A retired couple met me in my Jerusalem office and within minutes of sitting down, it was clear that they each had drastically different views about how to handle their retirement nest egg. The husband wanted to invest heavily in the stock market and the wife wanted more conservative investments to protect their nest egg from breaking…. Read more
Personal Finance
Americans and Mutual Funds – What You Need to Know
Are you having difficulty buying American mutual funds?
Recently, many people contacted me after receiving a letter from their existing American brokerage firm saying, “You can no longer purchase shares in U.S. mutual funds.”
Who says you can’t buy shares in certain U.S. mutual funds?
Ultimately, the compliance division (lawyers) of the mutual fund companies must decide where they want to do business…. Read more
Are You Worried About Your Stocks and Market Risk?
If the market goes up, and your stocks make a profit, do you still need to worry about stocks and market risk?
Some folks would say, “Awesome!” But others would worry and think, “What goes up must come down.” Worse yet, people with appreciated stocks realize that if they sell their positions in order to lower the risk,… Read more
Will Your Money Take You to the Moon and Back?
I just saw some of the fantastic “selfies” sent back from Space IL’s Beresheet. As of this writing, it is set to land on the moon on April 11th.
While this is certainly a giant step in Israeli aviation history, it is also a powerful lesson in the power of small steps and compound interest…. Read more
Do These 4 Things to Have a Financially Successful Retirement
To make sure you have a financially successful retirement in Israel, follow these easy tricks.
- Have an emergency fund. No matter how much planning you do, something will likely come up: a health care emergency, a child in need, a house repair, etc. Many folks must scramble with each surprise.
The Four Critical Times to Speak with a Financial Professional
“I wasn’t sure if I should speak with a financial professional,” a new client explained, “because I didn’t think there was anything you could do.” She continued, “But then I read your article, Retirees Fired by Their Brokers in America, on the same day that I got a letter from my brokerage firm telling me that since I live in Israel,… Read more
How to Claim an Inheritance from Abroad
If you’ve ever tried to claim an inheritance from abroad, you know the confusion can feel overwhelming. While the deceased may have meant for you to be an heir, the funds don’t magically end up in your account. You’ve got to deal with quite a lot of paperwork and plenty of notarized signatures…. Read more
Retirees Fired by Their Brokers in America
More and more Americans living in Israel have recently “been fired” by their brokers in America. Their advisors, with whom they may have worked for decades, have informed them that their brokerage firm will no longer service accounts with non-American addresses. Although people of all ages have been ousted, retirees have been hit the hardest…. Read more
Do you want steady income from your dollar deposits?
While some people set up their investment portfolio in order to grow their bottom line, others want their investments to provide a steady income.  If you want your dollar deposits to provide income, take the following three steps:
#1. Create an “income oriented” financial plan
Look at the overall economy when creating your financial plan…. Read more
Should You Have Bonds in Your Investment Portfolio?
The past few weeks I’ve written a lot about bonds and considered whether bonds should be in your investment portfolio.  Many people love the income and relative safety bonds provide, but other people hate them.  It’s important to understand why investors love and hate bonds. 
Predictable interest rate
LOVE: Folks who despise uncertainty buy bonds because of the “fixed income” schedule…. Read more









