Hightower Westchester

10/08/2026

THE RETIREMENT WITHDRAWAL THAT TAXES YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

Required Minimum Distributions are treated as taxable income. For larger retirement balances, that added income may push you into a higher bracket, and it could increase the portion of your Social Security benefits subject to tax.

One withdrawal, two consequences.

If this is a conversation worth having, the Hightower Westchester team is here whenever you'd like to talk it through.

10/01/2026

WHY YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT STATEMENT OVERSTATES WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPEND

That balance you worked decades to build? Some of it may still belong to the IRS.

Tax-deferred growth in traditional retirement accounts means taxes may still be owed when the money comes out. Worth understanding before you plan around the amount.

If this is a conversation worth having, the Hightower Westchester team is here whenever you'd like to talk it through.

09/30/2026

RETIREMENT TAXES: WHY YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT BALANCE ISN'T WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET TO SPEND

You did the work. You contributed, you stayed invested, and you watched the number climb.

But the balance on a retirement account statement may not be the amount that you actually get to spend. Tax-deferred growth means taxes may still be owed at withdrawal. Required Minimum Distributions may push income into a higher bracket. And Medicare's IRMAA surcharge may raise Part B and Part D premiums based on income from two years prior.

Dawn Israel breaks down how taxes, retirement income, investments, and healthcare costs may work better as one coordinated conversation rather than four separate ones.
If this is a conversation worth having, the Hightower Westchester team is here whenever you'd like to talk it through.

09/17/2026

THE HELP THAT ISN'T ABOUT MONEY AT ALL

The most valuable support you give your kids might not be a check at all.

Questions about supporting your family without losing sight of your own plan? The Hightower Westchester team is here to help you think it through.

09/11/2026

THE ONE TOPIC PARENTS SKIP WITH THEIR KIDS

Tying shoelaces? Taught. Throwing a ball? Taught. The value of a dollar? That one often gets skipped.

Questions about supporting your family without losing sight of your own plan? The Hightower Westchester team is here to help you think it through.

08/27/2026

WHEN HELP HAS NO PLAN BEHIND IT

Rent. A car repair. An expense out of nowhere. You're glad to help — but is there a plan behind it?

Questions about supporting your family without losing sight of your own plan? The Hightower Westchester team is here to help you think it through.

08/27/2026

WHEN HELPING YOUR ADULT CHILDREN BECOMES AN EXPECTATION

The phone rings for a rent payment. A car repair. An expense out of nowhere. You're glad to help — but at some point you realize there's no plan behind any of it.

Peter Lang, AIF®, on supporting your adult children without losing sight of your own plan. 👇

Questions about supporting your family without losing sight of your own plan? The Hightower Westchester team is here to help you think it through.

08/24/2026

What if building wealth wasn't about making one big financial move, but about the little decisions you make every day? An extra payment toward debt, a transfer to savings, or simply sticking to your budget may not feel significant in the moment, but those small victories can add up over time. In this month's blog, Roman Ciosek explores how small financial wins can build confidence, create lasting habits, and help you stay motivated as you work toward your bigger financial goals, one step at a time.

As humans, we often measure our success by the big milestones—landing a first job, traveling to a dream destination, getting married, or purchasing a home. These significant achievements matter, of course, but focusing solely on the big picture can cause us to overlook the smaller wins that made t...

08/11/2026

A LOSS THAT MAY HELP YOU
Believe it or not, selling at a loss can sometimes work in your favor at tax time. Here's the idea behind tax-loss harvesting.

08/07/2026

THE SAME GAIN, TAXED TWO WAYS

How long you hold an investment may change how its profit is taxed. Gains on investments held more than a year may qualify for a lower long-term capital gains rate, while gains on investments held a year or less are generally taxed at your regular income rate. Time can be a quiet driver of tax efficiency.