The 2012 Income Tax Season Observations
I haven’t come across many new issues this tax season, but, as usual, a few surprises have popped up. Make Work Pay Credit Gone Many are disappointed with the amount of refund or amount owed compared to last year, primarily due to the elimination of the Make Work Pay credit that could be as great […]
A Decade Lost?
The holiday season is a great time to see friends of old who are back in town and catch up with family you don’t get to see as often as you would like. While getting caught up on each other’s lives, and amidst the small talk, most people these days bring up their dissatisfaction with […]
Lessons From 2011
ONE– Stock market returns are seldom what we expect. The S&P 500 index was up 2% for the year, after being up 8% at the end of April and down 12% at the beginning of October. Large stocks did better (Dow up 7%); small stocks did worse (Russell 2000 down 4%); and international stocks did […]
Schwab Index Fund Changes
Many of our clients will be receiving a notice from Charles Schwab regarding a recent change in investment policy for two funds that we use in portfolios. The Schwab Small Cap Index Fund (SWSSX) and the Schwab International Index Fund (SWISX) are affected. Here is the communication from Schwab to advisors: We want to make […]
Planning for Medicare – Part Deux
The new 2012 Medicare & You booklets have been mailed and Medicare eligibles are receiving mailings from insurers daily about their products. This booklet contains over 150 pages of details about Medicare and the related Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Here are some of the key things to consider when choosing coverage for 2012: Medicare […]
The Folly of Active Management and TV Gurus
Last year I wrote an article about where to invest in 2010 and took that opportunity to remind investors not to fall into the excitement of active management and stock trading. Instead I cautioned them to focus on what you can control, like investment cost, risk, and asset allocation and to ignore the rest. So […]
Investing is for Optimists
“we are becoming healthier, cleaner, smarter, kinder, happier, and more peaceful”
Free Tax Preparation: Tales of a Fee-Only Advisor
We’re only two weeks into the tax season and already the stories of woe surface. As usual, our politicians have added complexity to the tax code and we have a new set of filing requirements: new forms, tax rates, credits, challenges, etc. For the fourth year I am volunteering as a Tax Aide with AARP […]
The Results Are In – Active vs. Passive
Most investors track the direction of the financial market by checking where the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average finishes on a daily basis in their local paper. Some days they were pleased with what they saw and others not, but as a whole 2010 left most investors optimistic about the direction of their […]
Top 4 Investment Resolutions for the New Year
At the start of each new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our lifestyles. It’s a natural time to take stock of the past year and look to make some beneficial changes for the future. Tops on most lists are shedding pounds, getting fit, quitting bad habits, or learning something new. In this […]