Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
What Parents Need to Do If They Want Rich Kids
Some people say the next best thing to being personally financially successful is having rich kids. However, teaching children good financial habits can be challenging. Here’s where Tom Corley and his book Rich Kids comes in handy. This is a great resource for teaching children (of all ages) about money…. Read more
The Surprising Results of an Investment Evaluation Tool
Note: After reading the following true story, try the free Investment Evaluation Tool to determine if you are invested more aggressively than you should be. Details for accessing the tool are below.
When I talk with people about how they should structure their U.S. investment accounts, one of the common questions I ask is how long do they plan to keep the money invested…. Read more
Is Panic the Best Reaction to a Drop in the Stock Market?
As an investment advisor who helps olim manage their American brokerage accounts, I’m often asked, “Why should I invest in the stock market if it drops?”
If you believe that the stock market only goes down, … Read more
How to Solve this Common Problem with American Brokerage Accounts
I often receive calls at my office from people who say that they have a problem with their American brokerage account because their U.S. investment advisor asked them to change firms. It’s not because they don’t meet the minimum balance requirements. Rather, it’s just because they have chosen to live overseas…. Read more
Why You Need to Think Big and Start Small to Get Rich
One of the most effective ways to achieve your financial goal and get rich is to develop good habits. Here’s what you need to know:
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Acquiring good financial habits does not happen overnight. First, you need to decide what you want to change,… Read more
What You Need to Know About Blended Families
Many second marriages are not just about two people, as they create blended families. This situation raises various questions about child support, how to divide household bills, and inheritance issues. To ensure a smooth financial union, make sure to discuss these issues before the actual ceremony takes place.
Sign on the dotted line
A financial prenuptial agreement detailing which assets belong to whom and which funds will be used for specific purposes such as children’s college funds and weddings is critical in second marriages…. Read more
What Women Need to Know About Personal Finance
Regardless of the more modern way people look at gender, there are significant differences in how men and women should invest their money.
Here’s why:
Women’s pensions tend to be smaller
Women’s pension payouts tend to be lower than men’s payouts, because most women work fewer hours and have lower salaries than their male counterparts…. Read more
What is the Best Way to Transfer Dollars to Israel?
When clients ask to transfer dollars from their U.S. investment account to their Israeli bank, the details they must provide sometimes take them by surprise.
Living in a different country from your assets means that money transfers are necessary to meet your cash-flow needs. Following procedures properly can expedite the process…. Read more
When is the Right Time to Claim Social Security?
American citizens living in Israel can claim Social Security benefits if they put enough “quarters” into the system. At what age should American-Israelis claim Social Security?
Waiting may be worthwhile
The youngest age to claim Social Security is 62. While retiring early and claiming benefits may seem tempting, the monthly payments received at age 62 are significantly lower than if you claimed at full retirement age (around 66)…. Read more
What You Need to Do After You Inherit an IRA
If you receive an inheritance, it might come in the form of property, a bank account, or brokerage account. But what if you receive an inheritance from someone’s individual retirement account (often called an “IRA”), known as a beneficiary IRA?
IRAs are different from regular brokerage accounts
A regular brokerage account is normally structured as either an “individual” or a “joint” account,… Read more