Tag: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC

Bonds Are Back… But it May be Bumpy And That is Normal

Mar 1, 2023

Bond investors experienced the worst year ever for core bonds last year (as per the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index), -so the prospects of another year like 2022 could be hard to fathom. The good news is we don’t think we’ll see another year like 2022 anytime soon, but despite the higher starting yield levels, we could see periods of negative returns. In fact, after a strong January for core bonds, unless yields fall dramatically today, February returns will be negative. But that is normal. Since inception of the index in 1975, over a third of the monthly returns have been negative and close to 25% of quarterly returns have been negative. Bonds trade daily and interest rates change throughout the day as well, so that means the market value of a bond will change daily as well. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Investment Planning

Taking Charge of Your Financial Life

Feb 13, 2023

When you are putting together a household, it isn’t unusual to delegate responsibilities. One spouse or partner may take on the laundry, while another takes on the shopping. You might also decide which one of you vacuums and which one of you dusts. This is a perfectly fine way to divvy up household tasks and chores. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Family Wealth, financial advisor, Financial Help, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Financial Planning, Investing, Personal Finance

Eight Retirement Mistakes to Avoid

Oct 12, 2022

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible.

No Strategy.

Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at all. Without a strategy, you may have no goals, leaving you no way of knowing how you’ll get there – and if you’ve even arrived. Creating a strategy may increase your potential for success, both before and after retirement. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings, Wealth Building

Should You Prepare to Retire on 80% of Your Income

Sep 9, 2022

A classic retirement preparation rule states that you should retire on 80% of the income you earned in your last year of work. Is this old axiom still true, or does it need reconsidering?

Some new research suggests that retirees may not need that much annual income to keep up their standard of living. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings

Market Update: Big Week for Market Watchers

Aug 5, 2022

Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of Washington D.C., with a Schumer-Manchin agreement on a climate-healthcare-tax bill and some inflation data that added to the evidence that inflation has peaked. (more…)

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

Required Minimum Distribution 101

Aug 3, 2022

If you are approaching your seventies, get ready for required minimum distribution. You may soon have to take RMDs, as they are called, from one or more of your retirement accounts. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Financial Planning, Investment Planning, retirement, Retirement Planning

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

Jul 25, 2022

How do you picture your future? If you are like many contemplating retirement, your view is likely pragmatic compared to that of your parents. That doesn’t mean you must have a “plain vanilla” tomorrow. Even if your retirement savings are not as great as you would prefer, you still have great potential to design the life you want.

With that in mind, here are some things to think about. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Retirement Planning

Midyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence

Jul 18, 2022

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon. But the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate what lies ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a full-blown crisis like 2008-2009 or 2020, but the ride has been very bumpy. We may not be flying into a storm, but there’s been plenty of turbulence. How businesses, households, and central banks steer through the rough air will set the tone for markets over the second half of 2022. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Portfolio, Investments, Personal Finance, retirement

3 Shrewd Maneuvers in a Down Market

Jun 29, 2022

It’s natural to think “defense” during a bearish market season. But why not mix in some “offense” with your defense? Here are three moves we can discuss together that may be helpful during the current market downturn. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Financial Planning, Income Planning, Investing, Personal Finance

Market Update: A Bear Market is Officially Here

Jun 17, 2022

A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below its January 3 record high until Monday. Tech stocks are down a lot more—the Nasdaq Composite is more than 32% below its November 2021 record high. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning