Sep 05, 2016

Inventorying Your Possessions

Inventorying Your Possessions Nearly 60 percent of Americans do not have a home inventory of their possessions, and of those that do, 48 percent do not have any receipts evidencing their value.¹ It’s great to have insurance against damage and loss, but if you can’t show proof of your possessions, it may result in a

Sep 05, 2016

Four Steps to Valuing an Estate

Determining the value of an estate is a fundamental first step in estate management and a critical requirement for settling a decedent’s estate.¹ HOW TO ASSESS THE VALUE OF AN ESTATE Select the date of calculation. Because values move up and down, you need to set a specific date for a valuation. For a living

Sep 05, 2016

It certainly feels like we’re in a bear market, what with the surprising “Brexit” vote in the UK, the dismal first few days of the year and increased volatility across the board. So it may come as a surprise that the second quarter of 2016 eked out small positive returns for many of the U.S.

Apr 28, 2016

What to Know About Annuities

Are you retiring soon and looking into your options to start drawing down your savings from your employer-sponsored plan? Are you also concerned about making sure your money lasts as long as you need it to? If so, annuities may make sense for you.1 Annuities, simply put, reduce the risk that you will outlive your

Apr 28, 2016

Turning the Page: Five Things Baby Boomers Need to Know About RMDs

The times they are a changin’ for baby boomers. The generation that lived through and influenced the revolution in the retirement industry is now poised to begin withdrawing money from their retirement-saving vehicles — namely IRAs and/or employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you were born in the first half of 1946 — you are among the

Apr 28, 2016

Should You Buy a Second Home for Retirement?

As your retirement years approach, you think more and more about how you’d like to spend them. Regardless of your current circumstances – employed full-time, part-time, or in between jobs – it’s important to plan appropriately for retirement. If owning a second home is one of your goals, then rebel Financial is here to help.

Apr 21, 2016

Turning the Page: Five Things Baby Boomers Need to Know About RMDs

Apr 19, 2016

Paying Off Student Loans

Actively managing your debt is an important step, and your student debt may be one of the biggest financial obligations you have. There are many strategies that could help you manage student loans efficiently. Here is a checklist. Choose a federal loan repayment plan that fits your circumstances: The Standard Repayment Plan requires a fixed

Apr 18, 2016

Couples Decision Therapy

There have been studies showing that financial issues are one of the primary reasons why married couples fall apart. A recent article in Market Watch suggests that the biggest reason for these significant disagreements is a failure to create a unified view of the financial future that both parties have agreed to. In many cases,

Apr 11, 2016

2016 First Quarter Report: The Bear That Wasn’t

The first quarter of the new year has brought us small positive returns in many of the U.S. market indices, which means that investors survived—for now, at least—the worst start to a calendar year ever for the U.S. stock market. The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index–the broadest measure of U.S. stocks and bonds—was up 1.17%

Apr 11, 2016

The Panama Papers: Cheaters, Thieves and Tax Havens

Leaked information tells the story of prominent world leaders who avoided taxes or looted their country’s treasuries in order to squirrel away not only money, but expensive yachts, luxury homes, ownership of a candy company and investments in construction companies. The Prime Minister of Iceland has already resigned as a result of the leaked client

Apr 08, 2016

How Should We Think About the Future?

Chances are, you’re underestimating the amount of progress we’re going to make in technology, medicine and a host of other things. Why? Because your brain, and mine, and everyone else’s, thinks linearly, rather than exponentially. We are living in an age of exponential change in things like computing power and speed, decoding and finding medical

Apr 08, 2016

Stop Dipping Into Your Savings

It’s an unfortunate truth for many people today – their income level drops and they have to dip into their savings to make ends meet. While there’s nothing wrong with using the money you’ve saved to pay bills and buy groceries (that’s one reason you opened the savings account), it’s not something that you want

Apr 05, 2016

When Life Insurance Becomes Taxable

Consider these facts on aging from the 2010 Census¹: The highest growth rate for a 10-year age group within the older population (age 65+) was for men 85 to 94 years old (+46.5 percent). Women in this age group grew by 22.9 percent. Men 90 to 94 years old had the fastest growth rate (+50.3

Apr 04, 2016

Insuring Your Second Home

Vacation home sales jumped 57% to an estimated 1.13 million for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2014, exceeding the recent peak level reached in 2006.¹ When it comes to insuring your second home, you may find that the coverage you need is quite different than what you have on your primary home. The Unique

Apr 04, 2016

File-and-Suspend, Suspended

Mar 23, 2016

What Makes Your Financial Plan Unique?

Starting your investment portfolio can seem like a challenge, especially with the vast number of stocks, mutual funds, and other options out there. What is important is to figure out what makes your financial plan unique, and how you can make your money work for you, not against you. If you have friends or coworkers

Mar 22, 2016

Leading the World in Wasted Time

America leads the world in economic productivity, total economic output, earnings and wealth per citizen and a variety of other categories. Now we can add something new to the list: time spent in automobiles during our daily commutes to work. The annual Traffic Scorecard compiled by INRIX in Kirkland, WA reveals that the average automobile

Mar 17, 2016

The Anxious Bull

We’re in one of the longest-running, biggest wealth-producing bull markets in history, but you wouldn’t know it from the headlines or the gloomy mood of investors. On March 9, the bull market in U.S. stocks, represented by the S&P 500, celebrated its seventh year. The index has risen 194% since closing at 676.53 on March

Mar 17, 2016

Beware the bogus IRS

Most people have seen bogus emails purported to be from the executors of the estate of Nigerian princes or other obscure foreign notables who want to give them millions of dollars, and sometimes they get bogus calls telling them they can win a lottery sweepstakes or receive debt relief. But apparently one of the most

Mar 02, 2016

Keeping Summer Safe: Pool and Spa Safety Tips

Mar 02, 2016

Social Media: #Newest Business Liability Risk

Mar 02, 2016

Understanding Medicare: Parts A, B, C, and D

Medicare contains many rules that beneficiaries and their caregivers are required to learn. Perhaps the best way to grasp the program’s details is to review the major components of the Medicare program: Parts A, B, C, and D. Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance This insurance is designed to help cover the following: Inpatient care in

