Retirement
TOD or Living Trust?
Our highlighted article of the month, TOD or Living Trust?, reviews two simple methods for shielding assets from probate. A Revocable Living Trust is a very effective vehicle used to transfer assets without being hampered by the probate process. They require more work establishing them initially, but once they are setup and funded, they do...
Your Financial Co-Pilot
Our highlighted article of the month, Your Financial Co-Pilot, touches on some key points as to why maintaining a relationship with a trusted financial professional is a good succession plan. This particular article touches close to home. Many know that I took over my mother’s financial planning business after she died in 2003. Like the...
Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years?
Our highlighted article of the month, Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years?, is a timely article for those considering retiring in the near future. From considering income needs, to relocation and portfolio construction objectives, a retirement transition could involve multiple levels of decisions and some paradigm shifts in thinking about such items. For...
Certain Uncertainties in Retirement
Our highlighted article of the month, Certain Uncertainties in Retirement, touches on two significant concerns amongst soon to be and existing retirees. Tax structure uncertainty weighs on many reader’s minds as some grim data is being reported concerning unfavorable milestones in the national debt and continued questions regarding Social Security’s future sustainability. Adverse adjustments to...
The Benefits of Working with a Fee-Based Fiduciary
Happy New Year once again! I hope the time off over the holidays has rejuvenated and prepared you for a great 2019. It certainly has for me and my profession. In March 2000 I passed the exam necessary to join my mom in the financial services industry performing securities sales. As my career path matured...
November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month
With Thanksgiving just ahead – a distinct reminder of the love, friendship, and community that makes our lives so special. We can also be thankful for our health and well being; we all hope to sustain our good health well into retirement. Even so, it is not unusual to think about what would happen in...
Getting Your Personal Finances in Shape for 2019
Our featured monthly article, Getting You Personal Finances in Shape for 2019, encourages you to take action on those financial items that were pushed to the side over summer break. Now is a great time to take inventory and assess your current situation as it relates to your budget, credit, and investments prior to the...
Guarding Against Identity Theft
Our featured monthly article, Guarding Against Identity Theft, is a departure from the typical financial articles presented in this newsletter, however due to increased usage of accessing financial information online over the past decade or so, these two areas have become inextricable intertwined. As evidenced by my company’s recent mandatory audit, which included a four...
Should You Leave Your IRA to a Child?
Our featured monthly article, Should You Leave Your IRA to a Child?, initiates the conversation on proper estate planning techniques and highlights how good intentions could lead to unfortunate results. The article explains some of the logistics of using a trust as a beneficiary, but digging a little deeper may provide better context. While most...
How Much Do You Really Know About Long-Term Care?
Our featured monthly article, How Much Do You Really Know About Long-Term Care?, separates facts from myths by clarifying some common misconceptions surrounding the payor of long term care, the use of care, and the actual cost of care. The payor of care, in most long term care scenarios, is commonly the recipient of the...