Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
Do Exchange Traded Funds Belong in Your Investment Portfolio?
What is an ETF?
An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a security that owns a basket of assets (like stocks or bonds), the ownership of which is divided into shares. It is often compared with an “open-end mutual fund,” which is also a basket of assets. One of the main differences between the two,… Read more
Why Money Transfers Aren’t as Easy as They Used to Be
If you attempted a money transfer recently, you may have been surprised at the amount of documentation you were asked to provide.
Any financial institution can ask for proof as to why you’re moving money. They do this to make sure that they are in compliance with anti-money-laundering regulations.
Even law-abiding citizens may need to submit extra proof when they want to transfer funds from one financial institution to another,… Read more
What Happens When You File U.S. Taxes From Abroad?
American citizens living overseas often need to file U.S. taxes from abroad, even if they don’t owe any money. If you live in Israel, gathering the information you need to complete your taxes from Israeli banking and financial institutions can be tricky since foreign institutions don’t produce 1099 forms. So what is an American living abroad to do?… Read more
Beware of Losing Money in Bonds
While bonds are traditionally considered a safer, more conservative investment than stocks, it is possible to lose money in bonds. Yes, you read that correctly. In order to protect your principal while investing in bonds, be wary of the following:
Interest rate fluctuations
Bond prices decline when interest rates rise…. Read more
Is the Best Use Of a Lump Sum Income or Growth?
What should you do if you receive a lump sum, such as an inheritance, legal settlement, or pension payment? Should it be invested for growth or for income?
Invest for growth
A “growth investment” tries to increase the amount of money you have. Growth investments often entail some level of risk,… Read more
When is the Best Time to Let Go of Financial Responsibility?
Knowing the right time to let go of financial responsibility to a trusted individual is one of the biggest challenges that an investor may face.
Why should you want to let go?
As you get older, it becomes more difficult to keep on top of your finances. Most senior citizens,… Read more
Did You Get an Unpleasant Surprise From Your Stateside Broker?
When your stateside broker sent you a surprise letter, did it contain good news? Many Americans in Israel (and non-Americans, too) have received a letter from their U.S. investment firm or bank informing them that they need to close out their account. In some cases, the brokerage firm does not shut down the account,… Read more
Should Your American Assets Stay in the United States?
When making aliya, many olim move their American assets to Israel and convert all their dollars to shekels. However, there is a strong case to be made for leaving your dollars in America. Having helped Americans living in Israel open and maintain U.S. IRA and investment accounts for over 25 years,… Read more
Why Gender Bias is a Good Thing in Financial Planning
One area where gender bias isn’t discussed enough is in financial planning. Financial planning for women must be different than for men.
What do women need to know when planning their financial future?
Women work fewer years than men
Even though men are more involved with domestic duties than in previous generations,… Read more
Is Risk Management the Best Financial Strategy?
What is risk management, and how does it affect your investment decisions?
Every investment is risky
Every investment carries a chance of making a profit – and a risk of sustaining a loss. However, some investments are riskier than others. Generally speaking, the more profitable investments contain the most risk;… Read more