Blog
This blog discusses financial planning and wealth management topics that can help with money management for individuals, families and small businesses, as part of their overall retirement planning.
*Key topics will be: Investment Planning, Insurance Planning, Consumer Credit Management, Retirement Planning, Executive Compensation, Business Succession Planning, College Planning, Charitable Giving Strategies, Estate Planning, Investment Tax Strategies, and Market/Economic Updates.
August Markets, In a Nutshell
The Basics The 10-year Treasury yield has been on the rise in recent months, and investors are beginning to feel it. The S&P 500 had a bad month during August but had a nice rebound in the final week....
Read MoreNavigating Retirement Savings: 401(k) vs IRA
When it comes to planning for your golden years, deciding where to invest your hard-earned money can be a daunting task. With a myriad of options available, one question often arises: Should you prioritize contributing to an Individual...
Read MoreAugust Market Update - A Glimpse Into the Future
Stocks have climbed a formidable “wall of worry” since March. Events that would have shaken markets and maybe even precipitated a recession in the past, were instead treated as only mildly irritating speed bumps. Banking...
Read More3 Tips to Optimize Your 401(k)
Your 401(k). Yes, that vague retirement plan that does who knows what. It is a powerful wealth building and estate planning tool, but it must be utilized properly. Here are 3 tips to optimize your 401(k). Key points Contribute at least...
Read MoreJuly Market Update
Hello and welcome. In this update, I aim to provide some clarity on why a US economic recession has been approaching for what feels like eternity, as well as give an update on our economy and markets.Also, if you think our logo looks...
Read MoreShow All
Navigating Changes to Beneficiary IRA Rules
The Secure Act of 2019 changed many of the rules for retirement accounts, including the age at which Required Minimum Distributions must begin. The most significant changes affect inherited IRA beneficiaries. Here are the latest rules.
Read More
When should I do a Roth Conversion?
Learn about the different types of retirement accounts and how to optimize a Roth Conversion.
Read MoreAre We in a Housing Bubble?
The red-hot housing market continues at ridiculously high house prices for now. Can these continue? In this blog post I'll look at the latest trends and some historical data to provide some perspective on where we are at and where we...
Read MoreHow Safe is Your Money (Part II)
We all assume that when we deposit our money with a financial institution, whether that be a bank or a investment custodian, that our money is "safe". Generally, that assumption will hold true and you'll be able to sleep soundly at...
Read MoreHow Often Should You Check Your Investments' Performance ?
It seems like an unquestioned maxim of investing: "keep a close eye on your investments". The question is, how close is enough, and is it possible to be too focused on the daily vicissitudes of the stock market and fall prey to a...
Read MoreA Road Diverged, The Value of Compounding Interest
Saving, Investing and the Power of Compounding Interest “Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood…” Robert Frost As we move on in years, many of us often reminisce about a particular decision that led us to pursue a...
Read MoreHow Safe is Your Money?
When you think about the "safety" of your money, what goes through your mind? Do you have panicked visions of your advisor absconding with all of your life savings, a la Bernie Madoff? Do you fear that the bank or institution that...
Read MoreA Taxing Story: Capital Gains & Losses
Chris Rock once remarked, “You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.”1 That applies not only to income, but also to capital gains. Capital gains result when an individual sells an investment for an amount greater...
Read MoreDo THIS when you receive an inheritance!
When you receive an inheritance from the passing of a loved one, it can be overwhelming, intimidating, and stressful. Dealing with attorneys and CPAs may often leave you with more questions than when you walked into their office....
Read MoreShould You Pay Off Your Home Mortgage?
One of the most frequent questions from clients and friends, alike, is whether it makes sense to pay off a mortgage early, prior to retirement. As desirable as this might sound, it is worth considering carefully, especially here in...
Read MoreIs Market Volatility Friend or Foe?
December 2018 represented the worst December in the stock market since 1931. This was certainly an unwelcome surprise for investors. This development may seem especially extreme after the unusual calm we’ve had in the markets...
Read MoreCharity Begins at Home
If there’s one distinct characteristic to life in Napa Valley, other than superb wine, it would be the extraordinary generosity of its residents. In fact, having lived in four world renown cities prior to making my way to Napa in...
Read MoreRetiring in Comfort - Making the Numbers Work
Vern and Shelley Green finally reached the point in life they had long waited for- retirement. Vern had been an employee and an independent contractor all his life and between his 401K and IRAs he had managed to save $600,000. Shelley...
Read More
Are You Finding Tax Reform Taxing?
This is the time of year that many Napkins puzzle over tax strategy. This year will probably find vastly more taxpayers, along with a good share of the accounting community, perplexed by the many changes that went into effect as a...
Read MoreIs The Market About To Drop?
Pardon me for this brief interruption in our idyllic Napa Valley summer. I must admit it gets harder to reflect on investments when the only reflection I really care to see is that of my nose in a glass of chilled chardonnay as the sun...
Read More