Could a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) be a smart way to give directly from your IRA? If you’re age 70½ or older, a QCD may allow you to support the charities you care about while potentially reducing taxable income from your IRA. The rules can be confusing, so we’ve created a simple guide to walk you through the key requirements and considerations.
Medicare is health insurance for individuals who are 65 and older, under 65 with certain disabilities, or those who have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Sclerosis (ALS). The Medicare annual open enrollment period for the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans begins Oct. 15, 2026, and runs through December 7, 2026. You can change your Medicare Advantage and Part D plans without special enrollment requirements. Should I change my Medicare coverage during open enrollment?
A 30-second read by the Baron Team: If you are currently a Medicare card holder, below are some fraud-prevention tips provided by Medicare.gov that you may want to be aware of. Just like your credit card or social security card, you want to make sure your Medicare card and/or number is always protected.
If you are thinking about retirement, we strongly suggest you plan ahead and consider what your retirement needs and goals will be and what financial resources are available for you to support your anticipated lifestyle. Here are Baron's suggested top ten priorities when planning for retirement:
A 60-second read by the Baron Team: Congratulations 2026 College graduates! Throw that mortarboard as high in the air as you can and before it circles back down to earth, start thinking about saving for your retirement. You are most likely going to be responsible for setting yourself up for a successful retirement, so your best bet is to invest early and often. Invest in yourself first…
Our financial planning chart provides information that includes key financial planning numbers for 2026.New to 2026: Retirement Plan Contribution Limits. For Baron Clients, reach out to your Baron Team to make sure you are maximizing your retirement savings. You can click on the image to view the 2-page chart.
Victor Cannillo, a Wealth Manager/Partner at Baron Financial Group, is quoted on this topic, answering a reader’s question on NJMoneyHelp.com by Karin Price Mueller, originally published in October 2024. Since the original 2024 publication date of the article, the Roth contribution limit has changed. This blog post reflects 2026 numbers.
Victoria Cannillo, an Associate Financial Planner at Baron Financial Group, is quoted on this topic, answering a reader’s question on NJMoneyHelp.com by Karin Price Mueller, originally published in June 2025. If you have not met the working requirement, you would not be eligible to get your own Social Security benefits. However, there are spousal benefits that may be available to you…
There are documents that need to be reviewed periodically to ensure they are up-to-date. These can include estate documents, account beneficiaries, trusted contact forms and others. Please review your designated beneficiaries and trusted contacts to make sure they are still your preferred choice, or to see if their contact information has changed. Please let us know if you need to update us with new names and/or contact information.
Victoria Cannillo, an Associate Financial Planner at Baron Financial Group, is quoted on this topic, answering a reader’s question on NJMoneyHelp.com by Karin Price Mueller, originally published in January 2026. It is important to have your ducks in a row for RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions) as there are penalties for missing an RMD. The types of accounts that count toward your RMD calculation are tax-deferred accounts, such as…
As you start to compile the documents you need for filing your tax return, it might be helpful to reference our flowchart below in determining what documents are needed. It is important to wait for all of your tax documents to arrive before filing, especially if you are thinking of filing your taxes early this year. Keep in mind the following:
The start of a New Year is a good time to share our financial checklist. Here are some priorities for you to review, plan for, and update in 2026. As Financial Advisors, we are dedicated to educating our clients and our community about the importance of their financial health. We hope you find this checklist helpful! You can download the checklist here: