Profile Perspectives

Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.

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

How to Weigh Paying Off Your Mortgage Against Investing the Difference
November 10, 2026
Two stick-figure people stand on opposite sides of a chasm labeled “POOR COMMUNICATION.” Arrows point to “SPEAKER” on the left and “LISTENER” on the right. Both appear confused, with a question mark above one.

A couple sat across from me on a recent call, expecting the conversation about a pending shekel windfall to end with clarity. Instead, it ended with something harder to accept: There was no obviously right answer. They were about to receive a sizable tax refund in Israel and wanted to know whether to pay down their mortgage…. Read more

Why Shifting Money into Oil or Gold May Miss the Point
November 3, 2026
A flowchart shows a stressed person at the top, leading to icons of an oil barrel and a gold bar. Below, text reads “Shifting money into oil or gold may miss the point,” connecting to a house with a person and child labeled “True financial stability.”

A client called during a tense week, wanting to shift money into oil or gold. If prices spiked because of the conflict, he figured a big profit might take the edge off the stress everyone was feeling. We had just reviewed his portfolio. Nothing dramatic had changed. His investments were diversified,… Read more

Portfolio Drift: When Should You Rebalance?
October 27, 2026
Hand-drawn diagram of portfolio rebalancing: arrows connect “Target Allocation” (Stocks, Safer Assets) to “Market Change,” to “Portfolio Drift” shown as a pie chart overweight in Stocks, then to “Rebalance” (Stocks, Safer Assets). Two sketched figures—one thinking, one walking.

A client recently called with what sounded like a simple question: His CD (certificate of deposit) was maturing. What should he do with the money? 
But once we looked at the whole account, a more interesting question emerged. 
His portfolio had been designed to hold roughly half in stocks and half in more stable investments…. Read more

What Investors Get Wrong About the Fed and Interest Rates
October 20, 2026
Two stick figures labeled “THE PM” and “THE ARCHITECT” stand on opposite sides of a hill, pulling ropes tied to a large boulder labeled “MICROSERVICES” at the center. A note near the top says “YOU ARE HERE,” pointing to the peak.

When U.S. interest rates rise, people often say, “The Fed raised rates.” That is true, but only partly so. The Federal Reserve has enormous influence over short-term interest rates. When it raises its benchmark rate, borrowing becomes more expensive across the economy. Credit cards, business loans, and short-term financing often react quickly…. Read more

Estate Planning for Americans in Israel
October 13, 2026
A flowchart illustrates the challenges of cross-border estate planning when a U.S. brokerage account closes. It includes icons like a closed folder, a family, a will with a Star of David, a “gaps” graphic, and an empty box for unresolved outcomes.

A couple living in Israel recently learned that their U.S. brokerage firm would no longer serve clients abroad. Their immediate worry was practical: how would their children, some in Israel and some in the U.S., eventually access those accounts? 
Joint accounts 
Many Americans in Israel hold joint brokerage accounts with a spouse,… Read more

Before You Buy a Vacation Home, Look at The Real Numbers
October 6, 2026
Man with glasses and a kippah and a woman stand together looking worried; his arms are crossed, her hand at her chin. Behind them, a house with a tiled roof faces a pool, with cypress trees, hills, and an Israeli flag on a pole.

A couple I work with recently raised an idea they had been considering for a while: buying a vacation home in one of Israel’s more scenic areas. They pictured Shabbat dinners with the whole family, a private pool, and long weekends away from the routine. It sounded wonderful, but as we talked through the numbers,… Read more

How a CD Ladder Can Protect Your Retirement When You Live in Israel
September 29, 2026
Two people seated at an outdoor table, engaged in conversation. One holds papers, and the other gestures with an open hand. They are in a sunlit urban setting with trees and buildings lining the street.

A client called recently to review her accounts. She and her husband are both in their sixties. She still teaches full-time, and he’s retired. Their combined Israeli pensions are modest. They own their home outright and live simply. She wanted to know if they would be okay. 
Their U.S. account held over $700,000 in Certificates of Deposit (Bank CDs) structured as a ladder,… Read more

Israeli Investments and U.S. Taxes: What Americans Living in Israel Need to Know
September 22, 2026
Two adults at a table examine a paper labeled “TAXES,” looking concerned. The man holds his head while reading as the woman peers over his shoulder; a coffee mug rests on the table.

A couple sat across from me explaining that they had sold their home in Israel, downsized, and now had a significant sum sitting in their Israeli bank account. They also held another chunk of money in an Israeli investment portfolio they hadn’t examined in years. 
“We don’t really need the money right now,” the husband said…. Read more

How Market Headlines Push Investors Into Costly Portfolio Mistakes
September 15, 2026
Stick figure with a worried expression on a slope labeled “LONG-TERM INVESTMENT STRATEGY” as a boulder labeled “HEADLINES” rolls toward them. Motion lines and an arrow indicate downhill movement.

“Should we sell tech? Buy commodities? Move more money to savings?” A couple in their early 60s arrived at a portfolio review ready to rethink almost everything. Geopolitical tensions and market swings had turned ordinary fluctuations into warning signs. 
Yet their own situation was unchanged. They had diversified portfolios, stable income,… Read more

Moving From Bond Funds to CDs for Steady, Reliable Income
September 8, 2026
Flowchart titled “CDs vs. Bond Funds: What’s safer for your U.S. savings?” shows a man considering “Bond Funds” (shield icon) or “CDs”; a woman moves toward a “CD ladder” with 1‑year and 2‑year certificates.

A client called before leaving for vacation. His IRA held a short-term Treasury bond fund, and he had just wired in a sizable amount of cash. “What’s best to do with the new money?” he asked. 
We talked through the alternatives and he clearly stated that he wanted this portion to be conservative…. Read more