Should you rely on “will power” to bequeath assets? The more complex your estate, the more ill-advised that choice becomes. Having only a will in place when you die may not be enough. As MarketWatch noted recently, research from the Williams Group (a major estate planning firm) indicates that estate fights reduce inherited wealth for…
Read More2015 is less than three months away. Fall is the time when investors look for ways to lower their taxes and make some financial changes. This is an ideal time to schedule a meeting with a financial, tax or estate planning professional. How do economists see next year unfolding? Morningstar sees 2.0-2.5% GDP for the…
Read MoreA great idea is hard to dismiss. Congress failed to extend the IRA charitable rollover provision into 2014. That took a terrific charitable gifting option off the table, a potential win-win for both non-profits and wealthy households with large IRAs. The IRA charitable rollover let traditional and Roth IRA owners age 70½ or older gift…
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When stocks retreat, should you pick up some shares? If you like to buy and hold, it may turn out to be a great move. Buying during a downturn or a correction may seem foolish to many, but if major indexes sink and investors lose their appetite for risk, you may find excellent opportunities to…
Read MoreWe know that qualified retirement plans and IRAs are prime long-range savings vehicles; we use them to accumulate assets and invest for the future. So why aren’t some of us amassing the retirement nest eggs that we should? Why did retirement account balances decline from 2010-13? Looking at Federal Reserve data, the influential Center for…
Read MoreRobert Pagliarini recently appeared in an article on CNBC entitled “Sudden Wealth Can Leave You Broke.” Read an excerpt from the piece below, then check out the full article on CNBC. ***** Most people want to start spending their money right away, and their list of desires is long. Delaying major life-altering decisions, such as moving…
Read MoreRobert was recently featured by WealthManagement.com as a Wealth Advisor with Heart for philanthropic work with his Band of Brothers nonprofit organization. When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and devastated Molocabac Island in November 2013, Band of Brothers sprung into action to provide struggling families with food and water and help them rebuild homes and…
Read MoreHow’s your ability to withstand short-term losses? This is the question at the core of any discussion of risk tolerance. Some people are able to ride through turbulence in the financial markets with a shrug while others suffer headaches. Many investment professionals recommend that their clients adopt an investment policy statement (IPS) to do so,…
Read MoreWhen you reach age 70½, the IRS instructs you to start making withdrawals from your Traditional IRA(s). These IRA withdrawals are also called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). You will make them annually from now on. If you fail to take your annual RMD or take out less than what is required, the IRS will notice.…
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Probate subtly reduces the value of many estates. It can take more than a year in some cases, and attorney’s fees, appraiser’s fees and court costs may eat up as much as 5% of a decedent’s accumulated assets. What do those fees pay for? In many cases, routine clerical work. Few estates require more…
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