Create PDFPrintHere are the Ten Commandments for achieving strong financial health. The Ten Commandments: KNOW HOW IS YOUR ADVISOR IS PAID. It really does matter because the quality and kind of advice you receive is a result of how your advisor is paid. The best model for receiving investment and financial planning advice is the […]
Smart Ways To Handle A Highly Appreciated Investment
Create PDFPrintLet’s say you’re the lucky owner of a highly appreciated investment (stock, mutual fund) you’ve held for at least a year. What’s the best way to sell it? Or should you donate it? Here are several choices facing an early investor in Apple shares that I’ll call “Meg.” Apple shares are valued at 246 […]
The Problem With Brokers
Create PDFPrintI’ve seen my fair share of brokerage statements from Big Name Brokers cross my desk over the years. Very often I’m appalled by what I see. Why? I often see brokerage accounts stuffed with scatter-shot investments (often excessive amounts of large cap US stocks) with little regard for clients’ risk tolerance and for their […]
Why Invest in Bonds?
Create PDFPrintThe BIG THREE pillars of investing are Stocks, Bonds (sometimes called “fixed income”) and Cash. Other smaller investment categories include REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), commodities and alternative investments, etc. In my experience, clients understand the pros and cons of stocks and cash but are fuzzy about bonds. Some of the reasons investors don’t […]
Three Common Investment Mistakes, And How To Fix Them
Create PDFPrintby Eve Kaplan, Certified Financial Planner(TM) Whether you’re working with a broker or advisor, or you’re managing your own investments, watch out for these common investment errors. They are: 1) having multiple overlapping holdings (and not being aware of it), 2) having a risky portfolio that’s a poor fit with your needs and 3) […]
Are You Making These Common Investment Mistakes? Here’s What To Do.
Create PDFPrintBy Eve Kaplan, Certified Financial Planner™ Do you manage your own investments? If so, you may be making one or more of these common mistakes: 1) you have an extreme portfolio that’s a poor fit with your needs, 2) you have too many overlapping holdings and/or 3) if you’re married, one spouse (often the […]
Don’t Make These Investment Mistakes!
Create PDFPrintBy Eve Kaplan, Certified Financial Planner™ The investment world is a confusing, opinionated and noisy place. Here are 2 classic investment mistakes that are very common: 1) trying to time markets and 2) stock-picking your way to investment success. Mistake One: Thinking You Can Time Markets (And Do Better Than the Average Investor) Markets […]
(Financial) Things To Do Before You Die
Create PDFPrintBy Eve Kaplan, CFP® Unless you have a terminal illness you probably do NOT know when you will die. Accordingly, these tips are geared toward all individuals who hold investments, insurance, pensions and/or real estate and who want to pass these to a surviving spouse or other family members. Some of these steps may […]
5 Lessons Learned from the 10 Year US Bull Market
Create PDFPrintBy Eve Kaplan, CFP® We’re celebrating 10 years of a remarkable bull market in US stocks. Here are 5 lessons reinforced during this time: Lesson 1: Stay the Course When Things Get Rough The 2008-09 crash seemed to be The End of the World because the entire banking system (with knock-on effects worldwide) was […]
Does It Pay Off To Invest In A Financial Plan?
Create PDFPrintBy Eve Kaplan, CFP® Professional Does it pay off to have a financial plan in place? Thanks to a number of new studies, it’s possible to answer this question clearly and unambiguously: Yes. One such study by Morningstar* tracked households over 15 years and ranked their financial soundness and the quality of their financial […]