Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
How Many Financial Advisors Should You Have?
A retired woman recently sat with me for over an hour and she started describing the various accounts that she had in the United States, Europe, and Israel. When I asked her to describe her overall strategy for her total family portfolio, she was stumped.
If you don’t know where you’re going,… Read more
What Israeli Young Adults Don’t Know About Money
Growing up with a father who is a financial advisor, I learned a few things about handling money. My father’s insights help me with personal budgeting, and also with entrepreneurial skills in setting up a website that helps English-speaking olim deal with all the Hebrew forms, mail, and email they receive…. Read more
Three Goals of Investing – Which One is Yours?
What is the purpose of your investment account?
While you may think everyone’s answer to this question is “to make money,” asset growth is not the only purpose of an investment portfolio.
It’s important to clarify your portfolio’s purpose, because certain investments are more suitable for achieving a particular goal than other investments…. Read more
3 Financial Moves to Make Before the End of the Year
The end of the year is a good time to review your financial plan. If your savings plan or the market as a whole has swerved off course, now is an opportune time to adjust accordingly. Here’s what to look for:
Saving Goals
Are your long-term and short-term goals the same as they were last year?… Read more
Why is it Difficult to Follow Financial Advice?
A client recently called me to discuss the stocks in her IRA (Individual Retirement Account).
“I know an IRA account is a good place for growth stocks,” she told me, “since any taxes on the growth are deferred until I withdraw the funds. I chose the individual stocks in the account because I believe in the strong fundamentals of the company and that the company will grow…. Read more
What Married Men Need to Know About Money
This isn’t meant to be a sexist rant. Rather, the following is a common refrain I’ve heard in my ~30 years as a financial professional.
Recently, a retired woman told me, with tears in her eyes, that when her husband died she was completely helpless to handle her own money. She told me,… Read more
What Tax Might Take 40% of Your Assets One Day?
Careful planning addresses two major points: what happens to your money while you’re alive, and what happens to your money after you pass away.
In my work as a financial advisor helping Americans who live in Israel with their U.S. investments, I see many who neglect the second aspect, estate planning…. Read more
What People Mistakenly think Financial Success Is
Many people think that they don’t need a financial plan. They think that being able to avoid overdraft means financial success.
While avoiding debt is important, other steps are necessary to build a secure financial future. Creating a workable financial plan is one of the best ways to improve your finances…. Read more
Three Tips for Managing an Inheritance
In my job as a financial professional helping Americans living in Israel with their U.S brokerage accounts, I regularly receive calls from people who just received an inheritance and don’t know what to do with it.
The first three things you should do after receiving an inheritance are:
Take a step back
Many emotions surround an inheritance…. Read more
Why You (Might) Have Bad Financial Habits
Children learn from watching their parents, so when you interact with money, you’re teaching the next generation some pretty important lessons, for better or for worse.
Teach by example. If your children see that you only spend what you have and are careful to save and donate, they will copy your good financial habits…. Read more