Financial Advisor Blog
Financial Advisor Blog
7 Questions to Ask Yourself Now for 2019 Tax Prep
August is a jewel of a month in Vermont. While most would argue there isn’t a bad summer month to experience here, August is particularly sweet. It’s also “vacation month,” and there’s no place better to enjoy the lazy days of summer than by Lake Champlain. Another great thing about August? It’s the perfect time […]
Pushing the River
Recently, a close friend told me she felt like she was trying to push the river. It was the first and only time I can recall anyone using the term, and it has stuck with me since. It comes to mind when I hear people talk about protectionist policies intended to stem globalism and close […]
Autumn of Life
Autumn is a time for us to reflect back on the days of summer, and for the kids to go back to school. This is a post about both. I was a terrible student in high school. Getting into a good college was not a priority for me. Let’s just say I was distracted. At […]
Work Smarter, Not Harder
I met with a personal trainer this morning who told me I need to work smarter, not harder. I’d been doing hour-long weight lifting and aerobic workouts five days a week, which poses greater injury risk and, potentially, long-term heart damage. He told me I could achieve a higher fitness level, reduce injuries, and just […]
What Goes Down
There are two major economic trends that have been unfolding for almost forty years now, and both are nearing a turning point. Interest rates and tax rates have been declining since the early 1980s and both must go up at some point. I’ve been telling our clients that tax and interest rates are going to […]
Is Your Money Diversified Enough to Avoid Crisis?
I met with a prospective client recently who had an account full of actively managed mutual funds. When I pointed out what they were paying in fees, some of which were buried in the statements and difficult to spot, I asked what they thought they got for those fees. “They’re diversifying our money well to […]
Beware the Hooks
When my kids were little we watched a lot of SpongeBob SquarePants—so much so that my now 18-year-old still calls up references to it in everyday conversation. SpongeBob aficionados will get this reference. It is just a cartoon, but the subtle messages are often very deep and very real. I tell you all this upfront […]
Gratitude and Empathy
Empathy is an important characteristic for a financial advisor, and as I talk to people about their financial concerns, I find myself worrying for them about those things too. Like when a business owner I work with told me if things don’t pick up in a few months they’ll have to close their doors, or […]
The Tax Reform Pipe Dream
Congress is preparing to debate the budget deal that includes the tax reform proposed by the current administration, so I thought I’d chime in with my opinion of where this might go. In a nutshell, nowhere. First, the main thrust of this reform is aimed at reducing the corporate tax rate. The proponents say this […]
Three Reasons You Should Leave That Money in The Bank Doing Nothing
When I tell clients they need to increase their reserves, I often hear things like “Well, how much do I need to keep there doing nothing?” or “I’d rather pay off my mortgage/student loan/car loan than leave all that money there doing nothing.” Here are three reasons you should not only leave that money there, […]
Cause and Effect
Something we tell all prospective clients is we will never ask you to break something so we can fix it because our experience lends to a good understanding of the cause and effect of doing so. We don’t need or want our clients to sell investments, close accounts, or fire other advisors that are working […]
The Inverted Yield Curve and You
One thing Republicans and Democrats generally agree upon is the importance of avoiding interference with central bank policy. If central bank leaders are politically motivated, they will naturally tend to implement policy that stimulates the economy leading up to elections, which causes high inflation and unfair political advantages. It’s also worth mentioning that the outcome […]
