The New Year is supposed to be a fresh start. We get to begin all over again with energetic resolutions and stalwart promises, putting last year’s disappointments behind us. Investors are all for leaving behind 2018, which was a particularly rough year. Most asset classes turned in negative performance while volatility punctuated the year at dizzying levels. Will markets turn...
We are approaching the end of another year. The next month will be filled with celebrations, shopping and other holiday festivities, but it’s also time to take a last look at your finances before the end of the year to make sure you are taking advantage of money saving opportunities before they are lost. Because of the Tax Cuts and...
One factor of the October rout in the stock market has been rising interest rates. The market has concerns that the Federal Reserve could eventually overshoot (raise interest rates too high) and stifle economic growth. While an overshoot seems unlikely until sometime in 2020, investors tend to signal their displeasure early. At this point in time the stimulus (tax cuts...
Following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) last year, and the increase in the standard deduction that came with it, there’s a lot of industry discussion about the impact that this may have on charitable giving. Many of us give to charities for reasons beyond receiving a tax deduction. However, there is concern that the overall...
This might seem like an easy question to answer but as our financial lives tend to be complex with many moving parts, remembering to update your beneficiaries when life events occur is sometimes not at the forefront of our minds. Reviewing them at least once a year, if you have a change in marital status, the birth of child or...
Over the summer there was an interesting IRS ruling that was spurred by a single company trying to provide a unique perk to their employees. Record low unemployment has resulted in a challenge for companies to find and keep qualified candidates, especially recent graduates. In an effort to attract and retain these folks, one company has started a unique new...
In 2016, over $390 billion was donated to charitable causes in the US. Many people donate money and time to their favorite charities throughout the year. Some choose to set up scheduled giving such as a monthly donation, while others make their donations at the end of the year. When unexpected events, like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma occur, you may...
Building on her August 17th blog, Chrissy Canapari spoke with WJAR’s Frank Coletta on Facebook Live to discuss items to consider when using online banking services. Her interview begins at the 3:30 mark.
Building on his August 13th blog, Derek Amey spoke with WJAR’s Frank Coletta on Facebook Live to discuss tips on how to handle those first 529 plan distributions! Fast forward to the 7 minute mark to see his segment.
Emergency reserves are a vital part of every good financial plan. Having extra savings that can be accessed to cover an unexpected expense enables you to avoid charging up credit cards and taking withdrawals from retirement savings. So where should you keep those reserves and how should they be invested? Or should they be invested at all? Since you want...
