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Wills: The Cornerstone of Your Estate Plan

Jan 8, 2024

If you care about what happens to your money, home, and other property after you die, you need to do some estate planning. There are many tools you can use to achieve your estate planning goals, but a will is probably the most vital. Even if you’re young or your estate is modest, you should always have a legally valid and up-to-date will. This is especially important if you have minor children because, in many states, your will is the only legal way you can name a guardian for them. Although a will doesn’t have to be drafted by an attorney to be valid, seeking an attorney’s help can ensure that your will accomplishes what you intend.

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Tags: Certified Financial Advisor Charlotte NC, Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings, tax guide, Wealth Building

Chapters of Retirement

Jan 5, 2024

The journey to and through retirement occurs gradually, like successive chapters in a book. Each chapter has its own things to consider. (more…)

Tags: Investment Planning, retirement, Retirement Planning

Important Lessons from 2023

Jan 3, 2024

Stocks defied the skeptics in a very unpredictable 2023. The Dow Jones finished at an all-time record high on December 28, and the S&P 500 came within a whisker of a fresh all-time high after the index rallied more than 20% for the year. (more…)

Tags: Current Events

Medicaid and Your Primary Residence

Dec 22, 2023

Although your stay can be paid for by your personal savings or by your long-term care insurance policy (if you have one), many nursing home residents end up using Medicaid (a joint federal-state program for low-income individuals) to pay for their care. Unfortunately, if you’re a Medicaid beneficiary, your state may be able to attach a lien to your house while you’re living or after you die. To preserve the home for your family, you should plan for Medicaid well in advance of your nursing home stay. If you’re like most homeowners, your principal residence is one of your most valuable assets. It may have sentimental value, and it may also represent financial security for your loved ones.

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Charitable Gifting in Your Estate Plan

Dec 20, 2023

When developing your estate plan, you can do well by doing good. Leaving money to charity rewards you in many ways. It gives you a sense of personal satisfaction, and it can save you money in estate taxes.

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Market Update – Dow Rallies to Record Highs

Dec 18, 2023

Key Takeaways

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) has gone from correction to record highs in only 32 trading days. Broadening participation predicated on falling interest rates and signs of a soft-landing scenario have underpinned the recovery.
• What happens after a record high? Over the last 100 years, and filtering for record highs occurring at least three months apart, upside momentum has historically continued. The INDU has generated an average 12-month forward return of 11.1% after posting a new record high, with 71% of occurrences producing positive results.
• And with the INDU already at record highs, all eyes are now on the Dow Jones Transportation Average (TRAN) to confirm the breakout, per Dow Theory.
• LPL Research views the INDU’s recent record-high rally as another piece of evidence supporting the health and sustainability of the current bull market.

It only took 489 trading days, but the INDU climbed back into record-high territory this week. Broadening participation in the equity market recovery has lifted the index 15% above its recent October low and above the prior January 4, 2022 record high of 36,800. (more…)

Tags: Current Events

Preparing for the Fed Pivot

Dec 15, 2023

Key Takeaways:

• Since inflation is going in the right direction and the labor market is getting more into balance, the Federal Reserve (Fed) is likely done raising rates. We should expect the committee to prepare investors for a slight pivot in policy.
• The markets expect the Fed’s next action will likely be a cut in rates by mid next year but much of that is predicated on the economy weakening enough to warrant a cut.
• Both equity and bond markets have latched onto the notion that the Fed is done raising rates which has been a catalyst for the recent rally.
• The updated Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) will likely push back on the market’s expectations that the Fed will cut rates by over a full percentage point. But the
  SEP is a poor predictor of future rates.

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Outlook 2024

Dec 13, 2023

Tags: 2024 Bond Market, 2024 Stock Market, Alternative Investments, Bond Market, Commodities Markets, Economic Outlook, Outlook 2024, Stock Market

Taxation of Investments

Dec 11, 2023

It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?

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A November to Remember

Dec 8, 2023

Solid gains for both stocks and bonds gave investors a November to remember. As financial markets continue to defy skeptics, I’m reminded of a quote from Warren Buffett’s long-time partner and one of the greatest investors of our time, Charlie Munger, who passed away last week. “The world is full of foolish gamblers, and they will not do as well as the patient investors.” We couldn’t agree more at LPL Research. Patient investors have been rewarded in 2023 and will continue to be. (more…)