Blog

By: Patrick R. Cote CFA, CFP®

What the heck is going on with interest rates?  You might have noticed that after years of being extremely low, they started to creep up in 2022 but then just took a big drop back again over the last couple of weeks.  What does it all mean, and how does it impact you?

^{BY: SUSAN POWERS}

I recently hosted an evening with friends, food and wine where we discussed the current state of markets, the unique needs of women investors and the importance of aligning your investments with your goals.

The audience was diverse: single, married, small business owners, contractors working from home and retirees.  Their perspectives and questions were equally diverse.

BY: KATE HENNESSY, CFP®

Just like your favorite ice cream, debt comes in a variety of flavors – student loans, credit cards, and mortgages are just a few that come to mind.  The majority of people have a variety of debt with varying interest rates.  An interest rate is the amount a lender charges a borrower and is typically a percentage of the amount loaned. In the next few paragraphs we’ll cover some statistics and tips on how to manage debt.

BY: SUSAN POWERS, CFA, CPA, CFP®, CPFA®

Are you one of many small business owners who finds that business has never been better?  After facing periods of uncertainty these past two years, many clients now note that they are having one of their best years ever.  If you find yourself in this fortunate position, it’s not too late to save for your own

BY: Pat Cote, CFA, CFP®

The pandemic has had a terrible impact on many people from both a health and a financial perspective.  However, a significant number of people have found their incomes rising, while at the same time their spending has actually gone down (with fewer travel options and long waits for big-ticket items like cars).  This has created the happy problem of “extra” cash for some folks.

It’s that time of year again! While we are in the midst of enjoying the holiday season, the last thing many of us want to do is to think about taxes and finances.  However, taking a few minutes to focus on some specific areas can make a big difference.

With that in mind, we prepared a list of 10 key items to focus on before 12/31.

BY: Pat Cote, CFA, CFP®

The fastest growing retirement plans are a type many people have not heard of, CB (cash balance) and DB (defined benefit) plans.  They are the modern update to the pensions that most large companies used to offer years ago. 

BY: KATE HENNESSY, CFP®

BY: SUSAN POWERS, CFA, CPA, CFP®, CPFA

Finding time to think about tax planning now may seem premature.  However, now is exactly when you need to be thinking about your year-end tax planning and more importantly; talking with your Advisor, your tax professional, or attorney as well.  Make sure you have time to implement the strategy

9/07/2021 - originally aired on Sirius XM Channel 132, Business Radio Powered by the Wharton School

BY: KATE HENNESSY,  CFP®

In 2005, after my Dad passed away suddenly, my brother, the executor of his estate, took a year to gather information about my parents’ investment accounts, so that it was easy for my Mom to understand.  My Mom lived another 10 years and then she passed away suddenly in 2015.   Thankfully, the work that my brother did following my Dad’s death created less administrative work for my siblings and I after my Mom passed. 

BY: SUSAN POWERS, CFA, CPA, CFP®, CPFA

Using an IRA to make a charitable donation can help a worthy cause and help lower your tax bill as well.  As we approach the fourth quarter, you may be reviewing your charitable giving strategies with a financial and tax advisor as part of your year-end planning.  While some tax efficient giving strategies can be a bit complex, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) are as easy as writing a check to your favorite charities!