Medicare is the core component of healthcare coverage for most retirees. Medicare is also misunderstood by many people as they approach age 65. As Medicare open enrollment approaches, here is a brief overview of the basics of Medicare to help increase your understanding of this important program. What is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health […]
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 […]
Saving for retirement is a top financial priority for most people over the course of their working life. In terms of retirement spending, we generally think about the cost of housing, travel, and other activities we’d like to pursue. However, one of the biggest costs in retirement is the cost of healthcare. Fidelity Investments does […]
Estate planning is the process of ensuring that your assets are properly distributed to your heirs upon your death and designating who will handle your affairs should you become incapacitated. Estate planning is important for all of us, not just the ultra-wealthy. Here are some estate planning basics to consider. Take inventory of your assets […]
Retirement is a transition in many ways. Your daily routine no longer centers around work. Retirement also represents a time of financial transition as well. During your working years your focus is generally on accumulating money for retirement. This means contributing to your 401(k), IRAs, taxable investment accounts and others. Your investment strategy may also […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We read a lot about the importance of saving and investing for our retirement throughout our working careers. This is critical and we encourage our clients to save as much as possible and advise them on how to invest for retirement. What doesn’t always receive as much emphasis is the importance of pre-retirement planning, specifically […]