67
- 0
Value vs Growth Investing
One of the oldest debates within the investment community is between the benefits of value investing versus growth investing. Numerous arguments have been made in favor of both approaches at various different times. A basic understanding of the two...
- 0
The Pro’s & Con’s of Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation
Retirement savings options have expanded dramatically over the last four decades across the United States. Defined contribution plans such as 401k’s have progressively become the primary source of private sector savings since the early 1980’s....
- 3
Using Commodities to Lower Volatility
In the course of building a long term investment portfolio, the focus should be based on not just returns...but risk adjusted returns. The premise behind a multi asset portfolio is the combining of multiple asset classes in which each produces a...
- 0
Opportunities in Business Development Companies
In 1980 an amendment was made to the Investment Company Act of 1940 which permitted publicly traded investment companies to register as a Business Development Company (BDC). BDC’s are very similar to Private Equity Companies and Venture Capital...
- 0
The Basics of Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plans
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP) are a common benefit that many publicly traded companies offer to their employee’s as an additional savings option to supplement their other defined contribution plans. There can be a number of benefits...
- 21
Money Creation & The Impact of Debt & Deficits
Everyone one of us just about every day reaches in our pocket and removes some money to purchase something. We receive money for our labor, whether self-employed or paid by an employer. Yet, many of us have very little understanding of exactly where...
- 0
Living Benefit Annuities…Buyer Beware
As a result of two major market panics in the last two decades, the use of variable annuities as a solution to the financial needs of the consumer has increased. These products have been marketed and re-marketed in various different formats with...
- 0
Term Insurance vs Permanent Insurance
Life insurance planning is a topic that is often very confusing for the average individual. There are various different types of insurance products available, and it is not always clear which solution is the most suitable for an individual to...
- 0
Tax & Estate Planning via Charitable Donations
Charitable donations are something that Americans are inclined to do more so than citizens of virtually every nation on earth. This is in part a result of the fact that the US is the wealthiest nation on earth and has the largest per capita GDP per...
- 2
Retirement Savings & Reducing the Tax Burden
Saving for retirement is something most Americans understand is of vital importance. Yet often investors are confused about the best places to save for retirement. The answer in most cases is not one or the other, but rather multiple places. The...
- 0
2013 in Review...A Case for Asset Allocation
As we look back at 2013 and how individual asset classes as well as sub asset classes performed, we see a strong case for maintaining a longer term asset allocation strategy. The timing of the short term direction within financial markets has not...
- 0
The Importance of Buy-Sell Agreements
One of the most important issues for small closely held business entities is that of business continuity. This can be a concern in the face of a variety of obstacles. One of the most important areas of concern is related to a business interruption...
- 2
The US Housing Crisis...How it Happened
One of the most impactful recessions in US history began with the linchpin of the inflated US housing collapse which culminated in 2008. This has been one of the most discussed topics in recent years, as it has had a profound economic impact on both...
- 29
National Income Disparity...A Look Behind the Numbers
Over the years there has been an ongoing discussion about the growing income disparity in the United States. This discussion has been particularly emphasized when compared to the income distribution of other parts of the world. While it’s true...
- 0
ETN's vs ETF's: A Note of Caution
The exchange traded product (ETP) market seems to be growing more rapidly year over year. The lower expenses when compared to the traditional mutual fund universe has made them very attractive to both individual and institutional investors. The term...
- 0
Managed Futures: An Alternative Investment Strategy
The core principles of applying investing to a sound financial plan have for more than a half of a century revolved around the work of Harry Markowitz, and the foundation he outlined for Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Yet, in recent decades we have...
- 0
How to Understand Floating Rate Notes
In recent years we have seen unprecedented actions by global central banks to influence economic events and create monetary stimulus. Here in the Unites States, the Federal Reserve has held interest rates well below historical norms through...
- 2
The Benefits of Master Limited Partnerships
A Master Limited Partnership (MLP) is a partnership which has the ability to trade on a public securities exchange. There are two core components which are the Limited Partner and the General Partner. The Limited partner is the investor who puts up...
- 0
Understanding The Long/Short Strategy
The single most important factor in a successful long term asset allocation investment strategy is the ability to maintain a low correlation between asset classes. In order for the notion of an asset allocation to work, a portfolio must be actively...
- 0
REIT's...The Basics Of Real Estate Investment Trust's
The real estate market can be one of great investment opportunity even for the average investor should the timing be right. Real estate like any asset class is cyclical in its behavior, and can present short term as well as long term opportunities....
