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At Granite Harbor Advisors, we value the educational process, giving our clients the knowledge to move forward with confidence.

Retirement

Navigating the Rise of Historically Large IRA Balances
3 minutes read

Navigating the Rise of Historically Large IRA Balances

Authored by: Austin Manning, CFP® In recent years, the financial landscape has witnessed a significant uptick in the size of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), with balances reaching unprecedented levels in 2024. This trend is not just a statistical anomaly but a reflection of several contributing factors that have converged to shape retirement planning in profound ways. Factors Driving Growth…
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Navigating the Complexities of Medicare and the IRMAA Surcharge in 2024
3 minutes read

Navigating the Complexities of Medicare and the IRMAA Surcharge in 2024

Contributed by: Dale Shaw, CFP®, RICP® High-income earners face a pivotal aspect of their retirement planning—understanding and managing the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge associated with Medicare. This surcharge, which can significantly increase Medicare costs, is a crucial consideration for those in higher income brackets. This article aims to demystify the nuances of…
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Understanding Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) for Oil & Gas Executives 
5 minutes read

Understanding Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) for Oil & Gas Executives 

Contributed by: Tom Kelley, MBA As an executive in the oil and gas industry, particularly for leading companies like ConocoPhillips, Exxon, or BP, strategic financial planning is essential to managing your wealth effectively. One powerful tool that may be available to you is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA), a tax strategy that could significantly enhance your retirement distribution plans. In this…
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Preparing for Life After Retirement: A Guide for Future Retirees
5 minutes read

Preparing for Life After Retirement: A Guide for Future Retirees

Contributed by: Dale Shaw, CFP®, RICP® Planning for retirement is an essential journey for everyone, regardless of career. Whether you’ve been a corporate executive, a small business owner, or an employee in any sector, you’ve likely spent years saving and preparing for this next chapter. While regular contributions to your 401(k) or other retirement plans have been crucial, transitioning into retirement…
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The Power of Tax Diversified Investing: A Wealth Advisor's Perspective
4 minutes read

The Power of Tax Diversified Investing: A Wealth Advisor's Perspective

Contributed by: Caleb Christian CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” This famous quote from Benjamin Franklin emphasizes an often-overlooked aspect of investing: tax diversification. While many investors focus on traditional diversification strategies—spreading their assets across various stocks, bonds, and asset classes—it’s equally important to consider ways…
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The Importance of Life Insurance in Retirement Planning During the Great Wealth Transfer
7 minutes read

The Importance of Life Insurance in Retirement Planning During the Great Wealth Transfer

The “Great Wealth Transfer” refers to the monumental shift of wealth from the Baby Boomer generation to its heirs. Over the next few decades, an estimated $84 trillion will be transferred to younger generations. This unprecedented movement of assets presents opportunities, but also challenges, for families seeking to secure their financial futures through the seamless transfer of wealth from one generation…
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The Great Wealth Transfer is Underway: Navigating New Frontiers in Retirement
8 minutes read

The Great Wealth Transfer is Underway: Navigating New Frontiers in Retirement

The impending transfer of wealth from Baby Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z is not just an unprecedented shift in economic power, estimated at $84.4 trillion by the year 2045, but also a crucial lifeline for the latter generations who are navigating through a vastly different and more challenging economic landscape than their predecessors. Unlike the Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z have been grappling…
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 Tips for Increasing the Benefits and Tax Breaks of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
3 minutes read

Tips for Increasing the Benefits and Tax Breaks of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

In the complex world of healthcare finance, one tool often stands out for its versatility and tax advantages - the Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs are tax-advantaged medical savings accounts available to taxpayers enrolled in high-deductible health plans. But beyond being merely a savings tool, the HSA, when used strategically, can offer significant financial benefits. This guide will provide valuable…
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Secure Your Business Legacy: The Power of Buy-Sell Agreement Planning for Business Owners
6 minutes read

Secure Your Business Legacy: The Power of Buy-Sell Agreement Planning for Business Owners

The Power of Buy-Sell Agreement Planning for Business Owners As a business owner, ensuring the long-term success and continuity of your enterprise is usually at the very top of the list of priorities. One of the essentials that can help you achieve this goal is effective buy-sell planning. This article delves into the significance of buy-sell planning for business owners and highlights the key strategies…
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Understanding Your Retirement Benefits: Things to consider as a BP Executive Preparing to Retire
7 minutes read

Understanding Your Retirement Benefits: Things to consider as a BP Executive Preparing to Retire

How do I make the most of my BP retirement benefits? As one of the most lucrative positions in the oil and gas industry, BP executives enjoy exceptional employee benefits. However, navigating these offerings can be overwhelming, even for high-level executives. From cash compensation and severance packages to stock options and bonuses, the array of benefits can be daunting to navigate—especially anticipating…
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Managing Your 401(k) After Job Transition: Key Considerations & Advanced Tax Strategies
6 minutes read

Managing Your 401(k) After Job Transition: Key Considerations & Advanced Tax Strategies

