You’ve written your business plan, you’re excited about your business idea, and now it’s time to get started. One problem: You don’t have the financing to fully realize your dream. What are your options? Aside from using your own funds… Read More
Gift and Estate Taxes
If you give away money or property during your lifetime, those transfers may be subject to federal gift and estate taxes, as well as state gift tax. The money and property you own when you die (i.e., your estate) may… Read More
Asset Allocation in Retirement
Your asset allocation strategy in retirement will probably be different than the one you used when saving for retirement. During your accumulation years, your asset allocation decisions may have been focused primarily on long-term growth. But as you transition into… Read More
Following the (News) Crowd… Is it Good for You?
There is no finer example of humans’ herd mentality than listening to, and acting upon, the tidbits of the financial news media. As was commented recently, what if you left the design of elevator buttons to these folks in the media? Instead of “UP and… Read More
Teaching Your Teen About Money
Your teen is becoming more independent, but still needs plenty of advice from you. With more money to spend and more opportunities to spend it, your teen can easily get into financial trouble. So before money burns a hole in… Read More
How to Help Your Aging Parents Prepare for Retirement
Some people stride into their retirement years with the same self-assurance they’ve demonstrated all their lives. They’ve got the retirement thing figured out, and they don’t need help from anyone. But others go into retirement never entirely certain they’re actually… Read More
Life Insurance for Business Owners
If you own your own business, chances are you’ve at least thought about the conditions under which you will leave the business and who is going to take over after you’re gone. Business continuation is difficult enough under normal circumstances,… Read More
Taxes Are Changing! What Do We Do?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We are going to work our way through a 1040 (individual income tax return) and give the highlights of the tax changes. The first item on the return that changed is alimony. Starting in… Read More
Dividends in a Portfolio
WHY CONSIDER DIVIDENDS? Dividend income has represented roughly one-third of the total return on the Standard and Poor’s 500 since 1926. According to S&P, the portion of total return attributable to dividends has ranged from a high of 53% during… Read More
Interest Rates Rising… What About the Stock Market?
• What is the relationship between interest rates and the stock market? • Can stocks rise in a rising interest rate environment? • Do interest rates impact all stocks the same? Logic, and recent stock market volatility, would seem to… Read More