Feb 29, 2016

Planning for That Next Phase - Retirement

There are countless retirement calculators out there, and if you’ve used one or two, you might have somewhat of an idea of what you need to save for retirement in order to live comfortably. However, many calculators function very generally, and don’t take specifics into account when coming up with your final number. At rebel

Feb 22, 2016

Your Second Wind — Starting Up a New Business in Retirement

Not that long ago, retirement meant being put out to pasture, with long days punctuated by occasional games of golf and bridge. But today, with lengthening life expectancies and dwindling pensions, many Americans are looking to retirement as an opportunity to start a new business. “We’ve never before seen so many seniors who are this

Feb 16, 2016

Put Savings (and Yourself) First With a Budget

Americans, it seems, are spenders. Although personal savings rates have increased recently, they remain low by historical standards, as many people continue to spend beyond their means. If you’re among those Americans who can’t seem to save, it might be time to create a budget. A budget allows you to understand where the money goes

Feb 16, 2016

Planning 2016: New Realities, New Expectations

Financial resolutions often fall prey to the same procrastination that hinders personal aspirations. Yet current volatility in the financial markets along with other unsettling factors such as the impending presidential election and widespread geopolitical unrest may have led investors to pause, rethink their financial situations, and set new expectations for the future. Resolutions typically fall

Feb 16, 2016

Is Active Portfolio Management Right for You?

The heightened volatility that has afflicted the U.S. stock market for the past several months points out the potential benefits of active portfolio management. What distinguishes an active investment style from a passive style — and what benefits may active management provide in a volatile market? Dueling Styles Because active managers may rely on market

Feb 15, 2016

Avoiding the Pain

There’s no question that we experience emotional pain and anxiety when our portfolios are losing money due to market downturns. Behavioral scientists tell us that we feel losses twice as keenly as positive returns. But that doesn’t tell us what we really want to know, which is: other than selling at the wrong time and

Feb 15, 2016

The Prediction Game

If you want to look like a brilliant stock market analyst, keep predicting the same thing over and over again until it finally happens. A great example of this marketing strategy is newsletter publisher Marc Faber, whose website modestly describes him as “an international investor known for his uncanny predictions of the stock market and

Feb 15, 2016

Fixed-Income Investing: The ETF Approach

Fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are bond index funds that are listed on a stock exchange and trade throughout the day. There are fixed-income ETFs that focus on corporate, government, municipal, international, and global debt, as well as funds that track the broader Barclays Aggregate Bond Index.1 In addition, investors may purchase bond ETFs that focus

Feb 09, 2016

A Plan Sponsor Checklist

Once a retirement savings plan has been approved and is in place, it’s tempting for a plan sponsor to sit back and adopt an “I’m done,” hands-off attitude. However, to ensure that a plan continues to operate effectively, employers should periodically review plan provisions and features. Here is a brief checklist of key points to

Feb 09, 2016

It's Okay Not To Understand Investment Risk

Many people, when they’re thinking of investing their money, take the time to do their homework on current markets and try to understand to the best of their ability what their best investment options are. Some are able to grasp the trends and concepts of the financial market, whereas others become frustrated at their lack

Feb 08, 2016

Ten Reasons to Consider Tapping Home Equity Now

The Federal Reserve has set the wheels in motion and for the first time in nearly a decade, interest rates are on an upward trajectory. The initial hike was a modest one quarter of one percentage point — not a game changer for most investors or consumers. And from what Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen telegraphed

Feb 08, 2016

Zika Olympic Worries

You’ve probably heard about the Zika virus, a disease that has been around for years, but is getting attention during this summer season in South America, partly because of the Olympic games that will be held in Brazil. Zika is transmitted by mosquito bite, and is not considered to be contagious from people who have

Feb 03, 2016

Buying guaranteed losses

Surely one of the strangest trends on the world investment markets these days is banks paying negative rates to depositors, and bonds issued with negative interest rates. Basically that means that these institutions, and issuers, are guaranteeing a loss when you invest in their bonds or otherwise lend them money. This unusual trend, which has

Feb 03, 2016

Strong dollar, weak profits

Oil prices are getting all the blame for the recent U.S. stock market downturn, but it’s hard to see the connection when so many companies and consumers benefit from low energy costs. A better culprit is the strong dollar. The accompanying chart shows how strong the dollar has become compared with a basket of international

Feb 03, 2016

The good side of bad markets

After the recent downturn in the U.S. and global stock markets, you can be pardoned if you wished that the markets were a bit tamer. Wouldn’t it be nice to get, say, a steady 4% return every year rather than all these ups and downs? Be careful what you wish for. There are at least

Feb 03, 2016

Could You Stomach the Perfect Investment?

Suppose a mutual fund knew for sure which 10% of the largest U.S. companies would earn the highest returns over the next five years, over each upcoming five-year period. You’d invest in that fund and hang tight, right? A research company called Alpha Architect recently posed this as an interesting thought experiment. It divided all

Feb 03, 2016

Building Your Legacy

Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.¹Shannon L. AlderThe desire to leave a legacy may be the height of altruism for it is a gift to the future, the benefit of which you may never witness, nor ever feel

Feb 02, 2016

Four Really Good Reasons to Invest

Over half of Americans do not own any stocks, or stock-related investments, such as mutual funds, according to Bankrate’s Money Pulse survey.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not investing, but with important long-term financial goals, such as retirement, in the balance, the reasons may not be good enough. Why Invest? Make Money on Your

Feb 02, 2016

Measuring the Value of a Financial Advisor

What’s the value of a financial advisor? Two studies found that working with a financial professional can result in higher returns and potentially lower personal stress. Lower Stress Seventy-six percent of people within 15 years of retirement are stressed when thinking about retirement savings and investments.¹ Working with a financial advisor to develop a written

