Resources & Services
We are happy to share some of the resources and services providers that we frequently recommend to clients on this page for our clients and others who may find it useful. Nothing on our webpage or any links provided should be considered investment advice. It is provided exclusively for educational and informational purposes.
Banking & Savings
MaxMyInterest
Max finds competitive rates offered on High Yield FDIC Savings accounts and helps you easily open and close the accounts and move your cash to maximize your interest. Max charges a small fee for their service and provides additional cash management tools. You can link many checking accounts directly to Max.
National Cooperative Bank
NCB works with individuals who want to make a positive impact in their community. When you choose NCB’s Impact Checking and Savings Accounts, you’ll enjoy all the conveniences you love, from a bank that supports the things you care about. You deserve a bank that you feel good about.
Brokers & Custodians
Charles Schwab & Co.
Balanced Rock uses Charles Schwab as broker and custodian for most of our clients’ assets under management and recommends their services for financial planning clients and others.
College & Education Funding
Massachusetts U Fund 529 Plan
Fidelity
The Massachusetts 529 Plan provider. For MA residents, contributions up to $1,000/year for single filers and $2,000 for married filing jointly to a MA 529 Plan may be tax-deductible.
Federal Student Aid
Official Website
Information about applying for student aid. Start the FAFSA application, apply for PLUS Loans, research grants and scholarships, and more from this website.
Legal Services & Resources
Pathway Law
Belmont, MA
Pathway Law strives to serve its clients by providing thoughtful trust and estate services that protect assets, minimize taxes, and plan for our client’s best possible lives; and, even after death, continue to support and inspire their loved ones on their own life journeys.
Lang Coakley
West Roxbury, MA
Lang Coakley is a boutique law practice in Boston, Massachusetts that provides practical legal advice to small businesses, families and individuals.
ACTEC
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Consumer Resources
A wide variety of free information about estate planning concepts from legal experts.
NOLO
Wills Trusts and Estate Planning
A free guide to many aspects of estate planning, including wills, trusts, living wills, and powers of attorney.
Mortgage Lenders & Resources
LoanDepot.com
LoanDepot is a direct mortgage lender offering very competitive interest rates. They offer mortgages to self-employed individuals that Aimloan.com is no longer underwriting. LoanDepot will waive its origination fee for refinancing an existing LoanDepot loan.
Aimloan.com
Aimloan.com is a direct mortgage lender with very competitive interest rates. We have found the online estimates of rates and closing costs provided via their online estimator to be very reliable.
Mortgage Calculator
A full-featured free online mortgage calculator.
Tax Preparers & Resources
Ron Mutascio & Associates
West Roxbury, MA
Ron Mutascio P.C. specializes in small business accounting and individual income tax preparation. The Firm's philosophy is that although compliance with the myriad of tax rules and regulations is confusing and complicated, conversations with your tax professional should be comprehensive yet easy to understand.
Gonzalez & Associates, P.C.
Stoughton, MA
Gonzalez and Associates, P.C. provides services in the accounting, audit and tax areas including corporate, partnership, trust, estate, and individual tax preparation, financial and retirement planning, audit, reviews and compilations of non public and non profit entities. They have extensive experience in the area of planning issues for same gender married couples and unmarried couples. They are also well versed in the tax issues that affect transgendered tax payers.
Free Tax Filing Resources
IRS
Find free options for filing your federal taxes online, through the IRS Free File Program. Most of the free options are for taxpayers with an AGI of $72,000 or under. This program does not include free electronic filing of state tax returns.
Tax Information for Individuals
IRS
A wide variety of you can find extensive tax information here for Individuals direct from the IRS for free. free information about estate planning concepts from legal experts.
Other Resources
Health Insurance Counseling
Massachusetts
The SHINE Program (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) provides free health insurance information, counseling and assistance to all Massachusetts residents with Medicare.
Social Security Administration
A free and secure Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive. All from anywhere!
Medicare
Enroll in, learn about, and access your Medicare benefits.
ABOVE: Booker T Washington’s classroom, 1916, New York Public Library.