Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
What Every U.S. Citizen Living in Israel Should Know
If you are an American citizen living in Israel you have tax reporting requirements to the IRS.
You need to report your foreign accounts
You must report your accounts with an FBAR form, which you send to the IRS. Neglecting to report information leaves you open to stiff fines and penalties…. Read more
Did You Inherit Your Broker With the Inheritance?
If you receive an inheritance, make sure that you only receive financial assets. Just because you inherit assets, doesn’t mean that you need to use the same financial advisor as the deceased did. Before you inherit someone else’s financial advisor, consider the following points:
Put everything under one umbrella
Consolidating your assets,… Read more
Are Bonds a Good Investment for You?
Bonds are a very popular investment, but before you buy any, let me tell you waht I share with my clients about them.
Think of a bond as a loan between you and a company or government. Assuming all goes normally, here’s how it looks:
1. You lend them a sum of money…. Read more
How to Increase Income from Your Portfolio
Recently, a retired widow met with me to discuss her concerns about having enough income from her investments. I reviewed her portfolio and made some suggestions about restructuring her investments to get predictable income. Here are some ideas I brought up:
Consider bonds
Bonds pay a set amount on a fixed schedule,… Read more
Important: How to Choose the Best Power of Attorney
Have you thought of giving someone power of attorney over your finances?
Contrary to the popular myth that a power of attorney (POA) is only necessary for old people, there are times when you may need to give a trusted individual discretion over your finances regardless of your age.
When do you appoint a power of attorney?… Read more
What’s the Best Tool for Making Money in Your Portfolio?
Investors frequently diversify their portfolios between stocks, bonds, and cash in order to find the best tool for making money. Some people also diversify between different sectors of the economy, and invest in different countries around the world. However, an important but often overlooked type of diversification is active and passive management. … Read more
Husband Or Wife: Who Should Manage The Money?
At a recent client meeting, the husband asked, “Why don’t you make all of the decisions in managing our money?” I answered:
“Investment advisors don’t take discretion”
In Israel, there are two different licenses: investment advisor and money manager. As an investment advisor, my job is to talk to people about their needs and educate them about the possibilities…. Read more
Confessions of a Financial Advisor: What I Do With My Own Money
My clients often ask me how I manage my own money. I’m happy to answer this question.
Not everyone should invest the same way
Investments aren’t a matter of “one size fits all.” All folks have their own personal circumstances, risk tolerance, and goals. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend you copy my portfolio because my needs are probably different from yours…. Read more
Why You Need to Watch Your Investment Account
When you go to an investment advisor and open a brokerage portfolio, who actually watches your money?
The answer depends on the type of account you open. Generally, investment accounts are handled by a team: an investment advisor, money manager (if selected), and you. Each plays a different role, and it’s important to understand the different functions…. Read more
Should You Invest Through Your Israeli Bank?
The title of this article is a rhetorical question. You may not have a choice… many Israeli banks no longer provide investment services for accounts held by American taxpayers.
To be compliant with new American regulations, many Israeli banks no longer open investment accounts for Americans. While dual American-Israelis can continue with banking and checking services,… Read more