Articles by Will Osagiede, CFP®, AWMA®
Browse OnWealth articles written by Will Osagiede, CFP®, AWMA®.
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Savings
How Much Emergency Fund Should You Have?
An emergency fund is money set aside for unplanned expenses or a loss of income. The right amount depends on your expenses, income stability, and overall financial risk.
Retirement
7 Retirement Planning Mistakes That Can Cost You Later
Retirement mistakes usually get expensive because they compound quietly. Delayed saving, weak tax planning, casual Social Security decisions, mismatched investments, and no withdrawal plan can all leave retirement less secure and less flexible.
Insurance
What Happens If Your Auto Insurance Limits Are Too Low?
Low auto insurance limits can satisfy the law and still leave you exposed if the accident costs rise beyond what the policy will pay.
Mortgages
What Mortgage Payment Can You Really Afford?
A mortgage payment is only useful when you look past principal and interest and ask whether the full monthly ownership cost still fits your actual household cash flow.
Taxes
What Triggers an IRS Underpayment Penalty?
An IRS underpayment penalty can happen when you do not pay enough tax during the year through withholding and estimated payments, even if you were not trying to underpay.
Taxes
How Estimated Taxes Work for Freelancers and Side Income
Estimated taxes help freelancers, contractors, and side-income earners pay tax during the year when withholding is not enough to cover what they will owe.
Insurance
Who Should You Name as a Life Insurance Beneficiary?
Naming a life insurance beneficiary is not just a form field. The right choice affects who receives the death benefit, how quickly it can be paid, and whether your designation still works after major life changes.
Investing
How Asset Allocation Changes Investment Risk
Asset allocation shapes how much risk a portfolio takes, how deep losses can feel, and whether the mix still fits the goal when markets change.
Investing
When Should You Rebalance a Portfolio?
A portfolio may need rebalancing when market moves, time horizon changes, or allocation drift push the mix away from the risk level you intended to hold.
Taxes
What Is Tax-Loss Harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of realizing investment losses in a taxable account to offset capital gains and, within IRS limits, reduce other income.
Taxes
How Capital Gains Tax Works
Capital gains tax depends on what you sold, how long you held it, your taxable income, and whether the gain is short-term or long-term.
Credit Cards
When Should You Ask for a Credit Limit Increase on a Starter Card?
A credit limit increase can make a starter card easier to use, but the timing matters. The cleaner moment is usually after you have shown on-time payments, kept balances from crowding the limit, and know a higher limit will not tempt you into spending more.
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