & Conditioning By Michael Franks, Vantage Senior Wealth Advisor (2 minute read) I like to tell people, “I do not have a personality, so I lift weights.” Whether you agree with this assessment or not, the importance of strength training and quality of life is critical for your retirement years. You have been disciplined in your financial health to the point that you can finally retire. Congratulations! Retirement is a significant transition and a new beginning that can be filled with new adventures. Pursuing strength and conditioning even