The cycle of life is an incredible journey through good times, bad times and unexpected events. Preparing for one’s financial lifecycle is often miscalculated, leaving a person or family financially strapped or in dire straits. Many life events bring us joy: a wedding, the birth of a child, a graduation and so on. But when… Read more »
At a recent business conference, every session talked about ChatGPT and A.I. which made me question, should mankind be concerned? Will procedures and policies be put in place to manage the technology and potential threats? Recently, AP News reported that a couple of lawyers were fined for using falsely produced case references that ChatGPT had… Read more »
These days, many individuals are seeking ways to be calm and in the present, appreciate their lives and develop practices to stay focused. The financial events over the past few years have provided a perfect opportunity to practice these tools. Mindfulness. According to mindfulness.org, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present,… Read more »
In December, the President signed the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0), part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2023, which builds on and expands the SECURE Act of 2019 to improve retirement-savings opportunities. Below are a few key highlights of SECURE 2.0: 2023 2024 2025 2026 For more information and the personal… Read more »
The game of Texas Hold’em is much like the “game” of the markets. It’s about long-term strategy and restraining from being impulsive or emotionally tied to the current state of the game. The Game Each player is dealt two cards face down known as hole cards. Then, a series of community cards are dealt face… Read more »
Merriam-Webster’s definition of harvest is to gather, remove or extract a crop or living cell. In the world of finance, it’s the season to review your potential tax liability for the current year and harvest unrealized losses to offset any realized gains. Realized vs. unrealized. A realized gain (or loss) occurs when an asset or… Read more »
In today’s economic environment of higher interest rates, inflation (aka higher prices) and a potential recession on the horizon, it’s important to get back to the basics in managing our finances. Review your budget. Make a list or use an app to track your expenses. Most banks offer software to categorize your transactions appropriately. This… Read more »
History demonstrates socially responsible investing (SRI) has been present since the 1800’s. It began with adversity to companies that manufactured tobacco and alcohol or promoted gambling in an era known as the Age of Reason. In 1971, the first socially responsible investing fund was launched by Pax World, a sustainable investment firm, and in… Read more »
When I was a kid, I loved our annual block party; lots of food, fun and games. Some years multiple blocks would participate. One year we had a huge scavenger hunt where each family had a set of clues for the items to collect. The clues were extremely sophisticated, puzzle-type questions that needed to be… Read more »
Many years ago, I received a $30,000 tax bill from the state. I was a freshman in college and the world wide web had yet to be launched for public use. After several long calls to the state, it was determined that my social security number had been compromised. Fortunately, I was not held responsible… Read more »
As one of the first do-it-yourself (DIY) shows over 40 years ago, “This Old House” focused on home renovations and improvements. Today, there are dozens of DIY shows and dedicated networks to watch renovations and new home construction. One constant in every show, whether a home is being modernized or built from scratch, is that… Read more »
With all the beautiful music in the world, it’s hard to believe there are only seven letters in the musical alphabet. Of course, there are many different variations with sharps, flats, cord combinations and timing that create the sounds we enjoy. Similar to diversifying your investment portfolio, one note or cord a song does not… Read more »
Recently, the Women’s Advisory Institute at Beacon Pointe Advisors hosted an event discussing anxiety among our children and the challenges this past year has presented. As we embark on another school year, we thought it was important to keep the conversation going. Anxiety and mental health issues occur at all ages, whether it’s a… Read more »
As we’ve seen the rise of inflation thus far in 2021, it is important to understand the different types of inflation to assess if there is a need for concern. Inflation An increase in the price of goods and services within the economy. The cost of a specific product or service may inflate due to… Read more »
Marriage is an exciting time in one’s life. Planning for a wedding entails a lot of time and effort, regardless of the size of the celebration. Nowadays, there are many layers to consider when contemplating those nuptials. Where will you live? Do you want kids? Are you marrying into an instant family? Ask yourself if… Read more »
Hello, 2021! Boy, are we glad to see you. However, with an unbelievable year behind us, many are still faced with the repercussions of the extraordinary events in 2020; pointedly, the need for families to move in together. Whether you are a recent college graduate or a full household, moving home takes on a whole… Read more »
I often get questions on ROTH contributions and how they work, who they work for, and which is better to contribute to – a traditional or ROTH IRA. There is a lot to be said about ROTHs. Below is a brief summary. Named after former Delaware Senator William Roth Jr., the ROTH IRA was established… Read more »
When looking back at the roaring ‘20s I think of flappers, jazz music and prohibition. However, it was a time of social and political change, defiance and the great stock market crash. Sound familiar? We’re barely in the first year of a new decade and it’s already lived up to the name of Roaring 20… Read more »
The Event. Recently, our family adopted another dog and I was excited for a potential running buddy. I knew Jack would need a little training and guidance, but this guy was made to be a running companion. In the beginning, we took him out for walks around the neighborhood, so he could get comfortable with… Read more »
The year is 2020 and I’m on an island called Pandemic. The plan was to relax and enjoy the spring while preparing for the summer surf season. As I look out to sea, the series of waves catches my attention. There is a calming element to watching the tide go in and out. Depending on… Read more »