The financial planning and investment landscape changes at a dizzying speed – and often with conflicting messages. Read our team of experts’ advice on saving, spending, investing, retirement, taxes, giving and more to help you enjoy a full life.
The financial planning and investment landscape changes at a dizzying speed – and often with conflicting messages. Read our team of experts’ advice on saving, spending, investing, retirement, taxes, giving and more to help you enjoy a full life.
October 15, 2019
As Financial Advisors, we put a lot of thought and effort into making sure that we have the proper beneficiary designations and titling on accounts for clients so that they are passed on appropriately someday in the future. Much of our focus is on investment accounts, bank accounts, houses, etc. – but what happens to […]
October 8, 2019
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) put into place new tax legislation for Americans, officially taking effect for the 2018 tax year. The full effect of the changes was not felt by most individuals and families until they filed their returns in April of this year. If proactively planned for, below are […]
September 24, 2019
We get the opportunity to work with BDF clients in all stages of their personal financial planning. Those stages include building wealth, accumulating wealth and eventually consuming that wealth. That last stage is probably the most interesting as it appears to be the most difficult from a behavioral level. That’s right—spending one’s retirement savings is […]
September 17, 2019
When I decided to get remarried, it was an exciting time for me and my (now) husband. What we quickly found, however, was that decisions we had made prior to our previous marriages, such as where we would live, financial decisions and now, disciplining and raising kids from our previous marriages, were not as straightforward […]
September 10, 2019
Last month I had the opportunity to moderate an M&A panel at NAHUs (National Association of Health Underwriters) Annual Conference in San Diego. The panel was focused on what agency owners should look for when considering buying or selling an agency. Panelist Mike Deagle of Benaxis and Lily Lam of OneDigital did an excellent job […]
September 4, 2019
Markets go up. Markets go down. We’ve seen interest rates increase and we’ve seen interest rates decrease. Let’s assume you are not a big purchaser of Treasury Bonds – why would interest rates matter to you? The on-going saga of interest rates around the world continues to lead headlines across news outlets. With buzz words, […]
August 27, 2019
To invest or not to invest? That is the question. For financial professionals (private equity professionals, investment bankers, and asset managers) this question surfaces on an annual basis as bonuses are paid. After determining your saving priorities, a decision must be made about how to deploy the cash. Since bonuses and carry are such a […]
August 20, 2019
Financial freedom. Everyone wants it. As a lawyer, what should you be doing now to achieve that freedom? It depends on where you are in your career and how close you are to retirement. Here are the top three saving strategies for attorneys you should have on your checklist, based on your career stage. Associates […]
August 13, 2019
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, or UTMA, accounts are a popular way to hold investments and bank accounts for minors. Such accounts are owned by the minor but controlled by a designated adult custodian. The minor becomes the outright owner of the account assets when he or she reaches the age of majority specified in […]
August 6, 2019
There are likely substantial retirement account changes on the horizon which will alter planning for all current and future retirees. Recently, the House passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement or SECURE Act. The SECURE Act is expected to pass the Senate in the coming months. The two most wide-reaching changes in the […]
July 30, 2019
When we lose someone that we love, we miss out on all the future memories that we never get to create together. In many ways, this is difficult and unfair. However, this doesn’t mean that the memories need to stop. Here are some ways to preserve the memories of loved ones we have lost: Tell […]
July 23, 2019
One of the foundations of personal financial planning is estate planning. For some, it can be an unpleasant topic. Just ask my wife—she put up with my nagging and cajoling for nearly six months before we put our plan in place. I can’t blame her, pondering one’s own mortality is not an everyday task. In […]