Yours, Mine and Ours: Estate Strategies for Second Marriages If you are one of the many Americans who are in a second marriage, you may need to revisit your estate strategy.¹ Unlike a typical first marriage, second marriages often require special consideration that should address children from a prior marriage and the disposition of […]
Questions About Medicare? Here Are Some Answers. Medicare is complex and today’s changing health care landscape makes it more important than ever to fully understand how it works. If you or someone you know is near retirement, you may have questions about how to enroll in Medicare and what Medicare covers. Here are answers […]
WHAT’S A BREXIT? On June 23, the United Kingdom (“UK”) held an historic vote. The issue was whether to exit the European Union (“EU”)—known as “Brexit”—or to remain. The public debate was heated. Both sides of the issue predicted a gloomy future for the British people, if they chose poorly. Up until the voting booths […]
Does Your Child Need to File an Income Tax Return? As parents, we encourage our children to work so they can learn important values about work and independence. At what point, if at all, do children need to file an income tax return for the money they earn? The IRS does not exempt anyone from […]
BIG CHANGES IN JUNE? May saw the price of oil creep back up above $50 per barrel. It didn’t stay there long, but it has settled into a groove just a dollar or two lower. Global supply issues prompted this price increase. Nigeria, the largest producer in Africa, is dealing with rebel activity in the […]
Measuring the Value of a Financial Advisor What’s the value of a financial advisor? Two studies found that working with a financial professional can result in higher returns and potentially lower personal stress. Lower Stress Seventy-six percent of people within 15 years of retirement are stressed when thinking about retirement savings and investments.¹ Working with […]
WAITING ON CENTRAL BANKS? Commodity prices firmed up in April and gave investors another boost of confidence. Stronger commodity prices indicate increased demand, which is a positive sign for both developed and emerging economies. In particular, the price of oil found some support at more than $40 per barrel. Even as the number of active […]
GAINING MOMENTUM? Around the globe, March was a politically volatile month: the US is in the midst of a particularly nasty primary season, China continues to reform its economy, Europe struggled with terrorist attacks, and the Syrian crisis continues. In spite of all those troubles, the markets found some momentum and investors seemed to relax. […]
Four Really Good Reasons to Invest Over half of Americans do not own any stocks, or stock-related investments, such as mutual funds, according to Bankrate’s Money Pulse survey.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not investing, but with important long-term financial goals, such as retirement, in the balance, the reasons may not be good enough. […]
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?? Back in January, investors grew more worried that global growth was slowing and that the global economy’s two main engines, the United States and China, were inching toward recession. China continues to struggle through a period of economic reform, February was another nervous ride for investors. Meanwhile, economic indicators are […]
