Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
Retirement income: Why living only on interest may hold you back
Retirement income looks simple on paper. Then the paycheck stops, and the numbers feel tighter than expected.
Recently, a client in his seventies sat across from me and said, “I don’t have enough retirement income.” He had cut back to part-time work, and his monthly income dropped sharply. He had also received a large inheritance…. Read more
When Liquidity Becomes the Real Test of Your Portfolio
Imagine this: you’ve spent decades building a solid portfolio. It’s diversified, growth-focused, and designed to last a lifetime. Then life throws you a curveball, and suddenly you need cash tomorrow.
That’s when many investors discover a painful truth: being asset-rich doesn’t help if you can’t access your money without paying a steep price. … Read more
Keeping Up Can Cost You Everything in Retirement
The biggest threat to your retirement isn’t the stock market or taxes. It’s your neighbor’s Instagram feed.
After decades of advising American retirees in Israel, I’ve seen portfolios that should deliver comfort and security turn into sources of stress. The culprit often isn’t market volatility or taxes. It’s comparison. When retirees measure their success against neighbors or friends,… Read more
What to Do When the Market…and Your Stomach…Drops
A longtime client of mine, one who generally isn’t prone to panic, called me unexpectedly one afternoon. “I just saw a headline about the market dropping and I’m wondering if we’re in for another 2008.”
What he saw was a sharper-than-expected decline. No breaking news. No explanation. Just that sinking feeling: Did I miss something?… Read more
Why Talking About Money with Your Kids Pays Off
A few weeks ago, a man walked into my office carrying a folder full of paperwork. His father had passed away recently, leaving him heir to his sizeable account.
He sat down and said, “I don’t even know where to start. I never knew he was so rich. We never talked about this.”
It’s a moment I’ve seen many times…. Read more
How to Access Your U.S. Money in Israel without Paying a Fortune in Taxes
What happens when your retirement savings stay in America, but you move to Israel?
Many retirees feel stuck, unsure how to access their money or restructure their financial life without creating problems or additional taxes in either country. The good news is that with the right setup, your finances can support your life in Israel instead of adding stress. … Read more
The Market is Up, So Why is Your Account Down?
You wake up, check the news, and see the markets are soaring. Relief washes over you until you log into your account and notice your balance has dropped. Confusion turns to panic. How can the headlines say one thing while your portfolio tells a very different story?
This kind of confusion hits especially hard for Americans living in Israel who have U.S…. Read more
Why “How Much Is Enough?” Is the Wrong Retirement Question
Retirement planning is often framed around one question: “How much is enough?” But the better question might be: “What kind of life are you building and does your investment strategy support it?”
A surprising truth about retirement: many people do not slow down. They simply shift gears. Yet too often, financial plans do not evolve with them,… Read more
The Hidden Cost of Chasing “Forever” Investments
Many investors think buying property guarantees stability. But stability built on the wrong foundation can erode your wealth and your freedom.
A retired schoolteacher who moved to Israel after a lifetime in New York came to me with a familiar idea: use ₪800,000 in savings along with a mortgage to buy a small apartment in Jerusalem…. Read more
The Real Risk of Inheritance? Rushing the Decisions
Receiving an inheritance should feel like a relief, not a race. But for many families, the pressure to act fast turns a financial gift into a source of anxiety. Between tax forms, currency conversions, and well-meaning relatives offering advice, new inheritors often feel like they need to “do something” right away…. Read more