Charitable Giving Strategies
The task of being a good steward is always top of mind for me. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to help our clients make good decisions with their money.
When a Corporate Trustee Makes Sense
In 2014, Wells Fargo published the findings of a study that focused on how American families communicate about personal finance. They discovered that money is harder for families to talk about than death!
Event + Reaction = Outcome
Jack Cranefield (author of The Success Principles) believes that highly successful people are particularly capable of influencing outcomes by controlling their own reactions to events, rather than controlling the events themselves. And I think he’s on to something!
Sell Your Stocks and Prepare for Inevitable Doom!
Of course, I’m kidding. We are not selling our stocks and we are not preparing for doomsday. But, did my sensational title get your attention? I thought it might!
When Should You Invest?
The decision of “when” to invest in the market can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, doing nothing can be the worst decision of all.
The Annual End of the World
The date was December 31, 1999. I remember going to Wal-Mart to search the picked-over shelves for bottled water, canned food, and ammunition. Why? Y2K was coming!
Financial Synergies is Ahead of the New Fiduciary Rule
In early April, the Department of Labor released its final version of its fiduciary rule for financial advisors.
And There is No New Thing Under the Sun
As a financial advisor in Houston, TX, I spend a considerable amount of time talking with clients about the price of oil. Everyone in Houston is keenly aware that the price of oil has plummeted over the last few months, …
Impressive Banking for Charles Schwab Account Holders
Banks these days are either gouging with hidden fees or requiring huge minimum balances. Since many of our clients have complex banking needs, I often refer them to Charles Schwab Bank.
Compounding: The Most Powerful Force in the Universe
When money is invested and then reinvested along with its earnings, it compounds and grows at exponential rates.
If They’re Not a CFP® Pro, You Just Don’t Know
A few years ago the CFP Board of Standards, Inc. initiated a public awareness campaign. Their goal is to educate the public on the importance of working with a qualified financial advisor. They encourage everyone to seek advice from a …
Are your IRA beneficiaries set up correctly?
If you haven’t reviewed your IRA beneficiaries in a while, you may find that the designated beneficiaries on your IRA are not who you intended them to be, especially if you have grandchildren. For instance, if you name your three …
Where Should the Market Be?
Last week the Dow Jones (^DJI) topped the 17,000 mark with a gain of about 3.25% for the year. The markets have been on a tear for over three years with no significant downturn since the long forgotten technical correction …
Test Your Own Behavioral Bias
People are fascinating to me. You’d think that over thousands of years, the human brain would have evolved to become capable of making unbiased decisions as a means for survival. But based on James Montier’s book “Behavioral Investing” our brains …
What’s Your Retirement Number?
A couple of years ago, ING started a great marketing campaign to encourage people to start saving for retirement. The “What’s your retirement number?” slogan was undoubtedly derived from a common question that financial advisors hear from clients every day. …