Blog
Updates to the Required IRA Distributions (RMD's)
Well, the regulations have once again changed regarding the minimum distributions from retirement accounts. As you know, once you reach a specific age, you are required to start withdrawing from your traditional IRA, traditional...
Read MoreSmall Business Retirement Plan Incentives You Don’t Want to Forget
Offering a retirement plan can be a powerful tool when you’re competing to attract the best employees. Thanks to laws enacted in recent years, setting up and running a new retirement plan or adding new features in an existing...
Read MoreSocial Security - Can My Payments be Reduced?
Did you know that your social security benefits can be reduced? They can be under two circumstances: Early Retirement Reduction and the Earnings Limitation Test. If you begin to receive payments at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you...
Read MoreAnnuities – Time to Replace Yours?
Much has been written and discussed about the evils of annuities. In fact, I am frequently asked about annuities by clients and future clients. Of course, like so many things, an annuity is neither inherently good nor bad...
Read MoreNever Too Young or Old for Elder Abuse and Fraud
Recently our Managing Partner received a panicked phone call that one of his grandchildren had broken his nose in a car accident. The grandchild (whom the caller pretended to be) was supposedly driving. Money was needed for...
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Why Settle for the Minimum?
Should I Reconsider My Retirement Minimum?Recently the rules for taking required minimum distributions from retirement accounts changed. There were several changes, but note that beginning in 2023, the age to start taking RMDs...
Read MoreAre you sitting on solid ground?
Have you ever heard about the three-legged stool? In the planning world it generally has meant that you would have three parts to your retirement: social security payments, private pensions and/or annuity income, and investments....
Read MoreWhat is Happening with CPI and Inflation?
Believe me, everyone on Wall Street wants inflation to go away, or at least shrink back to below 2%, a level we enjoyed not so long ago.But Tuesday's Consumer Price Index report showed it might be some time before we see 2% again....
Read MoreWho Are You Gonna Believe?
Current events are wreaking havoc on your budget and portfolio. Here is what we are doing, and suggest you do, to cope while we wait for the recovery and the return to responsible stewardship.
Read MoreRecap: How to Protect Your Retirement Future from Inflation
See what you missed in our discussion on inflation and its impact on planning for retirement. View our webinar recording.
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Webinar Invitation - Inflation: Protecting Your Retirement Future
Join us on May 25th for a timely, complimentary webinar on behalf of Allianz Insurance and Alloy Silverstein Financial Services, Inc.
Read MoreHow to Organize Your Finances and Accounts for Your Survivors
The Personal Financial Organizer One of the least discussed, but most important, items to have available to your survivors is a binder or file that contains all the information regarding where your accounts, documents, insurance...
Read MoreJobs, Oil, Infrastructure, Spending, Inflation
If you have a weak constitution you may want to turn on your favorite movie and not read this article. Now that you have been forewarned, here is what is going on and the natural effects, in my opinion. JOBS Prior to the pandemic, the...
Read MoreForced to Withdraw from Retirement Accounts?
What you need to know We're always being reminded to save for retirement in tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs. But did you know the government does an about-face and forces us to take money out of those accounts once we...
Read MoreThis is more important than what the stock markets are doing
This article is not going to be about any of the proposals coming out of Washington, the really poor jobs report on May 7th, or why the Phillies still need relief pitching after years of having the same problem. These are all small...
Read MoreWhat is inflation and is it on the way?
As virtually everybody was wondering what was going on with GameStop and Robinhood, and what the heck is short-selling etc., the bond market was doing what it normally does: giving us clues as to the future economic outlook. Of course,...
Read MoreWho Won and What Could It Mean?
At the time of this writing, it is November 2nd and I don’t know who won the election. Are you happy or sad? Whichever you are, get over it and plan for your future. Let’s take a look at the likely policies that will be...
Read MoreWhen Cash is King.... and When It Isn't
When preparing a financial plan for any client, one of our primary goals is to have enough income sources, even if there is a periodic disruption in the investment portfolio. Some fortunate clients have a pension, social security,...
