Market Commentary

Rate Cuts and Your Bond Portfolio

After several years of low interest rates, bond yields have been attractive for the past few years. While a recent turning point in central bank policy has slightly lowered yields, today’s bond market offers a unique combination of capital preservation and income in an increasingly complex economic landscape. Our current fixed income investment strategy is […]

Wrap up 2024 on a High Note: Year-end Checklist to Boost Your Wealth and Lower Your Tax Bill

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and take a close look at your financial goals. Even if you’ve reached some big milestones, there still could be a few valuable moves you can make before year-end. With IRS deadlines approaching, now’s the moment to make some proactive choices that could leave you […]

Carlota B. Venegas, CFP, CDFA

Protect Your Assets from Phishers

We’ve written before about protecting yourself from financial fraud and encourage you to keep this threat in mind. As technological advances have improved our lives in many ways, an unfortunate side effect is technology’s role in helping cybercriminals construct more sophisticated financial scams. Recently, some of our clients have experienced more advanced phishing attempts that […]

Clifford Swan

Finalized Inherited IRA Regulations

Since the SECURE Act was passed in 2019, it has been clear that those who inherited IRAs after 2020 needed to draw them down within 10 years, what hadn’t been finalized was whether annual RMDs were required.  On July 18, 2024, the IRS released final regulations confirming the requirement for Non-Designated Beneficiaries of IRAs to […]

George E. Hasbun, CFP®

Finding Peace of Mind with a Well-Ordered Financial Household

As Investment Counselors, my colleagues and I are immersed in the world of financial rules and systems. Whether we are studying the investment markets and accessing trading platforms, dealing with our custodial partners, connecting with our clients’ banking providers, or strategizing with related professionals from the legal, accounting and insurance fields, we coordinate this complex […]

Kathleen Gilmore, CFP®

Protecting Against AI-Driven Financial Fraud

It’s 2:00 a.m., and you are sleeping soundly when your cell phone rings from an unknown number. You answer the phone to hear your grandson’s voice on the other side. He is in distress and explains he was in a car accident. It was his fault, and he needs some money to get out of […]

George E. Hasbun, CFP®

2024 RMD Relief for IRA Beneficiaries Subject to 10-Year Rule

In April, the Internal Revenue Service waived penalties for beneficiaries of individual retirement accounts subject to required minimum distributions under the 10-year rule that do not take distributions in 2024. This extends the relief period for RMDs that would have had to been taken from 2020 through 2023 to include the 2024 tax year. The 10-year […]

Clifford Swan

A Reality Check on AI

While computers have only been around since the 1950s, our fascination with artificial intelligence goes all the way back to early recorded human history. As a species, we can’t help but want to project human qualities onto non-human things. The first known robot was built in ancient Greece, an automatic maid that would pour wine […]

David Y. Lin, CFA 

A New High in Gift Annuity Rates

With payout rates higher than they have been in more than a decade, and possible interest rate cuts on the horizon, now is an opportune time to consider establishing a charitable gift annuity. As we’ve said in previous articles, charitable gift annuities can be a great option for donors seeking an income stream. The mechanics are […]

Lloyd K. Wong, CFA

Alternative Investments: What Are They and Do They Belong in Your Portfolio?

Many investors have seen or heard periodic ads for alternative investments or read about them in various business and investment sources. The natural questions are: What exactly are alternatives, and do they belong in my portfolio? These are specialized investments, and while they have some attractive qualities and can serve a valuable role in an overall investment […]

Randall L. Zaharia, CFA, CAIA®

Nurturing Prosperity: The Journey of Wealth Management Across Life’s Stages

Imagine a journey where your financial success knows no bounds and your potential is limitless. You are an achiever, and your ambition is the driving force behind your success. Now, let’s channel that energy into your financial roadmap with the guidance of a dedicated investment counselor. We’ll explore how, together, you can create a narrative […]

Carlota B. Venegas, CFP, CDFA

Tax Benefits of “Bunching” Charitable Giving

Every year income taxpayers need to decide between taking the standard deduction or itemizing. For those that itemize deductions, a strategy to combine two years’ worth of charitable giving into one year has been a financial planning consideration for years. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 made this strategy even more relevant. […]

Maxwell R. Pray, CFA

Opportunities for Maximizing Education and Retirement Accounts

The cost of education has never been higher. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of education has increased by two times the inflation rate since 2000. Despite the increase in education costs, tax-advantaged 529 savings plans, which are the primary savings vehicle for education, have been underfunded by most Americans. Concerns […]

George E. Hasbun, CFP®

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