With interest rates trending lower in 2019, many companies are once again looking to offload pension liabilities by offering lump-sum pension payouts to employees and former employees. If you, or someone you know, are being given the option to take a lump-sum pension, it can be one of the most important financial decisions of your […]
As we head towards 2019 year-end, what are the most important financial planning tips and tasks for you to consider to ‘finish well’ and set yourself up for a successful new year? In this series, we’ll tackle areas such as: Investing Cutting taxes Cutting insurance costs Completing an estate plan review INVESTING Grab the match. […]
Everybody knows bank CD’s are safe, right? Not so fast… In today’s financial environment, CD’s face some unexpected risks that you should consider before automatically renewing your CD when it matures. An internet search of current rates from two of our largest banks (Birmingham, AL) for a 1-year CD revealed rates of 0.10% (APR). Investing […]
If you are on Medicare, it is that time of the year again! It is time to review plans to ensure you are on the best plan and making changes could save you thousands of dollars. Deadline for making changes for 2020: Medicare open enrollment begins on October 15th and ends on December 7th. Options […]
There is something very comforting about receiving paychecks. What I’ve observed is that many workers are less concerned with the ups and downs of the stock and bond markets as long as they have the security of a steady paycheck. All of that changes once they retire. No more paycheck and the thought of a […]
My partner, Stewart Welch, wrote an article recently about how retirement can be hazardous to your health, and how people should develop what he calls a “4th Quarter Plan.” For most, developing this plan can be difficult as it is hard even to know where to begin. My team deals with hundreds of client families […]
Policyholders are getting notifications from Genworth and other Long-Term Care providers that their insurance premiums will be increasing by as much as 60%. These are not new policies; these are policies that have been in force for more than a decade. The question is often, “What am I to do?” First, let’s understand what got […]
As fears of a recession grow due primarily to trade-war concerns, home mortgage rates have followed the 10-year treasury rates down…to their lowest levels in three years. Here’s a quick review of current rates (source: Freddie Mac 9/5/19): 30-year conventional mortgage: 3.49% 15-year conventional mortgage: 3.00% What’s even more surprising is that non-conventional ‘jumbo’ mortgage […]
As students head back to college, many will be choosing their major. When I attended college decades ago, I gave very little thought to my major course of study. In fact, I was more guided by which was the easiest path to victory (a college diploma)! For me, that ended up being a marketing major […]
I was with a retired physician friend not long ago and inquired, “How’s retirement life going?” His response was, “Stewart, never quit a high-paying job you love!” he was bored and having trouble filling the void left by a forty-plus year fulfilling career. For the past thirty-plus years, I’ve worked with hundreds of people helping […]