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Selling Your Home? Don’t Get Blindsided by Capital Gains Tax

Over the past few years, property values have soared. Homeowners around the country and in the most desirable New York Tri-State areas have experienced the thrill of competitive offers. Even if you had no plans to sell, watching your neighbors cash in, checking Zillow, or fielding unsolicited inquiries from aggressive buyers and agents may have piqued your interest.

But a word of caution: the excitement of navigating a real estate market in an era where homes fetch record prices can leave you vulnerable to emotional whims. While it’s possible that selling your home could be a lucrative opportunity, it’s prudent to consider every potential drawback before making a move.

When sellers are eager to access the proceeds of substantial equity returns, there’s one big ‘gotcha’ in particular that often escapes their attention: capital gains tax. The exhilaration of a high-value sale is undeniable, but don’t forget that the IRS will expect their share. You may be thinking, ‘So what if I have to give up a percentage of a windfall I wasn’t expecting?’ But knowing the rules and planning for them means you may be able to avoid paying more than necessary.

While the potential of paying capital gains tax shouldn’t prevent you from selling your home, it would be smart to become familiar with its intricacies. If you empower yourself with the knowledge of what to expect, you may be able to save some money and leverage your financial wins to your benefit.

Here’s what you should know to avoid being blindsided by an unexpected tax bill.

What Are Capital Gains Taxes?

Capital gains taxes are the taxes you must pay on the income you make from profit on an investment. If you sell your house for more than you paid, you can guarantee the IRS will want a cut. But the amount due depends on more than a simple calculation; it depends on your taxable income, filing status, and how long you owned the home (or other investment) before selling it.

To further complicate matters, every capital gains scenario is different.

Short-term capital gains, applicable if you held the property for a year or less, mirror your regular income tax rate and are dictated by your tax bracket. In this case, if possible, the ideal strategic move would be to sidestep short-term gains.

Long-term capital gains, on the other hand, offer more favorable taxation. Owning the property for over a year qualifies you to pay the long-term capital gains rate of 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income and filing status.

It’s also important to note that in addition to capital gains tax, you may also have to pay state income tax on the profits, depending on your state’s tax laws.

Do You Qualify for a Capital Gains Exclusion?

Thanks to specific IRS exclusions, you can sometimes avoid excessive capital gains tax when selling your main residence. If you’re single, you can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from your taxes when selling a home. For married couples filing jointly, this exclusion doubles to $500,000. Keep in mind, though, that you can only use this exemption once every two years.

Understanding and leveraging capital gain exclusions can significantly boost the financial rewards of selling your property. It’s a tax-saving strategy that allows you to pocket a significant portion of your home sale profits without excessive burden.

Unfortunately, the exclusion doesn’t apply to every situation.

Unlocking the capital gains exclusion hinges on meeting all of these requirements:

First and foremost, your house must have been your primary residence.
You owned the property for more than two years
You lived in the home for at least two years in the five-year period before the property is sold
The property wasn’t obtained through a 1031 exchange (i.e., ‘like-kind exchange’) transaction.
In the past two years, you haven’t utilized the capital gains exclusion for any other residential property.

Familiarizing yourself with these qualifiers is essential, as they delineate the scope of the exclusion and influence your ability to leverage its benefits during the sale of your property.

Understanding Capital Gains Scenarios

To help you better understand how various capital gains situations can play out, here are a few “real-life” examples. These stories showcase how a nuanced understanding of these intricacies can wield remarkable financial impacts on each seller’s life.

Scenario #1: Small Business Owner Avoids Capital Gains After Renting Out Her Condo

Courtney, who owns a successful small business, purchases a new condo for $300,000. She lives in it for a year and decides that she would like to move to a different neighborhood. Instead of selling her condo, she finds a couple to rent it. After three years, the couple moves out, and Courtney returns to her condo. She lives there for another year and decides to sell it. She sells it for $500,000 – a $200,000 profit. Because Courtney lived in the condo as her primary residence in two out of the last five years, and the profit did not exceed the $250,000 exclusion amount, no capital gains tax is due.

Let’s consider an alternate ending to Courtney’s story. Instead of moving back in after the tenants move out, Courtney decides to sell. At this point, she would have owned the condo for four years but only lived in it as her primary residence for one year. Because she did not meet all the exclusion requirements, but did at least own the home for over one year, she would have to pay long-term capital gains on her $200,000 profit. Depending on her tax bracket, this would cost her between $10,000 and $40,000—cash that she could have kept if she had lived in the home for one more year before selling.

