Category: Epic Insights

Life Insurance with Extended Care Riders

Apr 9, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed extended-care policies. While the specific policy information varies from company to company, in general, the pandemic has made it more difficult to qualify for extended-care insurance policies. This can be particularly challenging if you’re in a high-risk group.

Around 7 out of every 10 seniors are projected to need extended care during their lifetime, and many of these medical needs aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or standard health insurance. Unless you have made arrangements for extended care, you are choosing to self insure should you require this type of assistance.¹ (more…)

Tags: Insurance, Long-Term Care Planning

Inflation Boogeyman

Apr 8, 2021

Inflation has emerged as one of the top financial concerns for investors as they size up the economy for the rest of the year.

According to research by Deutsche Bank, Google searches for “inflation” are rising rapidly and recently hit a peak not seen since the tracking began 13 years ago. (more…)

Tags: financial advisor, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio

Investing During Periods of Inflation

Mar 31, 2021

Back in August of 2020, the Fed announced that it is willing to allow inflation to run higher than normal in order to support the labor market and broader economy. This major policy shift allows inflation to run above the Fed’s 2% goal for some time before the Fed would consider increasing short-term interest rates in an attempt to combat higher prices.¹ (more…)

Financial Strategies for Athletes

Mar 29, 2021

Whether you are a professional athlete, a college amateur, or an aspiring Olympian, you probably know what success feels like. You also know a thing or two about being a good sport when things don’t go your way. Good news: this means you already have some of the basics needed to create a financial strategy.

Don’t think so? Building a strategy is all about having distinct goals, knowing the risks, and determining how much time you have ahead of you. It’s also about surrounding yourself with people who have your best interests in mind and share your goals. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Advisor Charlotte NC, Financial Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning

Tax Filing Delays from IRS and Payment Deadlines

Mar 26, 2021

Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.^1,2,3

The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late start to the tax-filing season, which the I.R.S. delayed to start on February 12. It also follows the agency’s decision to postpone the deadline to June 15 for the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, still recovering from disastrous winter storm activity. Other states may now extend their local filing and payment deadlines.^1,3 (more…)

The Shred Party – Identity Theft Protection

Mar 24, 2021

If a shred party happens to spring up in your area, you may want to mark your calendar for some spring cleaning and protection from identity theft. For many years, shred parties, where a business or organization hosts clients or the public to the use of giant paper shredders, have presented a fun and easy way for folks to rid themselves of paper clutter. Sometimes, it’s more than just paper, as some industrial-sized shredders even have the ability to destroy hard drives and other electronic storage devices. (more…)

Tags: Personal Finance

Qualified Charitable Distributions

Mar 22, 2021

Do you have an I.R.A.? As you enter your 70s, you may start to look at that I.R.A. not only as an asset, but also as a problem. By law, you must take required minimum distributions (R.M.D.s) from a Traditional I.R.A. once you reach age 72; there are very few exceptions to this. The downside of these R.M.D.s? The entire distribution is taxable. (You never have to take R.M.D.s from a Roth I.R.A., provided you are its original owner.) Qualified Charitable Distributions are a way you can take that RMD, but also reap tax-benefits as well. (more…)

Tags: Financial Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Tax Savings, Tax Advantages, tax guide, Tax Planning, tax season guide, taxes

Volatility Tests Your Mettle

Mar 15, 2021

Most people understand that stock prices don’t go straight up. But when market volatility increases, the price action can test the mettle of even the most seasoned investor.

In recent weeks, stock prices have trended lower with a few eye-popping, one-day rallies as the financial markets appear to adjust to higher interest rates on long-term Treasuries. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen a jump in the yield of the 10-year treasury. (more…)

Tags: Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Investments

The Emergence of ESG Investing

Mar 12, 2021

ESG: what does that acronym stand for? Those three letters stand for “Environmental, Social, and Governance” and signify an investment that has particular merit to investors of all ages.

A recent Morgan Stanley Bank survey found that almost 90% of millennials would prefer to have investments that suit their values. With young adults, ESG investing could become more and more of an element in investing strategies.¹ (more…)

Tags: Current Events, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Impact Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Investments, Legacy

Spotlight Shifts to Bonds

Mar 10, 2021

One time-tested principle of investing is, “when yields on bonds move higher, bond prices tend to move lower.”

Investors are doing a “double take” on the 10-year Treasury yield, which recently topped 1.5% — its highest level in about a year. With the increase in yield comes a drop in price.¹

For some, the first time they experience a change in bond prices is when they open their monthly statement and review their investments. (more…)

Tags: Current Events, Personal Finance