The Cautious Investor

Since March 9th of 2009, the U.S. stock market has taken off. Some have labeled this the longest bull market in history although FINRA technically gives that title to the 12 ½ years from October 1987 – March 2000. Many investors have reaped the benefits from strong equity markets over the last 9 years, but…

If you’re a dependent student filing the FAFSA, and your parents are separated and/or divorced, applying for financial aid is not difficult. However, there are a few steps you’ll need to take and additional paperwork you may need depending on several factors. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, parents “not living together” means that the…

Many Boomers have saved their hard-earned money for years with plans of being able to retire. Some have faced job loss and various circumstances that have led them to not be able to retire – or at least not when planned. For those who do have plans to retire soon or already are retired, having…

Retirement is supposed to be glorious, a time to cross off items on your bucket list. One problem however, is that rising health care costs are tipping the buckets over on many retirees.    According to HealthView Services, health care expenses are projected to increase at a rate of 5.47% per year. This is more than…

Older adults who lose their life savings may also lose years from their life, a new Journal of American Medical Association* study suggests. Looking at more than 8,700 Americans ages 51-61, researchers found that those who lost 75% or more of their net worth within a two-year period were more likely to die over the…

When you think of a wedding, golden rings, bells, and buffets may come to mind – but what about after the celebration is over and the happy couple have said their “I-do’s”? For those who don’t have serious and continuous discussions about finances, the future could spell trouble, and even divorce, for 36.7% of marriages.…

Sometimes being an investor feels like driving on a congested freeway. Changing lanes when you’re stuck in a traffic jam never works out – the lane you choose always slows down and the lane you left speeds up after you change. Patience pays off just as it does when you invest. Sometimes investments may look…

Insurance companies always win, right? Well, that hasn’t necessarily been true when it comes to Long-Term Care insurance carriers. What began in the late 1970’s as “nursing home only” products, LTC insurance increased in popularity in the 1980’s and 1990’s as contract language broadened to cover assisted living, adult daycare, and in-home care. However, actuarial…

Since the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has doubled the standard deduction starting in 2018, few individuals are expected to itemize.  However, if you are an IRA owner over age 70 ½ and have a charitable intent, you can utilize Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to maximize the new higher standard deduction, in effect getting…

Many Investors seem to know their approximate rate of return, but probably don’t know how much risk they are taking to garner the return they receive.  The goal for most is to get the highest return while taking the lowest amount of risk.  This can be much easier said than done, and it’s important that…