Scenario #2: Grandparents’ Exclusion Nets 35% Tax Savings

Mario and Lisa are an older couple who have lived in their home for over 40 years. The neighborhood has changed dramatically, and they want to be closer to their children and grandchildren, so they decide to sell. They originally purchased their home for $80,000, now worth $1,500,000.

The total profit on the home sale is $1,420,000. As a married couple who files their taxes jointly, they qualify for the $500,000 exclusion. They will owe long-term capital gains only on $920,000 ($1,420,000 – $500,000), a more than 35% savings.

Scenario #3: Married Couple Makes a Costly and Preventable Capital Gains Misstep

Joseph and Olive are a young married couple living in the city and making a good living. During the pandemic, they decided they wanted to get out of the city for more space. They end up selling their condo, which they purchased for $300,000 five years ago, for $600,000. They do not owe any capital gains tax because the profit of $300,000 is under the $500,000 exclusion threshold. They find a home in the suburbs near the city for $550,000.

After nine months of living in their new home, they realize that the suburbs aren’t for them and want to return to the city. Because their neighborhood is so desirable, they are told they can sell their home for $700,000, $150,000 more than they paid less than a year ago. They decide to list, and the house sells almost immediately. Joseph and Olive think that no taxes will be owed because they lived in it, AND their profit is under the $500,000 threshold.

However, they cannot use the exclusion on this sale because they used it on the condo within the last two years. Not only that, they also owned the property for under one year, so they will have to pay short-term capital gains instead of long-term. The $150,000 will be taxed at their ordinary income tax rate on top of their other joint income of $300,000. Adding the $150,000 to their joint income would place them in the 28% federal tax bracket, meaning they would owe about $42,000 in taxes on their profits.

Let’s look at some alternatives Joseph and Olive could have taken. For starters, if they waited just three months to sell the home, they would have paid long-term capital gains rates (15%) on the $150,000 profit for a tax of “only” $22,500. This alone would have saved them $19,500 over the short-term capital gains tax.

If they could wait an additional 15 months to sell the home, they would have qualified for the exclusion again and paid no capital gains tax.

Of course, neither of these alternatives take into consideration whether the real estate market would have allowed them to sell their home for the same amount months later, but having all the facts about capital gains taxes can only help when deciding if and when to sell.

Scenario #4: Savvy Real Estate Investor Carefully Considers His Options

Jon is a contractor who flips houses on the side. He finds a great deal on a property in an up-and-coming neighborhood. He purchases the property for $350,000 and puts about $100,000 of work into it over six months. The property is now valued at $700,000; this would mean a profit of $250,000 ($700,000 – $450,000). Here are two possible outcomes for Jon’s sale:

Ending A: Jon sells the property for $700,000 and owes short-term capital gains on the $250,000 profit. He does not qualify for any exclusion because it is an investment property.

Ending B: Jon finds a tenant to rent the property for a year. The rent he receives covers his monthly costs (mortgage, taxes, etc.). After the tenant moves out, Jon would have owned the property for 18 months. He would now pay long-term capital gains on the profit of $250,000. Jon may also have the opportunity to utilize a 1031 exchange and invest the proceeds of this sale into another like-kind property without paying capital gains tax, thus deferring the taxes to a later date.

(A 1031 exchange is a swap of one real estate investment for another that allows for capital gains to be deferred. There are certain rules and requirements that one must meet to qualify, including owning the property for at least one year, so it is best to discuss this with your tax, financial and legal advisors prior to engaging in this type of transaction.)

By holding the property just a little longer, Jon can save thousands of dollars in capital gains taxes. He also may be able to defer taxes further. As with our young married couple, Jon also needs to consider whether he could still sell for $700,000 if he waits another year or if it makes more sense to sell while the market is hot.

Scenario #5: Advanced Tax Savings Strategy for Sophisticated Investors

James and Keith are a wealthy couple with many different investments in their portfolio. They own several investment properties and would like to sell one that they can get a great price on due to rezoning in the area. They sell the property and make a profit of $500,000. Since these are investment properties, the exclusion does not apply, so they will pay long-term capital gains on the profit.

However, since the stock market is having a rough year, they look at their stock portfolio and notice a large unrealized loss of $400,000 in one of their stocks. They sell the stock, take a long-term loss of $400,000, and reinvest the proceeds into a different stock within the same industry inside their portfolio.

