Essential Estate Planning Conversations for Families
Who will keep the family home? Should you leave an inheritance or help loved ones while you’re here to see the impact? These are more than estate planning decisions — they’re family conversations.
Join local advisors Thomas Hackett, Ralph Doggett and Heidi Johnson Bixby for a practical conversation about navigating these important decisions with the people you love.
Essential Estate Planning Conversations for Families
Thursday, September 17 | 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Attend in person at Ripple Space over morning refreshments or join us online via Zoom.
Be Cautious of IRS Letters with QR Codes
If you receive a letter that looks to be from the IRS with a QR code, pause before scanning it and verify that it’s legitimate. The best way to do this is to log in to your secure IRS account through ID.me. Copies of letters and notices sent to you by the IRS will be available in your account. You can also call the IRS using the phone number listed on the official IRS website.
And if you’re ever unsure or need further assistance, we’re here to help.
Do You Have Cybersecurity Questions? Get Answers!
Staying safe online can feel like a moving target. New scams emerge, technology changes, and it can be hard to know whether you’re doing enough to protect yourself.
That’s why we’re hosting a Ripple Event: Cybersecurity – Your Questions, Answered on September 22 at 4 p.m.
We hope you join us for an interactive conversation with Nick Mancini, Senior Consultant with Schwab Advisor Services. Bring your questions and learn practical ways to protect yourself from phishing, malware, AI-related threats and other common vulnerabilities.
Key Dates & Look Ahead
October 15 is the final extended deadline to file your 2025 federal income tax return (Form 1040). If you haven’t done so already, please submit your documents to us before September 15.
2026 Standard Mileage Rate Change
The IRS increased the standard business mileage rate for use of your personal vehicle for business effective July 1, 2026, so two different rates apply this year:
January 1–June 30, 2026: 72.5 cents per mile
July 1–December 31, 2026: 76 cents per mile
Because of the mid-year change, be sure to keep your business mileage separated by these two periods. At tax time, we’ll need your total business miles for January 1–June 30 and July 1–December 31.
A Simpler Way to Work with ITS is Coming
We are setting up our new client portal now! Here’s a preview of how your login screen will look on desktop.
Our goal is to make it easier for you to securely share documents and information with our team, find what you need and stay organized throughout the tax process. More to come about when you can expect access to the new portal.
