While we may be approaching the end of the year, there is still time to trim your tax bill for next year. Whether you had a year full of financial gain, suffered financial losses or rode the middle ground all year, you can still make moves to put yourself in a better position come tax day.

Now is a great time to make these easy and smart tax moves to reduce your taxes owed and maximize your returns when you file next year.

1. Make 401(k) and HSA contributions.

A great way to reduce your taxable income is to contribute to your 401(k) and/or your Health Savings Account. While you have until April 15 of next year to put money towards your HSA, the deadline for 401(k) tax-deductible contributions is December 31.

It’s a good idea to try and increase your 401(k) contributions and put in the maximum amount allowed. In 2020, that amount is capped at $19,500. For those who are 50+ the amount is capped at $26,000. Even if you can’t put in the maximum amount, any amount is helping you build your nest egg for retirement.

The contribution limit for a HSA in 2020 is $3,550 for individuals and $7,100 for family plans. Those who are 55+ can add an extra $1,000.

2. Convert money from a traditional IRA to Roth IRA.

If you lost income this year, it may be in your best interest to convert any traditional individual retirement accounts to a Roth IRA. You invest after-tax dollars into a Roth IRA, which means they grow tax-free over time. A major bonus for investing in a Roth IRA is the possibility that your money could be free of taxes in retirement.

Converting to a Roth IRA means you could potentially reap these benefits:

• No required minimum distributions (RMD).
• Very low tax levels.
• Increased flexibility for estate planning and tax diversification.

3. Spend your FSA.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account that you use to pay for out-of-pocket health care costs and still have money left, you may want to use it before the year is over. While you can carry over money to the next year, it’s often limited to around $500.

If you’re not sure how to spend it before end-of-year, you can use your FSA funds for a plethora of items and services. These include eye exams, diabetic supplies, dental treatment, contact lenses, eyeglasses, first aid supplies, sunscreen, over the counter medicine and more.

4. Donate to charity.

If you’re looking to clean out your closet while also trimming your tax bill, consider donating unwanted clothes or other items to a local charity. You can receive tax deductions for donating non-cash items and/or money to qualified charitable organizations. If you’re interested in doing so, make sure to get an itemized receipt for everything you donate!

5. Purchase items for your business.

Consider making purchases for your small business or side-gig before the end of the year as “ordinary and necessary” business expenses can be used for tax deductions. These deductions are available to those who are self-employed. Purchases that are eligible for a tax write-off include: home-office supplies, mileage, expenses pertaining to your home-office and any equipment or materials bought for your business.

6. Meet with your advisor.

Taking the time to meet with your financial advisor before the end of the year is an excellent way to reduce taxes. Ultimately, they’re going to be your best source of knowledge when it comes to tax planning. They can dive deep into your unique situation and pinpoint possible strategies to reduce your taxes.

Billions of dollars of federal aid is given out to students across the country every year. The only way for your student to receive any of this money is by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. Schools use the information they receive from this application to gauge a student’s eligibility for financial aid.

Completing the FAFSA means your child will be eligible for:

Grants: Money from federal and state governments based on financial need. Grants are a form of financial aid that, in most cases, does not need to be repaid.

Scholarships: Merit-based financial aid given to students. While some believe that means eligibility is not connected to the FAFSA, many scholarships offered by community colleges and universities require applicants to have it completed. Again, this is “free money” that doesn’t need to be repaid in most cases.

Work-study: Work-study allows students to work part-time on campus and use their earnings to pay for their tuition or other expenses. Those who fill out the FAFSA are considered to participate in work-study if they meet a certain criteria.

Federal Student Loans: All students who plan on taking out student loans are required to complete the FAFSA. One perk is that federal student loans are often more affordable and offer better benefits than private loans.

Filling out the FAFSA is crucial in securing money to fund your child’s education, so it’s extremely important that it’s completed correctly and turned in on time. If you’re not well-versed in the FAFSA, this is easier said than done as it’s notoriously long and confusing.

It may seem overwhelming, but don’t let its bad reputation scare you. Taking just a little bit of time to educate yourself on common FAFSA mistakes will put you in a much better position to avoid any missteps or headaches.

