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Cost basis is a crucial piece in determining how much gain/loss from the sale of an investment will be reported on your tax return. Despite cost basis being so important, required accurate reporting of cost basis by custodians has only been in effect since 2011 for stocks (and 2012 for mutual funds). Therefore, it is important […]

Certain events in your life are happy and planned – graduations, getting that job, and having a child. Other significant events may be sudden and unexpected – disability, divorce, and premature death. We call these “life’s critical events.” They happen to each of us, albeit not at the same time or in the same magnitude, […]

What is a yield curve, and why are stock investors interested in its shape?  A yield curve gives a snapshot of how yields vary across bonds of similar credit quality, but different maturities, at a specific point in time. For example, the US Treasury yield curve indicates the yields of US Treasury bonds across a […]

After a painful October, global stock markets (+1.4%) rebounded modestly in November. Bond markets also had positive returns for the month. In the final days of the month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell issued a statement that monetary policy was approaching neutral which fueled the market gains.   Economy  The second estimate of 3rd quarter […]

Prices at the gas pump dropped toward the lowest of the year as a result of the price of crude oil per barrel dropping for several months. In fact, oil prices have been dropping so much that they are considered to be in a bear market, down more than 30% from the intra-year high of […]

If you are anything like me, your friends are a very important part of your life. I am very blessed in that I have a large group of friends from high school.  I also attended an out-of-state university, so I also have many friends who live elsewhere. It is great to have this large network of […]

Which is a better way to save for retirement—in a traditional or Roth retirement account? At a glance, it may be difficult to know which savings option makes the most sense. Choosing the best account for your stage in life and tax bracket can impact your future account balances at retirement. Let’s review the basics. […]

There you are, in your mid 40’s, working hard and raising your family. Have you had the conversation with your parents yet? Have you received the email from mom and dad telling you that it’s time? When is it time to discuss their finances in preparation for the day when one or both of them […]

Recently I encouraged a female family member, a new college graduate, to take advantage of her employer’s retirement plan at her first “real” job. She responded that her future husband would take care of that. Note that she was single at the time of our conversation! Needless to say, I was quite surprised by her […]

As a parent, you want to protect your child from harm. However, it is not always easy to foresee what the future may hold for them. As the saying goes, sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Estate planning for a future inheritance is no different. A properly drafted trust can help proactively plan against […]

Social Security plays a key role in many Americans’ retirement plans. Understanding the benefits available in different situations is important, especially for women. According to the Social Security Administration, the median earnings for women are approximately 80% of men’s earnings. This means that women will receive less Social Security than men, but generally women will rely […]

With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday just around the corner, the holiday shopping (and giving) season officially begins this week. Make the most of this year’s shopping season by creating a list of those you plan to purchase gifts for, along with a planned spending amount. Having a budget can […]