Layoffs are a fact of corporate life as companies cope with economic cycles and global competition. If you get caught in a corporate downsizing and you are not immediately moving to a new employer, you commonly have three options for your retirement plan assets: Leave your money in the current plan. Take a cash or “lump sum” distribution. Transfer …
Let’s Talk About Marriage…….
Marriage affects your finances in many ways, including your ability to build wealth, plan for retirement, plan your estate, and capitalize on tax and insurance-related benefits. There are, however, two important caveats. First, same-sex marriages are recognized for federal income and estate tax reporting purposes. However, each state determines its own rules for state taxes, inheritance rights, and probate, so …
What’s Your Definition of Risk?
When it comes to investing, many people associate risk with losing money. But investing demands different forms of risk. Understanding each type — and the possible return linked with your retirement portfolio — can help you determine whether your investments are suitable for your situation. Examining Risk and Return Stocks historically have displayed the highest level of market risk — …
It’s a Trap!
Money. It’s hard to get and easy to lose. It doesn’t take long for the wealth you’ve accrued to disappear if you don’t manage your money correctly or have a plan to guard your assets against sudden disaster. Traps like the ones revealed below could easily impede your financial security. Planning ahead can protect you and your family from getting …
Tax Season Isn’t Over
Tax filing day has passed us by for another year (unless you are on extension). Most people don’t start planning for their taxes until they start receiving documents. At this point your accountant is a glorified scorekeeper showing you what you owe or what you are getting back. Now is the time to start planning for 2017, especially with all …
The Plan is to Live Into Retirement
When do you want to retire? Yesterday? Is your money going to last? It’s simple. Just tell me when you are going to die and we can come up with the perfect plan for your retirement. If you are like most of my clients, you are working away and putting away money for that future retirement date. But what if …
The Imperfect Income Solution
Recently I attended a conference that had some amazing statistics when it comes to generating income. In 1980 to generate $100,000 a year in interest income utilizing shorting term bonds you needed a total of $763, 395. In 2016 to generate $100,000 a year in interest income in short term bonds, you need a total of $13,888,901. You need over …
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
An ex-wife as a primary beneficiary. Lapsed stock options. No medical power of attorney. What is in common with these items? They are all avoidable. Having been involved in financial services for the past 20 years, I have seen a lot things go wrong. A lot of these issues could have been avoided with proper planning and review. But we …
5 Mistakes to Avoid After Getting Laid Off.
Our office is located in Chandler, AZ. Chandler is home to numerous Technology companies such as Intel, NXP, and Microchip. Recently several of these companies have gone through company-wide reductions in their workforce. It can be a shocking situation. After 20 years you are out of a job and you just received a package from your former employer with an …
Diversification-2016 edition
I have been in financial services since the late 1990s. A lot has changed during that time. The internet is no longer America Online. Technology has changed the way the world shares information. This information is available to everyone, all the time, anywhere from your cell phone that you probably use more for things other than making a phone call. …
How to Live Within Your Means
SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN This may seem obvious; however, it must be said. If you spend less than you bring home, then you will begin to accumulate wealth! It is almost too easy to make purchases these days. Within a minute, anyone can think of a product, order it on Amazon, pay for it with a credit card already …






