Markets Discussion Video – Q1 2024

Erin, Mark, and Louis’ are back Q1 Markets Discussions Video considering many factors in including the markets strong year end rally and the potential outcomes of the interest rate increases we’ve seen over the last few years. Touching on

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q4 2023

MARKET RETURNS: Markets staged a dramatic rally into year-end, bringing all major asset classes comfortably into positive territory for 2023. U.S. stocks posted the strongest returns, with the S&P 500 finishing just shy of an all-time high. These gains

Markets Discussion Video – Q4 2023

Join Erin, Mark, and Louis' discussion in our Q4 Markets Discussion Video! With growing concerns surrounding monetary policy, rising interest rates, and global conflicts, the team navigates the continuously changing market landscape as we move into the

Planning a Move? Know the States with No State Income Tax

PLANNING A MOVE? KNOW THE STATES WITH NO INCOME TAX Are you, clients, family or friends planning to relocate from one state to another?  Are there appreciated assets intended for sale in the future that would produce a taxable capital gain?   9

2023 Year End Gift Planning

2023 YEAR-END GIFT PLANNING   If you are unfamiliar with various aspects of gifting money or property and are concerned that receiving or making a gift will produce a taxable event, this article will help you.   Here we clarify some key information for

Protecting Yourself from Financial Fraud and Scams

These days, it is critical to safeguard your sensitive personal information.  Scammers, fraudsters, and other bad actors have developed increasingly sophisticated tactics to obtain your private data and access your finances or steal your identity.  Here are

Winning With Credit Scores

REFRESHER:  WINNING WITH CREDIT SCORES Are you familiar with what makes up your credit scores?  How you manage your credit usage and account history has a huge impact on your scores.  The top 3 numbers in the chart have the biggest impact.

Markets Discussion Video – Q3 2023

Erin, Mark, and Louis are back to discuss an overall positive outlook moving forward in our Q3 Markets Discussion Video. Tackling themes such as Artificial Intelligence and Fed perspectives, the team considers potential outcomes as the year comes to a

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q2 2023

MARKET RETURNS: Stocks extended their rebound through the second quarter, firmly establishing a new bull market. Regional leadership shifted from international developed markets to the United States, as the rally in foreign stocks decelerated. Gains were

RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR 2023

We reached the mid-point of the year! Are you still on track with your retirement goals? Our own Ann Timoney chimes in with a friendly reminder to review your retirement plan and

Markets Discussion Video – Q2 2023

Erin, Louis, and Mark are together again to summarize the events that transpired during Q1 and the themes that we remain vigilant on looking forward into Q2 in our latest Quarterly Markets Discussion!

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q1 2023

MARKET RETURNS:  Stock and bond markets both rallied to start the year in a welcome departure from 2022’s declines.  Last year’s relative performance trends continued across global equity regions.  International developed markets outperformed thanks to

Markets Discussion Video – Q1 2023

Mark, Erin and Louis are together again to to discuss the persisting elements impacting the Global Markets. With a focus on bond valuations and the inflation dynamic, we consider ways to navigate potential market fluctuations in the coming

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q4 2022

MARKET RETURNS:  Stock and bond markets rallied in the fourth quarter, paring some of their losses from earlier in the year.  Yet both asset classes posted double-digit declines for 2022.  Inflation and central bank policy response were the main drivers of

Refresher on Capital Gains Taxes – Primary Residence Sales

Refresher on Capital Gains Taxes – Primary Residence Sales Many people aren’t familiar with the effects of selling property that has appreciated in value, and whether they are about to incur a capital gain tax with a sale. It helps to have an awareness of

Markets Discussion Video – Q4 2022

Mark, Erin and Louis are together again to to discuss the prevailing factors influencing the Global Economy, Financial Markets, and the impacts to individual investors. This quarter, we emphasis the role of inflation, the seismic shift in the interest rate

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q3 2022

MARKET RETURNS:  Global markets continued to sell off in the third quarter as investors incorporated ongoing tightening of financial conditions into asset prices.  U.S. dollar appreciation of over 15% year-to-date was reflected in regional equity returns,

Markets Discussion Video – Q3 2022

Mark, Erin and Louis recap market action over the most recent quarter and discuss what could be in store over the next several months.

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q2 2022

MARKET RETURNS:  Global markets extended year-to-date declines during the second quarter as the Federal Reserve signaled it would prioritize fighting inflation over supporting economic growth.  Major stock market indexes fell by double-digits, bringing

Markets Discussion Video – Q2 2022

Mark, Erin and Louis review the first quarter of 2022 and discuss potential opportunities and risks

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q1 2022

MARKET RETURNS:  Global equities closed out a volatile first quarter of 2022 with mid-single digit declines, partially retracing 2021’s strong upward move despite recovering a bit from their intra-quarter trough.  U.S. large company stocks remained the

Quarterly Investment Commentary – Q4 2021

MARKET RETURNS:  Global equities rallied to finish out the year, building upon substantial gains from the first three quarters.  This marks the third year in a row that the world stock market has generated return percentages in the high teens or twenties. 

The Benefits Of a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

Overview A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a line of credit that is secured by your home. They’re most commonly used to cover the cost of home improvement projects, but they can have financial planning benefits beyond that. Here we’ll look at the

After-Tax 401(k)s & The Mega Backdoor Roth

The benefits of saving in a “traditional” 401(K) can be powerful. By contributing pre-tax dollars you reduce your taxable income and will lower your tax bill (e.g., if you make $100,000 and contribute $15,000 to a 401(k), you are only taxed on

Should I Buy Real Estate with my IRA?

Did you know that it’s possible to buy real estate in an individual retirement account (aka your IRA)? Given that possibility, we’d like to walk through the rules and restrictions, as well as the pros and cons, of this option. The main benefit of

Donor-Advised Funds: An Effective Tool for Charitable Giving

With or without a tax write-off, many Americans want to give to charity. After all, financial incentives aren’t usually the main motivation. We give to support the causes we cherish. We give because we’re grateful for the good fortune we’ve enjoyed. We

10 Security Red Flags to Watch Out For

Protecting Your Personal Information In light of increasing risk for security breaches, we want to share the following tips for protecting your personal information and recognizing potential financial scams on an ongoing basis. Information That You Need To

Financial Best Practices

It’s hard (if not impossible) to get from Point A to Point B without a plan. An actionable financial plan depends on understanding all facets of your financial life and taking effective actions. Here are 10 financial best practices to energize your