June 30, 2022

As we move into summer, thoughts naturally turn to vacations. Living on the East Coast, one may think about a trip to the shore (if you’re in New Jersey) or the beach (the term for “sand” used by everyone else on the planet).

June 30, 2022

It would be logical to assume that financial planners want clients to spend less than more each year. While logical, that assumption is not absolute. Rather, there are occasions where we encourage clients to spend money as/if necessary, to include paying life insurance premiums to safeguard against loss of income, premiums for long-term care insurance, paying fees to an attorney to draft updated wills and related documents, et al. Last, but far from least, is paying fees to an accountant to prepare tax returns and do tax planning. 

June 30, 2022

A successful retirement is about so much more than no longer working at a job. To put you on the right path, the AARP Bulletin¹ recently published a list of nine questions. As they write: “Ace these 9 questions and you’ll be doing just fine.”

May 15, 2022

To long-time clients, let me start by saying: “Here we go again.” To newer clients, I’ll say: “Don’t worry; this is normal.” And to everyone else: “Buckle up for the ride.” I am referring, of course, to the latest, and current, stock market correction.

May 15, 2022

Inflation has been lifting prices lately, and with that comes a barrage of news articles, TV talk show segments, and social media posts about how best to beat inflation in your portfolio.  One of the hottest tools on the market currently is Series I bonds.  They're "hot" since they currently have a published rate of 9.62%.  With a rate like that, who wouldn't want to invest?

May 15, 2022

The chart below from Dimensional Funds¹ depicts in graphic form how much the S&P 500 Index has gained (or lost) in every year since 1926. While the average annual return is approximately 10%, “it’s important to remember that returns in any given year may be sky-high, extremely poor, or somewhere in between.”

March 31, 2022

When you work with as many families as we do, there’s always a story. Some are comical in nature, and we get to share a laugh, while others are profoundly serious. Based upon lessons learned over the past 26 years, this Stan’s World is for every client who has living parents or adult children. 

March 31, 2022

Michael Bloomberg is credited with saying: “…the best financial planning ends with bouncing the check to the undertaker.” The man was right when he first said it, and he’s still right today. Who would have ever thought that living too long could be a bad thing?

March 31, 2022

If you have assets, you may unknowingly be at risk from a personal liability claim. (If you don’t have assets, you’re probably covered by a line from the Bob Dylan song, Like a Rolling Stone: “When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.”)

February 15, 2022

Recently, a friend and I engaged in a fairly profound conversation. He wondered what he was going to leave behind after he died. He asked me about his contribution to society and how to assess the good that he did. I told him the question is one I’ve heard before. Frankly, it’s one I’ve periodically asked myself.