Tax & Wealth Management, LLP

10/07/2026

What actually happens when the U.S. government shuts down?

This handy interactive explains which essential government services are affected by a shutdown.

10/03/2026

C&R Research reports that the average American spends \$219 on subscriptions. Many find themselves with an unclear idea how much they are spending on their services, in many cases underestimating the amounts by upwards of \$100 per month.

A look as how autopay subscriptions can be a drain on your finances, especially when forgotten.

09/30/2026

A special needs trust can help care for a special needs child, even after you’re gone.

A special needs trust helps care for a special needs child when you’re gone.

09/26/2026

Connecting everyday decisions can help you stay on track and spend intentionally. Learn the difference between spending intentionally and spending reflexively.

09/23/2026

Saving for college doesn’t have to be as complicated as college itself.

Here's a crash course on saving for college.

09/19/2026

What steps might help you sustain and grow your retirement savings? This piece explores them.

Steps to help you sustain and grow your retirement savings.

09/16/2026

Not all inflation numbers measure the same thing. From CPI to PCE, each index tracks different spending patterns—and none of them may reflect yours.

09/12/2026

Many people consider paying off their mortgage in retirement an easy choice. But have you considered some of these often overlooked points?

Explore the benefits and drawbacks to paying off your mortgage prior to retirement with this article.

09/09/2026

To make money harder to copy, there have been continual changes to the artwork, paper and ink.

Combating counterfeiting remains core to preserving the integrity of the nation’s money.

09/09/2026

Most investors feel taxes are steep today.

Historically, that couldn’t be further from the truth....

It is important to think of tax not as the burden between you and your full paycheck, but rather as a risk to your overall financial plan. A good financial plan should work regardless of who is in office or where tax rates go. We are currently in a window of opportunity where the right move for many people may be to pay more tax now, to avoid the risk of tax rates in the future. The average effective rate throughout modern America has been about 18-22% without much fluctuation. However, the tax brackets of the upper income range have fluctuated dramatically!!!

Message me to dive deeper with you on your personal situation to see how we could be taking advantage of today's tax rates for you.

Part 1: Federal Ordinary Income Taxes🏛️

For most of the 20th century, top marginal brackets exceeded 70%—even topping 90% during post-war expansion.

WWII Peak (1944–1945): 94.0% top marginal bracket 💥
Post-War Era (1950s–1963): 91.0% top marginal bracket 🏛️
Pre-Reagan (1970s): 70.0% top marginal bracket 📉
Clinton Era (1990s): 39.6% top marginal bracket ⚖️
Today: 37.0% top marginal rate (middle brackets at 12%, 22%, and 24%) 🎯

The Takeaway: High standard deductions ($32,200 for joint filers) paired with compressed 12% to 24% middle brackets mean typical families keep significantly more of each earned dollar than previous generations.

Part 2: Long-Term Capital Gains

📊Capital gains enjoy statutory preferential treatment, sitting well below their historical highs:

WWI (1918): 77.0% (taxed as ordinary income, no preferential rate) 💥
Late 1970s (1976–1978): ~39.9% (35% statutory + minimum tax add-on) 🏛️
Post-1986 Tax Reform: 28.0% – 33.0% (equalized with ordinary income) ⚖️
Bush Tax Cuts (2003–2012): 15.0% (multi-decade floor) 📉
Today: 23.8% (20% top bracket + 3.8% NIIT surtax) 🎯

Strategic Takeaways

💡Take Advantage of Low Ordinary Brackets Today: Use the 12%, 22%, and 24% brackets to execute purposeful conversions into tax-free growth for the remainder of your life.

🔄Harvest Gains in the 0% Capital Gains Window: Married couples that file jointly can realize capital gains federally tax-free if overall taxable income stays below the 0% ceiling (~$99,000).

💸Estate Planning & the Step-Up: For heavily appreciated legacy assets, holding until death to capture the IRC §1014 basis step-up completely eliminates decades of embedded gains, regardless of where future tax policy lands.

🛡️Tax windows don't stay open forever. Smart planning isn't just about minimizing taxes this year—it's about locking in historically favorable rates before the rules shift.

To read a great article on the matter follow the link below to the Purdue University analysis of where your tax bracket would be 50 years ago adjusted for inflation!

Two finance experts look back 25 years and find that most people pay significantly lower average tax rates and keep more of every additional dollar they earn when compared to what they might have dared to hope in 1975.