Now, here is where it gets fun. They can use the $400,000 loss to offset the $500,000 gain from the property sale, meaning they have a net capital gain of $100,000! So now they owe long-term capital gains on $100,000 instead of $500,000.

Additional Capital Gains Strategies to Consider

All of this may seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to memorize the details; you simply must know every action must be carefully considered. Don’t underestimate the nuances of capital gains and all the varied possible outcomes. Before parting with a property that has appreciated, it’s imperative to factor in all relevant considerations.

One often underestimated strategy to reduce capital gains is elevating your home’s cost basis through documented home improvements and repairs.

By boosting your recorded costs, you reduce your profit and minimize the capital gains tax liability. Consider Mario and Lisa’s scenario from earlier. Had they diligently tracked receipts for their home’s upkeep and enhancements over the past four decades, they could have augmented their cost basis by a substantial $200,000, significantly mitigating their tax liability upon sale.

Another essential presale exercise, particularly for those in their later years, is contemplating your legacy.

Analyze your asset portfolio to determine what you’ll pass down to your heirs. In the realm of taxation, real estate can be a valuable asset to bequeath. The reason lies in the step-up in cost basis that heirs receive upon inheriting the property.

Again, think of Mario and Lisa. What if they opted not to sell their home, choosing instead to leave it to their children? Upon their death, the home’s fair market value is appraised at $1,500,000. When their children eventually sell it for the same amount, they owe zero capital gains tax because there’s been no profit in their possession ($1,500,000 cost basis – $1,500,000 sale = $0). This is because the children will receive a step up in cost basis when they inherit the home after their parents pass.

Learn the Rules and Play with Caution

Understanding the dynamics of capital gains can be a game-changer. Capital gains tax rules can have a substantial impact on your wealth management. A comprehensive grasp of the intricacies empowers confident and strategic navigation of real estate transactions. Exploring various options, implementing tax savings strategies, and avoiding costly mistakes can make a significant difference.

When it comes to making complex financial decisions, it’s crucial it is to have expert guidance. That’s why we encourage you to seek the insights and support of our experienced financial planners and other qualified professionals like CPAs and tax and estate attorneys. Let us be your compass, guiding you on a successful and informed financial journey. Contact Strata Capital today, and let us help make your complex decisions simple.

Strata Capital is a wealth management firm serving corporate executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs in the New York Tri-State Area, focusing on corporate benefits and executive compensation. Co-founded by David D’Albero and Carmine Coppola, the firm specializes in making the complex simple to ensure clients feel confident in their financial decisions. They can be reached by phone at (212) 367-2855, via email at carmine@stratacapital.co, or by visiting their website at stratacapital.co.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

The information contained above is for illustrative, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.

Cornerstone Planning Group, Inc., (“CSPG”) is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized investment advice and should not be considered as a solicitation for investment advisory service. The information (e.g., tax ) provided is believed to be accurate however CSPG does not guarantee or otherwise warrant such information. For more information regarding CSPG you can refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) and review our Form ADV Brochure and other disclosures.

Parents’ Guide to Financial Aid: Scholarships, Grants, and Student Loans

The cost of higher education has skyrocketed, leaving many families scrambling to figure out how to afford tuition. And while investing in a 529 plan to help fund your child’s education is always a good idea, even high-income earners may wonder how they will cover costs, especially in households with multiple children. Fortunately, there are options available for financial support, but learning what they are and how to pursue them requires research, time, and effort.

Finding help with college expenses can be challenging, but the potential payoff is well worth the effort. According to CollegeBoard, the average tuition and fees for a four-year public in-state university were $10,740 in 2021, $27,560 for out-of-state residents, and $38,070 for private nonprofit four-year institutions. This doesn’t include room and board, which averages upwards of nearly $18,000. (1)

Multiply those numbers by four years, and a bachelor’s degree now runs from approximately $109,000 to $223,000—and the cost continues to rise each year. Over the past 20 years, the data shows tuition and fees alone at public four-year institutions have increased by nearly 180%, dramatically outpacing inflation. (2)

Unfortunately, rising costs are placing higher education out of reach for many American young people. And in pursuit of achieving this aspect of the American Dream, some are finding themselves in student loan debt that exceeds their ability to pay it back without significant financial strain. This is why it’s important for parents to do what they can to help their college-bound children find help paying for college.

