Multi-State Property Ownership – Convenience at a Cost?
April 5, 2022
Congratulations! You made the decision to escape the long, dark and cold winter months and relocate to year-round sunshine and warm weather. After consulting with your tax professional, estate attorney, and financial planner, you have committed to spending the necessary time and have taken the steps needed to claim residency and start enjoying a new […]
The Great Reframing
In our March 31, 2022 event, Dr. Joseph Coughlin, head of the MIT Age Lab, discussed how the current seemingly constant state of stress is fundamentally changing the relationship we have with work, family, media, and more. According to their research, we are all going through a “great reframing.”
Retiring Well: A 3-Step Guide
March 29, 2022
We’re running in many directions because of our busy lives. Pause a moment and ask yourself, how often do I find time to dream about and plan my retirement? Your answer is probably not that often – and you’re not alone. And, yet, many of us are anxious as retirement nears or as we experience […]
Busted Bonds
March 24, 2022
With all the turmoil in the world, no wonder we have seen stock market declines. Stock markets had done so well for so long, and now you add a war on top of it, so it’s easy for our minds to justify the recent volatility. But bonds aren’t so intuitive. Bonds are supposed to help […]
From Russia with Tanks Part II – What’s Next?
March 10, 2022
Two weeks ago, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II. While the geopolitical ramifications of the invasion may not be known for years, the implications for the global economy and the financial markets will be felt much sooner. As one might expect, the market dropped immediately the […]
5 Tax Planning Checks that Could Save Thousands!
March 8, 2022
Now that tax time is here, you’re probably starting to load everything into your tax preparation software or send documents to your CPA. There are many tax documents mailed to you or available online, but what about some of the items that are tougher to keep track of? Here are five tax strategies that are often […]
Impact Investing – How to Assess Performance
February 24, 2022
In the summer of 2021, BDF introduced our Impact Investing platform. We designed a portfolio that stayed true to BDF’s philosophy on investing while also emphasizing companies that score favorably in terms of their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Since this introduction, we’ve been fortunate enough to have many great conversations with clients who […]
Working Wealthy – Budget vs. Goals
February 15, 2022
Does the term “budget” make your skin crawl? Or perhaps even worse—does it make you shut down? Having been a financial planner for a good part of my adult life, I’ve never really thought of the word “budget” as being a bad word. But in the context of comprehensive financial planning, it can actually derail […]
From Russia With…Tanks?
February 10, 2022
“Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” – Winston Churchill After a phenomenal 2021, stocks are off to a bumpy start in the new year. Much of the volatility can be attributed to shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy as the Fed is expected to be more aggressive than previously anticipated […]
Finalizing The Insurance & Estate Ties That Bind, Post-Divorce
February 8, 2022
Picture this: your friend, at long last, finalized their divorce and is ready to ride off into the sunset. Time for a cocktail (or mocktail)! You can hardly blame them for their efforts to avoid any significant decision-making after the long process of negotiations, rulings, and compromises they just endured. While many things can be […]
Death of the 4% Sustainable Withdrawal Rate?
January 4, 2022
Recently, the well-known 4% withdrawal rate rule of thumb has come under fire. For those not familiar, the 4% withdrawal rate comes from research by William Bengen, which demonstrated that, based on a historical analysis of stock and bond returns, retirees could withdraw up to 4% of their portfolio’s value each year over a 30-year […]
Working Wealthy – Risk On, Risk Off
December 28, 2021
The market has been very good to investors the past few years. Aside from a harrowing but brief downturn in March and April of 2020, investors have been rewarded handsomely for investing in stocks. Is now the time to get greedy? We talk to clients all the time about risk—how much do you need; how […]