Year to date, not only have many broad markets delivered gains from acceptable to amazing, there have been the usual assortment of sizzling stocks to distract us with their dazzle. Strong market performance is welcome news. But at least in the wider investment world, we’re likely to see a different kind of response that isn’t as welcoming…
It can be tough to plan your financial future in a world filled with obstacles and opportunities. But the terrain only worsens in the absence of well-crafted goals. If you don’t know how much money you’ll need, when, and why, you end up chasing after the latest fads (buying high) or fleeing market risks (selling low).
In this article, we wrap up our three-part series with additional ways to ease your transition from chaotic to more orderly investing. Some steps are purely practical. Others help you remain calm and confident along the way. We can mix and match them as needed to contribute to your investment success.
When you sell an investment for more than you paid for it, there can be burdensome capital gain taxes realized in the year of the sale. How do you manage for this challenge? It helps to identify which trades can be placed promptly, and which may be better managed over time.
It stands to reason: The more wealth you accumulate, the more chaotic your assets and accounts can become. It’s never too late to bring order to your investments. In this first installment in our three-part series, we’ll explore some sensible solutions to this perennial challenge, starting with initial steps you can take to move from random results to a more organized approach.
As the SECURE Act 2.0's provisions gradually come into effect, this landmark retirement legislation brings about a series of significant changes in 2024. From adjustments in tax brackets and retirement contribution limits to shifts in estate and gift tax exemptions, we offer a clear overview of the key updates in this article.
Thanks to updates in the SECURE 2.0 Act concerning retirement and education savings, 2024 brings the newfound flexibility to repurpose unused 529 funds for retirement savings—an option that wasn’t previously available.
Here we highlight the subtle yet influential behavioral biases that often steer investors toward less-than-optimal decisions. Recognizing these mental traps can help you sidestep the blind spots your own biases might create and help you become a more confident investor.
Looking back at the unpredictability and surprises of the past year's markets serves as a potent reminder of a fundamental truth: Timeless wisdom best informs timely decisions. As we settle into 2024, let's revisit a few timeless tenets that offer timely investment insights.
If your wealth were a garden, which actions would deserve your attention? Here are our four favorite items worth tending to as 2024 approaches… plus a thoughtful reflection on how to make the most of the remaining year.
Feeling that your investments might be underperforming? It's essential to step back and critically assess: are your benchmarks realistic? Or, are you chasing the allure of greener, yet elusive, financial pastures?
This year, despite the challenges of fluctuating interest rates, looming government showdowns, and global threats, disciplined investors find themselves navigating through a sea of economic uncertainties, pondering the next move in a market marked by 'blunting' and 'sideways performance.
Explore the Dual Nature of Markets: Wise Crowds and Delusional Mania. Discover why markets can embody both aspects and how it influences your investments. Learn how a low-cost, globally diversified portfolio can harness wisdom and evade mania for financial success.
This article on safeguarding your wealth emphasizes the difference between avoidable investment mistakes versus random market misfortune. By eliminating avoidable mistakes, investors can also lower, but not entirely eliminate, the possibility of experiencing negative investment outcomes.
While stock buybacks can offer tax-efficient benefits to shareholders, they're not immune to pitfalls and controversies. In our final installment, we explore the potential downsides of buybacks and the government's watchful eye on the practice.
In our second installment on stock buybacks, we unveil the practical strategies companies adopt. Learn how stock buybacks, when executed adeptly, can present remarkable tax-efficient advantages to shareholders, all while preserving the potential for future growth.
Stock buybacks can help you, hurt you, or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. In the first installment of our three-part series, we provide an objective examination of stock buybacks.
Why we prefer a total return investment strategy instead of seeking more concentrated dividend stock positions, even for retirees who are drawing income out of their portfolios.
Why dividend investing—or, stocking up on stocks with a reputation for consistently paying out attractive dividends—may not be an ideal strategy for generating a dependable income stream out of your investment portfolio.
For all the recent graduates out there - Congratulations! As you embark on this new phase of your life, we present you with essential trail markers to guide your financial journey ahead.
As the year reaches its midpoint, it's an opportune time for mid-year tax planning to potentially reduce your tax liability, maximize your retirement income, and enhance your overall financial well-being. In this 8-step guide, we explore key strategies and considerations to get you started.
While a 529 plan is primarily an education savings vehicle, it can be a part of a comprehensive retirement strategy for high earners when used creatively and strategically.
Amidst the media frenzy surrounding the debt ceiling threats, in this article we examine potential scenarios and advise investors to approach these challenging times with a measured mindset.
It’s human nature to react to the onslaught of information with fits of fear, excitement, or confusion. This, in turn, can lead to counterproductive, buy high/sell low investing. We would suggest there are three broad types of financial news to assimilate into the choices you make as an investor…
Filing taxes separately can be a viable option for reducing student loan payments, however, it is crucial to consider all the factors involved. Ultimately, consulting with a financial professional can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your unique situation.
Claiming Social Security prematurely out of fear is a bit like selling stocks in a down market: All you’ve guaranteed is that you’ve locked in a loss. And if future benefit cuts did materialize, the benefits of those who claimed as soon as possible would be reduced even further.
The “I’s” had it across the first quarter, as inflation and interest rates continued to dominate popular financial headlines. That is, at least, until the Silicon Valley Bank meltdown took over, followed by the government’s swift reaction to the same.
It’s hard, and often counterproductive to comment about breaking news while it’s still moving through the proverbial grinder, which is why we usually don’t do so. However, it’s worth commenting on the recent banking turmoil, and how this applies to your investments to aide in rational decision-making.
SVB Financial Group's struggles are an example of the challenges faced by the broader financial sector as a result of the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance. In case you have questions about what this means and your portfolio exposure, read on.
Following the Pareto Principle (commonly known as the 80/20 rule) which suggests that 80% of an outcome is often the result of just 20% of the effort you put into it—Here are 4 financial best practices that pack a lot of value per “pound.”