Focus On The Forest, Not The Trees, Of Investing

Posted by Richard on January 13, 2016

It’s a message worth repeating. Investing is a matter of focus. Despite recent disappointments in stock market performance, investors who are willing to assess the whole universe of investment choices may find that the market continues to offer new possibilities. And those who keep their sights set on long-term investment goals may find that a […]

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Budget Deal Curbs Social Security Claiming Options

Posted by Richard on

On Monday, November 2, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1314, the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.” One significant byproduct of the legislation is the elimination and/or curbing of two Social Security filing strategies that two-income married couples may have been using — or counting on — to increase their lifetime Social Security payouts. The […]

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When Should You Sell An Investment?

Posted by Richard on

Effective portfolio management is about more than buying securities, it’s also about selling them when the time is right. Unfortunately, there’s no crystal ball that tells investors when to sell their investments. Many investors hold securities for too long and reproach themselves for not having sold sooner. Others sell too soon and second-guess their chances […]

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Wealth Transfer In A Low-Rate Environment

Posted by Richard on

For those fortunate few individuals whose personal wealth exceeds the current estate-tax exemption threshold — $5.43 million for 2015 rising to $5.45 million for 2016 — today’s historically low interest rate environment offers potentially powerful wealth transfer opportunities. Recent low rates of interest have affected two important factors used to value wealth transfers involving trusts […]

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