Three Ways to Curb Holiday Spending
The holidays are right around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about gift shopping, parties, and all the other spending that goes along with them. It’s nothing new that the holidays are expensive. However, it is important to set a budget and avoid overspending during this time of year. This Reuters article discusses […]
A Look Into The Recent Social Security Changes
Last week, Congress passed their “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.” Among the typical budgetary items, there are a few alterations that will impact the Social Security benefit filing system. Anyone who turns 62 in 2016 or later will no longer be able to take advantage of the “file-and-suspend” strategy for the purpose of receiving spousal […]
Is Your Smartphone Making You a Not-So-Smart Investor?
In a recent WSJ article, they talk about the how smart phone “investment apps” are causing investors to react to short-term market swings and abandoning their long-term established financial plans. Behavioral economists call this tendency, “myopic loss aversion”- and it can be incredibly costly. Click on the link above to read the full article!
Market Commentary October 2015
Stock Markets The chart to the right shows what we have had to put up with recently: all but REITs were down for the quarter (all were down since the beginning of the year), and emerging markets were downbig, showing variability over the trailing twelve months. These periods remind us that markets do go down, […]
A Simple Guide to Medicare: Supplement vs. Advantage Plan
Most Americans are overwhelmed with the array of options when searching for health insurance coverage in addition to Medicare Part A and B. Before answering a common question people ask regarding Medicare, it probably makes sense to explain the different components: Medicare Part A: If you paid Medicare taxes while employed (most people do), there […]
My Journey to Rockbridge
As the newest member of the Rockbridge team, I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself. Whether you are a client, or another financial services professional, I believe it’s worth taking the time to explain my background, how I got here, and why I decided to pursue a career in the financial services […]
Changing Your Domicile from NYS
Would you stop being a fan of the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Bills or the Syracuse Orangemen and root for a team in Florida in order to save on your tax bill? It might help! Many New York State residents planning for retirement expect to maintain a residence in New York, but claim another state […]
Portfolio Versus Benchmark Returns
Measuring investment performance without a benchmark is like judging the results of a football game when you only know one team’s score. To get the real story, there must be a “measuring stick.” Obviously, in football you also need to know the opponent’s score. In the case of investment performance, results should be compared to […]
4 Steps to a Successful Retirement
Many investors nearing retirement are beginning to focus on life after work. Questions arise that can be difficult to answer, such as: How much savings is enough to retire? What sources of income will I have after I stop working? How do I construct a portfolio to fund spending goals? What will I do with […]
Patience and Perspective
No one likes to see their savings decline in value. Times like these are not much fun for investors, watching markets “correct” in the face of abundant global uncertainties. As investment advisors, one of our most important jobs is to help long-term investors keep hold of their long-term perspective. Here are some things to consider. […]