Hidden Costs, Expenses & Penalties
Just about every month I come across someone who claims that their investments don’t cost them anything or someone who doesn’t seem to understand all they are paying in internal expenses. All too often (in the case of those buying commission based products) they have been told that something they bought does not contain any […]
Which of the Four Are You?
All of us are innately wired to react certain ways when it comes to making investment decisions. Some of us are spenders while others are savers. Some are thrill seekers while others prefer to play it safe. Each of these personalities has good qualities and areas for improvement. We’ve found that being “self-aware” is the first step […]
Never Buy This in December
It seems that every year in December we get a multitude of calls from clients regarding a pretty common occurrence for certain types of investments.This month, most pooled investments pay out their capital gains to shareholders and the value of the associated account falls for a few days until the money is reinvested or paid […]
Protecting Identity and Assets
A few years back one of our California clients experienced a data breach at their local bank and became increasingly concerned about making sure their assets were protected from potential identity thieves. These particular clients have English accents and it would be hard to impersonate one of them on the phone, but in any event […]
College Funding 101
Like many Tennessee residents, you may have found yourself doing a bit of shopping last weekend. Tennessee’s annual “Sales Tax Holiday” is a great time to load up on clothes, school supplies, and other necessities for the kids and grandkids. This annual event held during the last weekend in July signals the end of Summer […]
Are You a Believer?
According to legend, experts said for years that the human body was incapable of running a four minute mile. It wasn’t just dangerous; it was impossible. During the 1940s, the record was pushed to 4:01 where it stood for nine years but on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute barrier with at […]
Where’s the Beef?
What a Difference a Year Makes! Those who thought the S&P 500 would be the best place to invest in 2016 may have been surprised to find that “the beef” was to be found in many other types of investments last year. Some of the most unloved asset classes recovered well after February with Energy, […]
How to Avoid the Mutual Fund Tax Trap
It seems that every year in December we get a multitude of calls from clients regarding a pretty common occurrence for mutual funds, but nonetheless an often misunderstood one. December is the time of year when most mutual funds pay out their capital gains to shareholders. While generally speaking, a capital gain means an investor […]
Turning Death, Divorce, and Multiple Lawsuits … Into a Positive Experience
Eight years ago this weekend my father passed away in a horrible car crash. My brother Tim and I worked diligently to settle items in the estate, closing down a plastic surgery practice, dealing with fallout from various business interests, winding up the domestic relations order from his recent divorce and working through the probate […]
How To Get The Best Answers
The Key is Starting with Great Questions When you read something particularly good, it’s hard not to want to share with everyone. Many ideas are original but sometimes other ideas are just too good not to share. Ben Carlson wrote a particularly good blog last month that I felt I should share with everyone and […]
