As Thanksgiving Day quickly approaches, it’s my observation that most people’s lives become more frantic and hectic. Whether it’s travel plans or planning the Thanksgiving Day meal, people have more to do and less time to do it. If you want to make this the best Thanksgiving ever, consider these four tips: Write down your […]
“Make This Your Best Thanksgiving”
“Clinton Versus Trump: Who’s Best for Your Wallet?“
This is certainly the craziest presidential election that I’ve ever witnessed. While the http://www.remotedba.com/consulting-services/ is typically only one consideration for database consulting, it is often an important one. I asked two associates Brett Norris and Foster Hyde, CFP®, CFA to scour each candidate’s website and compare their proposed changes in tax policy. Higher Income Earners […]
“Medicare – What You Must Do Right Now”
If you are on Medicare, you are facing a quickly approaching deadline and making changes could save you thousands of dollars. My partner, Kimberly Reynolds, MS, CFP® gives tips on how to research and find the best plan for you in 2017. Stewart: What is the deadline to make changes for 2017? Kimberly: Medicare open […]
“What the Wells Fargo Debacle Means for You”
It’s unfathomable that I’d be writing an article on how to protect yourself from your own bank. Recently Wells Fargo made headlines for being fined $185 million because over 5,000 employees opened millions of fraudulent bank accounts without the consent of their customers. In addition, these employees opened over 500,000 credit card accounts without customer […]
How Much Can You Save?
I’m often amazed at how much people inadvertently overpay for their insurance. In a way, it’s not too surprising since most insurance is complicated and figuring out how to get appropriate coverage at a fair price can be like solving the Rubik’s Cube puzzle. But if you get it right, you can save literally thousands […]
“Does Owning Bonds Make Sense?”
Since the Great Recession in 2008- 2009, stocks have risen about 160%, widely out-performing bonds. In reaction to the Great Recession, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates to near zero with the goal of re-starting a falling economy. As a result, bond interest rates have hovered near decades-long lows for the last five-plus years. Today, […]
5 Strategies for Downsizing Your Home
As eighty million Baby Boomers move into retirement, many will find that their retirement savings when combined with Social Security will fall significantly short of providing for their retirement income needs. If this is you or someone you know, what are the best financial moves to help solve the problem? Certainly one of the best […]
Taxes Going up 8%?
The honeymoon had to end. For years online retailers have had a strategic advantage over brick and mortar stores by avoiding state income taxes on sales. My partner, Michael Wagner, CPA®, has the inside story on why that’s about to change. Stewart: Michael, explain to our readers how the Alabama sales taxes has worked for […]
Compound Interest: Your Best Friend or Your Worst Enemy
Albert Einstein said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it…he who doesn’t, pays it”. I agree with his statement but also believe most people don’t really understand the magic of compounding. About six months after starting my first post college graduation job, I started saving money from […]
2 Things Young Adults Must Do
Parents, for most of you, these two “must-dos” for your young adult children probably never crossed your mind. A child becomes a “legal” adult in Alabama at age nineteen. Other states vary from age eighteen to twenty-one. Once a child crosses that legal threshold of child to adult, they need to: Sign an Advanced Directive […]