Beyond Your Finances, Market Commentary
A recent post from Jamie on his WealthAdviceMadeSimple blog regarding the value of online savings accounts. Breaking a bad habit is hard, but not all habits are bad. I strongly recommend The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg to reinforce how habits can be used to create successful outcomes. However, many habits, or reluctance for…
Well, it’s finally here. We’ve been hearing about tax reform for a long time and now it is headed to President Trump’s desk for signature. To fully digest this new information will take months as interpretations get ironed out. Today’s commentary is designed to cover more pressing considerations as it relates to 2017 and steps…
Everyone always says “you’re a numbers guy.” Okay, let’s talk about some numbers. A 36% increase in 2016 From 2000 to 2015, a 642% increase 8 billion (with a “B”) 70% I know what you’re thinking – “what investment is this?” Wrong. A 36% increase from 2015 to 2016 in the number of people who…
At PDS, we simplify things. Our objective is to make complex financial topics more approachable for our clients. No doubt the presidential election last fall made things seem more complex. Over the past few weeks, I have offered the first two rules of investing in a Trump World. The first rule told you to be…
Recently, I offered my thoughts on the first rule of Investing in a Trump World. President Trump represents different things to different people, but one thing he poses for everyone is a bit of uncertainty. No president has ever been followed (or judged) on social media like President Trump has been, or will continue to…
When I look at social media these days, I cannot tell if the world is coming to an end, or if we are about to embark on our nation’s greatest moment. For the first time in our history, a presidential transition was followed step-by-step on social media, and the reaction is frightening. Consider that only…
He doesn’t put the cap on the toothpaste. She doesn’t love football. He doesn’t put the toilet seat down. She doesn’t take care of her car. He plays too much golf. She buys too many shoes. If you’ve been in a relationship, you understand. If you’re in a relationship and this doesn’t sound familiar, give…
“Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic” by Sam Quinones Recently, I was having a conversation with a client of ours in the medical community, discussing how good of a book Being Mortal was and that we recommended it to all of our clients. He had read it and said the topic of aging…
“The Opposite of Spoiled” by Ron Lieber, best-selling author and “Your Money” columnist for The New York Times since 2008. Premise: Helping parents have conversations with their children about money Money. It’s one of the most talked about, and certainly most thought about topics on the planet. It is the means by which we…
So often as planners we focus the college education discussion on the financial considerations. At the top of that list today is debt management. Parents are concerned their children will be burdened upon graduation with so much debt that it will limit their ability to eventually “get ahead.” While this is certainly a valid concern…
Beyond Your Finances, Estate & Legacy, Retirement
Recently, we held a wonderful client education event with the topic centered around rightsizing your living arrangements. It’s a topic no one really wants to talk about, but our experience tells us this is a topic that must be addressed. Can I stay in my home? When will I know it is time to leave…
In 1984, Prince hit the top of the Billboard Charts with his single “When Doves Cry.” Well, if those doves were intended to be beneficiaries of his estimated $300,000,000 estate then they are surely crying now. Court documents have been filed stating Prince’s sister does “not know of the existence of a will.” Whether your…
Chances are, you’ve recently filed your tax return with the IRS for 2015. And the outcome is rarely one to celebrate. Either you owe the Federal, State or Local government more money, or you are getting a refund. A refund, that served as an interest free loan to that respective taxing authority. To make matters…
We’ve all been there. You are the last person at the luggage carousel. There’s a lone duffle bag circling, unfortunately it is not yours. Everyone else has set out for their next stop. It’s becoming real. Your luggage is not joining you on your trip. Yes, this is bad. Your luggage did not make it…
I know what you’re thinking. This is someone just trying to grab a headline. Sure I wanted your attention, but I also mean what I say. A declining market presents some great opportunities for everyone. Granted, this may apply to some more than others. Let’s take a closer look. We can lump every investor into…
