Gifting Strategies You Can Use Now
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 basically doubled the size that an estate must be to incur estate taxes, from $5.6 million to $11.18 million for individuals (in 2017). Currently, after adjustments for inflation, an individual has a lifetime estate and gift tax exemption of $12.92 million, and a married couple can […]
The Empty Nest and Your Retirement: Things to Know
Most parents will tell you that providing the necessary financial and logistic support needed to raise kids and prepare them to launch out on their own can seem like more than a full-time job. Between school drop-off and pickup, sports team practices and games, musical or theater performances, other extracurricular activities, and finding time to […]
Why is Financial Planning a “Must-Have” for Everyone?
Financial uncertainty has increased in 2023. The question for many is how to face this uncertainty. Although two-thirds of Americans agree that their financial planning could improve, only 37% currently work with a financial advisor. An ongoing financial planning relationship with a trusted financial professional can ensure that needed conversations occur to create a financial […]
6 Estate Planning Tips for Blended Families
Estate planning can be tricky, especially when you’re part of a blended family.Over 50% of U.S. families are estimated to be remarried or re-coupled. Ensuring a smooth wealth transition can be challenging with multiple relationships, children from previous marriages, and differing financial dynamics. You can never guarantee that everyone in the blended family will be […]
Staying Focused As Markets Shift
The second quarter of 2023 gave investors plenty to think about—from mounting interest in AI to shifting inflation rates to the debt ceiling debate. Investors who remained focused on a diversified portfolio of equities and fixed income, benefitted from advances in both asset classes during Q2. Shifting to a Bull Market Stocks rebounded in 2023 […]
Rising Interest Rates and Stock Prices: What to Expect
In early May, headlines in the US financial media were dominated by the announcement that the US Federal Reserve Bank had raised the target federal funds rate (the interest rate charged by depository institutions to lend balances at the US Federal Reserve to make overnight loans to other depository institutions—often called “the Fed funds rate”) […]
Stairs on the Way Up, Elevator on the Way Down: Investing during a Bear Market
It’s not exactly a secret that the markets have been dropping lately. In fact, since its peak at the first of the year, the broad market, as measured by the S&P 500, has fallen more than 1,000 points, going from 4,793 on January 3 to its latest close (at this writing) of 3,735: a loss […]
Russia, Ukraine, and Your Investments
The past week proves once again that what happens on the other side of the world can make waves in the financial markets. As Russian tanks, troops, and aircraft continue attacks throughout the nation of Ukraine, we are being treated to daily glimpses of devastation as, for the second time since 2014, Russia is using […]
US Treasury Series I Bonds: Government-Backed with a Built-In Inflation Hedge
With inflation in the news more and more, it’s not surprising that more investors are looking for ways to build enough long-term growth characteristics into their portfolios to make sure their purchasing power stays ahead of the increasing cost of basic goods and services. In fact, in another recent article, we looked at some of […]
A Deeper Look at Inflation
Inflation has been in the headlines quite a bit lately, so today, we’re going to address what all the hoopla is about. We had an extraordinary year in 2020. There were unprecedented spending and policy programs that will be written into history. But with every action, there is a reaction, and so it should come […]
