Newsletter
Enjoy a sampling of articles from our monthly e-newsletter. You can sign-up for the newsletter which includes 4-6 articles delivered via email by providing your name and email address under the Newsletter icon in the right column.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you ready for a Rally?: March 2009 - A market rally can begin quickly, often before many investors even recognize it’s under way. That’s why it’s critical for you to be ready when it happens. For example, in each of the past 10 recessions, the S&P 500 index had a total return of 32%, on average, within a year of the market’s low point. That’s quite a gain, and one you could easily miss if you’ve been skittishly stashing cash in the bank—or even less secure places—during the turmoil.
Smart Cash Management: February 2009 - To guard against additional losses, many investors have sold off some or even all of their portfolio holdings. Cash instruments can seem particularly attractive right now considering the market’s condition, but they differ in terms of performance and protection features.
Five Tips for Weathering a Tough Economy: January 2009 - After several months of volatility, the markets are hardly inspiring investors with confidence. Given current conditions, you may feel compelled to tap into your longer-term investment portfolio to meet expenses. However, selling now will simply turn possible losses into definite losses. What’s more, selling now means you won’t be in a position to benefit from the gains of an eventual market recovery.
Future Estate Taxes: October 2008 - The good news is that next year, the level of wealth you can pass on to heirs free of federal estate tax is set to rise dramatically, up from the current $2 million to $3.5 million. It then phases out completely in 2010, before kicking back in at a low $1 million in 2011. That is, unless it doesn’t.
Smart Giving Takes Smart Planning: September 2008 - More than 900,000 public charities are registered with the IRS—almost 70% more than a decade ago. The government encourages donations to these organizations by off ering philanthropists some lucrative tax breaks. For affl uent families, setting up a smart philanthropic strategy is not only a great altruistic mission, but also a means of easing the potential tax burden of your estate plan.
Finding the Best Fiduciary: August 2008 - Making decisions about the “who, what and how much” of your estate plan is difficult enough. But what arguably matters just as much as these decisions is whom you choose as your fiduciary—the person you designate to act on your behalf if you die or are declared
mentally incompetent.
What Matters More than Money: July 2008 - Successful professionals often have a happy problem on their hands when it comes time to contemplate retirement: how to keep their lives just as vital and exciting as it was during the career years.
Putting Assets to Work in Philanthropy: June 2008 - Faced with the need to plunge cash on hand back into their businesses, many otherwise philanthropic entrepreneurs can’t give as much support as they would like to their favorite charities. Though they could cash in assets to fund a donation, many fear the tax consequences. The good news is that many charities will accept gifts of closely held stock or noncash assets—and can generate significant tax advantages in doing so.
A Better Index Fund: May 2008 - For decades, mutual funds have formed the cornerstone of the well-built portfolio. Their sheer diversity—from low-cost indextrackers to those relying on a basket of fixed income securities or commodity stocks—makes them a convenient means of broad market exposure. However, exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are poised to claim a larger share of this key portfolio role.
Volatile Stock Markets: April 2008 - When markets are volatile, many investors just want to sit on the sidelines. Why risk your capital when conditions can get worse? But investors with a long time frame should not hide in fear.
Living Trusts Bring Ease of Mind: March 2008 - Wills and trusts help you maintain control of your assets for both yourself and your heirs. Choosing between them correctly, or utilizing them both, can save you and your heirs a tremendous amount of time and pain.
Donating Real Estate to Charity: February 2008 - Donating real estate to a qualified charity can help you accomplish your philanthropic goals without impacting your investment portfolio or current cash flow.
Selecting a Fiduciary: November 2007 - Building a fiduciary team that has the right skills and qualities to manage an estate and support legacy intentions requires careful planning.
Using Real Estate in a Retirement Plan: September 2007 - Adding real estate to a retirement portfolio can help diversify investments beyond stocks and bonds. This can protect a portfolio from market drops and has the potential to provide cash flow and growth.
Managing College Costs; Integrating Savings and Tax Strategies: August 2007 - A holistic approach to financial planning can help high net worth households fund college costs.
Balancing Retirement Planning with Present Lifestyle: July 2007 - To reach retirement and estate goals, affluent individuals need to manage lifestyle expenses, investments and estate planning considerations. Among other questions they should ask themselves: What will their future cost?
Angel Investors Fuel Green Ventures: June 2007 - Mindful of the uncertainties in a volatile stock market, an increasing number of affluent investors are turning their attention toward private investments—in particular, young companies developing green technologies.
Dynasty Trusts for the Art Collector: May 2007 - Buying art can be a great investment. But since paintings, photographs and sculptures have the potential to rise tremendously in value, art collectors often look to donate their collections to museums as a part of their estate plan.
Slamming the Door on Identity Thieves: March 2007 - Make sure your financial accounts and electronic information are protected against identity theft by following these steps.
Creating a Charitable Giving Strategy: February 2007 - Setting up a smart philanthropic strategy will help you maximize all the benefits of your donations.
Selecting the Right Fiduciary: December 2006 - Deciding who will control the management and distribution of your assets after you pass away is an essential part of estate planning.
Interest Rates and Investing: November 2006 - Adjusting your portfolio as interest rates fluctuate may protect your assets for the long run.
Welcome to the Family Bank: October 2006 - If you want to control how your assets are distributed long after you are gone, and avoid estate taxes, a family bank is a great option.
To Love, Honor and Manage Assets: September 2006 - Marriage requires compromises in almost every aspect of a new couple's life. While many couples take the time to discuss numerous adjustments needed for their new union, they often fail to address one of the most necessary issues; money management.
Estate Planning for Collectors: August 2006 - Factoring in valuable collections is a necessary part of a sensible estate plan.
Benefiting from a Private Family Foundation: July 2006 - Typically, households select a few charities that appeal to them and simply send in a check. However, in recent years people have increasingly moved away from this “checkbook philanthropy” and instead have set up their own private family foundations to achieve their philanthropic goals.
Managing Beneficiary Designations: May 2006 - Properly designating the beneficiaries of your assets is an essential component of sound estate planning.
Crafting a College Savings Plan: April 2006 - Families preparing for the next generations educational expenses should consider the potential benefits of three main savings vehicles; Section 529 Plan, Coverdell and UTMA.
Talking to Your Children About Wealth: February 2006 - Open communication and an emphasis on philanthropy can help ensure you pass on the right value system.
Is Your Portfolio Really Diversified: January 2006 - Holding a portfolio that is not optimally diversified is one of the most common investment traps, but fortunately one that is entirely avoidable.
