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
America’s Economy Recovering from COVID
Jun 9, 2021
With COVID, there were some who believed that progress on this health issue was a necessary precondition to economic recovery.
In recent weeks, we have seen some promising trends emerge on the health front. The CDC is reporting the provision of 295 million vaccinations; 51% of Americans have had at least one injection.1 (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning, Investing
2021 Opens With a Bang
Jan 11, 2021
The first week of 2021 has already had many ups and downs. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that the 2020 issues go away, and so far, 2021 has been no exception to this rule.
The markets opened on January 4 and traded lower out of the gate, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.5%. The last time the market opened lower was in 2016, when the S&P 500, the Dow Jones, and the Nasdaq Composite all dropped on the first trading day of the new year.1,2 (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning
Retirement Blind Spots
Dec 9, 2020
We all have our “blue sky” visions of the way retirement should be, yet our futures may unfold in ways we do not predict. So, as you think about your “second act,” you may want to consider some life and financial factors that can suddenly arise. Nobody likes having retirement blind spots
You may end up retiring earlier than you expect. If you leave the workforce at “full” retirement age (FRA), which is 67 for those born in 1960 and later, you may be eligible to claim “full” Social Security benefits. Working until 67 may be worthwhile because it will reduce your monthly Social Security benefits if you claim them between age 62 and your FRA.1 (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Income Planning, Long-Term Care Planning, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings
Do Main Street Self-Employed Individuals Need a Wall Street Strategy?
Dec 2, 2020
As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive – and for those self-employed, this is paramount.
Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30 percent of the nation’s workforce.1
In the best of times, putting aside money for retirement was a challenge for this group. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Investing, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings, Tax Advantages, Tax Planning
Managing Drug Costs
Nov 27, 2020
Are prescription drug costs burdening your finances? Some people find it a challenge to manage the cost of prescription drugs. Americans pay an average of $1,200 per year for medicine. For those facing greater and more dangerous ailments, some drug costs are $10,000 per month or even lump sums in excess of $80,000 for certain drug therapies. Yes, health insurance and Medicare Part D can help you, but not everyone has access to Medicare, and not every insurance company has the same formulary. This means that your coverage may fall short—not something you want to hear when wrestling with a major diagnosis.1 (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Family Wealth, financial advisor, Health Care Needs, Health Care Savings, Medicare, Personal Finance, Spending Habits
Coronavirus Vaccines and the Economy
Nov 23, 2020
As the United States sees a rise in cases of COVID-19 across the nation, news of two promising vaccines out of hundreds being tested has offered a ray of hope for a fatigued world.1
A positive reaction to these vaccines affects every aspect of human life, including the financial world. On Monday, November 16th, The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 450 points on the news of a second effective vaccine, hitting a record high.2
Markets are not merely reacting to the positive news, but what a vaccine might mean for the economy. Investors are likely picturing people returning to something resembling their old lives. Stocks related to travel, such as airlines and cruise holidays, have seen an uptick. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Family Wealth, financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, Wealth Building
Interest Rates and Your Mortgage
Nov 20, 2020
With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your mortgage is one of the biggest expenses you may have in life, so why not rid yourself of that debt as soon as possible? (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Family Wealth, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, Risk Management, tax guide, Tax Planning, Wealth Building
Speed Bumps and Vaccine Headlines
Nov 18, 2020
As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. From election news to vaccine updates, these headlines can lead to additional volatility in the markets. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you ignore short-term volatility and focus on your long-term vision. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Family Wealth, financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning
A Windfall Inheritance Comes Your Way
Nov 16, 2020
Here’s a windfall scenario for you: You pick up what appears to be a lottery ticket. You check the numbers for a laugh and discover a winning combination, offering you millions of dollars in prize money. What are the chances of that? (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, financial advisor, Financial Planning, Income Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Investments, Personal Finance, Spending Habits, Wealth Building
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A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully.
Mar 31, 2025
Losing a spouse is a stressful transition. And the added pressure of having to settle the estate and organize finances can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make dealing with these matters less difficult.
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Families are one of the great joys in life, and part of the love you show to your family is making sure that their basic needs are met. While that’s only to be expected from birth through the high school years, many households are helping their adult children well into their twenties and beyond at … Continue reading “Retirement and Adult Children”
Mar 26, 2025
Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts of life insurance.
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