Read MoreI Am Planning.... To Be Surprised
It has been comforting to me, and I think to our clients, that during the Coronavirus crisis the Retirement and Financial Plans we worked on in prior months and years showed what their real financial position is instead of focusing on...
Read MoreEldercare Choices in the COVID-19 Era
Exploring your extended care options may be wise at this time. Given the threat of COVID-19, seniors today may be considering their extended care alternatives with extra caution.1 In addition to health factors, the cost can be an issue...
Read MoreNew IRS Guidance on 2020 IRA Distributions
IRA Distributions Done for Tax Year 2020 May Be Deposited Back By August 31, 2020. We are happy to report that the IRS has announced rollover relief for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts that were taken for tax...
Read MoreInvesting in the Wake of COVID-19
By now, there’s a good chance that the recent market downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has left you questioning your investment strategy. But now that the sudden onset of this downturn has passed, it’s time to...
Read MoreApproaches to Business Valuation
Here’s what you need to know. In the third quarter of 2019, more than 2,400 small businesses were sold. The median sale price was roughly $278,000, up 3.3% from 2018.1 As a business owner, ascertaining the value of your business...
Read MoreMay Is Disability Insurance Awareness Month
What it is, and why it's important. Did you know that May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month? First started in 2007, the month of May was the first time that information about disability insurance became more easily accessible to...
Read MoreRoth IRA Conversion in the Era of COVID-19You
Is it right for you? The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement. However, difficult times may open doors to new possibilities. Businesses...
Read MoreQuarterly Economic Update for Q1, 2020You
In this Q1 recap: COVID-19 hits the United States, followed by heavy economic volatility, government stimulus, and an as-yet untold human cost. Quarterly Economic Update A review of Q1 2020, Presented by Ronald Donato, Jr., CFP®,...
Read MoreKey Provisions of the CARES Act
Distributions can be waived in 2020 for Inherited Accounts, 401(k)s, and IRAs. Recently, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act is...
Read MoreThe CARES Act: Highlights for Individuals and Retirement Plans
On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act is a stimulus bill featuring over $2 trillion in measures designed to make a significant impact on the...
Read MoreCoronavirus & More: The Media's Impact on Your Financial StrategyYou
The 24-Hour News Cycle moves from Impeachment to COVID-19 to the Primaries – What’s next? In recent weeks, we’ve seen several major stories in the news. On the political front, in addition to the arrival of the...
Read MoreSaving Your Elderly Parents from Financial Fraud
Talk about precautions with the seniors in your family. Elders are financially defrauded in this country on a daily basis. Only a few of these crimes are made public. In fact, the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)...
Read MoreMake the Most of Recent Retirement Rule Changes
Reap the benefits of new laws. Recent legislation makes changes to popular retirement savings plans like IRAs and 401(k)s. Here are the major changes and how you can benefit from the new rules of the SECURE Act. You now have until age...
Read MoreLesser Known Provisions of the SECURE Act
What younger investors need to know. The SECURE Act passed into law in late 2019 and changed several aspects of retirement investing. These modifications included modifying the ability to stretch an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)...
Read MoreShould You Care What the Market Does Each Day?
Focusing on Your Strategy During Turbulent Times. Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something, especially today when so much is just a click or two...
Read MoreA New Year, a New Crisis and Some Good Things, Too
In case you didn’t notice, 2019 was a year to remember for financial markets. After the poor market performance in the fourth quarter of 2018, it was definitely not expected. This year also started well, until the Coronavirus...
Read More8 Tax Tips for Investors
Don't ignore the impact of taxes on your investments. While taxes should not drive your investment strategy, understanding how taxes affect your earnings will help you minimize taxes and maximize your return. Some things to consider: 1...
Read MoreRetirement Basics: Understanding Tax Efficiency
One of the basics in retirement is to be as tax efficient with your income as possible. In 2019, income tax rates range from 0 to 37 percent, plus a potential 3.8 percent net investment tax. Understanding how these progressive tax...
Read MoreEVENT INVITATION — The SECURE ACT: How does it change your retirement?
Alloy Silverstein breaks down the new law updates and planning opportunities at an upcoming lunch workshop in Cherry Hill and Hammonton, NJ. The SECURE ACT: How does it change your retirement? The biggest retirement planning changes...
