Financial

Tax Reform and Tax Preparation

As a new year approaches, many of us will reflect on the year that has passed. Personal and professional accomplishments may take center stage. We may take stock of any disappointments and recalibrate as 2019 approaches.

Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, extreme winds and tornadoes - they all have the potential to create treacherous conditions and cause devastation. 

Sometimes the best, most rigorously developed financial advice is so obvious, it’s become cliché. Yet, investors often end up abandoning this same advice when market turbulence is on the rise. Why the disconnect? Let’s take a look at five of the most familiar financial adages, and why they’re often much easier said than done.

If you claim status as a tax law–defined real estate professional who can deduct his or her rental property losses, your time record for the year must prove that you spent:

It’s almost Election Day in the US once again. For those who need a brief civics refresher, every two years the full US House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for reelection.

Young or old, wealthy or poor, online or in person… Nobody is immune from financial scams and identity theft slams. No matter who you are or how well-informed you may be, the bad guys are out there, daily devising new tricks for every fraud we fix.

Who Are They? Fraudsters and Thieves

In September 2017, about a year ago, a massive Equifax security breach became public knowledge. If there was a silver lining to this infamous event, it likely spurred more consumers to take more measures to protect their identities. Perhaps you’ve frozen your lines of credit, or you’re at least checking your credit reports more regularly these days.

As an investor, your happiness depends on having realistic expectations about returns and viewing market events in proper context. These two factors can drive your sense of financial well-being and influence your financial outcome.

With school back in session in most of the country, many parents are likely thinking about how best to prepare for their children’s future college expenses.

Now is a good time to sharpen one’s pencil for a few important lessons before heading back into the investing classroom to tackle the issue.

If there’s one thing you can count on in both life and investing, it's uncertainty. It’s why we save and invest to begin with. We save and invest today, hoping our money will grow. We act on our aspirations for a bright financial future - but we never know for sure.