Last week, I began this two-part series with three smart strategies for your IRA. To review those strategies, visit the Resource Center at www.WelchGroup.com and click on ‘Stewart’s Commentary’. Strategy #4: Split out multiple beneficiaries. Typically, a parent will name multiple beneficiaries such as children and grandchildren. Left unchanged, each of the beneficiaries must use […]
“Smart Strategies for Your IRA- Part II”
“Avoid This Costly IRA Rollover Mistake”
There are many reasons in the course of our lives that we might consider doing a retirement account rollover. And while we tend to think this is a routine matter, if done incorrectly, there can be huge negative financial implications. There are two ways to rollover a retirement account: Direct rollover. Whether it’s a 401k, […]
“The Greatest Gifts Really Are Free”
Friendship, love, a caring smile…are among the greatest free gifts we can give. What is truly rare is being able to give the gift of a better education to a young child who desperately wants the best education possible. And while it does cost money, it cost you nothing. Here to explain is my partner, […]
“I Can Predict Your Financial Future”
After thirty-something years working with people and their finances, I have developed an ability to predict their financial future…usually after as little as a five-minute visit. I can even do it if I’ve never met you. Here are my predictions for your success in 2017: I predict… that if you create financial goals for 2017, […]
“What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You”
Reader Question: My husband and I both had living wills witnessed and signed by friends in 1994. Are these still acceptable (our friends have moved from the address shown on the forms) or should we re-do them with new witnesses? C.H. Answer: These documents may be fine but I’d strongly recommend that you update them […]
“Year-End Tax Planning- Trump Style”
The surprise election of Donald Trump has turned year-end income tax planning on its ear. Virtually everyone assumed that Hillary would win the election and she promised higher taxes on the highest income earners while trimming deductions. With Trump, the focus is on lower taxes in 2017 and this opens tax strategies you should consider […]
“Co-Signing a Loan? Beware!”
I can think of lots of reasons you might want to help out a family member or friend by co-signing on a loan for their behalf. For a child, it might be a car loan, bank loan, credit card application, student loan or home mortgage. For a friend, it might be a loan to consolidate […]
“Make Money Like Trump”
Fear, fear, fear. Yes, there is a lot of fear since the presidential election. The morning after the election I ran into a long-term acquaintance who told me, “This weekend, I’m placing my home on the market and I’m moving to Canada!” Of course, I thought he was joking. He wasn’t. This is a person […]
“Obamacare: What Happens Now?”
Wow! This has been the craziest presidential election of our lifetime…maybe of all time. With Donald Trump staging an unprecedented upset victory over Hillary Clinton, what is the future of Obamacare? One of the cornerstones of the Trump campaign was a pledge to dismantle Obamacare which has experienced eye-popping escalation of premiums as well as […]
“All I Want for Christmas is…”
Perhaps the best gift you could give yourself for Christmas is no new debt. Next to Alabama and Auburn football, the holiday season is one of the most exciting times of the year and each of us has a tendency to go a bit overboard with gift-giving and spending. As a result, too many people […]