Read MoreGradual Retirement
Not everyone retires the same way – or at the same pace. Are you in a hurry to retire? Not everyone is rushing to that particular finish line. According to the 2018 retirement survey from the Transamerica Center for Retirement...
Read More2020 Retirement Plan Limits
As part of your 2020 planning, now is the time to review funding your retirement accounts. By establishing your contribution goals at the beginning of each year, the financial impact of saving for your future should be more manageable....
Read MoreThe SECURE Act
Long-established retirement account rules change. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is now law. With it, comes some of the biggest changes to retirement savings law in recent years. While the new...
Read MoreAll About 1099 Forms
Explaining these ubiquitous forms and their uses. What is a 1099 form? This is a record of payment from an individual or entity, showing a payment, generated for your records. The individual/entity sends a copy to both the payee as...
Read MoreQuarterly Economic Update for Q4, 2019
In this Q4 recap: Equities maintain their momentum to close out a strong year on Wall Street, helped by a slight thaw in the U.S.-China trade dispute and some better-than-expected domestic economic data. Quarterly Economic Update A...
Read MoreWhat is Re-Balancing?
Re-balancing, as it pertains to your investment portfolios, is the process by which we periodically “update” the allocation of your various investments so that they maintain your desired risk profile. In English, this means...
Read MoreEnd-Of-The-Year Money Moves
Here are some things you might consider before saying goodbye to 2019. What has changed for you in 2019? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If notable changes occurred in your...
Read MoreCoping with an Inheritance
A windfall from a loved one can be both rewarding and complicated. Inheriting wealth can be a burden and a blessing. Even if you have an inclination that a family member may remember you in their last will and testament, there are many...
Read MoreQuarterly Economic Update for Q3, 2019You
In this Q3 recap: the U.S. and China intensify their trade dispute, but agree to negotiate again, the Federal Reserve cuts short-term interest rates once more, and stocks ride through some volatility to end the summer higher. Quarterly...
Read MoreChanging Insurance Needs with a Growing Family
Time to assess the insurance coverage for your new and growing household. Insurance When You're Newly Married Marriage changes everything, including insurance needs. Newly married couples should consider a comprehensive review of their...
Read MoreYour Changing Definition of Risk in Retirement
Some things to consider. During your accumulation years, you may have categorized your risk as “conservative,” “moderate,” or “aggressive,” and that guided how your portfolio was built. Maybe you...
Read MoreYour Diversified Portfolio vs. the S&P 500
How global returns and proper diversification are affecting overall returns. “Why is my portfolio underperforming the market?” This question may be on your mind. It is a question that investors sometimes ask after stocks...
Read MoreBlucora and 1st Global to Rename Wealth Management Business Unit as Avantax Wealth Management℠
Firm Offers Tax-Smart Planning & Investing Strategies to Advisors and the Clients They Serve September 9, 2019—Earlier this year, our firm’s wealth management support and services provider, 1st Global, was purchased by...
Read MoreCharity begins…in the IRA distribution
A Tax-Optimized Strategy for RMDs If you are age 70½ or older, and you have an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-deferred retirement account, government regulations require you to take out a minimum amount of that account each year. ALL...
Read More401(k) Loan Repayment
A longer repayment time can be an advantage. The conventional wisdom about taking a loan from your 401(k) plan is often boiled down to: not unless absolutely necessary. That said, it isn’t always avoidable for everyone or in...
Read More8 Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement
Avoid these situations, if you can. Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. No Strategy. Yes, the...
Read MoreWhy DIY Investment Management Is Such a Risk
Paying attention to the wrong things becomes all too easy. If you ever have the inkling to manage your investments on your own, that inkling is worth reconsidering. Do-it-yourself investment management is generally a bad idea for the...
Read MoreSmart Financial & Insurance Moves for New Parents
As you start a family, consider these ideas. Being a parent means being responsible to a degree you never have been before. That elevated responsibility also impacts your financial decisions. You are now a provider and a protector, and...
