Good Judge-ment Means Good Planning
Were you surprised to learn that Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court justice nominee with an annual income of $247,000, could have racked up debt and saved so little for retirement? A recent article in...
View ArticleWhat is an HSA and Why Is It Important
You’ve likely heard that having an HSA can help you to lower the cost of your medical care – but studies have shown that only 17% of people enrolled in group health plans are using their HSA. And of...
View ArticleBe on the same team! Talking about and managing finances together
Money woes are the leading cause of divorce in American couples. Over ⅓ of people in the United States have stated that financial pressure was the biggest challenge their marriage has faced in the...
View ArticleThe 2019 Contribution Limits Are Here!
Great news for savers! The IRS announced today that taxpayers will be able to contribute $6,000 to their traditional individual retirement accounts in 2019, up from the $5,500 level in place since...
View ArticleIs Your Mutual Fund Tax Efficient?
Well, it’s that time of year again. That time when mutual fund companies report distributions for capital gains taxes. Just in time for the holidays and a total buzzkill on all of that discretionary...
View ArticleWeekly Market Review – 12/07/2018
We experienced more of the choppy environment in equities this past week. Although these types of swings are more common than many realize (remember, the low volatility environment of 2017 was the real...
View ArticleWeekly Market Review 12/14/2018
Domestic markets endured another uneventful week, with two of the three major US indices posting losses over 1% for the period. Coming into the month of December, we were told how, historically, this...
View ArticleThe Bridge Between Financial Planning and Reduced Stress
As we sit down to reflect on 2018 and prepare for the coming year, no doubt that for many stress over financial issues comes to mind quickly. Year after year we see the same types of studies and the...
View ArticleWeekly Market Review 1/4/2019
Staying in theme, it was another wild week for stocks. Investors, who are probably over the volatility from 2018, were unfortunately required to sit through a couple more brutal sessions on Wednesday...
View ArticleNow is the time to check your W-4
The White House announced yesterday that tax refunds would be processed even though the government is still shut down. Which reminded me that now is a great time to revisit your W-4. Why? Because t’s...
View ArticleTips for furloughed workers during the shutdown
Before we get started, lets recognize that this isn’t the first time there’s been a shutdown, and it probably won’t be the last. But that doesn’t change the fact that so many workers are now reaching...
View ArticleHow empty nesters can get back on track
Now that you’re done spending money on clothing, food, child care – and don’t forget the biggest expense, education – it’s time to focus on your own financial needs. After all, the average cost of...
View ArticleThe “wealth effect” and market selloffs
When you feel “wealthy”, do you typically spend more than normal? Sure. It’s a subconscious effect of seeing your net worth grow, at least on paper. Of course, the opposite mindset takes place when we...
View ArticleWhy low fees really do matter
“The grim irony of investing is that we investors as a group not only don’t get what we pay for, we get precisely what we don’t pay for.” – Jack Bogle As an ode to Jack Bogle, the pioneer of low-cost...
View ArticleWho is responsible for 401(k) participation?
If someone were to ask the famous Nobel Prize winner Richard Thaler this question, I think his answer would clearly be “managers and executives”. And to be honest, he makes a pretty compelling point....
View ArticleThe Importance of Financial Literacy
It was recently announced that the state of South Carolina was pushing to pass a bill that would require all high school students to take a course on financial literacy in order to graduate. Five...
View ArticleWeekly Market Review 12/07/2018
We experienced more of the choppy environment in equities this past week. Although these types of swings are more common than many realize (remember, the low volatility environment of 2017 was the real...
View ArticleTeachers Get Screwed The Most
It’s very unfortunate that school teachers, arguably one of the largest value-ads to communities across this nation, are getting taken to the woodshed on their retirement options. It’s 2019 and public...
View ArticleCoaching Students at the MCPS Business Pitch Challenge
As the son of a Montgomery county school teacher, I was so honored to mentor a group of hard- working students from Albert Einstein High School in Montgomery County rise to success in giving an...
View ArticleWhat The Shift In The Federal Reserve Language Means For You
Yesterday, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 2.5%. It only took one word from Fed Chair Jerome Powell on inflation to send the markets reeling, and that word was “transitory.” According...
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