September 30, 2018

I was standing at my desk reading an article titled “What is Your Good Life” when the phone rang. It was my wife, asking if I wanted to come home to have lunch with our daughter and granddaughter who had dropped by. I logged off my computer and promptly walked out the door. Apparently, my definition of my good life includes having lunch with a three-year-old who still thinks I’m funny and wants to play with me.

September 30, 2018

By: John Zeltmann

As I write this article, we’re approximately three weeks out from the arrival of our third child.  The due date is mid-October, and we don't yet know whether we're having a boy or girl.  We're obviously very excited to find out and to also meet this little one who's coming into our lives. 

Of course, being a financial planner, I can't help but start thinking about a topic for my family that we frequently discuss with our clients: 529 plans. As we’re asked a lot of questions about 529 plans from both parents and grandparents alike, we thought it might be useful to share some of them.

September 30, 2018

AARP Bulletin¹ points out nine anticipated changes to the Medicare program for 2019. If you’re an enrollee, or about to become one, pay attention, because a lack of information may cost you a lot of money. 

September 30, 2018

The Wall Street Journal¹ article states the obvious: There are no easy answers or decisions when it comes time to try to stop an older driver from driving. (I can recall one family member stating that if he lost his license, he might as well die. He was approaching 90 at the time.)

Source: Direxion Funds

September 30, 2018

• Foreigners have increased their holdings of US Treasury securities from $1 trillion in 2000 to more than $6.2 trillion in 2018.

• In June 2018, the Congressional Budget Office projected that by the year 2048 (i.e., 30 years from now) the US government will spend as much money servicing its national debt as it will spend that year on the nation’s Social Security program. Today, our nation’s net interest cost is just 33% of our Social Security outlays.

• Borrowing $100,000 on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.53% (today’s national average) requires a monthly “principal and interest” payment of $508.47. Borrowing $100,000 on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 5.53% requires a monthly “principal and interest” payment of $569.67.

August 15, 2018

By: John Zeltmann

When speaking with clients about relocating in retirement, one question prevails: Which state is the best state to retire to from a tax perspective? As is the case with most questions in the world of financial planning, the answer is...it depends.  On you.

June 30, 2018

Are you a pre-retiree who dreams of retiring so you can wake up every morning with a big smile on your face? Do you envision endless days of joy, with time spent fishing, hiking, eating, socializing, or gardening? Is your vision of retirement an image of pure bliss?

June 30, 2018

If you’re a 50 or 60-something with adult children, you may occasionally wonder when you’ll become a grandparent. Unfortunately, according to Bloomberg Businessweek¹, you may have to wait a little longer. “The number of births in the US fell in 2017 to its lowest in 30 years.”

June 30, 2018

While both sad and depressing, the story of Rita Sherman, as reported in The New York Times¹, should provide valuable lessons to every current and future retiree. (The title alone is depressing.)

May 15, 2018

"I'm not going to live past 80!  I know it.  My Mother lived to 82, Dad died at 72.  Longevity doesn't run in my family.  Plus...who wants to live that long anyway?!"  I’m sure many of you have either uttered these words yourself or at the very least heard a friend or family member say them.  Digging into the underlying data, one might be surprised to see how long people are living these days.