The financial services industry has a bad habit of using terms that can seem vague and confusing to clients. There is probably no place where this confusion is greater than how an advisor is compensated. Additionally, the term fiduciary is tossed around by the media quite a bit. However many investors don’t fully understand what […]
Asset allocation is an investment strategy that adjusts the percentage of each holding in an investment portfolio according to the investor's risk tolerance, goals and investment time frame. One famous industry study indicated that over 90% of the return from an investment portfolio was attributable to the portfolio’s asset allocation. While some have questioned whether […]
The term “financial planning” is a common one that is often written about in the financial press. Many financial advisors list financial planning among the services that they offer to clients. We believe this is a critical part of the services that we provide our clients. But what is financial planning? We think its important […]
Taxes, investments and financial planning are more intertwined than ever. Decisions about investments and financial planning increasingly include weighing the tax implications. Add in the multitude of potential changes in the tax legislation proposed by Congress and the need for an expert financial and tax advisor who understands your entire financial situation is more critical […]
Hiring a financial advisor is an important decision. Whether this is your first relationship with a financial advisor, or you are replacing an advisor who is no longer right for your needs, it's important to do all you can to ensure that you are hiring the best financial advisor for your situation. Asking the right […]
Inflation is frequently mentioned in the news and particularly by the financial press. Lately we’ve heard about inflation connected with many products and services as we emerge from the pandemic. Inflation is often linked with Federal Reserve policy as well. Inflation is a key variable to consider in your financial planning, especially for those nearing […]
Rolling over a 401(k) account when you leave an employer can be a smart move with these important retirement assets. IRA accounts are also an important tool in your retirement savings efforts. From time to time it might make sense to roll an IRA account from one custodian to a new one. Let’s look at […]
Retirement is often looked at as a milestone in our lives, and it is. While your investments likely will change in retirement, we are finding that this change is often a bit more gradual than we might have seen in the past for retirees. How you invest once you reach retirement will depend upon a […]
After a rocky start in 2020 with the markets hitting their low point in March due largely to the economic disruption of the pandemic, 2020 ended with solid returns in many major stock indexes. The S&P 500 ended the year up 18.4% for the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7.3% for the year […]
We are in the midst of the greatest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history. Financial services research firm Cerulli Associates estimates that nearly 45 million U.S. households will transfer over $68 trillion in wealth over the next 25 years. If you are the recipient of an inheritance, how should you adjust your financial plan? Our […]