What to do with Your 401(k) after Leaving a Job: Key Considerations & Advanced Tax Strategies When navigating a job transition, whether entering retirement or an unexpected layoff, one crucial aspect that requires careful consideration is what to do with your 401(k) plan. Making informed choices is of utmost importance to safeguard your financial future. By taking stock of your existing plan and…
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Why Average Rate of Return is Not the Key to Retirement Income Planning
4 minutes read

Why Average Rate of Return is Not the Key to Retirement Income Planning

Many investors use the average rate of returns as one of their primary metrics for assessing portfolio performance. In your earning years, the average rate is a useful benchmark because most people are focused on total wealth accumulation. But when you enter retirement, the order in which you experience those returns becomes much more important. A bad year or two at the start of retirement could have…
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Cash flow in early retirement: Six considerations for high-net-worth individuals
6 minutes read

Cash flow in early retirement: Six considerations for high-net-worth individuals

Many people dream of retiring early so they can spend more time with family and their passions outside of work. But early retirement can present some unique risks, even for high-net-worth individuals. To ensure financial goals are met, thoughtful planning is required, particularly when it comes to cash flow. In a recent video presentation, Granite Harbor partner Tim Smith, CFP® discussed considerations…
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Income Tax Planning in Early Retirement: Strategies for HNWIs
5 minutes read

Income Tax Planning in Early Retirement: Strategies for HNWIs

Anyone entering retirement must manage the tax implications that come with shifting their primary income source from their employer to other income streams like social security. But for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) with robust portfolios, income tax planning can be particularly complex. Retiring early can complicate the tax planning process even further. In a recent video presentation, Granite…
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Don’t Let Age Guide Your Retirement Planning
4 minutes read

Don’t Let Age Guide Your Retirement Planning

There are many rules of thumb in the world of personal financial planning, particularly when it comes to retirement planning. Some common “rules” are to be more conservative with your money as you get older, or that the percentage of bonds in your portfolio should be equal to your age. These rules may be appropriate for some, but not for all. Many affluent individuals often have more flexibility as…
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The Sandwich Generation: Breaking the Cycle to Create Multi-Generational Wealth
4 minutes read

The Sandwich Generation: Breaking the Cycle to Create Multi-Generational Wealth

“The sandwich generation” is a term used to describe those people who are simultaneously raising children and taking care of their aging parents, all while trying to plan for their own retirement and personal needs. Being sandwiched in between two generations can create an unsustainable financial situation that introduces new risk, potentially jeopardizing your long-term financial health. Let’s look…
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Stock Compensation Strategies: How to Balance Risk and Achieve Tax Efficiency
5 minutes read

Stock Compensation Strategies: How to Balance Risk and Achieve Tax Efficiency

Many corporate executives receive stock as part of their total compensation package. This not only helps align personal goals and company objectives while rewarding top talent with appreciable assets, but many executives enjoy tying their finances, in part, to their employer. They believe in their company and in their own ability to help that company grow. But as total compensation becomes skewed toward…
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Opening the back door to tax-free earnings
2 minutes read

Opening the back door to tax-free earnings

As covered in our 401(k) – Super Roth article, a Roth IRA offers an attractive tax benefit. But, what do you do if you do not have a 401(k) or your 401(k) does not allow post-tax contributions? The answer is the Backdoor Roth which is the conversion from a Traditional to a Roth IRA. Both the Super Roth and Back Door options are for people who exceed the income limits (single filers that make over $139,000…
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Navigating a Job Transition
3 minutes read

Navigating a Job Transition

Mostly gone are the days where someone spends their entire career working for one company. Talented executives have become “free agents” and can transition between companies as needed. When planned, these job transitions can be an exciting time. Sometimes factors beyond our control force us to endure an unplanned job transition. This can add stress, usually at the worst possible time, as a variety…
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Rolling over your 401(K)? Consider Net Unrealized Appreciation first
4 minutes read

Rolling over your 401(K)? Consider Net Unrealized Appreciation first

At Granite Harbor Advisors, we believe in helping our clients better understand all of their options so they can make the best decision for their families. To that end, here is a more detailed look at what net unrealized appreciation is and how you can use it to advance your financial goals. What is net unrealized appreciation (NUA)? Net unrealized appreciation is simply the difference in value between…
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Super Fund your Roth IRA for Tax-Free Earnings
2 minutes read

Super Fund your Roth IRA for Tax-Free Earnings

United States Army veteran William Victor Roth will forever be remembered for creating one of the most utilized tax-savings tools available. During his 30-year career as a US Senator, he pioneered a new retirement savings vehicle, the Roth Individual Retirement Account (Roth IRA), as part of the Tax-Payer Relief Act of 1997. With the previously established “traditional” IRA, the tax benefits are realized…
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Keys to Effectively Setting and Reaching Goals
3 minutes read

Keys to Effectively Setting and Reaching Goals

Have you heard the saying, “you can do anything if you set your mind to it”? Well, there is a lot of truth to that statement. The real question is, how do we “set our mind to it” effectively? The answer is in effective goal setting. This short article will outline an efficient process for setting and reaching virtually any goal. The key is to be S.M.A.R.T. about it. Which is to say that goals should…
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Is This Risk Worth Taking?
1 minute read

Is This Risk Worth Taking?

