Pre-Retirees & Retirees

A man in a suit is sitting outdoors, holding a folded newspaper in one hand and resting his chin on his other. He appears to be deep in thought, perhaps pondering the complex taxation of stock options, with a blurred building facade in the background.

Taxation of Stock Options and Other Mistakes to Avoid

April 19, 2022

Stock options are often used as an incentive for key employees and executives. For example, Apple CEO Tim Cook received a $3 million salary in 2021, which may seem relatively small given the enormous value of the company. But the full scope of his compensation package becomes clearer when you also consider he was awarded $82.3 million in stock options [1]. Stock options aren’t just for household names. Companies of many sizes use incentive stock

A close-up image of the word "Medicare" printed on a torn piece of paper positioned over a background that includes U.S. currency. It signifies financial aspects related to Medicare health insurance.

Medicare Planning for Retirement: A Comprehensive Guide

April 12, 2022

Why does Medicare remind us of Swiss cheese? Because it has many, many holes. Especially for those who have not properly researched their healthcare options before signing up for a program. Jokes aside, Medicare planning for retirement is a serious matter. It can be confusing and daunting. Our team at SYM Financial has covered the basics of Medicare before, so today’s article will briefly review the structure of the program before diving into the most

A person wearing a black and white striped shirt and a black cap blows a whistle and holds up a yellow card. The background shows a blurred outdoor landscape with mountains. The words "EARLY RETIREMENT" are written in bold towards the top left of the image.

How to Avoid an Early Retirement Penalty

March 2, 2022

Every now and again, SYM Financial advisors and planners run into clients who retire early. There are many good reasons why someone might “retire early” in the eyes of the IRS, which is any time before reaching the age of 59½. Some are ready to separate from their jobs sooner than they had anticipated. Others may be impacted by layoffs, workforce reduction, or health problems that make it difficult to continue working. No matter how

An infographic by SYM Financial Advisors shows a brain split into two sides: the left labeled "Logical Side" with analytical questions, and the right labeled "Emotional Side" with impulsive statements. The bottom line advises leaning on a financial plan and building emergency savings for decisions.

The Cost of Emotions in Financial Decisions

February 14, 2022

You might think that the hardest financial decisions are knowing which investments to pick, mitigating downside risk, or understanding how taxes might impact your returns. But there is one thing that can derail your investment portfolio even faster than poor investment choices and tax mistakes. That is the voice inside your head. On the surface, our daily thoughts and emotions may seem trivial. However, they can trick us into chasing after investments that don’t make

An infographic by SYM Financial Advisors titled "Tax Time Checkup" shows that 62% of Americans expect a tax refund. It details how they plan to use it: 54% on savings, including emergency savings, 32% on debt, 27% on daily expenses, 12% on home improvement, 10% on major purchases, 8% on vacation, and

Next Year’s Income Tax Planning Starts Now

February 1, 2022

Whether you are the type to submit your tax filing early or you wait until the April 15th deadline, there are ways to make the annual necessity easier on yourself. Income tax filing doesn’t have to be a frantic race. If you develop the right habits now, you can take small steps all year long, which will make the tax-filing project much simpler. That can lead to a quicker, smoother filing — and can potentially

An elderly man with gray hair, wearing sunglasses, a red bathing suit, and black-and-yellow water shoes, relaxes on a light blue inflatable mattress at the edge of the clear, shallow sea water near a pebbled shore.

What Does Inflation Mean for Your Retirement

January 13, 2022

Imagine that you’re retired, living on a fixed income, and your energy bill has just gone up by 11 percent. On top of that, your gas tank now costs 50 percent more to fill up, and groceries cost 5 percent more than usual. That might sound crazy, but this is exactly what’s happened over the past year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) for all items has risen

Taxation of Stock Options and Other Mistakes to Avoid

Medicare Planning for Retirement: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Avoid an Early Retirement Penalty

The Cost of Emotions in Financial Decisions

Next Year’s Income Tax Planning Starts Now

What Does Inflation Mean for Your Retirement

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