Money Tips for Newlyweds November 18, 2019 Ideas to Help Manage Stress. In a recent study, 35% of married couples described money issues as their primary source of stress. While there are many potential causes of such financial stress, in some cases the root may begin with habits formed early in the marriage.1 Fortunately, couples may be able to head off many [...]
The Gift Tax November 18, 2019 Not all gifts are taxable. I’d like for you to meet my friend, Hugh. He’s a retired film stuntman who, after a long career, is enjoying his retirement. Some of what he’s enjoying about his retirement is sharing part of his accumulated wealth with his family, specifically his wife and two sons. Like many Americans, [...]
The High Cost of Health Care November 11, 2019 A financial strategy can take health care costs into account. One of the most ubiquitous aspects of social media in recent years has been the arrival of Americans crowdfunding around a major health issue. While America has a level of health care available that rivals the rest of the world, there is no denying that [...]
Fixed Index Annuities November 11, 2019 What are they? How do they work? What is a fixed index annuity? Don’t let the investment jargon put you off, Fixed Index Annuities are simpler than they sound. A Fixed Index Annuity is a tax-favored accumulation product issued by an insurance company. However, unlike fixed deferred interest rate annuities, a Fixed Index Annuity’s annual [...]
Tax Efficiency November 4, 2019 What it means; why it counts. The after-tax return vs. the pretax return. Everyone wants their investments to perform well. But for many investors it’s their after-tax return that may make all the difference. After all, even if your portfolio is earning double-digit returns, it may not matter if you’re also losing a percent of [...]
Trends in Charitable Giving November 4, 2019 The hows and whys of charity in America. According to Giving USA 2018, Americans gave an estimated $410.02 billion to charity in 2017. That’s the first time that the amount has totaled more than $400 billion in the history of the report.1 Americans give to charity for two main reasons: to support a cause or [...]
An Estate Strategy for Your Digital Assets October 28, 2019 What should you know? What should your executor know? When you think about your estate, you may think about your personal property, real estate, or investments. You also have other, less-tangible assets – and they deserve your attention as well. Your digital assets should not disappear into a void when you die. Nor should they [...]
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A Decision Not Made is Still a Decision October 28, 2019 Indecision can lead to no decision. Investment inaction is played out in many ways, often silently, invisibly, and with potential consequence to an individual’s future financial security. Let’s review some of the forms this takes. Your workplace retirement plan. The worst non-decision is the failure to enroll. Not only do non-participants sacrifice one of the [...]
Diversification, Patience, and Consistency October 21, 2019 Three important factors when it comes to your financial life. Regardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy: Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has real value when it comes to investing. In a bear or bull market, certain asset classes may [...]
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Getting a Head Start on College Savings October 21, 2019 The hows and whys of college savings. The American family with a child born today can expect to spend about $233,610 to raise that child to the age of 18. And if you’ve already traded that supercharged convertible dream for a minivan, you can expect your little one’s college education to cost as much as [...]