Blogs
How to Build Your Best 2025 Budget Step-By-Step
At REAP Financial, we have successfully guided families in Central Texas and across the United States through retirement for 16 years. When you’re preparing for retirement, there are metrics that obviously matter, such as your rate of return on investments, inflation, Social Security claiming strategy, and more. However, the most important number for a successful retirement is your budget.
When you’re working, you don’t have to worry about keeping a strict budget, but when you retire, it is very important to know your boundaries. Your budget provides the framework for what you can spend, since there’s only so much money at the end of the day.
Tax-Efficient Year-End Giving Strategies
For most Americans, as we approach the end of the year, many people look for ways to save on taxes. This is where year-end gifting strategies come into play. You may give charitably to causes and organizations you believe in, or to your children or others. In this article, we’ll cover some smart ways to execute your year-end gifts that could save you on taxes, including potential income tax, capital gains tax, and charitable deductions.
Why Most People Get Retirement Planning Wrong
If you want to have a successful retirement, understanding that it doesn’t happen by accident is key. To achieve success in retirement, you have to plan effectively in advance. In this article, we’ll cover why most people get retirement planning wrong, especially when they attempt to do it alone. Be sure to read all the way through to learn how to win in retirement!
How to Create a Sustainable Retirement Cash Flow
When you retire, it’s all about cash flow. In this article, we’ll go over how the most successful retirees in this country create sustainable cash flow in retirement. We’ll share some of the techniques we use to help guide our clients at REAP Financial. Be sure to read through to the end to learn all our tips to solidify your retirement cash flow.
How to Build Wealth While Navigating Inflation
When it comes to building real wealth, rates of return matter. Both the amount you earn on investments and the amount you save for retirement are important. However, inflation is often overlooked. Inflation is a silent threat to any portfolio. Today, with inflation higher than we’ve seen in many years, you need to structure your portfolio in a way that keeps up with inflation and beyond. In this article, we’ll go over how the most successful retirees build wealth while navigating inflation. Be sure to read the whole article for a little-known tip on staying ahead of inflation!
How to Prepare for 2026 Estate-Tax Changes
It’s hard to believe, but 2026 is just around the corner. In 2026, we’re going to see some major changes in how much you’re paying in taxes and the estate tax limit, or how much tax could be applied to the money you leave to others. In this article, we’ll talk about the key changes and some steps you may want to take to protect your wealth.
In the last few years, we’ve enjoyed some of the lowest tax brackets in U.S. history. In fact, tax rates have not been this low in 40 years. However, these tax rates, including income tax rate and estate tax limits, are set to sunset and change in 2026. First, let’s go over what estate tax limit changes could look like.