Feb 02, 2016

Apps That Help Achieve Goals

The gap between setting goals and achieving them can be difficult to bridge. To enhance the chances of achieving personal goals, reminders and motivation are essential; making a New Year’s resolution is simply not enough. A number of apps have been developed in recent years to help you pursue your goals and develop better life

Feb 02, 2016

Giving Tax-Wisely

You may have read that Facebook founder, chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced plans to gift substantially all of his Facebook stock to a philanthropic entity called the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, named after himself and his wife Priscilla Chan. The gift would be worth $45 billion, instantly becoming one of the largest philanthropic pools

Jan 26, 2016

Mutual Funds and Taxes: A Primer to Help Lighten the Load

Filling out your tax return is like compiling the index of a book — the book is complete, but you have to rummage (sometimes painfully) through your work again, assuring accuracy and factual content, in order to make the book easier for someone else to read. If you’re a mutual fund investor trying to determine

Jan 26, 2016

Questions To Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor

[contextly_auto_sidebar] People all across the country attempt to manage their finances, and certain individuals can successfully do so. If you’re someone that has been trying to keep up on your stocks, bonds, and retirement planning on your own, but it’s simply become too much, it might be time to hire a financial advisor. At rebel

Jan 22, 2016

Managing a Disability or Chronic Illness

Create a financial plan that can help you make the best of any circumstance. Here’s a checklist for financial preparedness. Lay a secure foundation Consider disability insurance to replace income that you may no longer receive if you become disabled by illness or injury. Some employers offer free or discounted disability insurance policies to their

Jan 18, 2016

The Great Panic of 2016

Wow! There’s no diplomatic way to say this: the global stock markets are in panic mode right now. In two weeks of trading, the U.S. S&P 500 index is down 8% on the year, which brings us close to correction territory (a 10% decline), and has some predicting a bear market (a 20% decline). On

Jan 18, 2016

Did You Budget For Taxes?

Every January, people wait for their W-2s and other tax forms to arrive in the mail so that they can get their information in order before the April filing deadline. While some people have plenty of tax taken out of each paycheck to cover what they owe the government, others are self-employed or don’t have

Jan 13, 2016

Make the Most of Your 401(k)

As more Americans shoulder the responsibility of funding their own retirement, many rely increasingly on their 401(k) retirement plans to provide the means to pursue their investment goals. That’s because 401(k) plans offer a variety of attractive features that make investing for the future easy and potentially profitable. What is a 401(k) plan? A 401(k)

Jan 11, 2016

Maintain a Good Credit Rating

Installment debt, in itself, is not a bad thing. It enables us to make major purchases that would be nearly impossible to finance up-front. The problem is, in this consumer society, we’re bombarded with advertisements for literally thousands of “must-have” products. The result is that while our parents tended to pay with cash and buy

Jan 11, 2016

The Drama on Wall Street

Have your long-term financial goals changed in the last three days? Are American companies less valuable because investors in China are panicking? Is there any reason to think that because Chinese investors are panicking, that Chinese companies are less valuable today than they were a few days ago? These are the kinds of questions to

Jan 11, 2016

What Happens to My Retirement Assets in the Event of a Divorce?

Retirement Assets in the Event of a Divorce Federal law requires that participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans designate their spouse as their beneficiary unless the spouse waives this right in writing. Assuming that you and your spouse adhered to this practice, a document known as a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which is part of

Jan 06, 2016

TV and Alzheimer’s

About a third of all adults over the age of 85 will get Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia, but these maladies may be more preventable than most of us realize. Doctors have known that older adults who use their brains more actively are less likely to fall victim to dementia, while less

Jan 05, 2016

Toy Hacking

You undoubtedly know that hackers are everywhere these days, including openly operating in Moscow near the government offices and inside the Chinese military. You probably have virus and malware protection on your computer, and you know not to click on suspicious links sent by email. But an interesting new vulnerability is emerging which you may

Jan 05, 2016

The Association Factor

What’s the best way to be happy and successful? What do most happy and successful people have in common? If you answered “money,” or anything to do with meditation or networking skills, you’re off the mark, according to Jason Butler, a former financial planner who is currently working as a motivational speaker. He says that

Jan 05, 2016

Where the Action Is

Let’s see where the action is! When you look at the geographic map of the world, you’re actually looking at several major distortions. First, unless you’re looking at a globe, the map will show Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, Canada and Australia as much larger than they actually are, while equatorial areas like the middle of South

Jan 04, 2016

Millions of Millionaires

Millions of Millionaires Here’s a quick factoid quiz: which country around the world has the most millionaires? How many total millionaires are there in the world today? According to the 6th annual Credit Suisse Global Wealth Index, measured in dollar terms, there are 33.7 million households worldwide with $1 million or more in total net

Jan 04, 2016

2015 Year End Report

2015 Year End Report In year just past, we experienced many things—a prelude to a Presidential election, a renewal of terrorist concerns, a trip to Pluto—but in the investment markets, we will look back and yawn. Despite some entertaining ups and downs, particularly in the third quarter of the year, the markets ended pretty much

Jan 04, 2016

Using ETFs in Tactical Asset Allocation Strategies

Using ETFs in Tactical Asset Allocation Strategies – Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may be ideal tools for helping savvy investors execute a tactical asset allocation strategy. A general understanding of tactical asset allocation can help crystallize this strategic use of ETFs. The process of creating an allocation starts with an assessment of the investor’s age, goals, and

Jan 04, 2016

What Are the Tax Issues Associated With a Gain or Loss on a Primary Residence?

