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Blog

May 17 2022
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one thing market almost never does

The One Thing the Market (Almost) Never Does

By and Blog
Amid the seemingly endless volatility in the U.S. stock market, it may surprise you to know that we have a pretty good idea of what the returns will be from it. Now before you declare us out of our minds (there’s lots of other better evidence for that), notice that we carefully omitted any mention of a time frame in the previous sentence. But the truth is, we have a pretty good idea of what will happen over the next 30 years or so. We have a long data history that tells us that the S&P 500 averages between 9-10%…
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May 16 2022
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retirement

Retirement Checklist: Planning Today for the Tomorrow You Deserve

By Blog
 “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”  - Alan Lakein If that sounds like a downer, that is not the intention! Everything in life is about balance, so perhaps taking on a mindset of making the most of today while planning for a longer tomorrow is more helpful in ensuring a happy and healthy long life. Whether an outcome of living through the past few years or a shift in overall mindset, popular culture today encourages us to focus on the now, live for today, and seize the moment. While…
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May 10 2022
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ING trust

Incomplete Non-Grantor (ING) Trusts – FAQs

By Blog
What is an Incomplete Non-Grantor (ING) Trust? An ING trust is a trust you set up in which assets you transfer to it are not completed gifts for gift tax purposes, yet the trust is a separate taxpayer for income tax purposes. The primary purpose of ING trusts is to eliminate the state income tax owed on the assets in the trust. The ING trust must be carefully drafted so that grantor trust status is not inadvertently triggered, while also giving you, as grantor, enough powers over the trust so that your transfer of assets into the trust are not…
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Apr 19 2022
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The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022: What You Need to Know

By Blog
The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (aka SECURE Act 2.0) recently passed the House (by a 414-5 margin, so, believe it or not, on a bipartisan basis), and looks to have enough support to pass the Senate sometime this year. Introduced by Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts), who led the original SECURE Act of 2019, the bill looks to encourage Americans to save for retirement. Below are the current highlights: The original SECURE Act raised the age at which you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s to age 72 from age…
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Mar 30 2022
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cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Best Practices: Staying Vigilant During the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

By and Blog
While following cybersecurity best practices is always important, there are often events that bring the importance of these measures back to the forefront, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is no exception. In addition to committing devastating physical acts of war in neighboring geographies, the Russian government has also proven itself capable of malicious cyberactivity, which could potentially extend far beyond any nation’s borders. From attacks on energy to interruptions in supply chain and even breaches in financial data, the scope of cyber threats continues to expand, so it’s more crucial than ever to remain vigilant and take preventative steps to…
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Mar 23 2022
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market volatility

How Should I React to Market Volatility?

By Blog
After years of positive market performance, newer investors are seeing for the first time that markets do not go up in a straight line. While we saw a correction in March of 2020 when the start of COVID spooked markets and investors, the recovery was swift. We are now seeing more volatility, so clients are asking, “What should I do?” Stay the Course Creating and sticking to a financial plan – a road map of where you are and want to be financially – will keep you from making knee jerk moves in response to market volatility and declines. It’s…
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Mar 15 2022
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inflation

Puncturing Inflation

By Blog
“We don’t really know what it is, we don’t really know what causes it, we don’t really know how to measure it, but we really know we’re worried about it!” The stock market is never happy unless it has something miserable to complain and worry about. Having moved on incredibly quickly from a worldwide pandemic, the chattering investor classes have retrained their sights on that old 1970s bugaboo, “inflation.” As you can tell from the cumbersome subtitle, inflation is the most confusing and misunderstood investment concept that we think about. Every policy maker, every economist, and every investor has a…
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Mar 01 2022
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financial planning medical

How Medical Professionals Can Build a Solid Financial Plan

By and Blog
The pandemic has been taking a grueling toll on medical professionals. According to a recent survey, more than 73% of physicians reported feeling overworked, and more than 30% reported that they are looking for another career or considering retiring early as a result. Additionally, nearly one in five health care professionals has already quit since the pandemic began. Even if you’re not at your wit’s end with your job, you may want to be certain that you could quit if you wanted to, and that you will be able to retire when the time comes. But you likely also have…
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Feb 02 2022
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What Corporate Executives Should Know About Their Equity Compensation

By Blog
You work so hard to drive company performance, and your success and accomplishments provide additional compensation through your company’s equity-based compensation plan. Unfortunately, this method of compensation adds complexity that needs to be fully appreciated, not only by you, the employee, but also by your spouse or others with whom you share your life. Our careers offer an opportunity to live an amazing life of significance, and equity-based compensation is a powerful part of the way executives are rewarded. Importantly, you will need to be prepared for the many decisions that come along with grants of company stock and options.…
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Jan 18 2022
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When Is the Right Time to Hire a Financial Advisor?

By Blog
Many people think you shouldn’t hire a financial advisor until you have accrued a great deal of assets.  However, that’s not necessarily true. In reality, it’s never too early to start securing your financial future. That said, there are certainly some milestones that strongly indicate it’s time to partner with a financial advisor and begin planning your path to long-term financial freedom. Keep reading to learn five key indicators that may mean it’s time to look for a financial advisor.  1. You have disposable income. Maybe you recently paid off your student debt or car loans and suddenly have more…
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