Capital markets have reached a crossroads at the threshold of 2022. Despite a thrid straight year of strong market price gains, many investors now perceive a delicate balance between further asset price appreciation and a potential retreat from the risk-taking environment in place since the economy reopened in 2020. Read More
One financial strategy that is often overlooked when evaluating your retirement and estate planning options is the Roth IRA conversion. Converting allows you to reposition your current tax-deferred retirement account to a Roth IRA by paying federal and possibly state income tax [but without the IRS 10% additional tax for taking early or pre-59½ distributions (10% additional tax)] on the taxable amount of the conversion. The benefit is that any earnings would be distributed tax-free, if certain conditions are met. Read More
No matter what your age or net worth, you need an estate plan to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your assets — during your lifetime, as well as after your death. Before visiting with your attorney, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the documents he or she may recommend for your plan. Read More
Key takeaways - While media reports covering the Delta variant of COVID-19 are alarming some, the financial markets seem largely unconcerned at this point. We belive this coronavirus variant will not lead to meaningful headwinds for the economy. Read More
For most investors, spending and investing follows a circular pattern: a focus on discretionary spending in younger years, followed by a greater emphasis on saving — for retirement, a home down payment, or children’s education — and then a return to discretionary spending once any long-term debts are paid off. Read More
Divorce is uncomfortable to discuss. However, not talking about its financial implications can create far greater discomfort. Read More
How to create systems that can give you a sense of accomplishment, efficiency, and work-life balance in a remote working environment. Read More
Unpredictability is challenging. There is reassurance in steadiness, optimism when we see positive results ahead. But in most things-including life-nothing stays the same forever. It helps when we're prepared for bumps in the road. Read More
Planning for retirement goes beyond how you’ll spend your time. You’re also probably thinking about maximizing social security, whether you’ll downsize, ways to stay mentally and physically fit, when to update your will, and how to weather market fluctuations. Read More
You have goals and expectations about your financial investments. You want a plan that helps you prepare – for anticipated benchmarks and also for unexpected life events. Read More
A new administration: First take on the first 100 days. Read More
With the full results of the 2020 election finally in the books, investors may be worried about how the power shift in Washington could impact their investments. Read More
We anticipate uneven global growth in 2021, but strengthening over the course of the year if and when coronavirus vaccines are distributed. We expect China and the U.S. to remain on the leading edge of the global recovery throughout the year. We view global inflation’s projected rise through the end of next year more as catch-up from 2020’s pandemic-depressed rate than a fundamental change in the low-inflation environment of recent decades. Read More