Americans Aren’t Saving Enough for Retirement
We have just surpassed the six year mark for our current bull market and while many retirement nest eggs look a lot healthier than they did in 2009, the question that remains largely unanswered is whether they are healthy enough for most Americans to comfortably retire when and how they
How the Fiduciary Standard Protects You
In late February, President Obama gave a 17-minute speech at AARP’s headquarters about an issue that affects the retirement prospects of millions of Americans. In his speech he highlighted the lack of uniform standards and rules of conduct that require financial advisors to act in the best interests of their
Lessons to Learn from RadioShack’s Bankruptcy
Most of us over the age of 40 can probably remember a time where RadioShack played a significant role in bringing the latest in electronic goods to consumers. Emerging from humble beginnings as a specialty retailer for radio enthusiasts and hobbyists, RadioShack grew into the leading merchant of electronics in
Calculated Risk Beats Inflation’s Wealth Erosion
by Michael Gordon, The Suit Magazine If there is one trend that has remained constant since the nation’s emergence from the Great Recession’s market corrections of 2007 to 2009, it is that today’s investors do not merely desire transparent transactions from their financial advisers – they expect such. “People have
Using a Roth IRA to Fund Educational Expenses
I believe being a Financial Planner is the greatest occupation in the world (at least for me), and there are numerous reasons why I think that. One of the reasons near the top of the list is the opportunity to develop creative solutions that truly improve our clients’ lives. One
Facing Market Volatility by Revisiting Past Market Declines
Having the knowledge and foresight to understand that it “isn’t different this time,” and that we have experienced these conditions before may help you keep the discipline long enough to “wait until tomorrow” for market conditions to change.
The Folly of Five Star Mutual Fund Investing
When I began my career in the financial planning and investment advisory industry I worked for one of the large brokerage firms in downtown Toledo. As a trainee in the firm’s development program, I soon befriended another trainee. I will call him Nelson. Like me, Nelson was making a significant career
Last Minute Financial Planning for 2014
2014 is quickly drawing to an end, and before we know it the holiday season will be in high gear. Before you get caught up in all of the holiday celebrations and last minute shopping that goes along with the season, let us look at five steps you can take
Retirees Are Taking Social Security Later
The optimal age to begin taking Social Security benefits for retirees will depend on a number of factors and financial considerations. To help determine your optimal age to begin collecting Social Security benefits please give our office a call at 419-878-3934 to schedule a time to discuss your options.
Deferred-Income Annuities Get Favorable Tax Treatment
It wasn’t exactly Christmas in July, but investors got an early present from Uncle Sam in July when the Treasury Department and the IRS changed the tax treatment on deferred-income annuities. The favorable tax treatment now allows taxpayers to exclude the value of deferred-income annuities, also known as longevity annuities,
4 Basic Retirement Plans for Entrepreneurs
While there are other options available, I generally recommend one of four retirement plan types to entrepreneurs. All four of these plans are well suited to the needs of solo entrepreneurs, and some of them offer the flexibility to serve a small-business owner who brings on employees. The four plan
Letting Go of Prediction Addiction
Happy New Year! The telltale signs of the New Year are all around us. One of the classic New Year’s resolutions we hear about is someone’s renewed commitment to improving their health or to losing weight. If you belong to your local YMCA or have a gym or health club membership, you