Facts of life: Most retirees will be single for some period of time, and most of those singles will be women. Throughout the life cycle, financial planning for singles differs from planning for couples. Obviously, there is only a single set of assets to work with, and no surviving spouse to plan for. Less obviously, […]
Read MoreMonth: May 2019
Steady as She Goes
There will be a two-week hiatus in the Weekly Update schedule. Regular updates will return on June 17th. “Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you, because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.” ~ Bill Gates Recent developments in the trade negotiations have surprised many about the speed with which a […]
Read MoreThe Federal Estate Tax Exemption Doubled. Now What?
PUT YOUR BENEFICIARIES FIRST The traditional “hot button” that has motivated people to see their lawyers about estate planning is taxation. Death taxes, such as inheritance and estate taxes, federal taxes, and state taxes have taken a notorious toll on unplanned estates over the years. With sound planning, that burden can be minimized or even […]
Read MoreFree and Open Trade
The markets have been jolted by raised tensions in the current trade negotiations. Most economists agree the best trade policy is free trade, with no tariffs, no barriers to entry, and no subsidies. Free markets and global trade have proven to be the best way to promote global prosperity. But we were a long way […]
Read MoreKeeping a Family Business in the Family
One of the most important responsibilities we have when helping families with closely held businesses is to help them realize potential estate planning opportunities and/or problems. A classic example is with the Green Bay Packaging Inc. that was founded in 1933 by George Kress. The firm manufactures corrugated packaging, folding cartons, coated labels, and related […]
Read MoreMarket centered vs client centered
Fight the perverse human urges to react to market movements. When stock indexes are making new highs, as they did several weeks ago, many feel the urge to get on board. When stock prices are moving down, the all too common impulse is to sell before prices move even lower. The evidence which proves such […]
Read MoreAsk a Trust Officer: Stock Market Highs
Dear Trust Officer: The S&P 500 stock index has reached new highs. Should I consider selling now? — Prosperous but worried DEAR PROSPEROUS BUT WORRIED: Passing a stock index milestone is not a signal to buy or sell. However, it does focus attention on the market, and it may cause some investors to evaluate their […]
Read MoreFundamental Investing
It was reported a record breaking 43,000 people attended Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha on Saturday. I have not seen a count for this year’s meeting but in 2018, Yahoo Finance, who streams the meeting live, estimated 35 million viewers tuned in to watch the event online. Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger must be […]
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