Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
Inherited a U.S. Portfolio? Why the Structure May No Longer Fit
A woman called recently about a retirement account she had inherited. She mentioned Warren Buffett’s advice about simplicity and low-cost index funds, then asked whether she should restructure what she owned. But the real issue surfaced quickly. She was holding about 30 individual stocks, most of them small positions. She had never chosen any of them. … Read more
When Fear of Rising Rent in Israel Leads to Riskier Financial Decisions
A client paused during our conversation and admitted what had been driving her thinking for months. “A lot of what’s behind this is fear,” she said. “Fear that eventually rent will go so high I won’t have anywhere to go.” She had been researching land purchases, imagining that owning property would solve the anxiety she felt about rising housing costs in Israel…. Read more
Balancing Risk and Reward in Inherited Investments
A client recently asked me about an inherited IRA that was sitting almost entirely in a money market fund. The returns were modest, and the client wondered whether it made sense to stay the course or shift toward something with more growth potential. It is a question that comes up often among Americans living in Israel who manage U.S…. Read more
When Credit Card Debt Beats Market Returns
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
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
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
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
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
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
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