Have you ever been faced with a difficult decision? Not sure which way to go because you didn’t fully understand the risks involved? Much like playing cards, there are times where we need to fold, and move on, and there are times where we should stay in the game based on anticipated risks and rewards. When evaluating risk associated with financial planning, there are some risks that we are willing…
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On-Demand Video - Beyond 401(k) Rollovers

On-Demand Video - Beyond 401(k) Rollovers

Exploring Advanced Tax Strategies for Your Retirement Account After Leaving a Job In the ever-changing landscape of employment, the decisions you make regarding your company retirement account after leaving an employer have never been more critical. You or your loved ones may be faced with tough choices of if, when, and how to move your company retirement savings. This single decision holds immense weight, as it can either become a major tax trap or a significant wealth-building opportunity shaping your financial future. Join us for an informative webinar where we delve into the common pitfalls and key considerations surrounding this pivotal decision, including how to: Identify the options for your 401(k) after leaving an employer Understand the potential tax diversification within your 401(k), how to preserve these advantages, and avoid overpaying on future taxes Capitalize on one of the biggest tax advantages available exclusively to company stocks owners Equip yourself with the knowledge needed and exact questions to ask to navigate this advanced planning terrain
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On-Demand Video - Navigating Early Retirement & Severance

On-Demand Video - Navigating Early Retirement & Severance

Are you considering early retirement? Did you just receive a severance? Many would love to be able to retire early, but just not sure if they can. There are some unique challenges that only early retirees will face. Join us as Managing Partner, Tim Smith walks us through how to navigate many of those challenges, and some specific planning strategies you could consider when planning for your own retirement or severance planning. Learn how to handle your pension, 401(k), deferred compensation, stock compensation, and more to mitigate taxes and maximize wealth during retirement.
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Navigating Early Retirement & Severance

Navigating Early Retirement & Severance

Are you considering early retirement? Did you just receive a severance? Many would love to be able to retire early, but just not sure if they can. There are some unique challenges that only early retirees will face. Join us as Managing Partner, Tim Smith walks us through how to navigate many of those challenges, and some specific planning strategies you could consider when planning for your own retirement or severance planning. Learn how to handle your pension, 401(k), deferred compensation, stock compensation, and more to mitigate taxes and maximize wealth during retirement.
Watch Video
Succession Planning Starts Now

Succession Planning Starts Now

Define your legacy Leaving a business you built from the ground up or played a significant role in shaping is never easy. You want to know that the legacy you created will be protected and outlast your time with the company. That’s why succession planning and continuity planning are so important. With a written plan in place, you can feel confident your vision, goals, priorities, and values will be respected and continued for years to come. At Granite Harbor, we recommend business owners begin continuity and succession planning as soon as their business comes into existence. We also help business owners create and modify plans as needed, offering guidance to protect personal finances as well as the financial health of the business. That’s also why we created this eBook, to highlight some of the most pressing issues facing business owners in the succession planning process. You’ll find insights on how to approach a variety of scenarios and what to consider at each stage. By identifying your goals and the financial strategies to achieve them, you can develop continuity and succession plans that define your legacy and position your company for long-term success.
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Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Preparing for life’s significant triumphs, transitions and setbacks. As a business owner or executive, you recognize the value of hard work and have achieved success through persistence and determination. You also understand that goals are best accomplished using a team of professionals collaborating to bring fresh ideas, innovations and perspectives. When it comes to wealth planning, it’s vital to take the same collaborative approach with trusted advisors to build upon a solid foundation and achieve maximum potential. A fiduciary-level team of advisors can help you manage your finances at every stage of life and provide guidance to make your money work for you more efficiently. This ebook will cover the moments in life when your money is (or should be) in motion and how a team of advisors can provide guidance and recommendations that serve your best interests.
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Retirement Planning with Purpose and Confidence

Retirement Planning with Purpose and Confidence

Retiring with Peace of Mind Everyone has a different vision for what their retirement looks like. However, the foundations to get there are always the same: Thoughtful planning and attentive financial management from the time you start your career all the way through your retirement years is essential. Whether you are a young executive just starting to formulate a retirement strategy, approaching retirement age, or making the long-awaited transition into retirement, a trusted team of financial advisors can provide experienced and objective guidance to help keep your plans on track. This eBook offers insights on how executives and business owners should approach each stage of their retirement journey.
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How and Why Wealthy Families Use Life Insurance

How and Why Wealthy Families Use Life Insurance

A different approach to life insurance Many people think about life insurance as financial protection against premature death. The death benefit to be paid is a replacement for lost income and helps keep the family going. But most affluent families aren’t overly concerned with income replacement. Instead, wealthy families use life insurance to protect assets because of the specific tax benefits and ROI it can provide. Including insurance products in a well-diversified portfolio can help investors achieve financial goals for the current family while also protecting wealth for future generations. In essence, there are three major themes when it comes to how and why wealthy families use life insurance: wealth accumulation, leverage, and liquidity. This ebook will explore these themes and offer insights into how to use insurance strategies most effectively.
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