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Correction 1-21-23: The original version of this post contained a mistake. The credit rate (50%, 20%, 10%) only applies to the first $2,000 you contribute to a qualified plan. Amounts above $2,000 don't get the credit. In the original post, I assumed that as long as the credit rate times the amount contributed didn't exceed … Continue reading Saver’s Credit: An Overlooked Tax Credit for Many Beginning Teachers
Every year when the Colorado legislature meets in the spring, there are typically several bills related to Colorado PERA that are proposed and sometimes passed. Sometimes those bills are very minor and sometimes very major. When they are major, they typically get a ton of attention, but when they are minor (or at least perceived … Continue reading PERA-Related Bills Before the Colorado Legislature: Your Action Needed
Yep, another clickbaity headline, but hear me out. A couple of months ago I wrote my last clickbaity headline, How to Make $2,000 in 30 Minutes (For Real), which described how you could make $2,000 in an (arbitrarily chosen) six years by getting the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card (that's a referral link … Continue reading Turn 30 Minutes into $15,000 (No smoke and mirrors, just math)
I wrote last year about asking around about alternatives to TurboTax and someone suggested FreeTaxUSA. After reading some reviews, it looked very promising but, since I had already filed my taxes for last year, I didn't have personal experience with it. Well, now I do, and I highly recommend giving it a try. For me, … Continue reading Filing Taxes for Free with FreeTaxUSA
I was asked to give a presentation to the high school I used to work at regarding some things to be thinking about as you near retirement with a benefit from Colorado PERA. It was a virtual presentation, and given during their lunch time, so it was rather hurried but I hope it was useful … Continue reading Colorado PERA Retirement Considerations Presentation
Most Colorado educators are generally aware of the formula that calculates their PERA pension benefit: Years of Service Credit x 2.5% x Highest Average Salary (HAS) They also are generally aware of which HAS Table they use so they know when they qualify for a "full" retirement (non-green-shaded areas of your HAS Table). If you … Continue reading Colorado PERA Retirement Options 1, 2 and 3
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