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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.

Friday, September 1, 2023

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....

Thursday, August 10, 2023

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...

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

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...

Friday, July 28, 2023

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...

Friday, July 21, 2023

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...

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Tuesday, August 2, 2022

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.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Learn about the different types of retirement accounts and how to optimize a Roth Conversion.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Thursday, December 2, 2021

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...

Monday, September 13, 2021

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...

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

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...

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

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...

Monday, July 19, 2021

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...

Friday, July 16, 2021

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...

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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....

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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...

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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...

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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...

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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...

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

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...

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

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...