Our Commentary

“Over Age 70? Avoid These IRA Mistakes!” 11/12/06   Last week, I discussed some of the tax advantages of using your IRA for charitable gifting.  This week, I’ll focus on IRA planning that needs to be done now in order to avoid costly penalties of missed deadlines.  I am currently working with a client whose […]

“Giving Away Your IRA” 11/5/06   One of the best ways to accumulate wealth continues to be investing in retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s.  After all, you receive an immediate deduction for your contribution based on your highest marginal tax bracket and your money grows tax free, in many cases for decades,  In […]

“Over Age 65?  Make $300 for 1 Hour’s Work!” 10/29/06   These days, in spite of fluctuating house prices, the good news is that most homeowners have found that home ownership has been one of their best investments over the past decade.  The bad news is that with rising values, they face increasing expenses in […]

“Annuities Revisited- Part II” 10/22/06   Last week I began a discussion about the options available under annuity contracts.  Over the past few years, annuities have become increasingly sophisticated and, unfortunately all the more confusing to the consumer.  This week, I’ll finish my review of annuities and explain what you should be aware of when […]

“Annuities Revisited- Part I” 10/15/06   From time to time, a client will ask me to look at a proposal related to the purchase of an annuity.  This is a product that is rarely sought out by investors but instead is bought after someone has “pitched” the product. Rarely do I recommend an annuity for […]

“Permanent-Term Life Insurance” 10/8/06   For almost as long as there has been life insurance, there has been an ongoing debate about whether term life insurance or permanent, cash value life insurance was the best choice for protecting one’s family in the event of a premature death of the breadwinner.  Usually, advisors who don’t sell […]

“Selecting Mutual Funds for Your Portfolio” 9/24/06   Last week, I discussed how you could develop a balanced portfolio using an Investment Policy Statement (see article at www.welchgroup.com; In the News; Articles).  Once you have decided on your asset allocation, you have to decide the best way to choose mutual funds for your portfolio.    […]

“Are You Paying Too Much For Your Mutual Fund?” 9/10/06   All mutual funds charge internal, ongoing management fees.  These fees are used to pay fund managers, analysts, brokerage and marketing fees, administrative costs, and, in the case of load funds, commissions to the salespeople.  The good news is that fees, on average, are lower […]

“Home Mortgage Planning Can Save You Money – Part II” 9/3/06   Last week, we started to discuss how difficult it is to choose from the more than 200 varieties of home mortgage options.  This week, we’ll continue to help clarify the mortgage decision process.   Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) a bad thing?  In […]

“Home Mortgage Planning Can Save You Money – Part I” 8/27/06   All financial matters have become more complex as the number of options available to consumers has been increasing steadily over the past few years.  You have more investment options; more credit card options; more insurance options; and many more home financing options.  For […]