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A 7 Point Financial Checklist While You Are Sheltering at Home!
We thought it would be a great time, since most of you are probably working from home, to go over a financial checklist of what we think are important financial conversations you all should be having with each other. With the...
Read MoreIt's Time to Set Goals
It’s time to reflect on our 2018 savings and set goals for 2019. One of those goals should be determining how much you should be contributing to your savings plans (like IRAs, 401(k)s, and HSAs). To help, here are the...
Read MoreWhat They Don’t Tell You About Paying For College
It’s the season of BBQs, boats, swimming, vacations, and graduation parties. During high school, this was the best part of the year for me! No responsibilities! Stay up late! Sleep in! Summer baseball season! Shenanigans with my...
Read MoreThe Advisor’s Guide to Alternative Investments: Benefits and Risks
As advisors, we are constantly seeking ways to better diversify and increase the return of our portfolios. In addition, we need to be knowledgeable about the many different investment products, so we can provide the best advice for our...
Read MoreThe Return of Volatility in 2018
We’ve had some big swings in the market over the last few weeks. Because of this, many of our clients are asking for a sanity check. “Why is the Dow moving so violently in the matter of hours?” “I don’t...
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8 Surprising Facts About the Stock Market
Sometimes the things you learn aren’t always true. Here are 8 things even experienced investors don’t get right. 1. The Dow isn’t “the market” The Dow Jones Industrial Average, or simply the “Dow...
Read More2018 Retirement and Health Savings Contrbution Limit Changes (like IRAs, 401(k)s, and HSAs)
This time of year, we reflect on 2017 and set goals for 2018. One of those goals should be determining how much I should be contributing to my savings plans (like IRAs, 401(k)s, and HSAs). To help, here are the contribution limits for...
Read MoreWhat Should You Expect From Your Financial Advisor?
What a huge question. Is there a right or wrong expectation? Should they just give me ideas or even commands about financial decisions? Can I just hire them and they take care of everything? Should I just assume each advisor charges...
Read MoreIs it time to care about Bitcoin?
The exponential rise in the Bitcoin to US Dollar exchange rate has certainly drawn quite a bit of attention, as headlines touting yearly gains of over 1000% are certainly eye-catching. Or looking back further, it’s fun to pretend...
Read MoreDo you know the complex rules regarding Required Minimum Distributions?
As you accumulate assets inside a traditional IRA you do not pay any taxes until you start taking withdrawals. Any amount that comes out of a traditional IRA is a taxable event for both federal and state income taxes. Beyond some...
Read MoreThe Best Time to Invest is NOW
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes. The market goes up, then down, then back up again, with the financial media marking every step of the way. So, how do we know when to invest when the headlines make it seem...
Read MoreInvestors: Beware of Emotionally Charged Marketing
Emotions can play a powerful, often dangerous role in the arena of investing. How many times have you seen an emotionally charged ad or promotion talking about investing: The stock market will crash any day now, get your returns while...
Read MoreWhat is a Qualified Charitable Deduction and How to Execute the Deduction Correctly.
A qualified charitable deduction (QCD) is an allowed distribution from an IRA account to a charity without any taxable event to the IRA owner. [For example, let’s say an IRA owner has an RMD in the amount of $20,000. If the owner...
Read MoreHow Much of My Money Should I Invest, and When? (DCA vs. Lump sum)
I am often asked the question, “Should I invest it all or just a little bit at a time?” As with most questions in the investing world, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There are different factors to consider. When it...
Read MoreInflation - Why?
Inflation is a phenomenon that has been observed as early as the Roman Empire. As an investor, inflation feels like a penalty for saving. Every dollar you save is worth less in the future. What the heck!? However, inflation is not...
Read MoreSimple IRA Rules and Deadlines
The third quarter will soon come to a close, but there is still time to get a SIMPLE IRA plan established and funded before the year closes out. Let’s take a look at which employers are eligible to set up a SIMPLE IRA. Rules for...
Read MoreWarning Signs of Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Becoming Their Next Victim
A Nigerian prince wants to give you $13,000,000! You receive an email: it’s from a Nigerian prince who happened to inherit a large sum of money in excess of $100M. He cannot personally transfer the funds outside of his country...
Read MoreJP Morgan Call Summary - Q3 2017
Themes and Strategies for the 9th Yearof Economic Expansion Summary of the JP Morgan 3Q Guide to the Markets Call Themes: This Could be the Longest Expansion EverFed Policy Will Cause Long Term Rates to IncreaseWhy and How to Hold...
Read MoreWhy the Lowest Fee Does Not Always Equal the Best Investment Option
I spend a lot of time reading financial articles and blogs. One theme you can find all over the internet is "low-cost investments." Google it and see what I mean. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of articles and blog posts about...
Read MoreHawks, Doves, and the Fed, Huh?
Hawks and Doves If you have been following the drama of the Fed and interest rates, you may have heard someone referred to as a dove or hawk. Sometimes, a reporter may say that the Fed spokesperson made dovish/hawkish statements today...
Read More5 Reasons to Add Small Cap Value Funds to Your Portfolio
What is Small Cap Value? Investments can be split into four basic quadrants known as styles (Figure 1). These styles correspond to a company’s size (small cap vs. large cap) and a company’s financials (value vs. growth)....
Read MoreRoth IRAs: Pay Taxes Now, or Pay Them Later?
Roth IRAs are often touted as a great retirement planning tool. But what do they really do for you? And how do you invest in one? Roth IRAs are not a specific investment or fund, but instead a type of account. The specific investment...
