Profile Perspectives

Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.

Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.

When Credit Card Debt Beats Market Returns
May 5, 2026
A flowchart shows a person surrounded by four labeled boxes. The boxes read: "Credit Card Debt" with a credit card image, "Avoid Inaction" with a sitting figure, "Pay Off Debt" with cash, and "Investment Returns" with a graph. Arrows connect the boxes in order.

A client called about a maturing bank deposit (CD). She had significant cash available and wanted to discuss reinvestment options. But halfway through the conversation, she paused and asked about something else: credit card debt she’d been carrying for months. 
She hesitated before bringing it up. The debt wasn’t from careless spending…. Read more

Helping Family with Money? The Biggest Risk Isn’t the Market
April 28, 2026
A woman writes in a notebook at a wooden table while two men sit on a couch behind her talking. A sealed white envelope and a ceramic mug rest on the table, suggesting a family discussion about finances in a home living room.

If you want to help a family member financially, writing a check could be the worst way to do it. Once money is given outright, control is gone. And with it goes your ability to protect the person you’re trying to help. 
This situation may arise after a property sale, inheritance,… Read more

When Your Investments Become Your Children’s Inheritance
April 21, 2026
Orthodox Jewish couple standing on a Jerusalem street lined with stone buildings. The man, wearing glasses and a knitted kippah, looks ahead with a serious expression while the woman in a dark headscarf rests her hand on his chest and looks down, both appearing concerned.

A client stopped as he reviewed his account statement. We had just discussed trades, shifting from an individual stock to index funds, taking a tax loss, and rebalancing. Then he commented, almost casually, “It’s all for the kids anyway.” It was a new realization for him.  
For six years, we had focused on long-term growth,… Read more

When a Safe Investment Ends, the Real Risk Begins
April 14, 2026
Concerned man looking at $50,000 cash stack with question mark, representing uncertainty after a CD or investment matures

A client called me last week. His $50,000 CD (Certificate of Deposit) had matured, and while that felt like a win, he didn’t know what to do next. 
“I don’t want to just leave it sitting there,” he said. “But I also don’t want to mess this up.” 
That kind of uncertainty is more common than you might think…. Read more

Managing Cash After a Home Sale in Israel
April 7, 2026
Managing post-sale cash for Americans in Israel: a simple illustration of a person stepping off a pile of rocks while holding an Israeli shekel coin, moving toward a bag labeled “U.S.” with a dollar sign, representing shifting funds after a sale.

A retiree in Israel recently sold his Jerusalem home and deposited two million shekels into a bank account. He kept additional cash at hand for potential family assistance, unsure how best to handle the funds long-term. When we spoke, he admitted he felt stuck, worrying about making the wrong decision with the money and choosing to park it safely for now.  … Read more

Inherited U.S. Assets While Living in Israel? Read This Before You Act
March 31, 2026
Man holding a folder labeled “U.S. Assets” looks uncertain at a fork in the road, with signs reading “Now” and “What?” under a heading that says “You inherited U.S. assets."

Inheriting money should feel like a blessing not a burden. But for Americans living in Israel, a U.S.-based inheritance can bring more stress than security. Instead of clarity, many people face a whirlwind of tax traps, frozen accounts, and decisions they don’t feel ready to make. 
A potential client recently called me in that exact position…. Read more

Retirement Income: Why Living Only on Interest May Hold You Back
March 24, 2026
An older Jewish man wearing a knitted kippah sits at a wooden dining table in a bright home, studying financial papers. A calculator, coffee mug, and reading glasses rest on the table as he reviews the documents with a focused expression.

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
March 17, 2026
Cartoon illustration of a worried investor holding financial papers next to a board labeled liquidity with a falling chart and money bag, symbolizing difficulty accessing cash from investments.

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
March 10, 2026
An older man sits at a table studying a financial chart with a worried expression, resting his hand on his chin. A large zigzag arrow divides the scene, showing on the other side a smiling retired couple on vacation near a cruise ship and seaside buildings.

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
March 3, 2026
Illustration of a worried man sitting at a desk looking at a computer screen showing a sharp market decline, with storm clouds overhead symbolizing financial stress and uncertainty.

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