As we get older, we are invited to charitable breakfasts, lunches, and dinner auctions. Before long, our calendars are filled with these events and we’re giving away money in a fun and social way. At some point, the realization sets in that while these are all great causes, they aren’t...
One of the best things about being a wealth advisor is helping people understand what their money can do for them and the world. It is a difficult undertaking, as it requires prospection and careful evaluation of the risks and opportunities. The younger a person is, the harder the exercise. However,...
How much are your “all in” costs when working with an advisor? If you don’t know, you’ll want to figure it out. I regularly meet with prospective clients who are shocked when I look at their statements and add up all the fees. In most cases, a good portion of their...
Trade wars, increasing inflation, rising interest rates, high valuations, geopolitical tensions, political dysfunction, major deficits and debt, late-stage economic cycle, wealth inequality, and aging demographics are all reasons investors should be careful about investing right now. Or are they? All these things matter, they just don’t matter that much to...
With tax season underway, it’s a great time to ask your accountant about the tax efficiency of your portfolio. The conversation-starting strategies we mention below aren’t designed to avoid taxes. Rather, they allow you to be more tax-aware in your decisions. Let’s review some red flags to watch out for...
Stocks have given up their 2018 gains after a few rough days in the market, with the S&P 500 dropping about 10% from the peak before stabilizing some this morning. We believe a primary driver of the sell-off is inflation fears, as wage inflation is starting to finally pick up....
If you’ve been watching or reading the news this week, it appears that the GOP tax bill will likely be signed by President Trump in the coming days. This has prompted many conversations in our office around what we can do to help our clients take advantage of the impending...
How different is your children’s upbringing from your own? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I have two boys, ages 18 and 15, that are experiencing a much different financial-oriented childhood than I did. Most notably, they are growing up with much more affluence around them, both within...
The recent Equifax data breach makes it clear you should consider the spectrum of actions you can take to protect your financial information. Even if you weren’t among the half of Americans impacted, assume that your information has been or will be exposed. Social Security numbers, names, addresses, and dates of birth were...
Affluent children have tremendous advantages, but often lack basic, life skills that many of their non-affluent peers acquire early in life. That’s because when resources are scarce, you’re forced to make tough choices, work harder, manage uncertainty, juggle, and deal with consequences. When life is more comfortable, there isn’t as...