William F. Davis, CFP® 
If you’re eligible for a defined benefit retirement plan (pension), your employer may offer you a lump-sum payout instead of monthly payments. This reflects a decades-long trend of companies shifting away from pensions toward defined-contribution plans, such as 401(k)s. With interest rates rising, many companies are accelerating these offers. Higher rates reduce the actuarial value of future … Read more
“I wish I’d started saving earlier…” Ask most baby boomers about their most significant financial regret, and this one often tops the list. When you’re in your twenties, retirement feels like a lifetime away. Between student loans, high living costs, and uncertain job markets, investing may not seem like a priority. But delaying could be … Read more
Employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), provide powerful savings opportunities—but also create complex tax considerations. One often-overlooked strategy that may offer substantial tax savings is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA). Despite its technical name, NUA is a relatively straightforward method for converting some retirement plan gains from higher ordinary income tax rates into lower capital gains tax … Read more
The fourth quarter begins with the Fed having restarted its rate cut cycle in the face of moderating economic activity, with uncertainty around tariffs and trade policy continuing to complicate the outlook. Recent labor market data have weakened meaningfully, with downward revisions to job growth and a modest rise in unemployment signaling softer conditions. Federal … Read more
The old adage, “it’s not about timing the market, but about time in the market,” has proven true again and again. Decades of research show that investors who remain invested in a well-diversified portfolio for the long run typically outperform those who try to predict short-term turning points. As a financial advisor over the past decade, one … Read more
So, you’ve built a successful career, saved diligently in your retirement plan, and are ready to retire in your 50s—or even earlier. The challenge: how to access your savings before age 59½ without triggering the IRS’s 10% early withdrawal penalty. In Part 1 of this series, we covered the Rule of 55, which allows penalty-free access to specific workplace … Read more
So, you’ve had a successful career, saved diligently in your workplace retirement plan, and are ready to retire in your 50s—or even earlier. The question becomes: how can you access your retirement savings before age 59½ without triggering a penalty? This two-part series explores strategies that can help you minimize taxes and avoid the IRS’s … Read more
I hope you and your families had a nice Labor Day! (In case you’re interested, here is an article from the Department of Labor on the history of the holiday.) The story this month is the Fed and if their September meeting will end in an interest rate change. The Federal Reserve’s primary inflation rate, the … Read more
On July 4, 2025, the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law, ushering in a wave of tax code updates. While headlines focused on middle-income breaks and W-2 perks, high-income earners — especially those nearing or in retirement — need to look past the noise and focus on what matters for long-term financial … Read more
At its July meeting this week, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to maintain the federal funds rate at its current range of 4.25%-4.5%, a level held since December 2024. This decision comes despite intense pressure from the Trump administration for rate cuts. While the majority of the FOMC voted for the hold, … Read more
Investing involves risk. All information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice, an offer to buy or sell any security, or an endorsement of any third party or such third party’s views. Whenever there are hyperlinks to third-party content, this information is intended to provide additional information and should not be construed as an endorsement of any services, products, guidance, individuals or points of view outside Vericrest Private Wealth. All examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only.
© 2026 vericrestprivatewealth
