asset allocation

In these times of market uncertainty, what do you do? Should you continue with a strategy that works great in a bull market, but not in a bear market? Should the 'Sequence of Returns' come into play? Do past 'Average Rates of Return' really mean anything when the boom market of the 80's and 90's was 162% above the norm?

I believe these are times to build a great defensive strategy, and not the time to go for a touchdown on a long pass. If you look at the history of 'Secular Bear Markets', recovering from further losses may be impossible.

A CD is available from your bank and pays you a specific interest rate over a certain number of years. A Fixed Annuity is a contract with an insurance company and it too pays a specific interest rate over a certain number of years. For the purposes of direct comparison our example will deposit a single lump sum of $50,000 into both a Fixed Annuity and a bank CD, for a 5 year period, with both the Annuity and the CD paying an annual 3% interest rate.

If you haven't done any asset protection planning, your wealth is vulnerable to potential future creditors and, should the worst happen, you could lose everything.

Lawsuits, taxes, accidents, and other financial risks are facts of everyday life. And though you'd like to believe that you're safe, misfortune can befall even the most careful person. What can you do? First, identify your potential loss exposure, then implement strategies that are designed to help reduce that exposure without compromising your other estate and financial planning objectives.

For many investors, investing typically begins with one stock or mutual fund. Over time, other selections are added because many people understand it may not be prudent to invest everything in a single security, even if it has a “blue chip” reputation. However, just “spreading money around” in a haphazard way may create only an illusion of diversification.

My interpretation of the theories of value creation I've studied are fundamental to my allocation decisions. I have learned that being a capital management contractor is on the order of being a "Financial Mercenary."

Arbitrage is explained simply as the natural progression and push towards a theoretical efficient point at which all investors agree on the price. Unfortunately, transactionalism, not necessarily the unethical kind of churning brokers do sometime, puts too much emphasis on the frequency of trading.

A unique opportunity is about to unfold for current IRA owners… In 2010 all clients are eligible for a Roth Conversion with no income limits prohibiting the conversion.

The Roth IRA permits tax-free growth and tax-free income distributions in retirement (assuming you are age 59.5 or older and have held your Roth account for a period longer than 5 years). You may also contribute to your Roth IRA at age 70.5 without having to take mandatory withdrawals. This makes the Roth extremely attractive for younger investors.

What is a baby boomer? If you were born between 1946 and 1964, then you probably are familiar with the term. Many baby boomers are the product of parents who survived The Great Depression. Yet as baby boomers approach retirement age, many financial experts feel that they may be more ill-prepared financially than their parents for retirement.

When it comes to pursuing the American Dream most of us try as hard as we can to accumulate wealth. We do this so that we can enjoy a comfortable income and retire with dignity. However, what if you were actually wealthy in retirement and at the same time looked poor on your income tax return? How would that impact your retirement years?

Since bottoming in March, U.S. stocks and international stocks rebounded and scored some handsome gains. Emerging market stocks have soared even higher.

There are two ways you could interpret the rise in stocks over the past seven months. First, you could argue that stocks are more resilient than the market expected, or second, stocks have come way too far way too fast.

The funeral business is facing new competitive forces from Chinese coffins to cremation services to internet sold merchandise. It seems pricing pressure exists in a greater way than ever. One natural, and proper, response is to take a good look at overhead expenses and make sure you are running as efficiently as possible in order to retain profitability.