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.
May 14, 2019
I am not a patient person. Just ask my wife, kids, co-workers, family, pedestrians I’m walking next to and the guy parallel parking in front of me. I think you get the point. Why is that? Why am I so anxious for certain things to happen in life that I miss all the good stuff […]
May 7, 2019
In March of this year, information was released regarding Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed tax plan, otherwise known as the “Fair Tax for Illinois.” There are a number of items in this proposal which, should this become law, could impact both individual and corporate taxpayers in the state of Illinois. Here are a few of […]
April 30, 2019
The combination of all the documentation that is needed during divorce negotiations and the never-ending stack of documents needed by your tax preparer often create an important pile of clutter. The good news is that you don’t need to hold onto it forever. Learn more about what should be done post-divorce in this podcast featuring BDF’s […]
April 23, 2019
“Hi my name is Chris, John suggested I call you regarding my book of business. I am wondering if you can help me understand what the value of my agency is and what buyers are paying the large multiples I keep hearing about.” Chris is not alone as this is a frequent question from both […]
April 16, 2019
Receiving most of your compensation in a few large paychecks is exciting to finally see in your bank account. But it causes a lot of headache when juggling cash flow for the year ahead. Financial professionals (private equity professionals, investment bankers, and asset managers) struggle with this problem given the industry’s compensation models. Investment bankers, […]
April 9, 2019
With Spring Break on the horizon, many families are hustling to pack their bags, load up the family mini-van, and get out of Dodge for the week. And if they’re really in a hurry to escape the never-ending Midwest winter, hopping on the first flights out to the beach. With all of the planning that […]
March 26, 2019
One of the more satisfying things about being a lawyer is the opportunity to build deep, important relationships with your clients. Given those relationships, lawyers are often afforded the opportunity to co-invest alongside firm clients in private investment funds or directly in a private company. For example, you have probably been approached with the opportunity […]
March 19, 2019
During the Great Depression, 9,000 banks failed and that gave rise to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, which served to instill confidence in the banking system. On January 1, 1934, the first deposits were insured with a limit of $2,500. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the US […]
March 12, 2019
When a loved one dies, it’s always too soon. The grieving process is difficult, and when you factor in that loved ones now need to sort through finances, it can be very stressful. This is the time when many are vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. You would think that after someone dies, their identity cannot be […]
March 5, 2019
With tax time finally here, you’re probably starting to load everything into your tax preparation software or send documents to your CPA. Below are a few items that may be tougher to keep track of during the year but are certainly important pieces of information to pass along to your tax preparer. 529 Contributions/Distributions – […]
February 26, 2019
I took my daughter ice skating recently. Ever since she caught the skiing bug, she has been determined to try ice skating. Having played hockey nearly my entire childhood and through college, I was thrilled she wanted to try something I thought I knew a lot about. However, I quickly learned that knowing a lot […]
February 19, 2019
As we get settled into 2019, we’re faced with fresh changes to the tax code, brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. One of the biggest changes that became effective as of January 1 is how alimony is treated in divorces finalized in 2019 and beyond. Before January 1, 2019, […]