Monthly Archives: August 2009

What To Do With My 401(k)

August 28, 2009 – 8:15 AM

It is a fact that in today’s business world, changing jobs and/or occupations is commonplace. As we are diligent about saving for retirement (you are diligent, aren’t you?) we usually make it a point to enroll in the company’s 401(k) plan as soon as we are allowed. While we are clear in the fact that saving within our 401(k) plan is a great conduit for saving toward retirement, most folks are not clear as to the rules and options about moving the funds out of the 401(k) plan… Continue reading

By Neal | Posted in Retirement | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

College Savings – Down To The Wire

August 21, 2009 – 9:40 AM

Tassels, caps, gowns and football season – sights that trigger high school students’ dreams of college – often signal a financial nightmare for parents facing college costs estimated to reach as high as $175,000 or more by many sources within the next few years for a 4 year education. Unfortunately, there is no miracle solution for financially strapped parents with only a few years to raise funds for their child’s college education, but there are several investment vehicles that can help to make this trying time a bit less stressful.

With children more than five years away from college… Continue reading

By Neal | Posted in Financial Planning | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Estate Planning For Pets

August 14, 2009 – 9:56 AM

When we do estate planning for our clients in our office, we will always talk about the pets of the household, and what will happen to them in the unlikely event of a premature death of the pet owner. Pets are people, too – if you think about how you treat your loving friend, and how you talk to and treat them. Of course, they’re not, but approximately 71.1 million households — 63% of the total — in the United States have pets, according to an American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. survey, and most are regarded as members of… Continue reading

By Neal | Posted in Estate Planning | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Profit From Your Losses

August 7, 2009 – 9:16 AM

Towards the end of the year, investors begin to size up the performance of their investments for the year. Our winning positions, both realized and unrealized fill us with great satisfaction while our losers sit there and stare us square in the face. Attempting to take advantage of your losses may help you overcome them both psychologically and financially.

First let’s cover the basics. Short-term capital gains and losses are incurred in a holding period of one year’s time or less. Long-term gains and losses are incurred over more than a one-year holding period. Short-term gains are subject to… Continue reading

By Neal | Posted in Tax | Tagged , | Comments (0)