Market Review – What’s on the Radar for the Second Half of 2019 and Slight Changes in Stock Portoflios
It’s been a stellar start to the year. The S&P 500 has risen nearly 20%–crossing the 3,000 mark for the first time on June 12th, 2019. Stock market valuations are getting a bit high and investor confidence remains unchecked. While corporate earnings growth is slowing. And as a contrarian indicator, investors remain very upbeat about the […]
What is My Social Security Widow’s Benefit?
Often, navigating the Social Security Administration’s rules can be complex and confusing. None more so than trying to determine a surviving spouse’s social security benefit. Nearly every couple will face this problem at some point. Timing is everything regarding social security surviving spouse benefits. The filing date alone—when you decide to claim social security and […]
The 10th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Don’t Keep Up with the Joneses
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we discuss how lifestyle creep can lead to poor financial decisions and possibly ruin; and how keeping what really matters to us in life in the forefront of our financial lives can steer you away from conspicuous consumption. “Money has never made man happy, nor will […]
How to Lower Your Income Tax Bill
Okay– you just completed your income tax return for last year. You want to file it away and not worry about taxes until next year, but before you do– take a look at your completed return to identify ways you can save tax dollars next year. Income tax planning can add to your future […]
The 9th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Open a Taxable Investment Account
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we discuss when to open a taxable investment account and how to strategize the location of your investment vehicles based on account taxability characteristics. Once you’ve filled up all your tax-deferred and tax-free investment accounts, it’s time to start paying Uncle Same (now) to invest. The […]
The 8th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Paying Down “Normal” Debts
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we go through the advantages of paying down common and often necessary consumer debts such as car loans, mortgages, and student loan obligations. If you’ve made it to the 8th Commandment congrats, you have established a strong financial foundation; we also know you’ve paid off […]
Four Inevitable Trends for Investors
Over the course of my thirty-year career in the financial services industry I have seen and continue to hear many investment theses. Some brilliant, some not so much so. I have also witnessed a number of changes that in retrospect were obvious and inevitable. The personal computer revolution was one of the first. I recall […]
The 6th Financial Commandment for Millennials: When it’s (Not) Smart to Max Out Your Retirement Plan
Whether you’re enrolled in an employer retirement plan like a 401k, are self-employed and can utilize a SEP or Solo 401k, or are forced to brave it alone and contribute to a personal IRA – and you’ve completed the previous Financial Commandments for Millennials it’s time to start making the maximum contributions to these plans. First things […]
2018 Review/2019 Preview
Volatility Wow! 2018 went out with a huge rise in volatility as stocks swung from a small gain for the year to nearly reaching bear market territory, before rebounding yet again to end the year down 4.38% as measured by the S&P 500 index For 2019, you should expect volatility to remain high. Markets will continue […]
The 5th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Implementing the Right Asset Al
Asset Allocation & Risk Tolerance Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, understanding risk tolerance, asset allocation, and their relationship, is the foundation of modern portfolio theory. Implementing the proper asset allocation to minimize risk, while still achieving your long-term goals, is crucial to your success and peace of mind. Asset allocation means: […]