Read MoreMidlife Money Errors
If you are between 40 & 60, beware of these financial blunders & assumptions. Mistakes happen, even for people who have some life experience under their belt. That said, your retirement strategy is one area of life where you want to...
Read MoreTeaching Your Heirs to Value Your Wealth
Values can help determine goals & a clear purpose. Some millionaires are reluctant to talk to their kids about family wealth. Perhaps they are afraid of what their heirs may do with it. If a child comes from money and grows up knowing...
Read MoreCould Social Security Really Go Away?
That may be unlikely, but the program does face financial challenges. Will Social Security run out of money in the 2030s? You may have heard warnings about this dire scenario coming true. These warnings, however, assume that no action...
Read MoreFinancial Strategy for Athletes
Step One: Find a trusted financial coach; Step Two: Listen to your coach. Whether you are a professional athlete, a college amateur, or an aspiring Olympian, you probably know what success feels like. You also know a thing or two about...
Read MoreTitling Assets to Avoid Probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of authenticating a last will and testament if the deceased made one. It includes locating and determining the value of the decedent's assets, paying final bills and taxes, and distributing the...
Read MorePreparing to Sell Your Business
What is your exit strategy? Your company is ripe for sale. Now what? These days, your children or employees may not necessarily want to take over your business, but you still want to sell your business. So, what’s a successful...
Read More3 Investment Blunders Everyone Should Avoid
Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the game, you'll want to make a conscious effort to avoid these three common investment mistakes: 1) Relying on emotions. According to Essentia Analytics, behavioral scientists have studied...
Read MoreAdjusting Your Portfolio as You Age
As you approach retirement, it may be time to pay more attention to investment risk. If you are an experienced investor, you have probably fine-tuned your portfolio through the years in response to market cycles or in pursuit of a...
Read MoreIncluding Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan
What should you know? What should your executor know? When people think about estate planning, they may think in terms of personal property, real estate, and investments. Digital assets might seem like a lesser concern, perhaps no...
Read MoreThe Basics of Capital Gains
Following are the BASICS of capital gains as they pertain to the investments we typically encounter. You should consult with your tax professional for your personal situation. What are capital gains (and losses)? You buy XYZ Company...
Read MoreStaying Out of Debt Once You Get Out of Debt
As you reduce your liabilities, embrace the behaviors that may improve your balance sheet. Paying off a major debt produces a sense of relief. You can celebrate a financial milestone; you can “pay yourself first” to greater...
Read MoreFinancial Steps to Take Before a Divorce
Wise moves to make before things are finalized. Before your divorce goes through, it would be wise to check up on financial matters. It would be better to assess the state of your financial life before the split rather than after. Find...
Read MoreTraditional vs. Roth IRAs
Perhaps both traditional and Roth IRAs can play a part in your retirement plans. IRAs can be an important tool in your retirement savings belt, and whichever you choose to open could have a significant impact on how those accounts...
Read MoreWhy Do You Need a Will?
It may not sound enticing, but creating a will puts power in your hands. According to the global analytics firm Gallup, only about 44% of Americans have created a will. This finding may not surprise you. After all, no one wants to be...
Read MoreTax Considerations for Retirees
Are you aware of them? The federal government offers some major tax breaks for older Americans. Some of these perks deserve more publicity than they receive. If you are 65 or older, your standard deduction is $1,300 larger. Make that...
Read MoreMarket Volatility: Patience, Perspective and Planning Drive Performance Not Headlines
Volatility in the Market is Normal: Avoid the Emotional Rollercoaster When it comes to long-term performance, there are “3 P’s” that investors must always remember: Patience, Perspective and Planning. Here is an...
Read MoreSo How Are You Doing?
No, this isn’t Joey Tribbiani (remember Friends?). [Note: We recently sent out a blast email to all of our clients who use email regarding the recent market volatility. Please read it and let us know if you have any questions or...
Read MoreTolerate the Turbulence
Look beyond this moment and stay focused on your long-term objectives. Volatility will always be around on Wall Street, and as you invest for the long term, you must learn to tolerate it. Rocky moments, fortunately, are not the norm....
