How to Keep the Premium Tax Credit While Making Over $100,000
In Charleston and Myrtle Beach, clients and potential clients often assume the Affordable Care Act (ACA) only helps low earning individuals and families. This is far from the case. When using proper financial planning strategies, some families can make up to $239,000 and still qualify for the healthcare subsidy. Over 10 million Americans utilized Affordable […]
What Is Slowing the Economy and Why it Matters to Investors
By James Liu, CFA Some investors and economists have been worried about a recession for some time. This is only natural after over a decade of steady economic growth and the spectacular rise of both stocks and bonds. On the one hand, the economy is still quite healthy by many measures, especially based consumer spending and […]
Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance?
With nursing home care running north of $68,000 per year, many families who have a “comfortable retirement” could find themselves facing the prospect of spending down a large chunk of their savings and investments should the need for nursing home care arise. Without long-term care insurance some will find their only option may be to […]
Market Review – What’s on the Radar for the Second Half of 2019 and Slight Changes in Stock Portoflios
It’s been a stellar start to the year. The S&P 500 has risen nearly 20%–crossing the 3,000 mark for the first time on June 12th, 2019. Stock market valuations are getting a bit high and investor confidence remains unchecked. While corporate earnings growth is slowing. And as a contrarian indicator, investors remain very upbeat about the […]
What is My Social Security Widow’s Benefit?
Often, navigating the Social Security Administration’s rules can be complex and confusing. None more so than trying to determine a surviving spouse’s social security benefit. Nearly every couple will face this problem at some point. Timing is everything regarding social security surviving spouse benefits. The filing date alone—when you decide to claim social security and […]
The 10th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Don’t Keep Up with the Joneses
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we discuss how lifestyle creep can lead to poor financial decisions and possibly ruin; and how keeping what really matters to us in life in the forefront of our financial lives can steer you away from conspicuous consumption. “Money has never made man happy, nor will […]
How to Lower Your Income Tax Bill
Okay– you just completed your income tax return for last year. You want to file it away and not worry about taxes until next year, but before you do– take a look at your completed return to identify ways you can save tax dollars next year. Income tax planning can add to your future […]
The 9th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Open a Taxable Investment Account
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we discuss when to open a taxable investment account and how to strategize the location of your investment vehicles based on account taxability characteristics. Once you’ve filled up all your tax-deferred and tax-free investment accounts, it’s time to start paying Uncle Same (now) to invest. The […]
The 8th Financial Commandment for Millennials: Paying Down “Normal” Debts
Part of Oak Street Advisors’ 10 Financial Commandments for Millennials series, we go through the advantages of paying down common and often necessary consumer debts such as car loans, mortgages, and student loan obligations. If you’ve made it to the 8th Commandment congrats, you have established a strong financial foundation; we also know you’ve paid off […]
Four Inevitable Trends for Investors
Over the course of my thirty-year career in the financial services industry I have seen and continue to hear many investment theses. Some brilliant, some not so much so. I have also witnessed a number of changes that in retrospect were obvious and inevitable. The personal computer revolution was one of the first. I recall […]
