Every year I spend many $1,000’s of dollars on going to financial planning conferences and taking additional training to improve my knowledge and keeping up to date, as well as for paying $1,000’s for software to add real value for my clients’ financial lives. A few months ago I added new software to benefit my existing clients as well as to potentially help add some new ones to my growing practice. I’ve finally made a 1 minute video to explain how you might benefit. CLICK the link … Continue reading
Want to Assess Your Tolerance for Stock Market Risk?
Posted in Regular Blog
Tagged risk appetite, risk aversion, risk tolerance test
Comments Off on Want to Assess Your Tolerance for Stock Market Risk?
Nasdaq hits 5000. Where to next?
For only the 3rd time in history, the Nasdaq index hit and closed at 5000. The last time it happened was 15 years ago March 27, 2000). So this famous market index with Intel, Microsoft, BestBuy, Apple, Amazon, Ebay, Yahoo, Priceline, Bed Bath and Beyond, Starbucks, etc. inside of it has taken 15 years to break-even… … or has it? In inflation adjusted points, the Nasdaq would have to be about 7000 to really equal where it was in 2000. In other words, in order to have the … Continue reading
Posted in Regular Blog
Comments Off on Nasdaq hits 5000. Where to next?
Obama urges financial planning reforms
Hallelujah! It’s about time — somebody in elected office wanting consumers to understand the difference between a “fiduciary” standard of care and the “suitability” standard. Under current rules, only financial planners with so-called “fiduciary duty” must invest with the best interest of their clients in mind. Those (insurance and/or investments) without fiduciary duty may guide investment recommendations based on what is “suitable” for their clients. All licensed financial advisors work under one standard or the other. Do you know which standard your own advisor falls under? Now, the vast … Continue reading
Posted in Regular Blog
Comments Off on Obama urges financial planning reforms
Are U.S. Treasury Bonds Safe?
Perhaps the “safest” bond of all for American investors is the US Treasury bond. If for no other reason than the government can just print more money to repay the bonds at maturity and/or the interest along the way. But even these bonds do not fit into my clients “safe and secure” bucket where their investments can never go down in value. In this bucket their money can never go backwards. You can watch a 60 second video on the 3 buckets of risk by clicking … Continue reading
Posted in Regular Blog
Tagged 10 year treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury bonds
Comments Off on Are U.S. Treasury Bonds Safe?
What is an “In-service withdrawal”?
Are you familiar with the term “in-service withdrawal”? If you or someone you care about is over age 59.5 and still contributing to a 401(k), 403(b) or TSA account, you should watch this one minute educational video. http://youtu.be/DWn6lUOE55A all the best… Mark PS- these same reasons hold true if you have a retirement plan still kept at an “old employer” that you’ve left there!
Posted in Regular Blog
Tagged in-service withdrawals
Comments Off on What is an “In-service withdrawal”?