Client Center

Financial Alternatives News and Insights

Integrated Wealth Management
Planning Newsletter - Apr 2022
  • One early retirement study noted that a withdrawal rate of 4% is relatively safe. 

  • Many researchers have evaluated withdrawal rates and related issues since then - proposing adjustments to the traditional 4% rule. 

  • One such proposal, the Target Percentage Adjustment (TPA) suggests modifying your withdrawals year by year. 

  • Being flexible in the face of market downturns and inflation can allow you to increase your withdrawals in retirement.

Read More
Investing Newsletter - Jan 2022
  • Vanguard’s 10-year forecast for U.S. equity returns is 2.3% to 4.3% per year; and for global equities it’s higher at 5.2% to 7.2% per year.

  • Market corrections are a good time to rebalance your portfolio and add back to stock holdings.

  • History shows that reaching a new market high doesn’t mean the market will then retreat.

  • It is wise to have a plan in place for the possibility of reduced future investment returns.

Read More
Planning Newsletter - Oct 2021
  • Single taxpayers with taxable income less than $400,000 and married filing jointly (MFJ) taxpayers with taxable income less than $450,000 should not see much change in the taxes they pay as a result of the changes under the new Biden tax plan.

  • Some taxpayers with income below $400,000 and $450,000 could see tax reductions due to the return of the state and local tax deduction.

  • If your income is above this $400,000 and $450,000, expect your taxes to go up.

Read More
Protect Your Personal Liability while Serving on a Homeowners’ Association Board

The tragic loss of life from collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside Florida should be a wake-up call to condo boards across the country. Being on a Homeowners‘ Association (HOA) board is a serious job that comes with it a high degree of responsibility. Board members need to ensure the safety of residents as well as protect themselves. Here are five things you can do to help protect yourself from personal liability while serving on a HOA Board.

Read More
Investing Newsletter - July 2021
  • Staying diversified and disciplined, avoiding market timing, and maintaining a long-term investment perspective is a better course of action.

  • Market timing is the attempt to own stocks when they are rising, sell them high before they fall, and buy them back at lower prices before they rise again.

  • Understanding the history of bear markets and maintaining a long-term focus helps investors remain calm and take appropriate action during corrections.

Read More
Market Review - Q2 2021
  • Equity markets around the globe posted positive returns in the second quarter. Looking at broad market indices, US and non-US developed markets outperformed emerging markets for the quarter

  • Emerging markets posted positive returns for the quarter, underperforming the US and non-US developed equity markets.

  • In developed markets, several currencies appreciated vs. the US dollar, but some, notably the Australian dollar, depreciated. In emerging markets, most currencies appreciated vs. the US dollar, but some, notably the Turkish lira, depreciated.

Read More
Planning Newsletter - April 2021
  • Life Insurance is not complicated. It was made confusing by those that profit from this confusion

  • Every policy is either term insurance or term insurance attached to a savings/investment

  • Insurance is for dying, investments are for living; don’t combine the two.

  • By combining insurance with investments, it is harder to get the cheapest insurance and optimal investment selections.

Read More