- 0
Inflation...Some Truth About The Cost Of Living
The basic definition of inflation is the measurement of the changes in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. Inflation can also be categorized as disinflation, which is the slowing in the rate of...
- 3
2013 Tax Law Changes Finalized
While much of the fiscal policy in the US remains uncertain, it appears we have some clarity on a substantial portion of the tax code going forward in relation to individuals as well as small business owners filing at the individual rate. Here are...
- 0
How to Invest in Bonds
Fixed income investing is vital part of the investment planning process. Any sound asset allocation strategy will have at least a partial exposure to fixed income. The definition of fixed income is quite broad. Included in this category would be...
- 2
US Unemployment Rates
In the face of four straight years of economic turmoil, many Americans remain either unemployed or marginally attached to their current job. Yet, the unemployment data that we see published in the news does not always seem to correlate to our own...
- 42
Should We Return To The Gold Standard ???
The discussion of monetary policy is a complicated one with many aspects that are often misunderstood by the general public. The discussion of the Gold Standard in recent years has been brought back to the forefront by some in American politics,...
- 2
2013 Tax Options For The Small Business Owner
As the 2012 elections are completed, it is now highly likely that income taxes are headed higher on higher earners. A majority of such high earners are self-employed individuals who are organized as either S-Corps, LLC’s and even sole proprietors....
- 2
How to Interview for Financial Advisor Jobs
Interviewing for a position as a financial advisor is in many ways not unlike interviewing for any other role. You must present yourself as a professional individual who is eager to succeed. There are many different types of financial advisors in...
- 0
How to Calculate Retirement Fund Requirements
Investors who have reached the age of 70 1/2 years old may or may not know that they are subjected to required distributions on their retirement accounts. These are commonly referred to by investment advisors as the Required Minimum Distribution...
- 0
What is a Private Equity Firm?
In recent months as we close out the political season of 2012 there has been much discussion of the career of Gov Romney and his work at Bain Capital in the business of private equity investing. It is not uncommon during an election for either party...
- 2
Understanding Convertible Bonds
The convertible bond market is in a sense an asset class all to itself as a result of its hybrid nature. A convertible bond is essentially a bond issued by a corporation that allows the investor who holds the instrument to convert the bond to stock...
- 6
Can The Government Create Jobs ???
The debate over whether gov’t can or should be attempting to create jobs is an interesting one. Those from all walks of economic theory have attempted to examine this from many different perspectives. Let’s first look at whether or not gov’t...
- 0
Special Needs Planning
Most of us have likely known someone in our lives with special needs or the relative of someone with special needs. There are a number of possible disabilities, chronic illness or even acquired health issues than can be defined as handicapped. Along...
- 0
Understanding High Yield Bonds
The high yield fixed income market, also known as “junk bonds” is often one of the most misunderstood asset classes by the average investor. In recent years with interest rates at historically low levels, many investors have attempted to look at...
- 9
A Closer Look at Global Heathcare Rankings
In the year 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) produced a comprehensive ranking of the health care services by nation. When the report was released it shocked many in terms of where the US was ranked relative to the rest of the world. The...
- 16
The Tale of Two Depressions
Most of us who are too young to have lived through the Great Depression have either listened to our parents and grandparents tell us stories of what it was like, whereas others simply studied the cause and effects from as young as grade school. Yet...
- 9
How Government Programs Increase Costs
Many of us look at the cost of things we need to buy and often get frustrated with how expensive certain aspects of the cost of living have increased. Yet often we really don’t take the time to try and understand the root cause of exactly why...
- 2
The Risks Of Starting Your Own Business
Perhaps my nature was that of an entrepreneur at heart, or perhaps it was born out of the frustration of working under a large group of “yes men” in multinational conglomerates. However for many years I wished to work for myself. After years of...
- 2
Recently Unemployed...Some Things to Think About
In recent years the US population has had no shortage of those whom have had the unfortunate experience of a job loss. As of August 2012 we currently have and official unemployment rate of in excess of 8% of the population. This data is based on the...
- 2
Financial Concerns of a Divorce
The process of a divorce from your spouse can be a traumatic experience on both of you as well as your children. It can be particularly traumatic to your personal finances. In far too many cases the divorce attorneys are the only ones who reap any...
- 4
Starting A New Job...Understand Your Benefits Package
If you’re fortunate enough to have been hired into a new job there can be a number of things that need to be addressed at the beginning of employment. Often times it can be a little overwhelming to address all the issues that come up with regards...
