Insights on tax, equity, and building wealth
Guides and analysis from the Harness team and the advisors on the platform.
1031 Exchange Timelines: Why Q4 Is the Riskiest Time to Start
A 1031 exchange started in Q4 can lose weeks of its 180-day window to your tax filing deadline. Here’s the rule, the math, and the fix.
How Much to Contribute to Your 401(k) Before Year-End to Hit the 2026
The 2026 401(k) limit is $24,500 ($32,500 at 50+, $35,750 at 60-63). Here’s the paycheck math to hit it before December 31.
Bought Rental Property This Year? Your Q4 Cost Seg Timeline
Bought a rental property in 2026? Here’s the realistic Q4 timeline for a cost segregation study, how 100% bonus depreciation factors in, and what it costs.
HSAs as a Stealth Retirement Account: The Triple Tax Advantage Explained
An HSA offers a tax break no retirement account matches — deductible in, tax-free growth, tax-free out. Here’s the 2026 limits and the retirement play.
Trump Accounts Explained: The New Tax-Advantaged Savings Vehicle Launching in 2026
Trump Accounts let families save up to $5,000/year per child, tax-deferred. Here’s the $1,000 seed deposit, employer rules, and deadlines for 2026.
Mega Backdoor Roth in 2026: Who Should Still Use It After OBBBA
The mega backdoor Roth still works in 2026 — up to $47,500 in after-tax 401(k) space. Here’s who qualifies, what OBBBA changed, and the catch.
Real Estate Professional Status: Qualifying Rules and Common Mistakes
The two-part 750-hour test for real estate professional status under IRC 469(c)(7), material participation rules, and the documentation failures that sink audits.
1031 Exchanges vs. Delaware Statutory Trusts: Which Deferral Strategy Fits Your Portfolio
Compare direct 1031 exchanges and DST replacement properties — deadlines, control, minimums, and liquidity — before your next real estate sale.
Cost Segregation Studies: Accelerating Depreciation on Investment Property
How a cost segregation study reclassifies building components for faster depreciation, works with 100% bonus depreciation, and what recapture means at sale.
How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost? (Updated for 2026)
The total average cost of working with a financial advisor will depend on what type of advice you're seeking, as well as the fee structure the advisor uses for the services you receive.
U.S. Net Worth by Age: What the Data Shows [Updated for 2026]
Understand BOI reports, who needs to file, and how. Our guide covers everything you need to know about Beneficial Ownership Information reporting.
Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)—What Is It and How Does It Work?
Estate planning for high-net-worth couples is entering a period of major transition. With the federal estate and gift tax exemption scheduled to drop by roughly half on January 1, 2026, many families are re-evaluating strategies to reduce future tax exposure while maintaining financial flexibility. One tool gaining renewed attention is the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)—an irrevocable trust that allows one spouse to transfer assets out of their taxable estate while still preserving indirect access to those assets through the other spouse.
SECURE 2.0 Retirement Account Changes 2025: 401k & IRA Updates Explained
SECURE 2.0 is reshaping retirement planning, with the most significant provisions taking effect in 2025. If you're wondering how these changes will impact your retirement strategy and what opportunities you should prepare for, read on.
529 to Roth IRA Rollovers 2025: A Guide to Eligibility & How to Do It
Despite 529 accounts being an effective way for parents to save for their children's education, many families have hesitated in the past to fully fund their 529 accounts. This is largely due to concerns that unused funds will face penalties if a child's education plans change, which often leads to under-saving for college expenses.
6 Strategies for Generational Wealth Transfer
The numbers behind the “Great Wealth Transfer” are staggering—an estimated $124 trillion is expected to pass from Baby Boomers and older generations to heirs by 2048. But what’s often lost in this headline-grabbing statistic is how complex, fragile, and deeply personal this transfer can be.
Understanding the Roth IRA 5-Year Rule: Withdrawals, Conversions, and Timeline
For all the considerable advantages that a Roth IRA brings to retirement planning, it comes with small print that investors need to be aware of. Chief among these details is the Roth IRA 5-year rule—a timing requirement that determines when you can access retirement funds tax-free and how conversions from traditional accounts get treated.
The Pros & Cons of a SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k) in 2025
As self-employment has continued to grow as a career path, so too has the importance of retirement planning. The decision between a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k) carries more weight now than ever, with 2025 bringing adjusted contribution limits and fresh tax considerations.
10 Rules for Superfunding a 529 Plan in 2025
A 529 college savings plan is a tax-advantaged tool that helps families meet the challenge of college costs. For those with substantial assets, a strategy that can be more impactful is "superfunding." Superfunding uses a special provision in the tax code to contribute a large lump sum to a 529 plan, treating it as five years of gifts. This strategy allows individuals with larger sums of money to accelerate college savings while reducing their taxable estate.
How the $1000 'Trump Accounts' for Kids Will Work
Starting in 2025, a new tax-advantaged savings vehicle is being introduced for families: Trump Accounts for Kids. These federally backed accounts provide $1,000 in seed funding for eligible newborns, with tax-deferred growth and contribution opportunities designed to support long-term wealth building.
Set Your Kids Up for Success: What You Need to Know About 529s and Education Savings
College education represents one of the most significant investments in your child's future. With tuition costs climbing relentlessly, many families struggle to fund higher education without burdening their children with crushing student loan debt.
How to Use FIRE to Retire Early
The allure of early retirement has given rise to a powerful financial strategy known as FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). The strategy focuses on building a life where your expenses can be comfortably covered by passive income, granting you the freedom to pursue retirement long before the traditional retirement age.
Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts: Which Is Best for Protecting Family Wealth?
Throughout today's complex financial environment, trusts have emerged as sophisticated instruments for protecting and transferring wealth. These legal frameworks offer families a powerful way to safeguard assets, maintain privacy, and ensure their legacy passes to future generations exactly as intended.
A Guide to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)
The total average cost of working with a financial advisor will depend on what type of advice you're seeking, as well as the fee structure the advisor uses for the services you receive.
How Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Founders Can Manage Wealth
Looking for a wealth manager? Harness can connect you with hand-picked tax, financial, and estate experts from around the United States.
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