Financial
by Robin S. Davis, CFP
The decade of 2000-2009 has been dubbed the "lost decade" as most indices averaged annual returns in the negative numbers. The DJIA began the decade at an open of 11,497 and closed at the end of 2009 at 10,428. This may have you still sitting on the sidelines in defensive mode and not knowing which way to go in the future as health care, income and estate taxes, and real estate values are at the top of the list of the most unknown, but much needed information, for making your next move.
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by Robin S. Davis, CFP
The answer to this question is an absolute "maybe, maybe not". The size of your estate, type of assets it consists of, and the state you live in will determine whether or not your heirs will pay any taxes. The thing you have to remember is there is more than one kind of tax that comes into play when someone passes their estate to their beneficiaries upon their death. These taxes include federal estate taxes, state inheritance taxes, capital gains taxes and income taxes.
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by Alan Goldfarb, CFP®, AIF®, MBA
The topic of financial planning has been given a big boost recently, mostly due to a tough economy, a volatile stock market and headline-grabbing scandals, one of which resulted in the coining of an unfortunate new condition—“Madoffed.” As a result, investors have reacted in a variety of ways. Some simply ignore the whole situation, putting their financial planning on indefinite hold.
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by David N. Grenier
Investors who lost much of their savings during the current bear market ironically need the growth that stocks can provide more than ever. Depending on the size of their losses and how long they will have before they need access to their savings, many investors will either need to earn significant gains in coming years or scale back their financial goals.
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by George Wells
Here are my five “must eat” slices of any sound financial pie for any baby boomer that is still in the workforce, who is looking to effectively manage their finances and protect for the future. In today’s “new” economy, the key to success is planning ahead. Positioning your assets to obtain predictable results is more important today than ever. Each slice counts 20 percent towards complete financial success.
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by Jonathan Citrin
The phrase “we are only human” is a cliché that speaks volumes about the ability – or lack thereof – to overcome our inherent biological and psychological limitations and resist deeply ingrained social behaviors to make better, more informed decisions. There is nothing more intrinsically human than emotion – and yet, at the same time, there is nothing more counterproductive to successfully planning, establishing and maintaining a sound investment portfolio. Doing the smart thing can sometimes feel wrong, and making financial decisions based on anything other than unbiased critical thinking and careful analysis is a risky proposition.
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by Howard Hook
As we work our way through this current recession, it is clear that it has affected a broad section of investors. Stock investors and bond investors have seen declines in the value of their investments. Even cash investors have seen yields on their cash investments drop to practically zero and have had their implied guarantee of principal called into question.
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by Julie Murphy Casserly
Not long after I started my financial planning firm in 1995, I discovered something that was never taught to me in business school. It’s the notion that every person has their own unique and personal relationship with money. I consistently saw how my clients’ emotions were responsible for how they made money, how they kept it, or conversely, how they accumulated debt.
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by Roy P. Kozupsky & Douglas Freeman
How much of your wealth do you want your children to receive after you are gone? In reaching this conclusion, you may choose to leave everything to them. But, before deciding, ask yourself... How much will help them? At what point will any gift to them be excessive or counter-productive, i.e., undermine their own willingness or need to earn and become financially independent? Will the amount of wealth distract them from their chosen businesses or careers? Will it encourage them to retire on the date of your death? Remember, too much, too soon, can be very harmful.
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by Bruce A. Blessington
A knowledgeable financial professional observed recently that most folks he knew were currently in one of two positions: cash or fetal. The number of investors in the latter position recently increased with the news that wealth management guru Bernie Madoff apparently “made off” with their money.
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