Why name a “Trusted Contact” Do you need a Trusted Contact? Not everyone needs one, as cozy and protective as it sounds. We suggest that you take this step with intention and careful thought, not just because the custodian sends you a form to name someone. In an effort to prevent senior financial fraud, FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) created a rule to allow custodians to … [Read more...]
Hidden Gem: HSAs
February 1, 2019 by
Hidden Gem: HSA in Retirement The health savings account or “HSA” is a little-understood vehicle for tax-deferred savings for medical expenses. This tax-preferred account can prove useful not only during your working years but also in retirement. Many people think it is just to defer current-year taxes for medical out-of-pocket costs, but it can be used much more strategically, even in … [Read more...]
Medicare Costs in 2019
February 1, 2019 by
What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2019? Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here’s a look at some of the costs for 2019 for those enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Medicare Part B premiums Most with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $135.50 in 2019. However, for some whose premiums … [Read more...]
The Markets in January
February 1, 2019 by
The Markets in January Several markets indexes saw their best January performance in three decades. A strong labor market, low inflation, and a patient Federal Reserve Board all sent encouraging messages, and several market indexes rose to their best January results in three decades. That followed precipitous plunges in December and November. The Russell 2000 led, closing the month more than 11% … [Read more...]
Don’t Fear the Volatility
January 4, 2019 by
We have long known of the media’s – and our own – infatuation with extremes: Best! Worst! Delight! Despair! These sentiments fuel our dreams and inspire works of art. But if you allow superlatives to rule your investing, it could lead to trouble. If you get caught up in reports highlighting the near-term extremes and devaluing the tides of time, you risk losing a clear understanding of what’s … [Read more...]
Famous People Who Didn’t Plan
January 4, 2019 by
Famous People Who Didn’t Plan Properly It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of taking the time to plan your estate. Nevertheless, many haven’t done so, for many different reasons. You might think that the rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it comes to planning their estates properly, considering the resources and lawyers presumably available to them. Yet there are … [Read more...]
2019: Key Retirement and Tax Numbers
January 2, 2019 by
Every year, the IRS makes cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and set thresholds for tax deductions, exclusions, and exemptions. Here are the key adjustments for 2019: Employer retirement plans Employees in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $19,000 of their compensation in 2019 (up from $18,500 in 2018). Those age 50 and older can … [Read more...]
The Markets in 2018
January 1, 2019 by
Trade wars, midterm elections, and market volatility were hallmarks of 2018. In an attempt to reduce the trade deficit, the U.S. Administration pushed to rewrite trade agreements with several long-time trade partners. The White House amended the trade agreement with South Korea, imposed tariffs worldwide on steel and aluminum, and renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (now the … [Read more...]
More Women on Boards
December 4, 2018 by
Why Aren't There More Women on Corporate Boards? Why doesn’t your company have more women on its board? That’s the question that BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, asked companies that had fewer than two women on their boards. BlackRock nudged companies that make up the Russell 1000 Index (the 1000 largest US companies) to explain their strategy, saying that a diverse board … [Read more...]
Sustainable Investing, Part 2
December 3, 2018 by
Sustainable Investing, Part 2 In the first part of our discussion of Sustainable Investing, we looked at key building blocks and summarized strategies for building them into a portfolio. Now we’d like to dig a little deeper into sustainable investing. A Standard Challenge First the promising news: As we touched on before, there are ways to factor in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) … [Read more...]
Medicare Coverage Gap
December 3, 2018 by
The Medicare Coverage Gap One of the most confusing Medicare provisions is the coverage gap, often called the “donut hole.” It may be clearer if you look at it as the uncovered portion of the annual Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage. Here's a way to understand it better. This also applies to drug coverage that is integrated into a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan. Annual … [Read more...]
The Markets in November
December 1, 2018 by
The Markets in November November was a very volatile month for stocks. By the third week of the month, benchmarks had given back nearly all of the gains from the year. However, a jump during the last week of November pushed stocks higher, and all major indexes outperformed their October end-of-the-month closing values - led by the large caps of the S&P 500 and the Dow, followed by the Global … [Read more...]
Sustainable Investing, Part 1
November 2, 2018 by
Sustainable Investing If there’s a trait most of us share, it’s a desire to make the world a better place. That is why there is increasing interest in sustainable investing. Many of us want to try to earn solid or even stellar returns while contributing – or at least causing less harm – to the greater good. But what is the greater good? What is a decent return on your investment? How do we … [Read more...]
The Markets in October
November 1, 2018 by
The Markets in October October was a scary month indeed, as stocks closed the month well below their end-September values. The tech-heavy Nasdaq lost more than 9.0%, while the small caps of the Russell 2000 fared even worse, losing almost 11.0%. The S&P 500 fell close to 7.0% — its largest monthly decline in over seven years. The Dow dropped 5.0%, and the Global Dow sank over 7.0%. A slide … [Read more...]