What Are the Tax Issues Associated With a Gain or Loss on a Primary Residence? For U.S. federal income tax purposes, you may be able to exclude from income any gain up to $250,000 for a single taxpayer and $500,000 for a married couple filing a joint return. Generally, to exclude the gain, you must

Jan 04, 2016

Mining the Final Frontier

Last month Congress passed the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, a bill that allows private citizens to own resources in outer space. The headlines and quotes from different private sector space ventures hailed this as a major breakthrough, a chance for companies to travel to distant asteroids and bring back precious metals for sale

Dec 17, 2015

Prepare for the Rate Hike

We will almost surely see the U.S. Federal Reserve Board start the long process of ending its intrusion into the interest rate markets, by allowing rates to rise starting on Wednesday. It will be the first time the Fed has raised rates since 2006, and for some it will mark the beginning of the final

Dec 17, 2015

Spend Wisely This Holiday Season

[contextly_auto_sidebar] During this time of year, people turn their attention to finding the perfect gift for everyone in their family, not to mention the gifts needed for work gatherings, as well as holiday gift exchanges with friends and neighbors. You try not to spend too much, but unfortunately, a majority of your gift purchases will most

Dec 16, 2015

Small Business Owners: Test Your Retirement Plan Knowledge

Small Business Owners: Test Your Retirement Plan Knowledge While worker confidence about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement has been on the rise in recent years, that confidence is based largely on access to and participation in a workplace retirement plan. According to the latest annual Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee

Dec 14, 2015

Should I Have Separate Accounts for My Deductible and Nondeductible IRA Contributions?

Should I Have Separate Accounts for My Deductible and Nondeductible IRA Contributions? While it is not required to hold separate IRAs for deductible and nondeductible contributions, many financial experts recommend that you do so. The chief reason? Tax planning. What to do? If you “commingle” your funds — that is, create one account that has

Dec 14, 2015

How Might Rising Interest Rates Affect Your Stock Investments?

How Might Rising Interest Rates Affect Your Stock Investments? The Federal Reserve’s actions can have a marked influence on the economy and financial markets. For instance, some market analysts believe that the Fed’s massive, multi-year bond-buying program coupled with a record-setting period of near-zero interest rates fueled the six-year bull market for stocks. Now investors

Dec 14, 2015

How Do I Pay for Health Care Costs While Living or Traveling Abroad?

How Do I Pay for Health Care Costs While Living or Traveling Abroad? Generally speaking, public and private health insurance plans in the United States — including Medicare and most private policies — only pay for treatment and services provided to individuals while they are in this country. Therefore, as an American living, working, or

Dec 08, 2015

Should We Go Back on the Gold Standard?

If you watched the Republican presidential debates, you might have noticed that a number of candidates yearn for a return to the gold standard—that is, that every dollar issued by the government would be backed by a comparable value in gold bars that were stashed away in a government vault. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

Dec 08, 2015

Focus on Time in the Market, Not Market Timing

Focus on Time in the Market, Not Market Timing. Sports commentators often predict the big winners at the start of a season, only to see their forecasts fade away as their chosen teams lose. Similarly, market timers often try to predict big wins in the investment markets, only to be disappointed by the reality of

Dec 08, 2015

Few Cost of Living Adjustments for Retirement and Health Plans for 2016

Few Cost of Living Adjustments for Retirement and Health Plans for 2016 – The IRS has released the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) affecting dollar limitations for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), defined contribution and other retirement-related items for tax year 2016. In general, most limits will remain unchanged for 2016 because the increase in the cost-of-living index did

Dec 07, 2015

Three Year-end Tax Reduction Tips

Even though April 15 now seems a distant deadline for filing your 2015 tax returns, in order to take advantage of some of the biggest tax reduction strategies, you have to act before the end of this year. Without further ado, here are Three Year-end Tax Reduction Tips that you may want to execute by

Dec 07, 2015

Advanced Strategies for Managing Volatility

Investors are exposed to financial risk in two ways: company-specific risk or market risk. Long-term investors can virtually eliminate exposure to company-specific risk by diversifying among many different securities in the same asset class.1 Market risk is managed — but not eliminated — by holding investments in several different asset classes. Both types of risk

Dec 02, 2015

Should You "Fix" Variable Rate Debt?

While investors are keeping a close watch on the Federal Reserve for indications of when it will start raising interest rates, the consensus among economists is that it will begin its credit-tightening cycle at some point this year. Of course there are two sides to the interest rate coin: the investor and the borrower. Rising

Dec 02, 2015

Searching for Yield in Today's Market

Income-oriented investors have had a tough go of it for the past several years. Persistently low interest rates have curtailed traditional sources of yield. Yet, by broadening their search criteria, investors may uncover new ways to diversify their income portfolios with potentially more attractive options. Consider Total Return When evaluating income-generating opportunities investors need to

Dec 02, 2015

Same Sex Marriage Ruling Raises New Tax Issues

In a move that reinforces the rapid shift in public sentiment regarding same-sex unions, the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that all marriages — and “the constellation of benefits” that are linked to marriage — must be recognized and enforced in all 50 states.1 While the law brings happiness and relief to those affected,

Dec 01, 2015

Retirement Confidence: It's All in the Plan

Americans’ confidence in the ability to afford a comfortable retirement continues to rebound from the lows reported between 2009 and 2013. The increasing optimism is coming largely from workers who indicate they and/or their spouse have a retirement plan, such as a defined contribution (401(k)-type) plan, defined benefit (pension) plan, or individual retirement account (IRA).

Dec 01, 2015

Consider Prepaid Tuition Plans for College Savings

For parents planning for their children’s college education, there are several investment options to consider. One option that seems appealing is state-sponsored prepaid tuition plans available in several states. These plans allow parents to pay today’s tuition rates with the assurance that the child will have the money to go to college when the time

Dec 01, 2015

What Do You Want to Do When You Retire?

