Identity Theft (part 2)
You might not realize all the ways someone can steal your identity, like Employment and Tax-Related Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Phone and Utilities Fraud, Bank Fraud, Loan and Lease Fraud, Government Documents and Benefits Fraud. Then there are things like the 2017 Equifax Data Breach, where 143 million Americans (about 40% of the population) had…
Read MoreIdentity Theft (part 1)
This topic has been on our minds for a while, but we had to do something after learning what happened to John. It was… The Most Upsetting, Emotional, and Time-Consuming Event Of His Life – The Theft of His Identity! First, let us tell you a bit about John. He’s an average American, just like…
Read MoreOpportunity Zones (part 2)
Opportunity Zones were created in the 2017 tax reform to encourage investors to reinvest their capital gains into these areas, in exchange for certain Federal (and possibly State) capital gains tax advantages detailed below. Deferral of Capital Gains Taxes: Capital gains (short‐term or long‐term) from the sale of any asset that is reinvested in an Qualified…
Read MoreOpportunity Zones (part 1)
Opportunity Zones were created through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Opportunity Zones are low-income census tracts nominated by U.S. State Governors and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to encourage investors to reinvest their capital gains into these areas, in exchange for certain Federal (and possibly State) capital gains tax…
Read MoreInspiring Women Recap
We had a great time at the Inspiring Women event this fall! We really appreciate spending time with women (and men) who value learning and are taking control of their future! Too many in our world just let life happen to them. We always walk away from nights like that refreshed! The foundation of our events was…
Read MoreCreating a Strong Portfolio and Honoring Veterans
There are four basic investing terms that deal with the tactics of investing; active, passive, strategic and tactical. Let’s start with passive. In passive investing, the goal is to match the benchmark’s performance. For example, there are multiple S&P 500 index funds. These funds are investing to mirror the S&P 500 index; this is as…
Read MoreBehind the Mask of an Industry Giant
With Halloween, you have probably just say your fair share of masks and costumes. Some cute, some fun, some a little on the creepy side and some downright scary. We like to stay away from the scary, but we enjoy the cute and fun. In our family, we had Elvis and Pricilla (along with baby…
Read MoreImportant Questions YOU Need Answered (part 1)
There is lots of talk out there about the market as always. Experts debating on what will happen and when will the market go up or down? Will the feds change rates? What will happen to the market if this or that happens… All that makes for good news and conversation, but it doesn’t address…
Read MoreCommon Portfolio Wisdom – “WE’RE IN A NEW ERA… OLD MARKET RULES DON’T APPLY”
Pros – Many new factors: Internet, Baby Boomers, Global Markets, War on Terror Cons – The appearance that we are smarter Details abound; structure remains Factors change; results consistent Society may change, but human nature doesn’t Axiom – We are never in a new era. Market action is a reflection of human reaction. Human nature…
Read MoreRetirement Myth – Diversification Pixie Dust
Diversification means I have low risk, right? Diversification has become like pixie dust in the financial world. People hear that word and think everything is good because they are diversified, but that is not always the case. The thought is if your diversified than you will have a lower risk because you are not putting all…
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