1. Not filling it out.

Some choose not to fill the FAFSA out because they believe they won’t be eligible for any money. Thinking like this can actually cost you money! As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Without giving it a shot, you’ll never know what your child could receive. Even if it’s lower than the amount you were hoping for, it’s still money. Plus, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you may get.

2. Not preparing beforehand.

Before you do any other prep, you need to create a FSA ID. This is the online ID you use to login and complete the FAFSA, as well as access financial aid information.

Next, gather the documents required to complete the application. Preparing beforehand can expedite the process immensely. These documents include:

• Social Security card for both parent and student.
• Alien registration number (if you’re not a U.S. citizen).
• Federal tax returns, W-2s, 1099s or any other records of the money you’ve earned. (Note: you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to access these documents online).
• Driver’s licenses (if applicable).
• Bank statements such as savings and checking account balances.
• Records of any investments.
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable).

If you start the application and realize you don’t have one of these documents, don’t worry! You can save your progress, log out and complete it at a later date.

3. Not filing as soon as possible.

A lot of grants and scholarships offered through states and colleges are first-come, first-served. This is a major reason you don’t want to wait until the last minute to complete the FAFSA. The earlier you complete and submit it, the higher your chances are at receiving financial aid. Getting it done as soon as possible also means you won’t miss any deadlines!

4. Only filing once.

Filing the FAFSA is not something you only do once. There’s a common misconception that once your child’s college of choice has their FAFSA information, it’s good for the entirety of their time there. However, it needs to be submitted each year your child is attending college, even if your information or financial situation has not changed.

That being said, it does get less time consuming after the first time. Because you will already have your FSA ID account set up, your information will be pre-filled and waiting for your confirmation or any updates at the time of renewal.

5. Not filing an appeal if your financial situation has changed.

If families experience any loss in income due to job loss, reduction in hours, extensive medical expenses or large costs for dependents such as elderly parents or special needs children, there’s an option to appeal for more financial aid even after submitting the FAFSA.

Completing this form allows the college your child is already attending, or colleges they’re interested in, to reevaluate their financial needs. A best practice is contacting the college’s financial aid office to see what information they’ll need to start the appeal process.

6. Not finding help if you need it.

Correctly completing the FAFSA is crucial to securing financial aid. If you’re not confident in your ability to do so, the best option is to find help! Seeking the counsel of someone who knows what they’re doing is better than guessing and making simple errors.

Figuring out how to finance higher education for your child or children can be a daunting task. While there are many options to explore, looking into scholarships and grants (also known as gift aid) is a great place to start. Unlike student loans, scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back and can significantly decrease the amount you’ll need to pay out of pocket.

While they’re both essentially “free money” and some use these terms interchangeably, scholarships and grants are not the same thing. Understanding their differences can help you tremendously to secure them.

Scholarships

A scholarship is usually merit-based, meaning they are based upon a person’s achievements, academic or not. These achievements don’t necessarily need to be from the classroom, but can come from one’s hobbies or interests. They’re usually awarded for academic, athletic, artistic or musical talent. They can also be awarded to students who are going into a certain field of study or for their family background.

There’s vast amount of scholarships out there, and there’s no limit to the amount a student can apply for, and in most cases, use. It’s always important to check the terms and conditions before accepting a scholarship, but most of the time you can accept as many as you’d like. Some academic and athletic scholarships are “full rides” which mean they cover the entirety of a student’s expenses. In this case, you’d only have to accept one!

Grants

Unlike scholarships, grants are given based upon a student’s financial needs and economic status. There are four main types of grants: federal, private, state and institutional.

Federal Grants

These grants are given by the federal government to those attending a community college, four-year university or other career programs. Federal grants are broken down into four programs: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

Private Grants

These grants come from private companies and nonprofits. Private grants are usually given to low-income students or those who belong to a certain ethnic or racial group.

Institutional Grants

These grants are given by the institution that a student plans to attend. They often use the information from your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine if you qualify for any grants. Many colleges and universities provide grants to help students attend their school.

State Grants

These grants are awarded by the state, oftentimes to encourage students to attend college. To receive a state grant, you typically must fill out the FAFSA, be a resident of and plan on attending college in that state.