[contextly_auto_sidebar] For many people, the answer to the question, “What do you want to do when you retire?” may be very obvious. They have a clear plan for the hobbies they want to pursue or the trips they want to take, but for others, the answer might not be as clear. Planning for retirement is

Nov 30, 2015

Plan Ahead for Gift Giving

Special occasions often call for gift giving: a graduation in May, a wedding in June, an anniversary in July, and birthdays throughout the year. Each event seems to sneak up on us — and our budgets. Retailers plan for holidays and seasonal sales, so why not do a little gift planning of your own? Here

Nov 18, 2015

Money Management for a Single Parent

As a single parent, you’re probably familiar with the dual challenges of managing a household and planning for the future on your own. But are you as familiar with the financial strategies that can stretch your income and help you get ahead? Consider the following lessons to help improve your family’s bottom line. Lesson #1:

Nov 18, 2015

Millennials: The "Slow and Steady" Generation of Investors

With some $30 trillion poised to change hands over the next several decades from parents and grandparents to so-called Millennials — those 90-million-plus Americans aged 18 to 33 — the financial services industry will have its work cut out for it. Popular investing wisdom states that the younger you are, the more time you have

Nov 18, 2015

Of Market Bubbles and Busts: Learn to Spot Trouble in the Making

Recent stock market conditions in China present a classic illustration of the boom/bust cycle that periodically disrupts financial markets. While bubbles and subsequent busts occur in the investment world from time to time, there are typically some telltale signs to help investors recognize when there is trouble brewing. When Is a Bubble a Bubble? Most

Nov 18, 2015

Making the Grade: Test Your Knowledge of Key College Planning Facts

The latest report on college costs published by the College Board brought some good news: The increases in tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year were lower than the average annual increases in the past 30 years across all sectors included in the study. Yet even though college price increases are not accelerating, the

Nov 16, 2015

Large-Cap Stocks: Why They Could Be a Building Block for Your Portfolio

Stocks and stock mutual funds are often grouped according to size, or “market cap,” a term that represents the total dollar value of a company’s shares.1 Market cap is calculated by multiplying a stock’s price by the number of shares outstanding. For instance, if XYZ Corp. had a price of $25 per share and had

Nov 16, 2015

When Changing Jobs, It Pays to Keep Track of Your 401(k) Account

Americans are on the move, not only in their leisure pursuits, but in their jobs as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 38% of U.S. workers change jobs every year. If your employment situation changes, do you know what your choices are for managing the money in your 401(k) account? Generally, workers

Nov 16, 2015

Investing in Stocks

Shares of common stock play a role in just about every investment portfolio. This article is for those who’d like to know more about where their savings might be invested. Here are the basics: Stock (sometimes called equity) represents ownership of a company, divided among the company’s shareholders. While any company can issue stock, only

Nov 16, 2015

Home Equity Loans Versus Lines of Credit: What's the Difference?

Thinking of tapping the equity in your home to do a renovation, buy a second home, or consolidate debt? Before you decide which borrowing option is right for you, it’s important to understand the main differences between the two options. Home Equity Loan Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Fixed interest rate for the

Nov 16, 2015

Earn Tax-Free Income With Municipal Bonds

Nobody likes to pay taxes. That’s why investors naturally are interested in earning tax-free income. Municipal bond issues are a very popular way to earn tax-free income and, if income is reinvested, achieve tax-free compounding of returns. Municipal bonds (also known as “munis”) are fixed-income investments that can provide higher after-tax returns than similar taxable

Nov 13, 2015

Constructing Dividend-Paying Stocks Strategies

Dividend-paying stocks provide investors with tangible returns on a regular basis regardless of market conditions. This can benefit a range of investment styles and management strategies — from completely passive indexing to active buy-and-hold selection to aggressive trading and arbitrage. Passive Dividend Portfolios In 2014, a portfolio composed of all stocks in the S&P 500

Nov 13, 2015

Are There Any Disadvantages Associated With Paying off a Home Mortgage Early?

The disadvantages, if any, may stem from the financial trade-offs that a mortgage holder needs to make when paying off the mortgage. Paying it off typically requires a cash outlay equal to the amount of the principal. If the principal is sizeable, this payment could potentially jeopardize a middle-income family’s ability to save for retirement,

Nov 12, 2015

Coverdell, Custodial Account, or 529? How to Choose

First the bad news: The cost of a college education has skyrocketed, increasing at a rates well above the general inflation rate in recent years. Now the good news: Your options for setting aside college money in tax-efficient investment accounts have increased as well. For example, in 2001 Congress enhanced 529 plans and Coverdell Education Savings

Nov 12, 2015

Coping With Market Volatility

Global market volatility ramped up last summer as worries about the tenuous state of the Chinese economy shook virtually all major financial benchmarks, indicating once again how interrelated the world’s economies and investment markets have become. Widespread uncertainty has not only heightened anxiety among investors, it was also a likely contributor to the Federal Reserve’s

Nov 12, 2015

Common Estate Planning Mistakes -- and How to Avoid Them

Estate planning can be a minefield of potential missteps, some of which could have far-reaching consequences. Many of the poor choices individuals make when planning for their own future or passing assets to their families are caused by “one-size-fits-all” planning strategies or well-intended advice from family or friends. Following are some common and potentially costly

Nov 09, 2015

Choosing the Right Benchmarks for Your Mutual Fund

Community school boards use standardized tests to gauge how their students perform in relation to national averages. On an even more basic level, your local weather forecasters can check the accuracy of their predictions by measuring temperatures and rainfall. As a mutual fund investor, you also have tools available to gauge the performance of your

Nov 09, 2015

Calculating Taxes on Mutual Funds

For mutual fund investors, earnings come from two sources: fund distributions — dividends or capital gains — and the sale of fund shares.1 Income from these sources may be taxable. Fund companies typically send year-end statements to shareholders that summarize the information used to report investment gains or losses to the IRS. Here’s a look

Nov 09, 2015

Business Succession Issues: Understanding Buy-Sell Agreements

Running into financial troubles isn’t the only reason that some closely held businesses fail to succeed. Their untimely demise may result from the lack of a formal plan providing for the orderly succession of management and ownership of the business. Such a plan frequently incorporates a buy-sell agreement as the tool for ensuring that the

Nov 09, 2015

The Role of Bond Funds in Your Portfolio

Bonds are popular investment vehicles because they pay interest income with a promise to pay back the initial investment after an agreed-upon period of time. Bond mutual funds may be even more popular among those seeking an income component in their portfolio because they offer a lower-cost, professionally managed, diversified alternative to individual bonds. However,

