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.
Money woes are generally not due to a market gone awry or a low salary. The number one cause of most money problems is bad financial habits.
Do you spend without tracking what is leaving your wallet, neglect to make regular deposits in savings, and overlook regular financial reviews and discussion of financial goals with your partner?… Read more
“Is it risky?” is one of the first questions you should ask about a new investment. Everyone wants investments with low risk and high returns, but it’s not always realistic. And most importantly, we all have a different feeling about risk.
A great way to test whether your level of risk is appropriate is whether you sleep well at night!… Read more
Lots of people buy “index funds,” a type of mutual fund with components that track a segment of the market (like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the price of gold, or even a specific country’s stock exchange).
Many people, too, often benchmark their own returns against the popular indices. Index funds are popular investments since they provide broad market exposure with relatively low management costs…. Read more
As a financial advisor, I’m often asked how to take best advantage of a strong dollar.
A lot depends on whether you are looking at the short or long term.
Short-term ideas to get more for your dollar
If you are looking at short-term ways to take advantage of a strong dollar,… Read more
