The Cautious Investor

With Medicare annual Open Enrollment beginning October 15th, many of us are being inundated with ads, mailings and phone calls seeking to provide advice to all seniors.   This a great time to revisit Medicare basics and options available to Medicare recipients. All U.S. citizens and legal residents who have lived in the U.S. for the…

Remember the days before self-service when you could drive your car to a gas pump and tell the attendant to “fill ‘er up”? There are good reasons to take the same approach to selling securities before the end of the year. If you’re careful to fill up your lower tax brackets with long-term capital gains,…

The concept and reality of retirement is changing drastically. Back in the day, there were pensions that delivered a set amount of money every month at the end of a career that might have spanned anywhere from 20–35 years at the same company.  Now, there are 401(k)s, and gig work, robo-advisors and smartphone savings apps. …

“Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves.”  – Peter Lynch, former Portfolio Manager, Fidelity Investments As we continue what many refer to as the longest bull market in U.S. history, the odds some economists place on a recession within…

If you attended undergraduate, graduate, or professional school this year, you may be eligible for a tax break. Tax credits and tax deductions may help you pay less income tax, according to the IRS. Tax credits are subtracted directly from the amount you owe in taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while tax deductions reduce your…

We practice drills for all types of disasters to help mitigate risk, reduce causalities, and provide peace of mind. Why not have a financial “fire drill”? Understanding what you will do if you’re faced with financial distress can help protect you from making harmful, hasty decisions, and give you confidence through challenging times.  When you begin planning your financial “fire drill”, make sure to include all family members. What happens if…

Many of us are planning our retirement, some with excited anticipation, some with apprehension.  Naturally the primary focus is usually on the financial – can I afford to retire?  It is important to assure that you have the financial resources you will need and good financial management practices in place for a successful retirement.  But…

According to Vanguard, the leader in do-it-yourself (DIY) investing, they believe a financial advisor can add approximately three percentage points to a client’s investment returns per year.  The study found five separate ways advisors add value (alpha) in working with their clients. * Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha Value-Add (approx. annual %) Behavioral Coaching 1.5% Asset Location 0 to .75%…

If you’ve ever had that unpleasant money conversation with your spouse, significant other, or even children about how much things costs and where money is getting spent, you’re not alone. Budgeting can be incredibly uncomfortable for all if it involves accusations, criticisms and finger-wielding for past spending decisions. But what if budgeting didn’t need to…