Nov 09, 2015

New to Investing? Come to Us for Financial Advice

[contextly_auto_sidebar] If you’ve just graduated from college, or you’re about to this coming spring, you’re probably excited about starting a career. It’s always important to have goals, and if your financial goals are at the top of your list, it’s best to find sound advice from a certified advisor. As a financial advisor in Columbus,

Nov 09, 2015

Anchor Your Portfolio With Index Funds

One of the most basic distinctions between mutual funds is whether the fund manager employs an active or a passive management approach. An active management style means the fund manager uses analytic or forecasting tools to select individual stocks for the fund portfolio. In a passive approach, the fund manager simply buys whatever stocks are

Nov 09, 2015

Beneficiary of a Trust? What You Need to Know

If you have been named as a beneficiary of a trust, you probably have many questions about what comes next. Trusts can take many forms and may be governed by unique provisions established by the creator of the trust or “grantor.” As a trust beneficiary, you have certain rights. But to ensure that your financial

Nov 06, 2015

Sound Investment Advice in Columbus

[contextly_auto_sidebar] There are thousands of places where you can find investment advice, but not every source is credible and not all advice is dependable. At rebel Financial in Columbus, our philosophy is to help our clients find the highest probability path to accomplish their financial goals, help them stay on track once those goals are

Oct 30, 2015

Do You Have Retirement Planning Questions?

[contextly_auto_sidebar] One of the most frequent questions we hear at rebel Financial is, “Am I saving enough for retirement?” There will come a time in your life when you don’t want or are not able to work any longer, and when that day comes, you want to feel confident that you’ll be able to enjoy

Oct 20, 2015

When to Self-Insure

One reality of life is that risk is ever present. It exists in our commute to work, in our investment choices, and in our lifestyle decisions. Some risks can be transferred to an insurance company (e.g., auto or homeowner’s), while others we assume. [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-life-insurance-collage-in-the-shape-of-a-heart-300×214.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] When you

Sep 09, 2015

Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy

One of the most well-known investors of the 20th Century, Benjamin Graham, said that “the investor’s chief problem—and even his worst enemy—is likely to be himself.”¹What Graham understood—and modern research is catching up to—is the idea that we all have emotions and biases that affect our decision-making. The innate wiring built to survive pre-modern times

Sep 09, 2015

Understanding Market Capitalization

If you’re creating an investment strategy designed to help you pursue long-term financial goals, understanding the relationship between company size, return potential, and risk is crucial. With that knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to build a balanced stock portfolio that comprises a mix of “market caps.” [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FThe-words-Financial-Market-crosing-making-the-letter-X-300×212.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″

Sep 07, 2015

When More Risk Equals Less Risk

If I asked you to name the most risky asset class, which would you pick? [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-word-collage-based-around-financial-risk300x299.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] Emerging markets1 Commodities2 High-yield bonds3 Each investment has unique risks, but volatility of returns is one measure that can be applied to all. At its simplest level, volatility is the

Sep 07, 2015

I'm a Single Parent. How Can I Get Ahead Financially?

As a single parent, you need to understand the financial strategies that can stretch your income and help you lay the groundwork for a secure future. Consider the following lessons to help improve your family’s bottom line: [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-woman-looking-frustrated-while-figuring-out-her-financials300x207.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] Identify Your Goals You can’t have a financial

Sep 07, 2015

Planning for Known -- and Unknown -- Health Care Costs in Retirement

The issue of health care costs in retirement — and planning for them well in advance of retirement — is becoming a centerpiece of any retirement planning discussion. [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-cracked-egg-with-money-coming-out-of-it300x2001.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] A recent study by Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) projected that in 2014, men and women who

Sep 07, 2015

Investors: Don't Let Fear Keep You on the Sidelines

While the U.S. stock market, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, has risen a stunning 205.66% as of March 31, 2015, since its low on March 9, 2009, some investors are still reluctant to participate after the near market collapse that accompanied the 2007-2008 financial crisis.1 [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FOvercome-fear-300×285.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”020″ left_margin=”20″

Sep 04, 2015

Intergenerational Wealth Planning: A Win-Win for the Whole Family

Discussing the transfer of wealth from parents to children can be uncomfortable for both parties. Yet by introducing children to the wealth management process from a young age, affluent families may be able to reduce family tensions later in life and help ensure that the planning tradition passes intact to future generations. [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FIntergenerational-wealth-300×200.jpg”

Sep 04, 2015

Growth Investing -- A Core Part of Your Long-Term Strategy

Long-term investment goals are as unique as the people who set them. Some investors set their sights on building a dream home; others may be looking to launch a new business. Still others seek the more traditional long-term goals of a comfortable retirement or funding a child’s education. No matter how they differ, all long-term

Sep 04, 2015

Funding Challenges of Women-Owned Businesses

Female entrepreneurs are an undeniable force in the global economy. Yet businesses owned by women have historically attracted much less capital than those of their male-owned counterparts. Facing Challenges [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FFrustrated-woman-300×200.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ alt_text=”Frustrated%20woman%20″ full_width=”Y”] Although the number of women who apply for and obtain equity capital has increased in

Sep 04, 2015

Is a Health Care Flexible Spending Account a Good Idea?

A flexible spending account (FSA), offered as an elective benefit by many employers, permits workers to contribute, through payroll deduction, to accounts that are designated for specific qualifying medical or dental expenses. If your employer makes an FSA available, the account typically is used in conjunction with your employer-sponsored medical plan for out-of-pocket costs not

Sep 04, 2015

What is a Custodial IRA?

A custodial IRA is an IRA managed by a parent or guardian for the benefit of a minor child, as long as that child works and has earned income. As with other types of IRAs, the maximum annual contribution for 2015 is $5,500 (indexed annually for inflation) and the underlying investments can be determined by

Sep 04, 2015

Brush Up on Your IRA Facts

If you are opening an IRA for the first time or need a refresher course on the specifics of IRA ownership, here are some facts for your consideration. [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FBrush-sawdust-300×200.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ alt_text=”Brush%20sawdust%20″ full_width=”Y”] IRAs in America IRAs continue to play an increasingly prominent role in the retirement saving strategies

Sep 04, 2015

It's 2015: Do You Know Who Your Beneficiaries Are?

