Posted by Richard on June 7, 2016
In December 2015, President Obama signed into law the “Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015.” This new ruling made permanent many tax breaks that had been dubbed “extenders” as taxpayers would have to wait — typically until the last minute — for lawmakers to reinstate them for another year. Among the most […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on May 17, 2016
The times they are a changin’ for baby boomers. The generation that lived through and influenced the revolution in the retirement industry is now poised to begin withdrawing money from their retirement-saving vehicles — namely IRAs and/or employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you were born in the first half of 1946 — you are among the […]
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The number of Americans in or nearing retirement who are still holding significant mortgage, auto, even student loan debt has been rising in recent years. According to recent data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average 65-year-old borrower has 47% more mortgage debt and 29% more auto debt than 65-year-olds had […]
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Are you retiring soon and looking into your options to start drawing down your savings from your employer-sponsored plan? Are you also concerned about making sure your money lasts as long as you need it to? If so, annuities may make sense for you.1 Annuities, simply put, reduce the risk that you will outlive your […]
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The trend toward online investing and advisory services, also known as robo-investing and robo-advice is gaining momentum, but industry participants are struggling to get a handle on how retail investors view and/or use robo-services to conduct their financial affairs. Studies Abound Recent research conducted by major asset management firms has gleaned insight, yet often their […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on March 30, 2016
It’s one of the six steps of the financial planning process. But, oftentimes, it’s the one step that gets overlooked. It’s the sixth step – the annual financial check-up. The annual financial check-up is indeed the most important of the financial planning steps. And yet, financial planners and clients sometimes downplay its significance. What is […]
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The recent volatility in the stock market has everyone a little jumpy – even folks who have worked with a trusted financial planner for years. But if you’ve never worked with a planner before, one of the first things he or she will do is make you fill out a risk analysis questionnaire. Why is […]
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As we go through life, our insurance needs change. It makes sense to put certain dates on the calendar each year to see if your home, auto, umbrella liability, life, health, business and disability coverage not only fit your current needs at the right cost but protect you and your family in case of a […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on February 10, 2016
Financial resolutions often fall prey to the same procrastination that hinders personal aspirations. Yet current volatility in the financial markets along with other unsettling factors such as the impending presidential election and widespread geopolitical unrest may have led investors to pause, rethink their financial situations, and set new expectations for the future. Resolutions typically fall […]
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The heightened volatility that has afflicted the U.S. stock market for the past several months points out the potential benefits of active portfolio management. What distinguishes an active investment style from a passive style — and what benefits may active management provide in a volatile market? Dueling Styles Because active managers may rely on market […]
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