No one knows if or when there will be another market crash. Anyone who could accurately predict the ups and downs of the market on a consistent basis would make an absolute fortune.
Even if the market’s exact moves can’t be predicted, you can be sure that the market will take a hit sometime in the future…. Read more
This past week, my office phone rang several times with non-Americans inquiring about opening American brokerage accounts.
Given the hassles of dealing in some of the more popular offshore jurisdictions, and given the many benefits of keeping investments in the United States, these people were happy to see how they could easily invest through a U.S…. Read more
Can “Modern Portfolio Theory” increase your investment returns?
Recently, on The Goldstein on Gelt Show, I spoke with the inventor of Modern Portfolio Theory, Nobel Prize in Economics winner, Dr. Harry Markowitz.
Dr. Markowitz explained various aspects of Modern Portfolio Theory and its impact on the individual investor…. Read more
When receiving an inheritance, it’s important to avoid making tax mistakes. Certain tactics, such as opening a U.S. brokerage account (see below for an interactive tool) can help. Watch out for these mistakes:
Mistake #1 – Taking money out of an IRA
To maintain the tax-deferred status of an inherited IRA (Individual Retirement Account),… Read more
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
Though I often advise people to wait before investing an inheritance, sometimes you must move quickly.
When do you need to act?
If you inherited a risky position, you should consider liquidating it. For example, the grandfather who always managed the stock portfolio passes away, leaving large amounts of money invested in a few individual stocks…. Read more
Ever think about lowering your taxes with the strategy of tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of selling an investment at a loss and matching the loss against a gain of different security that you sold. By offsetting losses against gains, capital gain taxes are only paid on the net profits…. Read more
What should you do if you inherit a portfolio of stocks from your parents?
Should you sell inherited stocks?
To answer the question of whether you should sell inherited stocks, start by asking yourself whether you would buy these stocks if you had extra cash.
You have no moral or legal obligation to keep the positions just because your parents owned them…. Read more
It is common to feel emotional angst after receiving an inheritance. Inheritors may have doubts as to whether they are “allowed” to use the assets as they wish, or whether they somehow have to use them in a way the benefactor would have chosen to use them.
There are two ways to approach a sudden influx of money into your control:
1…. Read more
Non-Americans investing in the United States often use U.S. brokerage accounts. While it may seem counter-intuitive for a non-American to open an American brokerage account from overseas, here are two reasons why this is a good move.
