Signed into law almost a year ago, the SECURE Act bestowed IRA owners with some new perks—they can take more time to build up tax-deferred savings and growth, for instance, before they have to start making distributions from their retirement accounts. On the flip side, however, the act also spelled the end of the stretch IRA. Fortunately, your clients have options when it comes to mitigating the negative effects of this change on their financial plans.

It’s a difficult choice: should parents focus on saving for retirement or a college education for their children? For many families, meeting one of these goals is a challenge, and juggling both can seem impossible. How, then, can you help your clients make the right decision or balance their priorities? The right choice, for many clients, will be clear. For the reasons I discuss below, most parents should make saving for retirement their priority. Let’s explore the financial planning issues at stake.

Helping your clients use debt wisely goes hand in hand with budget planning. While many think the term debt carries a negative connotation, not all forms of debt should be viewed with disfavor. For some, debt is a necessary piece of their financial picture, and it can be used to help obtain an education, purchase a home, or establish a business.

“What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours” is a typical mantra of married couples. But when it comes to debt, that saying can be scary. Fortunately, the general rule is that spouses are not responsible for each other’s debts (in the legal sense, of course). Therefore, when agreeing to assume a liability, the borrower’s spouse can usually rest assured he or she will not be held responsible if the borrower is unable to meet his or her obligations.

In 2017, following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a dramatic step was taken to double the federal estate tax exemption amount. Today, individual estates valued at less than $11.4 million are not subject to taxation at a federal level. This new threshold means only a small fraction of estates will be subject to the federal estate tax upon death for the foreseeable future.