Category: Epic Insights

Conducting Your Mid Year Financial Review

Jul 9, 2021

With June officially behind us, it’s time to face the facts: we’re headed toward the second half of 2021. While there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the rest of summer, we encourage you to slow down and check up on your financial well-being. Is your mid year review scheduled? (more…)

Tags: financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investment Portfolio, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning

Ways to Fund A Special Needs Trust

Jul 7, 2021

If you have a child with special needs, a special needs trust may be a financial priority. There are many crucial goods and services that Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income might not pay for, and a special needs trust may be used to address those financial challenges. Most importantly, a special needs trust may help provide for your disabled child in case you’re no longer able to care for them. (more…)

Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Health Care Needs, Health Care Savings, Insurance, Investing, Investment Planning, Legacy, Long-Term Care Planning, Wealth Building

An Estate Strategy for Your Digital Assets

Jul 5, 2021

When you think about your estate, you may think about your personal property, real estate, or investments. You also have other, less-tangible assets – and they deserve your attention as well.

Your digital assets should not disappear into a void when you die. Nor should they be stolen by thieves. You can direct that they be transferred, preserved, or destroyed per your instructions. Your digital assets may include information on your phone and computer, content that you uploaded to Facebook, Instagram, or other websites, your intellectual/creative stake in certain digital property, and records stemming from online communications. (That last category includes your emails and text messages.)

Think of it this way: each password-protected account that you have signifies a digital asset. You may feel that some of these accounts have little (more…)

Tags: charlotte NC, financial advisor, Retirement Planning

Thinking About Summer Travel

Jul 2, 2021

Summertime rouses our desire to hit the road (or the airport) and travel. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider before you take off. (more…)

Economic Lessons from Used-Car Inflation

Jun 30, 2021

Inflation is defined as the general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy. The key word is “general.” Inflation tends to be uneven and affects the price of some items more than others. (more…)

The Cryptocurrency Conundrum

Jun 25, 2021

Recently, you may have seen a number of major cryptocurrencies fall thanks to a continuing sell-off that began last week. In fact, over $250 billion was lost in the crypto market alone.¹

It may be more tempting to view this as another volatile moment in the crypto markets, but there’s more at work here than a temporary trend towards selling. (more…)

The Fed Acknowledges Inflation

Jun 23, 2021

At its June meeting, the Federal Reserve confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: prices are rising. In fact, prices are climbing faster than many expected. In response, the Fed raised its inflation expectation to 3.4%, up from its March projection of 2.4%, effectively raising its inflation expectation by 42%.¹ (more…)

Summer Travel is Back

Jun 21, 2021

One of the most anticipated comebacks of 2021 isn’t an athlete, rock star, or movie franchise. It’s summer travel, and it appears to be back with a vengeance.

Travel agents are working 14-hour days to meet the needs of eager travelers. People aren’t just taking road trips, either; airports are reporting being at 80% of pre-COVID capacity, while the TSA screenings reached two million for the first time since the pandemic. (more…)

Tags: Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc

FAFSA Simplification Act

Jun 18, 2021

As a parent or grandparent, you know firsthand the challenges of funding a child’s education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Act was passed at the end of 2020 and has changed some of the qualifications for students to receive financial aid. (more…)

Tags: Education Planning, Family Wealth, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Personal Finance

Inflation & the Real Rate of Return

Jun 16, 2021

The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand. And it goes hand-in-hand with the rate of inflation.

It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power with your money. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investing, Personal Finance