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“What did the doctor say?” A diagnosis of a serious illness can be life changing. The need to understand treatment options and to receive medical care is often overwhelming. A new diagnosis can impact not only your day-to-day routine, but also the people who are close to you. Finances can also be impacted. In fact, […]

At one time or another, we all have likely heard someone longing for the “good old days.” It is quite common to look back nostalgically at simpler times when we had less stress and fewer responsibilities. While there are certainly advantages to growing up and getting older, we can glean some financial wisdom from the […]

We made it through an exciting year of tax reform, and hopefully you did too! The changes to the tax code created many challenges – and opportunities. This article aims to summarize what we saw after preparing several thousand tax returns, as well as offer opportunities that you may be able to utilize next year. If […]

The UK vote in June 2016 resulting in the decision to leave the European Union (EU) was historic! However, here we are three years later with uncertainty still surrounding that decision. The UK was originally due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019; however, the withdrawal agreement reached between the EU and the UK […]

It is that time of year again when parents find themselves becoming empty nesters as their kids head off to college. It is a time full of important, and not important, decisions to be made. Picking out the right towels, bedding, computer, books, clothes, and mini-fridge can quickly become overwhelming.  However, there is a lot […]

Global stocks rallied 3.3% during April resulting in a 16% year-to-date return. Markets that led with some of the strongest returns during the month were Germany (+7.0%), South Africa (+8.1%), and Sweden (+6.1%). Short- and intermediate-term bonds rose 0.2% for the month. Alternatives generally pulled back during April with the exception of managed futures (+0.5%).  […]

As bull markets age and continue toward new record highs, it is human nature to look for a strategy to protect your investment portfolio from losses. A zero-cost collar is an option-based strategy for investors who are looking for ways to possibly “insure” their stock portfolio against losses. The gist of this option strategy is […]

The merits of index investing are numerous with low fees, transparent rules, and minimal turnover among the most frequently cited advantages. However, not everyone views the rise of index investing as a good thing, and an increasingly popular debate has been the question of how much indexing is too much.  Since the global financial crisis, […]

Global stocks closed out a strong first quarter with mixed results in March. U.S. large cap stocks led the charge, rising 1.9%, while small caps struggled, down 2.1%. International developed (+0.6%) and emerging markets stocks (+0.8%) were up slightly.  Economy  The Consumer Price Index fell for the fourth consecutive month, now at its lowest level […]

Members of Generation X range from 35 to 49 years old, sandwiched between the Boomers and Millennials, who factor in to create the Gen X Jam. Providing support for family, older and younger, carries substantial financial implications.

Does your financial planner advise you on the tax impact of your financial decisions as well as help you with tax saving strategies? If not, you should consider finding one who does.  Here’s why your tax advisor should be your financial advisor. The reason why is simple: Almost all financial decisions have a tax impact. If […]

For those over age 70½, a qualified charitable distribution can be a great way to make a charitable donation in a tax-efficient manner.