Estate Planning Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes
Mar 10, 2025
When you lose a spouse, partner, or parent, the grief can be overwhelming. In the midst of that grief, life goes on. There are arrangements to be made, things to be taken care of – and in recognition of this reality, here is a checklist that you may find useful at such a time. If not, estate planning is an important aspect of one’s overall financial picture. It plans for what comes next.
First, gather documents. Ask for help from other family members if you need it. Start by gathering the following. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Estate Planning, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance
Cost of Medical Care
Mar 5, 2025
When uninsured people end up in the hospital, “sticker shock” can follow. Just a quick look at the current prices for medical care procedures can be sobering.
How much does a CT scan cost? Between $250 to $1,500, depending on where it is performed. Need a stent in your heart? The average cost of that delicate procedure is now close to $20,000. How about a knee replacement? That surgery may run anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000.1,2 (more…)
Tags: Health Care Needs, Health Care Savings, Personal Finance
Couples Retiring on the Same Page
Feb 28, 2025
What does a good retirement look like to you? Does it resemble the retirement that your spouse or partner has in mind? It is at least roughly similar?
The Social Security Administration currently projects an average of 18 years for a retiring man and 21 years for a woman (assuming retirement at age 65). So, sharing the same vision of retirement (or at least respecting the difference in each other’s visions) seems crucial to retirement happiness. (more…)
Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings
Should You Care What the Stock Market Does Each Day?
Feb 26, 2025
Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something, especially today when so much is just a click or two away. (more…)
Tags: financial advisor, Financial Help, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Personal Finance
Can You Use Life Insurance for Charitable Giving?
Feb 19, 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.Tags: Insurance, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, tax guide
Market Update – AI Advances and Tariff Tactics
Feb 7, 2025
The new month brings two major market-moving stories to digest. First is the advances in artificial intelligence (AI) by Chinese startup DeepSeek. It has caused some investors to question America’s lead in the AI race and American Exceptionalism more broadly. To answer that question, it’s important to look at this idea holistically. U.S. advantages in research and development spending, capital markets depth, the dollar’s privilege as the global reserve currency, and more suggest U.S. exceptionalism will remain intact. (more…)
Tags: Current Events, Investing, Personal Finance
Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years
Jan 31, 2025
You can prepare for the transition years in advance. In doing so, you may be better equipped to manage anything unexpected that may come your way. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings
Making Investment Choices
Jan 29, 2025
Information vs. instinct. When it comes to investment choices, many people believe they have a “knack” for choosing good investments. But what exactly is that “knack” based on? The fact is, the choices we make with our assets can be strongly influenced by factors, many of them emotional, that we may not even be aware of. (more…)
Tags: Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Personal Finance
Investment Challenges of the Affluent Investor
Jan 22, 2025
High net worth investors face investment challenges that some would consider unique to their financial status. The fundamental tenets of investing apply just as equally to them as any other investor, but these investors need to be mindful of issues that typically arise only from substantial wealth.
Let’s examine a few of these.
Tags: charlotte NC, financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Investments, Personal Finance
A Decision Not Made is Still a Decision
Jan 15, 2025
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. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Investing, Personal Finance
More Insights
Mar 17, 2025
Income tax basis can be an important factor in deciding whether to make gifts during your lifetime or transfer property at your death. This is because the income tax basis for the person receiving the property depends on whether the transfer is by gift or at death. This, in turn, affects the amount of taxable … Continue reading “Basis: Carryover or Stepped-Up Cost Basis?”
Mar 14, 2025
Risk is a factor in any investment decision that you make. Your tolerance for risk is something that you will want to consider when you make decisions alongside your trusted financial advisor in Charlotte NC. Your risk tolerance is balanced against your time horizon, meaning the time between now and your anticipated retirement date.
Mar 12, 2025
Market volatility has arrived in force. The slowdown in the economy and more policy-driven volatility was the consensus expectation coming into 2025. What was not expected, however, was how much the Trump administration would lean into tariffs. During President Trump’s first term, in most instances, investors observed the administration delaying, reducing, or even removing tariffs … Continue reading “Market Update – Navigating Volatility”
Mar 10, 2025
When you lose a spouse, partner, or parent, the grief can be overwhelming. In the midst of that grief, life goes on. There are arrangements to be made, things to be taken care of – and in recognition of this reality, here is a checklist that you may find useful at such a time. If … Continue reading “Estate Planning Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes”
Mar 7, 2025
When you think of Social Security, you probably think of retirement. However, Social Security can also provide much-needed income to your family members when you die, making their financial lives easier. Your family members may be eligible to receive survivor benefits if you worked, paid Social Security taxes, and earned enough work credits. The number … Continue reading “Social Security Survivor Benefits”
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