Read MoreFor Retirement, Income Matters as Much as Savings
A recent poll of pre-retirees suggests that truth risks being ignored. Steady income or a lump sum? Last year, financial services firm TIAA asked working Americans: if you could choose between a lump sum of $500,000 or a monthly income...
Read MoreBeware of Lifestyle Creep
Sometimes more money can mean more problems. “Lifestyle creep” is an unusual phrase describing an all-too-common problem: the more money people earn, the more money they tend to spend. Frequently, the newly affluent are the...
Read MoreGetting Your Personal Finances in Shape for 2019
Fall is a good time to assess where you stand and where you could be. You need not wait for 2019 to plan improvements to your finances. You can begin now. The last few months of 2018 give you a prime time to examine critical areas of...
Read MoreWhy the U.S. Might Be Less Affected by a Trade War
The nature of our economy could help it withstand the disruption. A trade war does seem to be getting underway. Investors around the world see headwinds arising from newly enacted and planned tariffs, headwinds that could potentially...
Read MoreAre Changes Ahead for Workplace Retirement Accounts?
A bill now in Congress proposes to alter some longstanding rules. Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement, despite ongoing encouragement to do so (and recurring warnings about what may happen if they do not). This year,...
Read MoreRetirees, Check Your Withholding
Your withholding may need to be adjusted due to the 2017 federal tax reforms. The Internal Revenue Service has a message for you. You may need to adjust the amount withheld from your paycheck or the size of your estimated tax payments...
Read MoreThe Roth 401(k), or Why I Love Bill Roth (RIP)
Bill Roth was a Senator from Delaware. He realized in the late 1990s that savings rates were too low in the U.S. and he endeavored to find a solution. Enter the Roth IRA. Contributions to a Roth IRA won’t reduce your tax...
Read MoreBeware: Financial Fraudsters Preying on Boomers & Elders
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are in or near retirement, it is a safe bet that you would like more yield from your investments rather than less. That truth sometimes leads liars, scammers, and...
Read MoreWhy Do People Put Off Saving for Retirement?
A lack of money is but one answer. Common wisdom says that you should start saving for retirement as soon as you can. Why do some people wait decades to begin? Nearly everyone can save something. Even small cash savings may be the...
Read MoreWhy Life Insurance Matters for New Homeowners
If you buy a home and you have no life insurance, there is a financial risk. It may not be immediately evident, but it must be acknowledged -- and it should be addressed. What if you die, and your spouse or partner is left to pay off...
Read MoreThe Different Types of IRAs
Many people are familiar with 401(k)s, but IRAs are another popular retirement savings vehicle and they come in several varieties. While the most well-known types of IRAs are Roth and traditional IRAs, there are other types of...
Read MoreSet Goals as You Save and Invest
Turn your intent into a commitment. Goals give you focus. To find and establish your investing and saving goals, first ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Do you want to build an emergency fund? Build college savings for your...
Read MoreWhat do I do with my old 401k and 403b?
Changing jobs is a much more frequent occurrence than it used to be. Eventually people even retire (at least that is what I hear). When either of these events occurs, it is too many times the case that a person might not know exactly...
Read MoreRetirement Plans for Individuals & Businesses
A look at some of the choices. Households are saving too little for the future. According to one new analysis, 41% of Gen Xers and 42% of baby boomers have yet to begin saving for retirement. In a recent financial industry survey, 35%...
Read MoreAvoid These Life Insurance Missteps
Shop wisely when you look for coverage. Are you about to buy life insurance? Shop carefully. Make your choice with insight from an insurance professional, as it may help you avoid some of these all-too-common missteps. Buying the first...
Read MoreThe Solo 401(k): A Retirement Strategy for the Self-Employed
The Solo 401(K): A retirement savings vehicle designed for the smallest businesses. A solo 401(k) lets a solopreneur or self-employed individual set up a 401(k) plan combined with a profit-sharing plan. You can create one of these if...
Read MoreDid You Receive a Corrected Form 1098?
You might get to deduct the mortgage interest premiums you paid in 2017 after all. Recently, you may have received a corrected Internal Revenue Service Form 1098 from your mortgage lender. The correction probably spells good news for...
