Insights

The noisy themes for the 4th quarter were centered on concerns of a global economic slowdown, uncertainty related to trade negotiations, and manufacturing weakness in the US and abroad. These themes were countered by strong domestic employment numbers , real wage growth,...

New Retirement Rules How the IRS is Changing Retirement (Four key changes)

Change #1:  IRA RMDs If you are of age 70.5 or higher, it was required that you take a draw from your qualified plan or IRA.  This age has now been raised by the IRS to age...

End of Year Planning What to consider before 2020.

Idea #1:  Convert or Fund a Roth IRA: If you earn more than $137k as a single filer or $203k jointly you are not allowed to contribute to a Roth IRA for 2019.  There is however, no limit on...

DALBAR - Your Advocate as a Client! Certain industries carry with them elevated levels of scrutiny.  Similar to health care and banking, the world of investment advisory is heavily regulated and layered with multiple levels of checks and balances.  Not all practices are required however, and it pays to understand why a firm would use...

A custodian is a financial institution that will hold or maintain your securities for safekeeping. In addition to holding securities for safekeeping, the custodian generally offers account administration, transaction settlements, collection of dividends and interest payments, and tax support.

Below are a few...

The Cost of Missing Out. 2008 was a scarring experience for many.  Due to market losses during the great recession, many have avoided stocks altogether causing them to miss the great bull market that followed.  FOMO (or "Fear of Missing Out") is certainly something that may apply in...

As someone who grew up solidly middle class, money was fascinating to me as a child.  How did people afford expensive things?  Is there a "secret" to becoming wealthy?  There are certain questions that only experience can answer.  After 20+ years in financial advisory, a graduate degree in...

One of the most common questions I get from prospective or current clients is whether to retire a mortgage early. Since it comes up often, it's worth writing this month's note on the subject. Here are a few "rules" when it comes to making this decision: Rule...

With over 20 years of experience in finance, I've seen (almost) every sales pitch under the sun. From timeshares and teaser rates to penny stocks and partnerships, there's a multitude of ways to "invest" your money - and a never-ending parade of "advisers" who will sell...

Recently I was visiting with a prospective client discussing her portfolio.  As we began to discuss the allocations, I spoke briefly about her large bond position relative to her goals and how moves in interest rates may affect her.  I was then presented with a...

Why DO Stock Values Rise? The assertion that stocks are excellent long-term investments is not held by all investors (thank you, 2008!). There are, however, good reasons why values of companies generally rise over time.  

Read on...

Historical Returns: According to Credit Suisse (CS) long term track records of...

How market timing can kill returns. The market's gyrations are often unnerving, but there are good reasons why you need to be a long-term minded investor.  Whether you're an aggressive growth investor or take a moderate stance, attempting to "time" the market's best days will...

College Planning Basics Important Facts to Know What are some important planning tips?   Read on...

1. The 529 Plan - Use It! Want to save for college?  Do you have family that would like to gift money for school?  Would you like to do it in the most tax-efficient method possible?  You need to open...

Be Careful with Company Stock Understanding rules can save you thousands!

As a form of compensation, many managers and decision-makers are awarded shares of stock within their qualified plans in lieu of income.  This is a welcome perk but can inadvertently cause you additional liabilities...

Social Security Can be Fixed! Why we should keep this valuable program. The death of social security (as advertised) is vastly overstated.  News networks and "financial experts" desperate to sell advertising and attract eyeballs will often exaggerate the death of the program to attract viewers.

First a...

Paying Off Debt - All debt is not created equal.

The often-repeated mantra that "all debt is bad debt" demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how money really works.  Here are 3 things to consider:

1.  It's just a tool. The apt analogy here is that of a kitchen knife.  Kitchen knives can be dangerous, but...

March is a busy time of year for you...and those after your money.  

5 Characteristics of Most Scams: March is a busy month.  The market is usually active, taxes are due in April, and people are busy making financial decisions.  Avoiding scams is easy if you...

Spending in Your Retirement. A secure retirement is the combination of careful planning and understanding how taxes will affect you. Diversify Beyond Tax Deferral...Let's be clear - 401k and IRA accounts are valuable tools.  A word of caution however - don't forget to stash additional savings in taxable brokerage accounts, Roth IRAs,...

With many portfolios flat or slightly down for the year, the 1st and 4th quarters have book-ended a volatile 2018 with 11% and 7% respective sell-offs in the broader market.  What's causing the volatility and is it normal historically? 

What's Causing It?...For most investors, 2018 has felt...