Category: Investment Advisory

When planning a trip, you probably focus on making the travel arrangements, ensuring you’ll have enough spending money and other practical issues, such as having someone cover you at the office and someone else keep an eye on your house or pets. The last thing on your mind may be putting your financial and other personal documents in order. However, if you expect to be away for any length of time — especially if your loved ones won’t be traveling… Read more ›

For 2022, the amount you can sock away into your 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans will rise another $1,000 to $20,500. If you’re at least 50 years of age, you can put away up to $27,000 thanks to catch-up contributions. The limit on “total additions” to those plans — that is your deferrals and employer contributions combined — rises to $61,000 in 2022 or $67,500 if you’re at least 50. While you’re contemplating how much to put into your… Read more ›

The 403(b) plan is often thought of as a 401(k) plan for nonprofits. It’s probably not the only option for your not-for-profit, but it can provide certain advantages over 401(k)s. Following is a brief rundown. Generous Contribution Limits A 403(b) plan is a tax-favored qualified retirement plan set up for employees of not-for-profit organizations, including charities, hospitals, schools and government entities. As with other qualified plans, pre-tax contributions grow tax-free until withdrawals are made. Normally, employee contributions are deducted from… Read more ›

Many people invest in marketable securities, including stocks, bonds, money market funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs). But a less conventional investment option that’s historically paid off for many investors is purchasing a home or condo to rent out to third parties. This alternative may help diversify your existing portfolio and hedge against public market trends. With any investment, there are no guarantees of success, especially if you have a short time horizon. But rental properties may be a… Read more ›

  Over the last year, consumer prices rose 7.9%, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index covers the prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation, doctors’ and dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. This is the highest 12-month increase since 1982. Increases in the price of consumer goods will affect most businesses, sooner or later. For example, if you operate a restaurant, spikes… Read more ›

For an investor, managing money is a lot like managing manure for a farmer. Both live by the credo, “spread it around and it will grow.” But as both successful investors and farmers know, you’ve got to know how and where to spread money and manure, or they end up yielding stinky results — or even getting flushed away. While we can’t help with a manure problem, we do have definite thoughts about spreading money around — in a way… Read more ›

  Today, many people look beyond corporate earnings and consider  (ESG) issues when making investment decisions. For example, some investors boycott manufacturers of tobacco products or firearms. Others prefer to invest in companies that are actively reducing their carbon environmental, social and governancefootprints. This trend has been accelerating for decades. In fact, ESG criteria is projected to drive one-third of global investments by 2025, according to financial analysis company Bloomberg. How does your investment portfolio currently rate on these issues?… Read more ›

  At its core, a life insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the policy owner. It spells out how much money the beneficiary or beneficiaries will receive upon the death of the insured, and how much money the policyholder must pay to keep the coverage in force. In a narrow sense, the guarantee behind a life insurance policy is only as strong as the insurer that wrote the policy. However, life insurance companies are heavily regulated by… Read more ›

Roth IRA and 401(k) accounts were created in 1998. Contributions to Roth accounts are taxed on the front end at ordinary tax rates when made. But withdrawals from these accounts are generally tax-free on the back end. If you began saving for your retirement before 1998, even if you subsequently started contributing to a Roth account, you’ve probably accumulated a significant nest egg in traditional (non-Roth) retirement savings vehicles. Unlike withdrawals from Roth accounts, most or all of the money… Read more ›

A PDF copy of this article about teaching financial responsibilities to children can be found by clicking here.  Giving to our children comes naturally. As with any other family practice, our spending habits serve as a role model for our children. The conflict here generally comes with wanting to demonstrate our love through spending and at the same time teach appreciation, respect and responsibility in financial matters. The teaching and understanding of financial responsibilities starts at home. How comfortable is… Read more ›