Investing Building Block #1: Have A Plan This is the first in a series of postings where the focus will be around investing. We will touch on some of the core building blocks of investing. It may be a reminder for many of you or new to some, but if you find these useful,…
Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, reminds us to “forget about what the stock market is going to do. Instead, focus on what you, as an investor, ought to do…” So what do we really know about the financial markets? First, what we don’t know: The full global economic and market…
What did we learn about the financial markets in 2019? We learned that….. When it seemed the bleakest at the end of December with the S&P 500 Index on the verge of triggering a bear market signal (20% decline from the previous high), the market went on a tear. …
Wondering if bond investments should be an integral part of your portfolio? Below are some common questions regarding investing in bonds. What are bonds? Bonds are simply IOUs. By buying a bond, you are in effect, making a loan. In return, the borrower (or issuer) agrees to make interest payments to you at a fixed…
Give Directly From Your IRA to Your Favorite Charity Background: In the year that a taxpayer reaches age 70-1/2, the IRS requires minimum distributions (RMD) to begin. If you do not need all of the RMD for living expenses, there is a provision which allows distributions to be made directly to a qualified charity thereby excluding…
Doing Good GIVES You a Tax Break is a three-part series. Learn how being charitable can improve your tax situation in retirement! Watch Part 3 on Donor Advised Funds below. If you haven’t already, watch part 1 on Qualified Charitable Distributions here. To learn about a unique strategy for reducing the tax bill watch part 2 of the webinar series here. You can also check…
Doing Good GIVES You a Tax Break is a three-part series. Watch Part 2 on Bunching below. If you haven’t already, watch part 1 on Qualified Charitable Distributions here. You can also check out our recent blog about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for background information. Next time, we will learn about how Donor Advised Funds can be used…
Learn how being charitable can improve your tax situation in retirement! Doing Good GIVES You a Tax Break is a three-part series. Watch Part 1 on Qualified Charitable Distributions below. You can also check out our recent blog about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for background information. Join us next time to learn about a unique strategy to…
Interest rates are an important part of everyone’s lives! Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) began to gradually increase key interest rates in December 2015 from a record low of near zero. The expectation is that the Fed will continue raising rates in 2018 and 2019 (See Fed Chart.) On the…
Everyone is talking about the new tax rules for 2018. It’s always a good idea to plan ahead and be prepared where finances are concerned. That’s why we put together a few little-known facts that could benefit you when it’s time to file 2018 taxes. The taxable income brackets and long-term capital gains income levels…