Grants

The best thing about a grant is that it typically doesn’t need to be repaid unless a student withdraws or fails to complete a service obligation. However, most grants, such as Federal Pell Grants or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), are only available to students with exceptional financial needs. Others are available to students who fit certain criteria, such as the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for children in Gold Star Families. And some are for those who agree to a particular service obligation, such as the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

While most grants tend to be need-based, you may also find merit-based grants for students who demonstrate a commitment to community service, high levels of academic achievement, or remarkable leadership skills. Conduct an internet search for education grants in your state, and you may find options that meet your student’s profile.

Scholarships

A scholarship is a type of financial aid designed to help students cover the cost of an undergraduate degree, awarded based on merit. Like grants, scholarships do not have to be repaid. Eligibility criteria are set by the scholarship granting organization, such as the college or university, state education departments, private businesses, foundations, charities, and clubs.

Some scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit, exceptional athletic achievement, artistic talent, community service accomplishments, leadership track record, or merit-based diversity and inclusion designations for historically marginalized groups. Other scholarships are awarded as prizes for events such as essay contests, beauty pageants, oratorical contests, or robotics competitions.

You can find information about scholarships through high school guidance counselors and the college financial aid office and by doing research for yourself. Search online, check with your employer and any clubs or organizations you are a member of, look into local opportunities, and ask around. You might be surprised by what you find.

Work-Study Jobs

The Federal Work-Study Program is a way for students with financial needs to earn money to help pay for education expenses by working a part-time job. Unlike Pell grants, the need criteria for work-study may accommodate some middle-income families. Work-study jobs are usually community service-oriented or related to the student’s intended course of study. For example, if the student majors in psychology, they may work for a mental health facility affiliated with the school, providing administrative support.

The idea is to allow students to learn and contribute to public interest while earning at least minimum wage. Jobs may be on-campus working for the university or off-campus working for a non-profit, civic organization, or public agency.

Aid for Military Families

If either parent is a veteran or active duty or the student is planning to join the military or is currently active-duty personnel, the federal government and various nonprofit organizations offer money to cover higher education expenses.

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships, through the U.S. Army ROTC, Navy ROTC, and Airforce ROTC, award full and partial scholarships with various stipulations based on merit. Through the GI Bill, The Department of Veterans Affairs also offers educational benefits for veterans, widows, and dependents at select schools and job training sites.

Organizations that offer scholarships to military families include the American Legion, AMVETS (American Veterans), Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as smaller nonprofits throughout the country.

Other Federal and State Aid

The federal government also offers a variety of additional financial aid programs, including educational vouchers for former foster youth, tax credits for higher education, community service awards through AmeriCorps, Department of Health and Human Services programs, the National Institutes of Health programs, and more.

State governments offer aid, such as discretionary grants awarded using a competitive process. Some states have generous higher education support programs, such as the CAL Grant for California-specific financial aid, the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and the Georgia Hope Scholarship.

Student Loans

A student loan for college is money offered as part of the student’s financial aid package, and it must be paid back with interest. Federal student loans are funded by the government, and private student loans are made by another lender, such as a school, bank, credit union, or state agency. Types of federal loans for undergraduate students include Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Federal student loans for parents (which parents are responsible for paying back) are called Direct PLUS loans.

Federal student loans have terms and conditions set by law and come with benefits such as income-driven repayment plans and fixed interest rates. On the other hand, private loans come with terms and conditions set by the lender and tend to be more expensive than federal loans. In either case, the interest and fees are not cheap, and it’s a major commitment that should not be entered into lightly.

For many students, loans are a means to an end and a necessary evil that can’t be avoided. Gone are the days when a part-time job or even entry-level full-time job pays well enough to work one’s way through college, even with grants and scholarships.

But on average, a bachelor’s degree holder earns 75% more over a lifetime than someone with only a high school diploma. While going into significant debt can make other goals, such as purchasing a home, difficult, and the media often points to billionaire dropouts like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, the data still shows that education is the best route to earning more money and building wealth over a lifetime. (3)

How to Get Financial Aid

The most important step in gaining access to grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, and other aid is for the student to apply for it through the school’s financial aid office using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

Before completing the form, you should use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to estimate how much the student may be able to receive and what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be. From that point, you can start considering various options.

