Digital assets, or an individual’s online personal and financial records, need to be an essential part of your estate plan. Here are some planning pointers that most people have not considered. WE ARE REALLY MOVING INTO THE DIGITAL AGE WITH OUR FINANCES. As technology continues to develop, our daily activities increasingly rely on digital…
When the stock market gyrates, especially those downturns in prices, millions of investors start watching the “ticker tape” – sometimes hour by hour. It is easy to get lost in the stock market lingo – here’s a quick glossary of terms. LET’S START WITH TERMS LIKE “CORRECTION” AND “BEAR MARKET” – WHAT DO…
My youngest child, a college freshman, recently sent me a long text discussing the potential opportunities for Bitcoin miners. As we know, last year, Bitcoin rocketed from $1,000 to $20,000 before splashing down below $9,000. I know an 80-year old investor who has shifted most of his portfolio into stocks, particularly into healthcare and…
April is Financial Literacy Month. It needs to be a big deal. A lack of financial preparedness has significant consequences, not the least of which is you and your family’s current or future quality of life. Rising healthcare costs alone can be financially devastating. Also, many Americans don’t understand the commitment of a mostly self-financed…
The Justice Department recently announced the largest sweep of elder fraud cases in history. How can you, or a senior family member, avoid becoming a victim of fraud? WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON EXAMPLES OF ELDER FRAUD? Mass Mailings Telemarketing Investment-related WHO ARE THE BAD GUYS? Global crime organizations A relative A fiduciary…
Tax season is in full bloom as we count down the days to the income tax filing deadline which is Tuesday, April 17. What are the most common filing errors? What if you’ve already made a mistake? WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TAX RETURN ERRORS? • Incorrect Social Security numbers: You, spouse, children. •…
In March, many employers, banks, and organizations promoted “America Saves Week.” The message was simple: Making an effort to save is vital to your financial health. Whether it is putting change in a piggy bank or contributing to a 401k plan at work it can mean big money down the road. WHY IS IT…
My family has Appalachian kinfolk who will predict your future by reading coffee grounds. Of course, you could just visit a fortune teller in Pigeon Forge. While I don’t know the track records of mountain folk divinations or palm readers, I do enjoy keeping an annual “Forecasting” folder to review the predictive powers of the…
The recent spike in market volatility has left many investors concerned about their portfolios and uncertain as to how a rise in interest rates impacts their bond investments. LET’S START WITH BONDS 101, HOW DO BONDS WORK AND WHY DO WE BUY THEM? Bonds are generally conservative investments and they produce income –…
Let’s have a little fun – can the winner of the Super Bowl game predict the stock market’s next move? Well, the “Super Bowl Indicator” is a superstition that says that the stock market’s performance in a given year can be predicted based on the outcome of the Super Bowl of that year. WHAT…