College Savings Vehicles
So often in life and in financial planning, perfect can be the enemy of good. This is certainly the case when it comes to saving for college. There are many ways to go about it, but the most important choice is the choice to begin saving. Nonetheless, we often meet parents of five- and ten-year-old […]
Social Security: Whether to Wait to Start Taking Retirement Benefits
Key Takeaways: There is a debate over when a person should begin to take their Social Security retirement income benefits. On one side, proponents might argue that you should take your Social Security benefits as early as you can, while the other side argues that you should wait until age 70. An important phrase to […]
The Economy’s Return to Normal
Key Takeaways: Economic data indicates a return to pre-pandemic levels of activity A tight labor market has contributed to some wage inflation Inflation, wages/jobs, supply chain issues will continue to be areas of interest As kids return to school, summer trips come to an end, and everyone starts to eye the holidays, investors and […]
Retirement Saving Myths and Misconceptions
We are fortunate to have a very educated and knowledgeable client base, but we are consistently surprised by the myths and misconceptions clients and prospects bring to the conversation. Below I have listed my Top 7 Myths and Misconceptions About Retirement Savings; it is by no means a complete list but highlights the most common […]
Portfolio Rebalancing
Below are our key conclusions when considering rebalancing as part of an overall investment management: At the beginning of most of our relationships people rightfully ask “how do you manage our investments?” In response, we try to provide an in-depth discussion of our philosophies and our beliefs about best practices in portfolio management. While much […]
Balancing Saving and Giving
Most of our clients aspire to be financially self-sufficient. As those clients age, we notice some amount of transition into wanting to benefit others with accumulated resources. This giving can range from donations to charities of interest to paying for a grandchild’s education to helping a friend in need. We have been fortunate since the […]
Finding the Best Order for Funding Retirement
With a task as important as funding your retirement, determining which accounts to fund and in what order should not be taken lightly. Whether it’s a company plan, individual retirement account or taxable account, there are a lot of ways to save for retirement. So how do you decide where to put each dollar you […]
Giving Strategy for Charity Gala Season
Fewer than 15% of taxpayers itemize deductions since 2018 tax reform. Timing the donations you already plan to make can maximize tax deductions. Your charities can still receive stable monthly income via a Donor Advised Fund. This week marks the first official week of summer and, at least for my family, this change of season […]
Interest Rates & Inflation
Over the past decade, the Federal Reserve has been pushing for modestly higher interest rates and inflation. To anyone following the markets or economic news, this statement is nothing new to hear. However, with higher inflation starting to build momentum, an economy that is beginning to stand on its own, and the potential of a US government […]
The Grey Area of Paying Off a Mortgage Early
A key question that soon-to-be retirees often face is whether or not to eliminate debt before retirement. Generally, we would love to see all our clients enter their retirements debt-free. However, there could be some instances where making monthly debt payments is not necessarily a bad thing (i.e., zero-percent financing on a car). Sometimes the […]
Insight Into Fixed Income + Timing of Social Security
When entering retirement, the question of how to structure income can be the most influential factor in determining a family’s long-term financial well-being. Several factors such as income source, inflation, and sequence of returns present risks and opportunities for retirees. Today’s Atheneum discusses how we might explore retirement income with John and Jane Smith. They […]
Don’t Worry, There’s Still Time for 2020
I know what you are thinking. It is on everyone’s mind. “2020 was so much fun, such a great year, I wish it would stay 2020 forever.” (Disclaimer: as a new father, I am now qualified to make bad jokes). Well, unfortunately, I cannot bring back 2020, but I do have some good news: there’s […]