Two tax bills enter, one tax bill leaves. The House and Senate have both passed differing versions of a new tax bill. Now the bills go to committee in an attempt to reconcile the differences. Both versions involve increasing the standard deduction, reducing personal income tax rates, and removing many itemized deductions. Both bills also…
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It’s getting to be that time of year when we start thinking about family and holiday traditions and the pressure to finish projects before the year ends. In an effort to help you check things off your list ahead of schedule, here’s a handy checklist of items to consider: Open a Roth or Traditional IRA…
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The third quarter of 2017 was highlighted by unfavorable seasonal effects and a steady stream of nerve wracking geopolitical developments, but despite a challenging environment world equity markets persistently fought off short-term jitters and closed out the quarter solidly in the green. Commodities markets also bounced back in the third quarter, and fixed income found…
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As financial advisors, we recognize that the outcomes on an income tax return are the culmination of many occurrences and decisions. Tax efficiency is a vital part of a financial plan at every stage, and so we approach tax planning as both a year-round and lifelong process. With that in mind, here are five areas…
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As you have probably seen reported across the media, hackers infiltrated prominent credit reporting agency Equifax and stole the private information of over 143 million Americans. While it will be interesting to see how all this came to be, the big question is, “What should those affected do?” Your first (and best) option is to…
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James had been a saver for his entire adult life and was proud of the fact that he had accumulated his retirement nest egg by following the financial ‘rules of the game.’ He and his wife, Irene, had saved the $3 million their advisors said was the amount they needed to finally retire and pursue…
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As my mom said to me during her first few months of retirement, “Retirement is a lot of work!” One of the most challenging and exciting life transitions is the shift from working years to retirement, but there are a lot of elements that need to be considered in the process. Retirement planning really begins…
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If you are close to age 65, it is time to start thinking about Medicare. Here’s how it works… Medicare is a health insurance program run by the federal government for those aged 65 or older (though in some cases, it is possible to be covered by Medicare if you are under the age limit).…
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After heated opposition and a two-month delay, the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule became effective June 9, 2017 (with certain documentation requirements applicable on January 1, 2018). This law pertains to any professional who makes investment-related recommendations on employee benefit plans and IRA retirement assets pursuant to an agreement. Legislators hope to educate the public…
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The second quarter saw financial markets deliver further gains, which was a continuation of the animal spirits that were unleashed in the wake of the U.S. election. Both stocks and bonds rose during the quarter with the S&P 500 making its latest record high in mid-June. Outside of the U.S., international stocks have picked up…
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