Trust is an important component in a successful marriage. Sadly, many couples grapple with financial infidelity, sometimes with devastating results.
Here are some of the most common types of financial trust issues couples face:
Secret funds – Sometimes one spouse hides funds from the other in a secret bank account,… Read more
Have you ever received an unexpected email from a friend asking you to wire him money because he’s stranded in Spain? If so, his email has probably been hacked. It happens all the time, and next time you might be the one at risk.
The two most crucial things you should do when someone hacks into your email account are:
Check your money
If you think you’ve been hacked,… Read more
Unfortunately, very few new arrivals in Israel are lucky enough to have a great job lined up for them when they get off the plane. Rather, the vast majority of new olim need to learn Hebrew, set up their homes, and adjust to a new culture. Olim who are around retirement age may have a hard time meeting a similar income level to what they had back in the Old Country…. Read more
A middle-aged couple that recently made aliya told me that they were concerned about how to handle their IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) in America. They thought that the only choices were to leave these assets with a broker in a different time zone or else transfer the funds to their Israeli shekel account. … Read more
Some readers were surprised by my piece published in The Jerusalem Post and on Profile Perspectives called, “The Most Important Thing to Do Before You Retire.” In it, I argued that you should try to eliminate all debt, including mortgages, before quitting work.
One reader wrote: “Doug,… Read more
Some investors’ fear of losing money compels them to completely avoid the stock market and other volatile investments. This phenomenon is often called “loss aversion.”
People suffering from loss aversion will sometimes wait until they see the market has gone up a lot, and then they invest. They forget about history and just believe that the economy will continue strengthening…. Read more
Many readers have recently contacted me because they received a letter from their U.S. brokerage firm informing them that either “You can no longer purchase additional shares of mutual funds in your account,” or “We will no longer provide investment advisory services to you and/or you may only enter liquidating orders or non-solicited orders in your account.”
This letter is not a result of new American legislation;… Read more
When I started my career as a financial planner, my mother, who was also a licensed stock broker, gave me this important piece of advice: “Just listen to what the clients are saying and let them talk. Then, it will become obvious what investment is appropriate for them.”
The importance of listening to what others have to say is vital in so many fields and professions,… Read more
One of the easiest ways to diversify your portfolio is to invest in a mutual fund. A mutual fund is like a basket in which lots of investors place their money and then that single large account is managed by a team of professionals. There are mutual funds that specialize in stocks,… Read more
Though the difference between retirement planning and all-inclusive financial planning may seem slim, people often plan too much for one target.
If you focus excessively on your future retirement, you might forget that you have other bills and goals before then. Obviously, the less money you spend today will mean the more money you’ll have tomorrow…. Read more
