With the holidays just around the corner, it’s easy to get carried away by the excitement of the season and overspend. While this may bring short-term joy, overspending can lead to financial difficulties in the future, especially if you’re relying on credit cards. With credit card interest rates exceeding 20% and inflation continuing to be […]
Managing Your Holiday Expenses
2024 Tax Bracket and Contribution Limit Updates
The Federal tax brackets are adjusted for inflation by the IRS each year. These adjustments are made to avoid putting taxpayers in higher tax brackets due to changes in the cost of living. Looking ahead to 2024, the adjustments will be less significant than those made in 2023. However, taxpayers will still experience a relatively […]
Investing Around Geopolitical Events
It is likely that you will experience one or more major world events at some point in your life, such as pandemics or political conflicts. Such events can significantly alter the lives of people across the globe and the environment we live in. Financial security is among the many concerns people often face during these […]
Taylor Swift and the Time Value of Money
Taylor Swift’s Eras Concert Tour is taking the country by storm, with hundreds of thousands of concertgoers paying an average of $1,300 to see the renowned music superstar perform. While it’s natural that people are eager to indulge in experiences like concerts and travel after the pandemic, it’s important for consumers to remember that spending […]
Achieving A Comfortable Retirement – Part 2
Previously, we discussed the psychological difficulties that retirees may encounter as they strive for a comfortable retirement. We will now concentrate on the challenges of creating and managing a portfolio and the measures that retirees can take to overcome these challenges. Portfolio Positioning When planning for retirement, investors should adjust their portfolio strategy from a […]
Achieving A Comfortable Retirement – Part 1
Planning for retirement can be an overwhelming task, with numerous challenges to overcome. Generally, these challenges fall into two categories: psychological and portfolio management/construction. Over the next few weeks, I will offer guidance on these categories aimed at those who are nearing retirement or already retired. Let’s begin by addressing the psychological hurdles: Replacing a […]
How Much Money Do You Need To Be Wealthy?
Charles Schwab & Company recently released its 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, polling a cross-section of Americans and asking the average net worth needed to be among the ranks of the rich. The result was $2.2 million. Almost half of respondents said they feel wealthy today, with an average net worth of only $560,000. Surprising to […]
Beware of Concentrated Stock Positions
Investors sometimes end up with concentrated stock positions, or too much of one stock in their portfolio, which can be risky. Even though this stock may have the potential for high returns, it can also result in significant losses for the investor. It is essential to be aware of the dangers and learn how to […]
Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Stocks?
Last year the stock market was down over 18%. So far this year, stocks are up about 8%, but we face potential headwinds of a recession. Is now a good time to invest? To best answer this question requires a quick review of the stock market’s history. In the short term, the stock market can […]
Guarding Against a Weakening US Dollar
Following the Bretton Woods agreement post World War II, and the agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia in the 1970s to trade oil in US dollars, the US dollar stood alone as the preeminent global currency for almost 80 years. While the United States continues to enjoy this status, concerns are increasing around […]