Whether your student will be pursuing loans, grants, scholarships, work-study, other aid, or all of the above, the sooner you get started, the better. Many types of aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it pays to complete the FAFSA early. (It becomes available on October 1st of the year PRIOR to enrollment.) Waiting until the last minute can mean you miss out on funds and opportunities that would have been available to your family and can be a costly mistake.

https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/student-aid
https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-by-year
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/13/more-education-doesnt-always-get-you-more-money-report-finds.html

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This material was prepared by Crystal Marketing Solutions, LLC, and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate and is intended merely for educational purposes, not as advice.

How to Protect Your Children and Their Inheritance with a Trust

We all want what’s best for our children and the people we leave behind when we die. You’ve worked hard and managed your money wisely to provide a comfortable lifestyle and leave a legacy. You know careful estate planning is integral to solid financial planning, but you may not be aware that decisions you make now can affect your kids well into the future.

If your heirs are young, immature, or tend to make poor financial decisions, you probably already have some concerns about how they might handle their inheritance. But if you have adult children who are reasonably responsible with money, you may think naming them as beneficiaries and completing a will are the only necessary steps to take.

Effective estate planning requires thinking several steps ahead, no matter the heir or circumstances. With the transfer of assets after your death, your hard-earned estate is vulnerable to a number of factors and there is a lot at stake, regardless of its size.

Here’s how to protect your kids (or other beneficiaries) from themselves and safeguard their inheritance with trusts.

Assess Various Scenarios

Let’s say you want to leave everything to your children. There are a variety of reasons a sudden windfall could work against them. To assess the situation, consider the following questions:

Are they old enough, mature enough, and equipped to handle a significant sum of money? Much like lottery winners who wind up broke, young adults who are unprepared to handle large windfalls can be susceptible to frivolous spending.
Are they in deep financial trouble, such as facing bankruptcy, large medical bills, lawsuits, or tax levies? If so, the debt could quickly swallow up their inheritance without even bailing them out of trouble.
Might they be in an abusive or unstable relationship? Their partner could pilfer the funds or a judge could award your money to their ex in a divorce settlement. Think about unsavory friends, too. Do you think they might be susceptible to being pressured into loaning money or investing in foolish schemes?
Do they have addiction problems? Substance abuse, gambling, or shopping addictions have led to the squandering of many inheritances.
Could they lose a needed form of state benefits, such as disability, Medicaid, or financial assistance? Be mindful of the fact that inheriting even a small amount of additional assets would likely render them ineligible and could put them in a bind.

It’s important to be careful about how you pass assets along to your kids. You’ll want to do so in a way that not only prevents them from blowing it, but also protects them from threats.

Remember That You’re in Charge

Deciding what to do with your estate does not always come with a straightforward or simple answer. Nobody is entitled to what you own—not even your adult children. While your spouse and your dependent children may have a legal claim to your estate or part of it, you are primarily in charge.

You get to choose who is deserving, equipped, and ready to be a beneficiary. You’re justified to attach strings to the inheritance, put measures in place to regulate the flow of money, or even disinherit your children or loved ones as you see fit. Make sure your wishes are clear in your will and that you have the proper estate documents in place.

Create a Spendthrift Trust

If you lack confidence that your child or other heir is responsible enough to handle the inheritance or there is another reason it needs to be protected, you can assign the responsibility to another party. This can be accomplished by setting up a trust and assigning a trustee to manage the funds.

A spendthrift trust gives the trustee authority to control funds and sets limitations on how your beneficiary is able to use the inherited funds.

For example, you may leave assets to your adult child in a trust and assign your sibling—their aunt or uncle—as the trustee, stating that they cannot access the funds without the trustee’s oversight until they reach the age of 30.

You can even put stipulations on the money, such as indicating that it must be used for tuition or that the beneficiary must present a clean drug test to access funds.

If not a family member, the trustee could be your attorney, accountant, or professional firm. Keep in mind, the trustee not only has the burden of dealing with the heir (and their possible resentment) but is also responsible for managing and investing the money. It’s a considerable responsibility, but the goal is to ensure a mature and responsible party holds the reins.

An added benefit is that a spendthrift trust can protect the funds from debtors, lawsuits, divorces, and bankruptcies because the assets are not directly owned by the beneficiary. However, it is important to note that the money can be treated as income or assets when it is actually paid out.

