The Cautious Investor

What is it and why do it? Succession planning is a proactive, strategic approach that allows an owner to exit their business on their own terms. Not all businesses are created equal, and one of the more common misconceptions we’ve seen business owners have is related to the time frame it takes to walk away…

A Health Savings Account, more commonly referred to by its abbreviation HSA, is a type of savings account that allows you to set money aside for qualified medical expenses and reduce your taxable income. Not everyone is eligible to have an HSA (not everyone should) and it does come with some caveats. In order to…

As the world relies more on technology with every passing day, the continued emergence of cyber threats and identity theft can be felt by most Americans.  Despite the number of fraud incidents decreasing in 2018 relative to 2017, 3.3 million people were responsible for some of the liability of the fraud committed against them, up…

In December 2019, Congress passed the SECURE Act which brings significant changes to planning for the distribution of retirement assets after death.  Lifetime minimum distribution rules are pretty much left alone, with the only change being a delay in the starting point for required minimum distributions to age 72, from age 70½. The most notable change…

Starting off the New Year right while still enjoying the holiday spirit makes it a good time to think about charitable donations. For those 70.5 or older who must take their Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) from their IRA’s, thinking about charities close to your heart may be a good alternative to incurring the tax bill…

Sales and bargains can be exciting, as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and other sales kick off the holiday shopping season. However, shoppers need to be cautious — excessive spending in pursuit of the “perfect” holiday can be a source of more stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the need to find the right gift…

Is the biggest risk to your returns looking back at you in the mirror? Many of us have found that acknowledging our own behavior in certain situations can make our chances of success higher and alleviate stress at the same time.   I hate driving in rush hour traffic, so I avoid it when possible.  All…

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. …