If you’re reading this blog, you probably value financial planning. You may have even consulted a financial planner at Foster Group for advice to help protect your wellbeing, your children’s, and possibly your grandchildren’s. But when you’re gone, and the financial plan you’ve worked diligently to establish and uphold has run its course, will your heirs know how to continue in the way you paved for them? Do you know what...
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We recently held an event where we discussed planning for healthcare costs in retirement. In a survey conducted by Nationwide Retirement Worldwide, 62% of pre-retirees responded that they were “terrified” of what healthcare costs might do to their retirement assets. The point of our conversations at the event, and day-to-day with clients, is how to better manage the risks involved and, maybe even more importantly, to help reduce the anxiety...
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Investors, like gamblers, have always been faced with the question, “What potential loss are you willing to endure in pursuit of longer-term gain?” Unlike gamblers, who, as a group, have a long-term history of losing to the house, stock market investors, as a group, have a long-term history of positive total returns. 2016 started out with stock market declines around the globe. There are many explanations being offered, including these:
Many investors believe there may be a way to predict when to buy and sell securities. One theory behind this belief is referred to as “Mean Reversion” – which can be defined as the idea that higher-than-average returns are followed by a period of lower-than-average returns, and vice versa. The extension of this idea is that if you can identify when this unusually high or low return period will end,...
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We are continually inspired by your desire to be generous, and it is our privilege to help you find ways to realize your charitable objectives. Foster Group can help by simplifying the mechanics of giving and reducing the tax consequences of your gift, allowing you to maximize your charitable contributions. Giving appreciated shares of securities (stock, mutual funds, etc.) could be of benefit to you, especially if you happen to be...
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In our daily lives, we are faced with hundreds of choices. It’s easy to fixate on the “big” decisions, like making a career change, buying a different house, or adding to your family. Those are all decisions that demand extra consideration. But the “little” decisions we so casually make every day, can have a dramatic effect over the course of a lifetime. Specifically, when it comes to managing our personal finances...
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Academia and historical evidence have a wonderful way of combining to support a particular beliefs or concepts. Diversification is a sound principle that investors may strive for, yet many fail miserably in their pursuit, due either to lack of conviction or discipline. Dimensional Fund Advisors has drawn up another brief article soundly supporting the long-term benefits of diversification in the realm of wealth management. As the story goes, stay diversified. [pdfjs-viewer...
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Over the years, Foster Group has done a lot of writing about using appreciated shares to enhance the tax benefits of your charitable giving. But this time I’m saying, “Don’t do it!” Okay, actually, I’m saying, “There may be a better way.” On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the PATH act, which made permanent a key charitable giving tax incentive. This can be an excellent tool for...
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Over the weekend, I slipped on some ice and sprained my ankle. I have been hobbling around on crutches and constantly icing my ankle for the past few days. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband and some great friends who go out of their way to help me out. Pam Culp from the front desk has been driving me to work, refilling my water, and carrying my notebook to meetings...
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Here is a good read from Dimensional Fund Advisors on recent market volatility. They discuss the importance of volatility in capital markets. A quick look at historical January returns and what that means, if anything, for the rest of the year. Lastly, the importance for maintaining discipline with your investment decisions. [pdfjs-viewer url=/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Why-Should-You-Diversify.pdf viewer_width=600px viewer_height=700px fullscreen=true download=false print=true openfile=false] ...
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