Read MoreKeeping The February Correction in Perspective
After 20 months of relative calm, this volatility needs to be taken in stride. Are you upset by what is happening on Wall Street? It may help to see this pullback within a big-picture context. Corrections have become so rare as of late...
Read MoreBreathe... Just Breathe
Finally! The market has had a pullback. But not with catastrophic results. We closed the year with the S&P at 2,673.61 on December 29, 2017. As of the close today, February 6, 2018, the S&P has closed at 2,695.14. This means that...
Read MoreA New Day for 529 Plans
Federal tax reforms lead to new possibilities for these education savings accounts. Do you have a 529 college savings plan? Have you thought about opening a 529 plan account? If the answer to either question is “yes,” you...
Read MoreHow Will You Spend Your Retirement Savings?
Keep an eye on where it goes, as some destinations may be better than others. You can probably envision how most of your retirement money will be spent. Much of it will be used on living expenses, health care expenses, and, perhaps,...
Read MoreA Portrait of Gen X Retirement Saving
Is this age group preparing adequately for the future? How would you guess Gen X is faring when it comes to retirement saving? Americans born between 1965 and 1980 are approaching what should be their peak income years, and many of...
Read MoreCould Education Debt Shrink Your Social Security Income?
$1.1 billion has been garnished from retirement benefits to pay back old student loans. Do you have a federal student loan that needs to be repaid? You may be surprised at what the government might do to collect that money someday, if...
Read MoreInsurance and Investments
A good financial strategy is not just about “making money;” it is also about protection. Some people mistake investing for financial planning. Their “financial strategy” is an investing strategy, in which they...
Read MoreShould the Self-Employed Plan to Work Past Age 65?
Some solopreneurs think they will “work forever,” but that perception may be flawed. About 20% of Americans aged 65-74 are still working. A 2016 Pew Research Center study put the precise figure at 18.8%, and Pew estimates...
Read MoreSaving More Money, Now and Later
You could save today & tomorrow, often without that penny-pinching feeling. Directly & indirectly, you might be able to save more per month than you think. Hidden paths to greater savings can be found at home and at work, and their...
Read MoreThe Pros & Cons of Roth IRA Conversions
What are the potential benefits? What are the drawbacks? If you own a traditional IRA, perhaps you have thought about converting it to a Roth IRA. Going Roth makes sense for some traditional IRA owners, but not all. Why go Roth? There...
Read MoreSocial Security: Can I Collect and Still Work?
We have all wondered whether Social Security will be there when we retire. Well, the government has done their latest assessment regarding the state of Social Security (see The 2017 Annual Report of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors...
Read MoreWhy Retirees Still Need Good Credit Scores
Careers and businesses end, but the need to borrow remains. We spend much of our adult lives working, borrowing, and buying. A good credit score is our ally along the way. It retains its importance when we retire. Retirees should do...
Read MoreQuestions After the Equifax Data Breach
Consumers may be at risk for many years. How long should you worry about identity theft in the wake of the Equifax hack? The correct answer might turn out to be “as long as you live.” If your personal data was copied in...
Read MoreCombining Your Finances When You Marry
How separate (or intertwined) should your financial lives be? Some spouses share everything with each other – including the smallest details of their personal finances. Other spouses decide to keep some individual financial...
Read MoreWhy You Should Stay Invested Through Tense Times
Crises pass, and markets eventually regain equilibrium. We have seen some uneasy times lately. Uneasiness impacts the financial markets. When it does, we all need to keep some long-term perspective in mind. Those who race to the...
Read MoreAnnuities: Are they good or bad?
Much has been written and discussed about the evils of annuities. In fact, I am frequently asked about annuities by clients and future clients. Of course, like so many things, an annuity is neither inherently good nor bad. In fact, the...
Read MoreComprehensive Financial Planning: What It Is, Why It Matters
Your approach to building wealth should be built around your goals & values. Just what is “comprehensive financial planning?” As you invest and save for retirement, you will no doubt hear or read about it – but what...
Read MoreTalking to Your Kids About Your Wealth
How can you convey its importance and its meaning? Are you an owner of a thriving business or a medical or legal practice? Are you a highly paid executive? If you have children, at some point they may discern how wealthy you are...
