Feb
10

Choosing a Professional Financial Advisor

posted on February 10th 2014 in Austin CFP Team Posts & Your Financial Advisor with 0 Comments

By Christopher Van Slyke Working with a professional financial advisor can be key to achieving your goals for the future, but it can also derail your plans—if you’re not working with the right person. There’s no one-size-fits-all recipe for choosing an advisor, but there’s some important due diligence you should undertake before making a decision. […]

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Jan
31

U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Traps for Non-U.S. Citizens

posted on January 31st 2014 in Austin CFP Team Posts & Your Financial Advisor with 0 Comments

U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Traps for Non-U.S. Citizens

As a full-service wealth management advisory firm, WorthPointe advisors weigh in on issues like the ones noted in this article during the planning process. Those who have these one-off challenges would be better served to speak with a local tax lawyer to gain the required advice. U.S. ESTATE AND GIFT TAX TRAPS FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS […]

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Jan
02

Asset Ownership: It Really Does Matter Whose Name is on the Title

posted on January 2nd 2014 in Austin CFP Team Posts & Your Financial Advisor with 0 Comments

Historically, estate planning centered on wealth transfer. But an increased exemption and portability of the federal estate tax exemption, coupled with laws that capped damages in injury cases being struck down across the country, has caused many families and their advisors to look at wealth preservation. Wealth preservation is not just for the wealthy or […]

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Nov
01

Should You Make Your Year-End Charitable Gifts From Your IRA?

by Charles L Stanley CFP® ChFC® AIF® When entering retirement, having a big, fat IRA feels good. It provides a certain sense of security —and that’s a good thing. However, when you consider estate planning for a family with a taxable estate in excess of $5.25 million, that big, fat IRA is a horrible asset […]

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Oct
16

The Portfolio Assassin: Undisclosed Fees

posted on October 16th 2013 in Austin CFP Team Posts & Your Financial Advisor with 0 Comments

After a great meal, we generously tip the waiter. The dentist soothes our toothache and we happily pay for the relief. We don’t mind paying for services when the benefits justify the cost. Similarly, we don’t mind paying investment fees if performance warrants the expense. However, there are two reasons why brokerage fees are rarely […]

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Oct
04

What Happens When Interest Rates Rise?

posted on October 4th 2013 in Austin CFP Team Posts & Your Financial Advisor with 0 Comments

Scott W. O’Brien, Director of Wealth Management According to Morningstar, in May the average bond fund dropped in value by nearly 7% when interest rates spiked. This followed much speculation about the possibility and timing of when the Federal Reserve may end their bond-purchasing program. The timing is important, as this program and the quantitative […]

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