If a great deal of wealth is at stake, you may want to establish what’s called a dynasty trust, which would keep the inheritance in a trust indefinitely, protecting it from squandering, lawsuits, creditors, and poor decisions over a lifetime or as long as the money lasts.

Set up Installments or an Incentive Trust

Rather than putting a trustee in charge of doling out the funds at their sole discretion, you could also put measures in place to automatically limit how the funds are distributed.

Some people set up an incentive-based trust. The trustee maintains the burden as gatekeeper, but specific rules are put in place. For example, the inventive trust may only allow access to the funds based on certain behavior—payouts triggered by graduating from college, completing a drug rehab program, having children, reaching a certain income, qualifying for a home loan, or whatever milestone you’d like to set.

Here’s another option. Maybe you don’t want your heirs to receive one lump sum but would prefer the funds trickle out over time. For example, you can state that the heir gets an annual allowance, or break up the full amount—a third at age 25, another third at age 30, and the final payment at age 35. You could achieve a similar payout structure by buying an annuity for your heir, which would save the fees associated with managing a trust.

Estate Planning

Your estate planning should take careful consideration of how your assets will be passed on to your heirs. Whether the goal is to shield them from themselves, creditors, predatory behavior, taxation, or all of the above, an experienced estate planning attorney can help you establish a trust that ensures your wishes are met and provides adequate protection.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax or legal issues with a qualified tax advisor or legal professional.

A Windfall of Opportunities: How to Make Smart Choices with Sudden Money

Receiving a financial windfall, whether it’s a surprise inheritance, a lottery win, or a legal settlement, can be both exciting and overwhelming. It’s natural to feel a rush of emotion and to want to spend the money right away, but it’s important to take a step back and think about how to be smart with your windfall.

Here are a few tips to consider if a financial windfall occurs:

Don’t Make Any Hasty Decisions

It’s important to take your time and think through your options before making any major financial moves. Avoid the temptation to make impulsive purchases or investments. It may be helpful to allow yourself a cooling-off period before making any major decisions to allow emotions to calm. This is especially important if your newfound wealth is the result of the death of a loved one, as grief may cloud your judgment. Give yourself time to adjust to the change in your financial situation and to think through your options before acting.

Pay Off Debt

If you have high-interest debt, such as credit cards or student loans, it may be a good idea to use some of your windfall to pay it off. With credit card debt in particular, the interest you are paying may be hindering your ability to pay for other things, but even for lower-interest debts, paying them off before spending in other areas often makes good money sense. And paying down debt will also improve your credit score.

Build Your Emergency Fund

If you don’t already have three to six months of income set aside in an emergency fund, now’s the time to get that taken care of. Having a fully funded emergency fund is important in the case of an unexpected event like a major home or car repair, medical problems, or job loss.

Max Out Your Retirement Accounts and Invest

Once you’ve taken care of debt and set aside money for a rainy day, saving some of your windfall for your future may be your next goal. Even if you’re close to retirement, the power of compound interest can still work to your advantage. You may decide to make it a priority to max out contributions to your retirement account and consider investing the rest for other long-term goals, like buying a home or paying for a child or grandchild’s college.

Beware of Lifestyle Creep and Impulse Buys

A financial windfall can tempt you to upgrade your lifestyle and spending habits, but it’s important to be mindful of overspending and to maintain a level of discipline. Even though your expenses may be lower now that some or all of your debts are paid off, you may be better served saving the excess towards a long-term goal than finding new ways to spend it. And while there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself with some of your windfall, you may want to pause before giving in to the temptation to make large, expensive purchases (or even a lot of little ones) that aren’t true needs. A budget can help you keep track of your spending and ensure that you’re using your windfall in a way that aligns with your goals.

Give Back

If you’re feeling grateful for your windfall, consider giving back to your community or supporting a cause that is important to you. Or, you could put some aside for a child or grandchild to help them buy their first car or home. This can be a fulfilling way to use your money and make a positive impact.

Seek Professional Advice

It’s often suggested to seek professional advice when you come into a large sum of money. Depending on your circumstances, consider working with a tax professional to understand the tax implications and a lawyer to help navigate any related legal matters. Also, speaking with a financial advisor, such as our team, can help you make informed decisions about developing a plan for managing and investing the money.

Be Smart

By following these tips, you can be smart about your windfall and use it to help improve your financial future. The main idea should be to have a well-thought-out plan, make smart financial decisions, be mindful of the long term, and seek professional advice.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.