Read MoreUnderstanding the Gift Tax
Most of us will never face taxes related to money or assets we give away. “How can I avoid the federal gift tax?” If this question is on your mind, you aren’t alone. The good news is that few taxpayers or estates will...
Read MoreMoney Mistakes Millennials Should Avoid
Each generation faces unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to managing finances at different life stages. Alloy Silverstein provides the following do's and don'ts to help Millennials stay on track with their finances....
Read MoreWe Made Too Many Wrong Mistakes
Yogi Berra was definitely quotable. The above title is attributed to him. Let’s assume that now you are in your 40’s, have established yourself in a career, and are thinking that you have made too many “wrong...
Read More"What Should I Do with a Cash Windfall?"
Should you save it? What are smart ways to spend it? Following is some advice in deciding how to handle a windfall of income. April and May are the months where taxpayers begin dreaming about their refunds. The average federal tax...
Read MoreHow to Organize Your Finances and Accounts for Your Survivors
The Personal Financial Organizer One of the least discussed, but most important, items to have available to your survivors is a binder or file that contains all the information regarding where your accounts, documents, insurance...
Read MoreAnd Baby Makes Three
Your bundle of joy has arrived. You have all the cute little clothes, safest car seat, a bassinet, and everything else that is necessary. Right? Well, maybe not. After the planning to have the baby (checking your medical insurance...
Read More2016 Election: There's Got to be a Morning After
President-Elect Donald J. Trump now has his work cut out for him. Our country needs for him to be successful. Here is a very brief list of some things that he will be dealing with that will affect the currently anemic economy. THERE IS...
Read MoreMoving Your Money? Ask These 5 Questions First
Getting Ready to Retire? Looking for a Better Match with a Financial Advisor Who Will Meet Your Needs? Beginning to Build Your Investment Portfolio? You should make sure you know the answers to these questions before you take the next...
Read MoreBrexit, Elections, and Oil – Oh My!
We are certainly living in interesting times. Let’s very briefly explore some of the topics that have caused market anxiety this year. BREXIT (that is, Great Britain leaving the European Union, or EU) was something that most of...
Read MoreReview your insurance policies
One of the many issues that we don't want to deal with is our own mortality. However, there are many good reasons to review your life insurance coverage, and some of your life goals may be met by doing so. I Already Have Insurance......
Read MoreMarket Turmoil – Don’t Panic
One of my clients, when the markets do what they have been doing recently, will call or send an email and ask me to please stop messing around and fix the markets. I feel his pain and I wish I had that kind of power. If only it were...
Read MorePlanning to help your survivors
Everybody needs estate planning to protect your loved ones when you die or if you become incapacitated. When emotions run high, your estate plan settles your affairs and will help the people you care most about with difficult decisions...
Read MoreBe cautious about healthcare coverage when traveling abroad
I am not an expert in healthcare, so you should consult someone who is. However, when you retire and decide to travel abroad, what are you doing for health insurance? If you are enrolled in Medicare, basic coverage is no good as soon...
Read MoreDefensive Stocks: A Short Explanation
Many clients are concerned with stock prices. Are they overvalued? Yes, by some measures. Are economic conditions not exactly inspiring? Yes again. Of course, many people had the same feeling two and three years ago. Imagine what would...
Read MoreRequired IRA distributions
Many clients have asked questions about the typical required minimum distribution (“RMD”) that must eventually be taken from nearly all retirement accounts. Here is some general information. Note that there are many special...
Read MoreBonds, bond funds, and interest rates
With the end of the Fed’s bond buying program, we know that the days of perpetually low interest rates are ending. When bonds are a part of your investment portfolio, rising interest rates can present a challenge....
Read MoreThe end of the world? Again?
There have been many times in world and U.S. history when we have heard the warning signals of hard times to come. Some of these warnings were given with good cause. Churchill warned of the German military buildup, and many in our...
Read MoreHow can I go forward when I don't know which way I'm facing?
How many times have you heard someone at a backyard party or family gathering bragging about that stock that made them big money? Conversely, you may even have insisted that you need to go to cash because the world is ending...
Read More