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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by Alex Petrenko
When it comes to small business owner retirement plans, a one-size-fits-all plan is often not the most effective option, as personal circumstances and goals can vary widely. Fortunately, the tax code allows for more flexibility in plan designs than most people are aware. However, the variety of retirement plans currently available may prove overwhelming to you, making it difficult to select a plan ideal for your situation.
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by Rick Jaye & Karl Huish
Many successful business owners with small- to mid-sized businesses have discovered the potential benefits of forming captive insurance companies, also known as “captives.” Captives may be one of the best business planning tools for business owners, as they can reduce insurance costs, save taxes, protect assets, and transfer business value and family wealth to future generations. Legal changes in the last five years may make this one of the most advantageous times to form a captive.
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by Judi Snyder
Warren Buffet. Just the name connotes financial success. Most Americans have a high-degree of respect and admiration for Mr. Buffet’s achievements. And many people would love to be able to acquire just one share of Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway stock at the hefty price of $120,000. Few would argue that it is a good risk. It may surprise you; however, that Berkshire Hathaway invests $600 million annually in life settlements and even has owns a private company that sells life settlements.
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by Jeffrey Snyder
In today’s turbulent economic environment many investors are either frozen in fear or are watching their investments wither away. Most American investors don’t know what to do or who to trust. The Problem: When it comes to mainstream investments these days, viable options are few and far between. The stock market has been in flux over the last several years by virtue of looming inflation, spiraling oil prices and the constant threat of terrorism.
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by Susan Beacham
Parents ask me daily how to talk with their kids about what’s going on in the market and as a result, in their own homes. Parents are worried and kids pick that worry up and begin to try to make sense of it on their own. Here’s a plan that will help you help your family acknowledge the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Talk about money at dinner. Since you are eating in more these days, make sure you are all eating together so you can talk and you can listen. You need to know what your kids think they know.
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by Brenda Wenning
In poker, if you have a bad hand, you “fold.” In investing, the commonly accepted philosophy is to “buy and hold,” even during a bear market. So which of the two is really gambling – poker or buy-and-hold investing? Today’s market, which is putting buy-and-hold investing to its biggest test since the Great Depression, may provide the answer. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped thousands of points, yet the prevailing advice has been to stay put.
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by Richard A. McGrath, CIC, LIA
You’ve insured your home, your car, your boat, your life and your health, so you should have all of the protection you need, right? Well … not exactly. Unless you also have an umbrella policy, you may be exposed to a risk that could cause financial ruin for you and your family.The typical insurance policy has limits that can easily be exceeded – especially today, as multi-million dollar verdicts have become commonplace.
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