How to Apply

The application process for scholarships and grants have some similarities, as well as some differences. One major similarity is that you can find and apply for a vast amount of them online. It’s as easy as typing in terms that match the description of a scholarship or grant you’re interested in on a search engine, and you’ll be met with a plethora of options.

It’s helpful to ask your friends, family and others in your local community if there are any opportunities they’re aware of. Another excellent resource is your child’s school. Their guidance counselor will most likely be a great asset in helping you find the best match for your child’s wants, needs and talents.

One thing that makes grants different from scholarships is that a student is automatically considered for federal and institutional grants when they submit their FAFSA. They usually don’t require any extra work or searching.

Tips for Applying for Scholarships and Grants

Stay organized.

If your student plans on applying for multiple scholarships and/or grants, it’s in their best interest to keep a list of the ones they’re interested in and which they’ve applied for. It may be helpful to create a spreadsheet that outlines the various requirements and deadlines or each grant/scholarship.

Be aware of potential scams.

There are scams designed to steal your personal information and/or take your money. Make sure the website you’re searching from and any offer your student receives is legitimate.

Follow instructions very carefully.

If you don’t follow instructions or miss a deadline, your application could be thrown out. As mentioned above, staying organized and using a spreadsheet will help ensure no deadlines are missed and that all requirements are met.

Don’t wait to apply.

Many think that they can only start applying for scholarships and grants their senior year of high school. This is false! In most cases, students can apply much earlier. As some opportunities are first come, first served, it’s important to apply as early as possible.

Even after receiving gift aid, sometimes there is still a considerable amount of money to be paid. Through careful planning and expert guidance, you can avoid going into debt or leaving your child with a large amount of student debt. SimplyAdvised has trusted and vetted experts who can help you find the best route possible to finance your child’s education.

Before you commit to hiring a financial advisor, it’s important that you ask the right questions. You’ll be working with this professional to achieve your financial goals—whatever they may be. You’ll want to feel confident that they’ll be able to guide you through important decisions and work with your best interest in mind. It’s crucial to be aware of their credentials, experience and knowledge.

Asking these nine questions will give you a good idea if they’re someone you’d be interested in working with. 

1. Are you a fiduciary?

A fiduciary works in the best interest of their client and puts their needs first. Non-fiduciary advisors may be selling their firm’s products/services to earn commission, which could skew their recommendations away from what fits you best.

2. Do you hold any industry certifications?

There’s a wide range of certifications financial advisors can hold. It’s important to understand the background of the person you could potentially be working with.

3. How are you compensated for your services? 

Financial advisors are compensated differently depending on the firm they work for. Whether it be an hourly or a flat fee, this is always a good question to ask so you know what to expect. 

4. What is your investment philosophy?

An investment philosophy will usually determine how your money will be handled. While one advisor might focus on long-term investing in a globally diversified portfolio and may encourage choosing only low-cost exchange-traded funds, another advisor might have an entirely different philosophy. Asking this will make sure you’re both on the same page. 

5. Is there a niche that you work with?

Everyone has different needs from their financial advisor. Make sure you’re working with someone who specializes in the area(s) you’re focusing on.

6. Do you have any account or relationship minimums? 

Depending on your portfolio size, some advisors might be a better fit than others. 

7. How often will we meet?

While this is pretty straightforward, it’s important for you and your advisor to be on the same page  in regard to how often you’ll meet—whether that be annually, semi-annually or quarterly. 

8. How will I hear from you?

You may have a preference of how you’d like to communicate, whether it be phone, email, video conference or in-person. Most advisors are more than happy to communicate with you in whichever method you prefer, just let them know! 

9. Do you have any references? 

Similar to looking for a job candidate, when you’re looking to find the perfect advisor you’ll want to know what others who have previously worked with them have to say.

While you should do your research ahead of time and use search tools to look into someone you’re going to potentially work with, it’s still good to get this information from the advisor themselves and make sure they’re transparent and truthful. 

At the end of the day, you’re creating a relationship. If hired, you’ll be trusting this professional with your financial future. This means you’ll want to be certain that this is the right advisor for you. Asking these questions may be a little uncomfortable, but having a clear understanding of an advisor’s expectations, qualifications and philosophies will be beneficial to both of you in the long run.