I recently completed work with a client who was considering switching jobs. It was an interesting case, as the switch involved moving from a job with a pension plus a 401k-like retirement plan to a… Read More
Investment Management: Questions to Ask About Your Portfolio
I attended a conference on communications a few weeks ago run by Dimensional Fund Advisors. Dimensional, or DFA as they are known, has an interesting story. They were founded by academics, including a few Nobel… Read More
Planning for Taxes in Retirement: Options to Control What You Pay
In last week’s post, I covered a few things you should consider in setting up withdrawals from your portfolio in retirement. One of the considerations was planning for taxes, and more specifically, how you can… Read More
Retirement Planning Basics – How to Withdraw from Your Portfolio
One of the most common questions clients ask when doing their retirement planning is how portfolio withdrawals will work. Saving is something most clients have done for years, but reversing the flow brings up a… Read More
Buying Credibility: Why Fluff Awards Can Hurt Your Search for an Advisor
I’ve never trusted whatever version of Who’s Who has contacted me over the years. The various pitches were always full of flattery — not only were they willing to honor me, but they were even… Read More
Assets and Your Child’s Financial Aid: How Ownership Affects Assistance
In a series of recent blog posts, I’ve covered the control and tax issues parents face when determining how to hold assets for their children. Another key consideration I’ll address in this post is how… Read More
Wall Street Slump: Your Checklist for When the Market Heads South
An old rule of thumb when it comes to investing is that markets drop more quickly than they rise. Panic strikes suddenly, but optimism creeps in over time. That leads to situations like the most… Read More
Tax Planning and Children: Tax Issues in Holding Assets for Your Kids
In last week’s blog post, I covered the various options for holding assets meant to benefit your child. This week, we’ll take a look at the tax planning issues surrounding assets held for or by… Read More
Financial Account for Your Child: Understand Your Options
Most parents who can do so provide significant financial support to their children at some point. The goal may be to pay for private school or help out with college, or set aside money for… Read More
Understanding An Advisor’s Investment Track Record
If you’re considering working with a financial advisor, at some point, you’ll probably discuss the advisor’s investment track record. Most advisors aren’t going to offer a public track record of how they’ve done because unlike… Read More