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You come into some extra cash and are wondering how to best use it. Whether it is a tax refund or an inheritance, the welcome sum can help you move closer to your life goals. In building wealth, it is wise to avoid using other people’s money – such as loans from credit cards- to defray monthly living expenses. If you have credit card debt you may be paying back the balance at an interest rate exceeding 20 percent. When advising clients I tell them to apply any windfall money to the goal of eliminating debt that is billed at…
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By Jeff Buchbinder Despite May’s usual reputation for underwhelming performance, U.S. stocks experienced a robust monthly gain. The S&P 500 delivered a total return of 6.3%, marking its biggest gain during the month of May since 1990, and turning positive year to date. Broad equity benchmarks stabilized on optimism surrounding trade deals, encouraging investors to return to previously struggling sectors. Given such a notable return for the month, we decided to dive into the sector components driving those returns and explore themes of what worked. Sector Performance Ten out of 11 sectors experienced gains in May, with the three largest…
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Excerpts from a groundbreaking study by two researchers of 1200 US women In yet another study of women hosted by the insurance giant Equitable, two researchers again confirmed distinct differences between men and women in their approaches to money. This blog shares some of the highlights from these findings. To obtain a free pdf of the published report, click at the end. The 2023 survey also included 500 men, for comparing results across genders. Participants were categorizes by marital status, that is, single , married, divorced or widowed. The researchers also confirmed earlier findings that women control about one third…
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Planning for retirement can be fraught with risk when income needs are ignored. Anyone planning a full stop on current employment to substitute income from portfolios and Social Security needs to consider investment allocation when making this transition.
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Getting married? When planning a legal union, it pays for couples to consider the financial aspects of marriage just as deeply as they do romance.
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Including the care of your pets in your estate planning helps ensure they’ll be cared for after you’re gone
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Whether people buy into meme stocks or the Magnificent Seven group of tech companies, there has been a lot of bullish sentiment favoring these highly recognizable names with large investor followings. Meme stocks refer to companies with…
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Often, the issues start with a move to a new home.
In my financial planning and investments practice, I often help middle-aged children help an older parent with his or her finances. The parent may have been living alone, as…
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For outlays related to exclusive use assets, reimbursements may be possible with proper documentation.
Couples seeking marital dissolution in California may hear their family law attorney talk about how to share expenses during the process. Divorcing couples usually each receive a spreadsheet to…
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As we progress into the New Year, it’s important to take stock of your personal financial security.
Hackers have not taken a pandemic break. During tax season, they can actually get busier, as taxpayers share or request…
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