- 0
Financing a New Car
One common purchase that just about all of us make at one time or another in or life is that of an auto purchase. Rather than examine which manufacturer produces the best product, let’s look at the purchase of a car from a financial perspective. ...
- 0
Prioritizing Your Debt's
Quite often individuals find themselves under a pile of debt for various reasons. Sometimes we fall upon hard times due to a set of unfortunate circumstances beyond our control. Other times we may have simply lived irresponsibly for periods in our...
- 0
Preparing For The Tax Law Changes In 2013
The topic of taxes is always one which is greatly debated from both a political as well as an economic perspective. Regardless of one’s political persuasion on such issues, one constant always remains the same. We each do all that we can to avoid...
- 34
Refinancing to a 15 or 30 year mortgage ???
Over the course of the last few years I have received numerous calls from clients asking me whether or not it makes financial sense to refinance their mortgage as a result of this unprecedented low interest rate environment. And in many cases the...
- 0
Active Fund Managers...Another Poor Showing
Earlier this year the S&P released its most recent SPIVA scorecard found here http://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/spiva/en/us This is a scorecard that tracks the success of mutual fund manager relative to their corresponding benchmarks. Not...
- 0
Chasing Dividends...Buyer Beware
One of the most common mistakes of investors is to select investments exclusively on the basis of historical track record without a forward looking forecast. Even more common as of recent is to look at the dividend yield of a security and utilize...
- 0
Should You Be A Self-Directed Investor
Many investors over the years have chosen to take the self-directed route in relation to their investment portfolios as well as various other financial decisions. Often the reason is understandable and driven by a distrust of someone else who may...
- 0
How to Understand the Gift Tax
One of the more confusing taxes to grasp for the average American is that of the gift tax. Despite what many people think, although you can give an unlimited amount of assets to a charitable organization, you are effectively limited to that in which...
- 0
Is Your Financial Advisor Working On Your Behalf
In the community of those who provide the public with financial guidance, there are many different titles that a professional may hold. Most often those whom seek financial guidance are greatly unaware of exactly what the obligation is of the...
- 0
Value vs Growth Investing: Which is the Better Solution
In the world of stock market investing one of the common questions investors of often eventually develop, is the difference between Value versus Growth and which is better to own. In reality an investment portfolio should not likely ever be...
- 0
The Hidden Tax of Inflation: How it Affects You
One of the most important aspects in understanding ones future retirement plans and the impact on their lifestyle is the effects of inflation. The definition of inflation in economic terms is the rise in the general level of prices for goods and...
- 0
The Best Ways to Pay for College
There is an old saying when it comes to saving for education. Either save a lot of money or don’t save anything at all. However, don’t fall in between the two strategies. The cost of education has gone up dramatically over the last several...
- 0
How to Understand the Municipal Bond Market
The bond market is the largest public securities market in the world, and substantially larger than the stock market. When investors allocate assets in their investment portfolios, often times those in higher tax brackets will opt to utilize...
- 0
The Pros and Cons of a Reverse Mortgage
Over the years a number of investors have utilized the tool of a reverse mortgage as a means to provide additional income in retirement. While generally speaking a reverse mortgage is not something one should aspire to attain, it is not the poorest...
- 0
Small Business Retirement Plan Options
Those investors who are self employed understand more than anyone the importance of a return on your investments. Yet part of the reason many of us may be encouraged to pursue the path of self employment is due to the potential tax benefits. While...
- 2
The Risks of Inverse and Leveraged ETF's: A Word of Caution
In recent years there has been a rapid expansion of the ETF market as a solution to provide clients with low cost solutions that can provide a great deal of liquidity and transparency. As the ETF market place has grown, it has reinvented itself in...
- 1
Understanding Medicare Benefits
Health care is an area of major political and economic debate, and many of these laws may be substantially altered in light of potential legislative changes, coupled with the enormous fiscal challenges the current programs like Medicare & Medicaid...
- 0
Should I Collect Social Security Early ???
When the opportunity presents itself to collect Social Security benefits early, there are often numerous factors to consider. The definition of early is typically age 62. The most common answer is… yes you should. However, not always since as with...
- 0
Tax Efficient Investing
There are many misconceptions when it comes to building a tax efficient investment portfolio. When investing ouside of a tax sheltered retirement account, tax efficient investing is not exclusively about what types of investments you purchase. It is...
