The U.S. Debt Limit: Questions and Answers… Because discussions in Washington are evolving day by day, this article focuses on the background and importance of the debt ceiling rather than attempting to discuss the ramifications of your portfolio. As August 2 approaches, you’ll likely hear increasingly urgent debate over the nation’s debt ceiling. That’s the […]
Tag Archives | Wealth management
Using Alternative Investments to Minimize Left Tail Risk / Black Swan Event
In June of this year I had the pleasure of attending an investment conference, where such illustrious speakers as former President George W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Bill Bellichick, Head Coach of the New England Patriots, shared their worldviews. Financial professionals from across the industry also shared their views and ideas, […]
Powerful Steps for Any Investor: From IRA Rollovers to Financial Planning
Congratulations! By reading this article you’re taking an important step in your financial life, one that your future self will probably thank you for in twenty years. In helping clients, I’ve found that there are many unique issues that people face every day, but there are also a lot of situations that apply to most […]
Making Sense of Your Spending is a Key Part to Financial Peace
Think of how much you earn, whether it be from a salary, IRA distributions, or another source. Have a number? Great. Now, think of how much you spend. It’s a lot harder, isn’t it? Most people can easily tell you their earnings but draw a blank on their total expenditures. This can be problematic when […]
What Are All These Fees? Knowing Your Asset Management and Mutual Fund Fees
When it comes to managing their investments, many people are simply unaware of what they’re paying. We are often tempted to turn a blind eye to fees, especially when feeling uncertain about how things work or even the questions we should be asking. Thus, in this article, I’d like to explain some of the commonly […]
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2010
There’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2010! You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $5,000 for 2010 ($6,000 if you were age 50 by December 31, 2010). Normally, your tax return must be filed by April 15. However, the IRS has extended […]
Covered Call Options: Simply Understood
Have you accumulated a significant position in a single company’s stock, either through your employer or a major investment? Have you been considering ways to diversify your holdings away from one of your big winners? Are you seeking to retire soon and looking to reallocate large equity positions in your retirement or other brokerage accounts? […]
Building an Estate Planning Toolkit: The Transfer on Death Designation – TOD
In addition to wills and trusts, there are many tools available to you in developing an estate plan. While different tools are appropriate for different asset classes, family structures, and goals, it is important to know about the possibilities. In this article, I’ll focus on the Transfer on Death, or TOD, designation, which can help […]
Summarization of the Health Insurance Reforms Scheduled to Take Effect in 2011
Summarization of the Health Insurance Reforms Scheduled to Take Effect in 2011 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), signed into law in 2010, makes significant changes to our health care delivery system. Some of these reforms took effect in 2010 while many others take place in 2011. The following is a brief description […]
The New Estate Tax Rules: Your Plan for 2011
Congress approved a new Estate Tax law last Thursday, December 17 2010 after nearly a year of speculation about its future. The new rules provide for a $5 million dollar exemption with a top tax-rate of 35%. This is obviously a far cry from the $1 million dollar exemption and 55% maximum rate originally scheduled […]