How Will Wealth Architects Help Navigate a US Default?
May 22, 2023
Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen daily stories about the United States’ “debt ceiling” and whether the US might default on its debt. We’ve been working on a debt-ceiling explainer, but a recent conversation with a client has changed our focus.
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First Quarter Review and Year in Review 2022 Part 2: Bonds
Apr 25, 2023
Last quarter we reviewed 2022 equity returns. Although most equity indices went down last year, we saw that diversifying stock portfolios by adding small and value stocks likely helped blunt the bear market blow.¹ Today we’d like to follow up by reviewing bond returns of 2022. But first, a quick look at the capital-market returns from this past quarter.
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Outliving a Life Partner: Early Preparation Provides Comfort When You Need it Most
Apr 21, 2023
The death of a loved one is a subject many of us avoid thinking about until we must. But however unpalatable it may feel to get you and your life partner’s affairs in order now, prior to an unexpected death or terminal illness, it becomes significantly more difficult after the fact. By preparing in advance, you and your partner are doing the ultimate favor for your future selves. You are offering each other some relief and an improved state of mind during what will likely be a painful and overwhelming time.
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Asset Protection & Estate Planning for Non-U.S. Citizens
Mar 28, 2023
I have found non-U.S. citizens are often inadequately informed about the repercussions U.S. and international estate and tax laws can have on their assets and overall estate. Sometimes, when I bring up this topic with clients, they realize they have not planned sufficiently and they get stressed. I want to offer some peace of mind for those of you in this scenario: while these are complex issues, there are experts who can walk you through this process and help you put a plan in place to protect your assets and estate.
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Financial Well-being: 12 Tips for Young Adults & Their Parents
Mar 16, 2023
1. Put in place an advance health care directive (AHCD) when you reach the age of majority For any adult experiencing a medical crisis or even non-critical need, not having an advance health care directive in place could cause stressful, nightmarish issues for the patient and their loved ones. Due to the HIPAA Privacy Rule,
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Designing for a Wealthier (and Longer) Life
Feb 27, 2023
The current life expectancy for adults in the U.S. is around 76 years old.¹ We have gained roughly 25 years of additional life expectancy in this country over just the last century. This is an amazing statistic when we think of how our lives have expanded in such a short period of time. For some
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The FAANGs Bite Back
Jan 24, 2023
In 2013, financial TV host Jim Cramer popularized the acronym “FANG” referring to four large tech companies: Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google. He grouped them because they had experienced outsized market gains. In 2017, commenters added Apple to the group and referred to the five companies as “FAANG” or “the FAANGs.” Although the long-term returns for these companies are solid, investors who piled into them based on the recent past have been treated to grievous losses.
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2022: Year in Review
When is a “Bear Market” not a Bear Market?
Technically, a bear market occurs when stocks lose 20% or more of their value from top to bottom.³ But not all stocks go down in a bear market. Thus, when pundits refer to a “Bear Market,” they refer to a drop in the value of one or more major stock indices. Today we’ll examine the returns from other areas of the US market and explain why, despite the headlines, not all investors faced a bear market in 2022.
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The Breadwinner Dynamic: Achieving Balance & Equity in a Financially Disparate Partnership
Nov 30, 2022
Many of my clients earn significantly more money than their partners. In my work, I’ve witnessed relationships fraught with tension over this. It can breed insecurity, resentment and power struggles. I’ve also had clients who have worked out a healthy balance and mindset. They’ve successfully done (and do) the work to maintain their version of a fair and equal partnership, despite unequal incomes.
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