Many investors have taken advantage of pretax contributions to their company’s employer-sponsored retirement plan and/or make annual contributions to an IRA. If you participate in a qualified plan program you may be overlooking an important housekeeping issue: beneficiary designations. An improper designation could make life difficult for your family in the event of your untimely

Sep 04, 2015

Do Alternative Asset Classes Belong in Your Portfolio?

Alternative investments are often defined not by what they are, but by what they are not. It is this quality that could make alternatives potentially valuable diversifiers when added to a portfolio of traditional investments. While some investors may equate alternative investments with the high-risk/high-return vehicles that garner the lion’s share of media attention (especially

Sep 04, 2015

Financial Wellness Programs: Taking Employee Benefits to the Next Level

Financial wellness. On the surface, it sounds like an elusive “trend du jour.” But when it is considered in relation to the workplace, the idea takes hold. Employees are asked to make important financial decisions about retirement plans and health, life, and other insurance coverages as well as other benefits — all of which may

Aug 31, 2015

Your Credit Report: Can You Afford to Ignore It?

When was the last time you obtained a copy of your credit report? If your answer is “never” you are not alone. A recent survey found that one in four Americans have never checked their credit report. The simple reason? They don’t think it is important.1 [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-credit-card-and-a-lock-for-security-300×198.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″

Aug 31, 2015

Shielding Retirement Assets From Taxes

As hard as it is to believe, today’s tax-advantaged plans — including individual retirement accounts IRAs, 401(k)s, and rollover IRAs — have the potential to make many employees millionaires. A 401(k) contribution of $433 per month, at 8% compounded monthly, would be worth more than $1 million after 35 years.1 [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FEgg-in-nest-money-300×199.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left”

Aug 31, 2015

Investment Challenges of the Affluent Investor

High-net-worth investors face investment challenges that some would consider unique to their financial status. The fundamental tenants of investing apply equally to them as with any other investor, but the affluent investor needs to be mindful of issues that typically arise only from substantial wealth.[images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FGuy-in-white-on-white-couch-with-ipad-300×225.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”]Let’s examine

Jul 07, 2015

Is a Variable Annuity Right for Me?

For the casual observer, it sometimes seems that variable annuities are either “terrible” or “wonderful.”Commentators in the financial media seem to occupy a polarity of opinions we might see in politics. What gets lost when these commentators collide is “the individual.” Unfortunately, the discussion is rarely centered on whether a variable annuity is relevant and

Jul 07, 2015

Choices for Your 401(k) at a Former Employer

One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have three basic choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer. [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F401K-egg-in-a-nest-protected-by-an-umbrella-300×328.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”]

Jul 07, 2015

IRA Withdrawals that Escape the 10% Tax Penalty

The reason withdrawals from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) prior to age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% tax penalty is that policymakers wanted to create a disincentive to use these savings for anything other than retirement.¹ [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FPenalty-exclamation-ball-300×256.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] Yet, policymakers also recognize that life can

Jul 07, 2015

Revising Estate Strategy Assumptions

When the rules of the game change, tactics should follow in response to the new landscape. While estate tax exemptions have ridden an uncertain roller coaster in recent years, the rules appear to be stabilizing, prompting many to reconsider conventional estate strategies.¹ [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FMarble-house-with-question-mark-in-the-snow-200×300.jpg” width=”200″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] In 2013, Congress

Jul 07, 2015

How to Appeal Your Property Taxes

Between 30 percent and 60 percent of taxable property has an inflated assessment, which may lead to higher property tax bills. Moreover, typically fewer than 5 percent of taxpayers dispute their assessment.¹[images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FA-house-sitting-on-top-of-a-mortgage-statement-307×200.jpg” width=”307″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] For homeowners who think their local government may have assessed their property’s value too

Jul 07, 2015

Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream

Recent years have witnessed the mainstreaming of alternative investments for certain accredited investors.¹[images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FComplicated-formula-on-blackboard-300×273.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, found that individuals in the U.S. have put more than $625 billion into alternative investments. By year end 2015, McKinsey expects alternative investments will represent 13%

Jul 07, 2015

“Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams to Watch For

Every year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases its list of tax scams, spotlighting the myriad ways that people try to separate you from your money.¹ [images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FPiggy-bank-in-scam-trap-300×240.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] The 2015 “Dirty Dozen” Identity Theft Using your personal information, an identity thief can file a fraudulent tax return

Jul 07, 2015

Red Flags for Tax Auditors

No one wants to see an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditor show up at his or her door. The IRS can’t audit every American’s tax return, so it relies on guidelines to select the ones most deserving of its attention. Here are six flags that may make your tax return prime for an IRS audit.¹

Jul 07, 2015

Donating Art: Taxation Abstraction

The varied reasons to donate art range from a personal affinity for a museum, the desire to create a legacy, and the tax consideration that may come with the donation. The tax rules surrounding the tax deduction of art are complex and confusing.¹ When donating art, donors can generally claim a federal tax deduction of

Jul 07, 2015

Tax Deductions You Won't Believe

While Americans are entitled to take every legitimate deduction to manage their taxes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) places limits on your creativity. Here are some examples of deductions from the IRS that were permitted and some that were, well, too creative.¹[images style=”2″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancial.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FTax-deduction-Calculator-300×269.jpg” width=”300″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ full_width=”Y”] Creative Deductions that Passed

Jul 07, 2015

Tips for Retooling Your Portfolio

Like a closet that isn’t reorganized from time to time, a portfolio that isn’t reviewed regularly can leave you feeling like the pieces no longer fit. Last year, for example, stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 had annualized returns of 13.69%.1 U.S. investment grade bonds gained 5.97%, while international stocks declined -4.49%.1 Given this

Jul 06, 2015

Choosing a Retirement Location

Baby boomers are going to retire differently than their parents did. Americans are living longer, healthier lives — a fact that is reflected in our notions of what it means to retire. Now, instead of a complete cessation of work, Americans view retirement as a gradual transition into another lifestyle. Some retirees may go back

