The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is marking Sunshine Week with reverence and appreciation for the essential role freedom of information and freedom of the press serve in guaranteeing our American democracy.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. Coinciding with James Madison’s birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on March 16, Sunshine Week 2022 runs from March 13 through 19.

The fourth President of the United States, James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution, who valued deeply...

“If you are within a couple of years of retirement, you will want to know the answer to this critical question.”- Lawrence Castillo

‘Layin’ it on the line’

Here in New Mexico, it isn’t unusual for someone ordering Mexican food to be asked, “Red or green?” In fact, “Red or green?” was adopted as the official state question in 1999. (Did you even know such a state question existed?) Chile is the fiery soul of New Mexican food, and everyone here has their opinion about which chile sauce goes best with which dish.

I like to ask my clients and prospects the same question regarding their retirement savings. “Do you prefer green money or red money?” Red money, I...

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., issued the following statement on President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union speech:

President Biden’s first State of the Union speech sent a clear message that the United States stands with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of an unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion.

Members on both sides of the aisle showed their support for the president’s plans to hold Russia accountable and provide aid to Ukraine. From closing our airspace to Russian planes to creating a task force to go after Russian Oligarchs’ assets, tonight President Biden showed the world that American diplomacy matters.

As...

“It’s fantastic if you inherit an annuity, but you need to understand the tax implications and how to make them more favorable.” – Lawrence Castillo

‘Layin it on the line’



You cannot escape taxes if you inherit an annuity. Fortunately, though, understanding how inherited annuities are taxed can help you avoid paying more in tax than necessary. Your beneficiary status and how the payouts are structured determine tax liability for inherited annuities. You can do a few things to ease that tax burden and perhaps defer payment.

For instance, if you are a surviving spouse inheriting an annuity, you have a few options. You can choose to pay taxes on all the money right now or...