Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
Should You Go “Paperless” with Your Account Statements?
Are you drowning under the paperwork related to your U.S. brokerage account? Securities regulations require investment companies to provide a great deal of information to their clients. This transparency is ultimately meant to help the consumer. However, if you are like many people, you toss the paperwork without actually reading it…. Read more
How to Withdraw from Savings and Still Be Rich
Typically, retirement income consists of pensions from work and the government (If you’re an American receiving Social Security and an Israeli pension, see our free video webinar on the “Windfall Elimination Provision” that will cut your Social Security payments).
For many retirees, pensions aren’t enough to meet their needs…. Read more
How to Handle Small Losses in Your Portfolio
If you discover a small loss in your portfolio, what should you do?
The first thing is not to get discouraged. Not every loss is necessarily a bad thing.
A chess idea that can make you a better investor
Once, when I played a game of chess with my children’s chess coach,… Read more
A Nobel Prize Winner’s Strategy for Success
The problem with a lot of financial advertising these days is the “one size fits all” attitude. Financial companies market their product to everyone, even though we’re all different.
How to find the right investment
Here’s what Nobel Prize winner of Economics Robert Merton personally told me: goal-based investing is the best formula to reach financial success…. Read more
Do Americans Need to Report Rental Income From Foreign Property?
Do Americans need to report rental income from foreign properties to the IRS?
The answer is yes. American citizens must include all earned income regardless of its source on their American tax reports. Additionally, if foreign rental income is paid into a non-U.S. bank account, depending on the bank account’s balance,… Read more
Why the Size of a Company Matters
When working with people to set up and handle their U.S. brokerage accounts (including IRAs, joint and custodial accounts), we’ll often consider “market capitalization,” or “market cap,” which refer to the size of a company. Investing in different size companies carries different levels of risk and potential for growth and dividends…. Read more
Getting More Cash Flow from Your Investments
People often buy bonds to increase their returns. With so many bond-buying strategies available it’s critical for you to know what types of bonds you should buy.
When you should pay more for bonds
A premium bond costs more than its par (face) value, which means, for example, that you might pay $1100 for a bond that will only pay you back $1000 when it matures…. Read more
Does Having a Diversified Portfolio Really Matter?
Many financial planners advise having a well-diversified portfolio, meaning that you should spread your assets between various types of investments rather than putting all of your eggs into one basket. The definition of “diversification” is important, since your portfolios may not be as diversified as you think.
Why diversify?
The purpose of diversification is to decrease the portfolio’s level of risk while still accruing a healthy return…. Read more
How to Open a U.S. Brokerage Account If You Live Overseas
While having a local bank is important, there are many advantages to basing your investment account in America, even if you live and work abroad. Americans living overseas, and even non-Americans citizens, can benefit from having an American brokerage account.
How you can benefit too
Many folks appreciate the transparency and efficiency of the American markets (and possibly lower transaction fees) and the opportunity to profit from worldwide markets in both dollar and foreign currencies…. Read more
Three Simple Steps for Managing Your Investments
Are you careful or impulsive?
If you make a spur-of-the-moment decision instead of carefully planning your next move, you may end up someplace that you wish you weren’t. This is true in many aspects of life, including investing.
It’s easy to make a decision based on fear of losing money rather than looking at all the facts…. Read more