It is important to us to help you align your investing with your values. The article linked below talks about a strategy we have available to help clients that would like their investments to align with their views on preserving the environment and mitigating adverse climate effects. We also have investment options to build a [...]
Determining when to take social security, as well as planning for your future benefit, is such an important part of retirement planning. For each couple or individual, the answer as to when is the best time to take your benefit is different. It may seem like waiting until age 70 is best, as you can [...]
Consider your financial plan like a long journey away at sea. You're sure to encounter rough weather conditions and unfamiliar destinations. But if you're prepared for challenges and meet each decision with your top goals in mind, you have much better odds of getting where you want to go. Distractions are likely to pop up [...]
January got off to a fast start, with the DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ leaping by 5.8%, 5.6% and 7.4%, respectively. Many market experts attributed that performance to a fantastic fourth-quarter earnings season and the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For backdrop, consider this from research firm FactSet: 77% of S&P [...]
Creating financial well-being is simple, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. The hardest part of it is controlling our emotions. Financial well-being is about having the freedom to make choices that allow us to enjoy life, having control over our finances, and having the ability to absorb financial shocks. It is not about being [...]
Most provisions are set to take effect in 2018, but many of those are also set to expire or sunset in 2025. Here's a summary of what it means for tax rates, deductions, mortgages, and more. 1. Reductions in individual tax rates. The bill retains the current structure of seven individual tax brackets, but lowers five of them. [...]
At the beginning of 2017, a common view among money managers and analysts was that the financial markets would not repeat their strong returns from 2016. Many cited the uncertain global economy, political turmoil in the US, implementation of Brexit, conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea’s weapons buildup, and other factors. The global equity markets defied their predictions, with major equity indices in the US, developed ex-US, and emerging markets posting strong returns for the year.
“The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” - Steven Covey We rarely control everything in our lives, but often we have more control than we realize. We are at the beginning of 2018. It is a time when we create New Year’s resolutions for ourselves and reflect [...]
Ask yourself the question, if you passed early in your retirement, would your choices leave your spouse enough income to live comfortably and cover the increasing costs of healthcare? Choosing a spousal benefit that will protect your spouse in case something unexpected happens is extremely important.
A thoughtful client invited me to a local event at a winery recently, where a group of mindful women and a vineyard manager weaved wonderful life lessons through their discussion of the life of a vine.