- 2
Financial Planning for Widows
Over the many years I have worked in the field of financial planning, I have noticed that I have worked with a fairly disproportionate number of clients whom are widows. While this was not by design, it has allowed me to acquire some insight into...
- 0
Long Term Disability: Important Aspects
Many of us do not always recognize the potential danger of becoming permanently disabled. The U.S. Census says that you have about a 1 out of 5 chance of becoming disabled for at least a period of time. The average duration for a long term...
- 0
Should I Buy An Umbrella Policy ???
At times it can seem terribly overwhelming for many of us when it comes to purchasing insurance. There are so many policies to consider. We must decide on health, life, long term/short term disability, long term care, homeowners and auto insurance....
- 2
Should You Buy A Long Term Care Insurance Policy ???
Long Term Care insurance is somewhat controversial. More so than most other insurance solutions, the decision as to whether you should own such coverage is somewhat up for debate. Just like most financial decisions, this should be addressed on a...
- 0
What Are The Hidden Costs of Mutual Funds ???
When it comes to analyzing mutual fund fees, you most often have to turn over more than a few stones to find them all. Mutual funds costs can be broken down into three basic categories. Load funds, no-load funds and no-load funds with a transaction...
- 0
Should I convert to a ROTH IRA
Whether or not you should convert to a ROTH IRA is like most financial questions, dependent on the circumstance. First it’s important to distinguish between the conversion and a contribution. A contribution to a ROTH is a non-deductible...
- 0
Understanding the Estate Tax
The Estate tax at both the Federal and State level is fairly complex topic. For the sake of this discussion, I will take a look at some fairly basic aspects that all Americans who have saved for retirement should be aware of to some extent. First...
- 0
Comparing ETF's vs Closed-End Funds ???
The difference between a traditional exchange traded fund (ETF) and an actively managed closed end fund are several. However, there are certain basic features that one should understand before utilizing these solutions as investment options. The...
- 0
Estate Planning Basics
I have always found it astonishing just how many of the clients I have come across over the years that have not seriously addressed the issue of estate planning. Many feel that their net worth simply does not justify paying a great deal of attention...
- 0
How To Handle Your Pension Options
Over the years one common choice I have seen clients faced with is whether or not to opt for a lump sum pension benefit when it is offered to them at retirement versus accepting the monthly annuity payment from the company. Let me first start by...
- 0
What should your Financial Advisor ask you ???
Often we read articles & commentary about what to ask your financial advisor. But what should your financial advisor be asking you. Often times that alone can tell you whether or not you are engaged in a financial advisory relationship that is in...
- 0
The Importance of Asset Allocation
When building and investment strategy we often hear the term “diversification” Yet and equally important concept is “Asset Allocation” It has been shown via numerous studies that the proper allocation can account for better than 90% of long...
- 1
Bonds vs Bond Funds ???
While over the years the community of investment professionals nearly universally agree that most every client should own some form and percentage of fixed income as part of their asset allocation strategy…Over the years there has been an ongoing...
- 4
Should I Pay off My Mortgage Early ???
For many Americans, the ability to pay down their mortgage sooner is simply not realistic. However in some cases it is quite possible. The Question of whether or not you should accelerate mortgage payments or use liquid cash to eliminate the...
- 0
The Impact of Retirement Distributions in Volatile Markets
Over the last fifteen years in the financial planning field, the most commonly expressed concern I have heard from a retiree/pending retiree has been…Will I run out of money ??? When examining this question there are many variables to be concerned...
- 0
Annuities: What You Need To Know
What is an annuity ??? Annuities can generally be summarized as two basic types of insurance contracts. They are either immediate or deferred annuities. Over the years these two types of contracts have been expanded to encompass many different...
- 0
Life Insurance: What You Need to Know
The question of what type of life insurance is most suitable, typically has to do with factors pertaining to an individuals net worth. The first thing one should keep in mind in all forms of insurance is that insurance is a contract of indemnity....
- 0
Passive vs Active Management…The Case for ETF’s
There has been an ongoing debate for decades about the benefits of actively managed mutual funds versus their passive counterparts. Those counterparts would be the exchange traded fund market (ETF’s) as well as traditional index funds. Those in...
- 0
The Case for Alternative Investment Strategies
One of the lessons of 2008, and even the more recent market volatility is that portfolio management has become more dynamic. Traditional asset allocation models of equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents may not be sufficient for more growth...