Is your advisor really a fiduciary?
The Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule has died in the courtroom. The Insured Retirement Institute and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association along with the Chamber of Commerce brought suit to protect the financial service companies who would prefer not to act as your fiduciary partner. After a three-judge panel ruled the DOL had exceeded […]
What Kind of Life Insurance Do You Need?
Life insurance can be a confusing topic. There are many different flavors and choosing the right coverage for your needs and budget can be difficult. Throw in the fact that life insurance agents goal of collecting a commission check may be at odds with your goal of obtaining the best protection for the lowest price […]
Summer Is Coming
“Sell in May, then Go Away” used to be a common theme in the investment world. This referred to the idea that traders would be occupied during summer months vacationing and enjoying the warm weather and are not as easily available to watch markets and make educated trades. This would in turn reduce liquidity in […]
Of Potholes and Portfolios
Spring is the time of year when all the potholes created by the freeze/thaw cycles of winter become all too obvious. You can damage your car, your tires, and your rims if you are not careful. We all have to slowdown to avoid these cavernous craters on our roadways and we complain to our local […]
The End of a 36-Year Bull Market
The popular press is fond of pointing out how old the bull market for stocks is. After bottoming in 2009 we have seen stocks march upward for for nearly a decade. Many of today’s younger investors, say those in their thirties, have seen the stock market fall, but never felt the pain in their own […]
The Market Correction in Perspective
It has been a long time since we have seen the stock market exhibit this much volatility. Corrections are a normal and healthy part of investing. Corrections weed out the speculators and hot money. For a clearer view of what is happening, we offer a few charts with longer term views.
When Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?
Carrying mortgage debt can be a contentious subject among financial planners. Some look at the leverage as an opportunity to build net worth. Others see mortgage debt as merely a necessary evil. Often clients believe the mortgage interest deduction is valuable, but with the new income tax rules effective January 1, the deduction is limited […]
Can I Use My 529 Plan to Pay for Private Schools?
The tax plan passed at the end of 2017 has a bonus for parents whose children attend private elementary and high schools. You can now use funds from a 529 savings plan to pay for these expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000. In South Carolina and other states that allow a tax deduction for […]
Credit Freeze, Please
We all know that Experian surrendered 143 million US citizens’ personal information recently- so you have about a 50/50 chance of having your information compromised. And yes, Experian is giving you a year (really? Only 1 year!?) of free identity protection that should help prevent identity theft. However, you can take action to help further […]
Financial Planning 101: 6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
Whether you’re trying to buy a home, looking to refinance or hoping to get a lower interest rate on an automobile loan – your credit score matters. Clients often ask me how they can improve their scores and the answer is the same regardless of which stage of life you’re in. 1) Increase Your Limits This […]