Jul 01, 2015

Marriage affects your finances in many ways, including your ability to build wealth, plan for retirement, plan your estate, and capitalize on tax and insurance-related benefits. There are, however, two important caveats. First, same-sex marriages are recognized for federal income and estate tax reporting purposes. However, each state determines its own rules for state taxes,

Jan 06, 2015

What You Should Do About Insurance Following a Divorce

Divorce can be an emotionally and financially challenging life event. In the face of the many possible adjustments divorce entails, making changes to insurance coverage may be overlooked.Here’s a look at each type of coverage: [images style=”1″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Frebelfinancialllc.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FDivorce-Decree-250×166.jpg” width=”250″ align=”right” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ left_margin=”20″ right_margin=”20″ alt_text=”Divorce%20Decree” full_width=”Y”] Auto If there is a change in auto ownership,

Jan 06, 2015

The Half Million Dollar Baby

Nov 20, 2014

With the recent release of “Flash Boys” by Michael Lewis and subsequent media attention, we have have become aware of and increasingly disturbed by events on Wall Street and other trading exchanges. Practices now known as “Predatory Trading” have/are taking place that makes the financial markets (however small the individual infractions are) unfair for the

Apr 29, 2014

Life Expectancy Calculator

Apr 27, 2014

College Savings Calculator

The calculator below is useful as a data point in determining an efficient college savings strategy, and should be used in conjunction with other assets and strategies you may already have. Please consult with your financial advisor and/or tax professional for more guidance on your individual circumstances:

Apr 27, 2014

The Fed’s decision to maintain the stimulus status quo leaves markets at a crossroads. The bull market that captivated the financial world in the first half of 2013 began to see some signs of volatility in the third quarter. Economic data in the United States continued to be the focal point of the Federal Reserve’s

Dec 02, 2013

Are financial advisers worth their fee? by Chuck Jaffe

Investors have long wondered about whether it’s worth paying someone to mastermind a financial plan. After all, it’s tough to see how much a proper asset-allocation plan or the right withdrawal strategy really adds to performance. Now, new research from investment researcher Morningstar Inc. gives investors an idea of the added value of financial planning:

Nov 03, 2013

Contact us

Financial Advisor and Planner

rebel Financial is a Registered Investment Advisor that provides retirement planning, estate planning, financial planning and investment management services to it’s individual and institutional clients.

Custom Menu

https://imperio.rebelfinancial.com/category/news/page/9/

https://imperio.rebelfinancial.com/category/news/page/7/

image

https://imperio.rebelfinancial.com/wp-content/themes/imperio/

https://imperio.rebelfinancial.com/

#7a4499

style1

scrollauto

No more posts to load.

Load More Posts

Loading posts...

7dc771

/home/rebelf5/imperio.rebelfinancial.com/

none

/%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/

yes

off

Enter your email here

off

Latest from Twitter

Contact us

Happy Thanksgiving from rebel Financial 2014

Gun Ownership and Your Homeowners Policy

President Trump’s Unlikely Victory

Tax Rules When Selling Your Home

Fallen Tree Damage—Who Pays?

Whither Brexit?

Taxes Up (but not so much as you might think…)

A Slow Decline in Readers

Will Your Morning Cup of Coffee Make You Healthier?

Good News About HIV

Bees an endangered species?

The Anti-Trump Fund to Watch

2016 Third Quarter Report: The Bull Continues

Nest Egg Gurus Retirement Spending Calculator

Nest Egg Guru's Retirement Savings Calculator

Good News About Global Warming

Communicable Stress

The World’s Worst Drivers

Medical Empowerment

Brexit Update

Mastering Mobile Lingo

Inventorying Your Possessions

Four Steps to Valuing an Estate

The Anatomy of a Supplemental Health Plan

Four Reasons Millennials Need an Estate Strategy

Not-So-Powerful Powers of Attorney

The ‘Other’ Cost of Taxes

Where Have All the Male Workers Gone?

Flying Soon to a Garage Near You

The Awareness of Plants

Job Growth and Public Sector Employment Growth by Presidential Term

Keeping Good Records is Good Business

A Market High—But Is It a Market Top?

Does When You Marry Affect Your Chances of Divorce?

Italy’s Ailing Banks

The Precedent to Brexit

Does Wealth Equate to Quality of Life?

Who Pays for College? Are They Getting Their Money’s Worth?

How to Save in a Hurry

Are Brexit Fears Overblown?

rF Mobile Videos

2016 Second Quarter Report: The Shadow of Brexit

Flying Soon to a Garage Near You

Where Have All the Male Workers Gone?

The ‘Other’ Cost of Taxes

Not-So-Powerful Powers of Attorney

The Awareness of Plants

Will Debt Hinder Your Retirement Outlook?

When Protection Matters: Consider a QTIP Trust

Transferring Assets to a 529 Plan

The Mathematics of Investing

Gap Insurance for Leased Cars

Welcome to Brexit

The Lowdown on Robo-Advisors

Health Savings Accounts: Get to Know These Versatile Savings Tools

Diversifying Your Portfolio With Midcap Stocks

Buying Your First Home

Surprises

Retirement Planning for an Unpredictable Life

Name timelines

Big Vote in Europe

Brazil’s Political Impeachment

Investing Your Increased Salary

Social Security: What’s Changing in 2016?

Social Security: Two Benefit Strategies Eliminated

Work Longer, Live Longer

Money From Heaven

Low Cost, More Demand

(Astronomical) Cost of Living

Under Water in the Caribbean

Get in the Habit -- Smart Investing Habits to Adopt This Year

Longevity Risk and Retirement Income

Getting Value in a Vacation Home

Investing Long Term? Don't Overlook the Inflation Factor!

The Charitable IRA Transfer: Permanent at Last

Job Growth and Public Sector Employment Growth by Presidential Term

What to Know About Annuities

Turning the Page: Five Things Baby Boomers Need to Know About RMDs