Read MoreThe U.S. Business Cycle: Where We Are and What Does It Mean
For many investors, the business cycle is a tool used to help build an allocation that will outperform during certain phases of the cycle. By analyzing an economy’s phase in the business cycle the investor hopes to anticipate...
Read MoreHow To Spend Less and Save More: Must-have Finance Apps for 2017
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Read More2 Little-known Ways To Maximize Your Retirement Plan
Are you and your financial advisor effectively maxing out your Retirement Plan? Every year, we have clients that ask if there is anything else they can do to maximize what is going into their Retirement Plans. Here are two ideas that...
Read MoreHow Much to Spend During Retirement and the Importance of Equities
How much can I spend during my retirement? How do I manage risk in my portfolio in order to meet my goals? These are tricky questions with a lot of variables that need to be considered. To answer these questions, it may be helpful to...
Read MoreDon't Scrap Your 60/40 Just Yet
I was in a conference the first time I heard someone say it: "there's a 0% chance a 60/40 portfolio will make 5% or more in the next decade." Pretty bold claim…but this advisor isn't the only one saying it. In fact, if you just...
Read MoreWhat is a "FIDUCIARY?"
WHAT IS A FIDUCIARY? Is your financial advisor a fiduciary? With the Department of Labor coming out with rules that affect nearly every retirement account, many people are asking questions like, “What is a fiduciary?”
Read MoreWatching Bond Duration in a Rising Interest Rate Market
First of all we need to define, what exactly duration is, and how it impacts bond pricing. Duration is expressed in years, and measures the sensitivity of bond’s interest rates. So, in short, if you have a bond portfolio with...
Read MoreFinding Meaning in Our 'Second Life'
That’s not just because we’re too busy or refuse to think about such things. It’s more a result of having found our identity. Work, family, friends, hobbies – all of these help define who and what we are. But...
Read MoreYour Biggest Expense in Retirement?
The other day, a business associate quizzed me on the biggest financial challenge in retirement. “Tom,” he said, “you’re always saying that saving enough isn’t the most difficult challenge when it comes...
Read MoreDon't Let Retirement Numbers Numb You To Your Marriage
The other day I was speaking with the owner of a video recording studio – let’s call him Dennis – who was very keen on retiring. We talked about his goals and made sure he was on track with his investments. Then I...
Read MoreNo One Is An Island, Even In Retirement
I want you to imagine the following scenario: Suppose you suddenly had to leave your job and move to a new city. You know the layout of the city, but you don’t know anyone there. No friends, no co-workers, no contacts other than...
Read MoreGreat Britain's Exit from the European Union (EU)
If you have seen the news lately, you have almost certainly heard of Brexit, or Britain’s referendum last week, resulting in the surprising vote to separate from the European Union (EU). Glancing at the headlines, and looking at...
Read MoreWhat if.......
Wealth Management and Financial Planning is one, big game of "contingency planning." What I mean by that is my role as your advisor is to continually ask the question "what if?" in all facets of your life, considering both positive and...
Read MoreRetirement Income And Taxes: What You Need To Know
Business owners are all too familiar with the need to be tax-efficient in order to maintain their profit margins. The same goes for retirement income. Nothing is more infuriating than setting aside a sizable nest egg, built on years...
Read More"Solutions for a What?"
I was introduced to some new clients recently, and the husband and wife asked what it is that we do at MSMF. My answer was simple. I smiled and said "we provide 'Solutions for a Happy Life'." The husband looked at me with a confused...
Read MoreThe 2016 Election And Your Hard-Earned Wealth
When media coverage of presidential primaries ramps up, I start getting many similar questions from clients: What impact will the election have on markets? What happens if candidate A wins? Will the market tank? Will there be new...
Read MoreThe DOL Aims to Further "Protect" Financial Consumers
The Department of Labor has issued sweeping new regulation on the advisor community with the stated intent to protect you, which unfortunately, in my opinion, may hurt you more than it helps you. Much like the Affordable Care Act (i.e....
Read MorePlanning For Health Issues Is Preserving Wealth
Health issues are oftentimes unexpected and hard on everyone involved. In addition, these issues can be costly and erode your accumulated wealth. You can perform all the “financial analysis” in the world, but those plans...
Read MoreWho Is Going To Give You Money To Retire?
The title here is a bit of a trick question, of course. No one is going to give you money for your retirement! So why did we ask? We like to pose this question because it gets people thinking about their priorities when it comes to...
Read MoreYour "Second Life" ...And How To Prepare For It
When considering retirement, most people think about two numbers: the age at which they can retire, and the amount of “nest egg” they will need when that day arrives. But retiring successfully is more than just meeting a...
Read MoreSmall Business Sucession Planning: What You Might Be Missing
Most small-business owners know what they want to happen when they retire. However, because of misunderstanding or maybe just not getting around to it, many do not have a complete and up-to-date written succession plan. In fact, a...
Read MoreHow Do You Measure The Success Of Your Company's 401(k) Plan?
The success of the 401(k) plan is important for small businesses. Plan sponsors have been encouraged – especially in the last few years – to understand their fiduciary responsibilities and plan costs. While this is...
Read MoreAre All Of Your Eggs In Your Business?
If you’re a small-business owner who has watched your company grow over the years, you probably have dreams of retiring on your dividends or maybe cashing out. But your business, no matter how successful, is not the same thing...
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