I’m trying to think of an expression, like “counting your chickens before the eggs hatch” that applies to considering inheritance as part of your financial plan. Or maybe, with egg prices what they are, we are just hoping to inherit a healthy chicken coop. Anyway, a topic of conversation that often comes up in planning…
Well, maybe not in love (see Romeo, Juliet, etc.) but according to – gasp! – both parties in Congress and former President Joe Biden, Social Security is getting a little fairer this year. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025, ends the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and…
Do you have fears that keep you from moving forward with your life goals? I do! I have a fear of asking businesses for donations and sponsorships for fundraisers. This stresses me out since I find myself serving on many non-profit boards where that is the principal activity. What to do to get over my…
We are into the misery of winter now. Short, cold days, runny noses, and lumpy sweaters make you long for a beach vacation. But what if you could put that vacation money to use in your investments? What kinds of companies profit from cold weather? Remember, this newsletter is not investment advice, but some general…
So, I say it every four years, and I’ll say it again. The US President is one person whose job cannot last more than 8 total years. This person does not in the long term affect the worldwide economy. Therefore, and ergo, for the sake of your own sanity and that of your financial advisor,…
What is a secret blunder lurking in many people’s investment accounts? Uninvested cash left sitting for months, years, even decades. How does this happen? A simple misunderstanding upon transferring or adding new money to brokerage accounts. Here is how money gets invested in a brokerage account: Here is what often happens: …
Great news! The IRS has clarified a part of the Secure 2.0 Act (only took two years) and now employees can more easily than ever raid their 401(k) plans. That’s right, once per year, you can take out money from your active 401(k) plan up to $1,000 without having to prove a specific hardship. You…
Yep, it’s time again to remind dear readers that the stock market isn’t a living thing that hates you. It’s a place where people exchange shares of companies based on a price buyers and sellers think is fair at the moment. The only bad emotion in the stock market the regret felt by those who…
Over the last couple of years in a higher interest rate environment, the appeal of I Bonds went from Zero (kind of like their returns prior to 2021) to Kardashian-level break-the-internet appeal. Many clients have asked if they should get on that train. My answer – as always – is “it depends.” Last week’s blog…
After many years of low inflation, starting in 2021 I Bonds began having their moment. So, here is a primer on how I Bonds work (today’s blog) and how you might use them in your portfolio (next week – that’s right, a two-part cliffhanger blog!) I Bonds are a type of U.S. Treasury savings bond…
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