Tag: Investment Planning

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

Market Update: Volatility Continues

May 18, 2022

2022 has been a challenging year for investors so far. The S&P 500 Index just had one of its worst Aprils in decades, and May is off to a rocky start. Bond investors have not fared much better as rising interest rates have pushed down bond prices. Bond losses have made the stock market volatility feel even worse than usual. Markets don’t like uncertainty but it’s getting a healthy dose of it this year, dealing with high inflation, tighter Federal Reserve monetary policy, COVID-19 shutdowns in China, and snarling global supply chains, all while the war in Ukraine continues. (more…)

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

The Retirement We Imagine vs the Retirement We Live

Mar 4, 2022

Financially speaking, retirement might differ from your expectations. Just as few weathercasters can accurately predict a month’s worth of temperatures and storms, few retirees find their financial futures playing out as precisely as they assumed. Because of this, some common financial assumptions (and anxieties) about retirement are worth examining. (more…)

Tags: financial advisor, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Tax Advantages

A Corporate Trustee Could Be a Smart Choice

Feb 7, 2022

In an ideal world, managing a family trust would be simple. There would be no stress, no big learning curve, and no great time commitment involved. Unfortunately, the world is not ideal, and heirs who become trustees are often left with headaches. A corporate trustee may be a good option. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Estate Planning, Family Wealth, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, taxes

Bad Money Habits to Break

Feb 2, 2022

Do bad money habits constrain your financial progress? Many people fall into the same financial behavior patterns, year after year. If you sometimes succumb to these financial tendencies, now is as good a time as any to alter your behavior. (more…)

Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Income Planning, Investment Planning, Personal Finance

Step-Up CD

Jan 10, 2022

When interest rates start to climb, will these be the CD to own?

Step-up certificates of deposit (also called  rising-rate CDs) are fixed-income investments with a bit of wiggle room. When you have CDs with a step-up provision, you have a chance to exchange the initial yield for a better one as interest rates rise. Given currently underwhelming long-term CD yields, what CD owner wouldn’t want that option in the future? (more…)

Tags: Financial Planning, Income Planning, Investment Planning, Personal Finance

A Decision Not Made is Still a Decision

Dec 20, 2021

Investment inaction is played out in many ways, often silently, invisibly, and with potential consequence to an individual’s future financial security, especially when it comes to retirement planning.

Let’s review some of the forms this takes.

 Your workplace retirement plan.

The worst non-decision is the failure to enroll. Not only do non-participants sacrifice one of the best ways to save for their eventual retirement, but they also forfeit the money from any matching contributions their employer may offer. Not participating may be one of the most costly non-decisions one can make. (more…)

Tags: Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Investment Planning

Business Continuity Plans

Dec 10, 2021

As a business owner, you’ve worked hard for your success. The long hours, the difficult decisions, and the sacrifices you have made have led to where you are today. The last thing you want is to suffer a disruption to your business. However, in the event that you do experience an unavoidable mishap­, it may be smart to have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in place. (more…)

Tags: Investment Planning, Legacy, Risk Management, Tax Planning

Market Update: Holiday Resiliance

Dec 8, 2021

We hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. While life has been challenging during the pandemic, we have a lot to be thankful for. At this time, we are especially grateful for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments that have helped us make so much progress tackling the pandemic. Unfortunately, the emergence of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant and the related market selloff in the days after Thanksgiving offered an unpleasant reminder that the pandemic is not over. The economy and financial markets remain somewhat reliant on the medical community and research developments. (more…)

Tags: Current Events, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio

When a Windfall Comes Your Way

Dec 1, 2021

Getting rich quick can be liberating, but it can also be frustrating. A sudden wealth windfall can help you address retirement saving or college funding anxieties, and it may also allow you to live and work on your terms. On the other hand, you’ll pay more taxes, attract more attention, and maybe even contend with jealousy or envy. You may also deal with grief or stress, as a lump sum may be linked to a death, a divorce, or a pension payout decision. (more…)

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