The trend toward online investing and advisory services, also known as robo-investing and robo-advice is gaining momentum, but industry participants are struggling to get a handle on how retail investors view and/or use robo-services to conduct their financial affairs. Studies Abound Recent research conducted by major asset management firms has given some insight, yet often their findings turn up …
What You Need to Know About Generational Wealth Management
Discussing the transfer of wealth from parents to children can be uncomfortable for both parties. Yet by introducing your kids/grandkids to the wealth management process from a young age, affluent families may be able to diminish family tensions later in life and help ensure that the planning tradition passes intact to future generations. Closing the Communication Gap Opening the discussion …
Let’s Talk About Marriage…….
Marriage affects your finances in many ways, including your ability to build wealth, plan for retirement, plan your estate, and capitalize on tax and insurance-related benefits. There are, however, two important caveats. First, same-sex marriages are recognized for federal income and estate tax reporting purposes. However, each state determines its own rules for state taxes, inheritance rights, and probate, so …
I ain’t afraid of the DOL!
There has been a lot of talk surrounding the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rules. The gist of the whole thing is the fact that financial advisors will have to act as fiduciaries, meaning that they have to put their client’s interests first before their own. Wait a minute. Isn’t that a financial professional is supposed to be doing? This …
The Plan is to Live Into Retirement
When do you want to retire? Yesterday? Is your money going to last? It’s simple. Just tell me when you are going to die and we can come up with the perfect plan for your retirement. If you are like most of my clients, you are working away and putting away money for that future retirement date. But what if …
How to Live Within Your Means
SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN This may seem obvious; however, it must be said. If you spend less than you bring home, then you will begin to accumulate wealth! It is almost too easy to make purchases these days. Within a minute, anyone can think of a product, order it on Amazon, pay for it with a credit card already …
Smart Tax Planning
“You are worse than the Dentist.” It’s tax time. According to some of my clients-one of the worst days of the year. Most of my clients are patriotic Americans, but they don’t want to pay more taxes than they have to. Over the years I have noticed most of my clients initially focus on deductions. Should I buy a house …
Financial Planning in your 40’s
If you are a consistent planner for the future, then you should have been in an excellent financial position when you touch your 40’s. Most of us, however, are not. It is clear that we have a lot of catching up to do. Remember, financial planning is one of the most important actions at this juncture in your life. If you are …
Estate Planning for Those Living in Blended Families
Today majority of blended families live together peacefully without any issues. However, what if one spouse dies suddenly? How are the biological children of the deceased spouse placed in terms of inheritance? It is particularly important for blended families to discuss matters related to estate planning beforehand. Here are a few points that could help with estate planning for blended …
The Importance of Estate Planning
Most people associate estate planning with the land. The truth is everything that you own can be termed as your “estate”. Your home, your car, your furniture, your bank accounts, any and all investments and your possessions, they’re all a part of your assets. Being valuable, and close to your heart, what happens to them later is something that you …