Each new year brings with it the implementation of new laws, especially financial and tax laws. At the end of 2017 Congress passed the largest piece of tax reform legislation in more than three decades, lowering marginal brackets for all taxpayers. Now we find that at the end of 2019, prior to the holidays, Congress […]
People generally begin the search for financial planning services for one of two reasons. Either they have amassed a certain amount of wealth and they’re not sure how to best grow and maintain it, or they want to figure out how to create and save more wealth. The goals behind these two reasons, however, vary […]
Having recently returned from a Financial Planners Association Conference in Minneapolis, where the temperature was already hitting the freezing mark, I quickly remembered why I like living in Hampton Roads. I love the changing seasons where we can experience some snow in the winter with just a three-hour drive to ski resorts or the heat […]
I remember, growing up, that our Thanksgiving meals regularly included a guest at the table who didn’t have family, and our family vehicle was considered a gift that my dad seemed to always loan out to someone in need. Those are just a couple of the memories I had growing up as the son of […]
“Paint me a picture of your future. Tell me what retirement looks like for you”. As a retirement financial advisor, this is what you will often hear me ask a new client at their first financial planning meeting. If they are just beginning to accumulate funds, I want them to have a reason for accumulating […]
In my thirty years as a Financial Planner, I am often asked, “is there really a difference between a fee-only and a fee-based advisor?” When I began my career in 1985, I started as a commission-based representative working for a broker/dealer. Although I was sincere and always did what I thought was best for my […]
I once had the opportunity of attending a financial conference where legendary value investor, Jean-Marie Eveillard, was in attendance. During a dinner, I had the chance to visit with Jean-Marie and shared with him that we invested some of our clients’ money in his funds. No sooner had I begun to explain that many of […]
Although corporate earnings numbers and U.S. employment remain good, Wall Street seems to grow increasingly concerned about the “potential” trade war between the U.S. and China, and the public scrutiny of the technology sector (i.e. Facebook and Amazon). Thus the increase in market volatility in 2018 relative to 2017. The S&P 500 has moved by […]
This quote is engraved on a clock gifted to me by a client and friend, who has heard me say this very thing since the late 1980s. It sits on my desk and serves as an important reminder to always look at the big picture. Like now, for instance…let’s place the recent stock market volatility […]
We are two days into February 2018, and we have viewed something not seen in a while on TV screens – the color red on the market reports. The market began the year very strong and there was much talk about a robust 2018. We continue to believe this is the case based on the […]