“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
Although most of my conversations with clients center on helping them with their U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts, I like it when the conversation turns to what’s on our current reading list.
I’m always thrilled when people tell me that they read one of my books and appreciate when they review it on Amazon…. Read more
Many people are afraid to purchase bonds because they are concerned about interest rates. They are afraid that if rates move up in the future, they might miss out on the better return. While “buyer’s remorse” may be understandable when buying shoes, bonds often play an important part in a well-balanced income producing portfolio,… Read more
A retired woman recently sat with me for over an hour and she started describing the various accounts that she had in the United States, Europe, and Israel. When I asked her to describe her overall strategy for her total family portfolio, she was stumped.
If you don’t know where you’re going,… Read more
Growing up with a father who is a financial advisor, I learned a few things about handling money. My father’s insights help me with personal budgeting, and also with entrepreneurial skills in setting up a website that helps English-speaking olim deal with all the Hebrew forms, mail, and email they receive…. Read more
What is the purpose of your investment account?
While you may think everyone’s answer to this question is “to make money,” asset growth is not the only purpose of an investment portfolio.
It’s important to clarify your portfolio’s purpose, because certain investments are more suitable for achieving a particular goal than other investments…. Read more
The end of the year is a good time to review your financial plan. If your savings plan or the market as a whole has swerved off course, now is an opportune time to adjust accordingly. Here’s what to look for:
Saving Goals
Are your long-term and short-term goals the same as they were last year?… Read more
A client recently called me to discuss the stocks in her IRA (Individual Retirement Account).
“I know an IRA account is a good place for growth stocks,” she told me, “since any taxes on the growth are deferred until I withdraw the funds. I chose the individual stocks in the account because I believe in the strong fundamentals of the company and that the company will grow…. Read more
