MainStreet “Best Investments for Retirement”- Christopher Van Slyke
Christopher Van Slyke is quoted in MainStreet this week: “Best Investments for Retirement”
Read ArticleLGBT Planning Isn’t Only About the Couple
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was a federal law that sought to exclude same-sex couples from the definition of spouse. But last year, the United States Supreme Court in U.S. v. Windsor, struck the exclusion, holding it to be unconstitutional. But I’m Not Gay Many people may […]
Read ArticleChoosing a Professional Financial Advisor
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. […]
Read ArticleShould You Dump Your Family’s Trust
Many revocable trusts contain by-pass planning. This type of plan captures the assets owned by, in whole or part, a deceased spouse in a trust for the survivor instead of simply giving the survivor the assets outright. One primary purpose of this type of planning is to preserve the federal and tax exemptions that would […]
Read ArticleAsset Ownership: It Really Does Matter Whose Name is on the Title
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 […]
Read ArticleProfessor Fama’s Nobel Prize, WorthPointe, and You
by Scott O’Brien, CFP® Director of Wealth Management We are thrilled to share news that University of Chicago Professor and Dimensional Fund Advisors board member Eugene F. Fama has been named a co-recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, in recognition of his contributions to the “empirical analysis of asset prices.” It’s about […]
Read ArticleThe Portfolio Assassin: Undisclosed Fees
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 […]
Read ArticleWhat Happens When Interest Rates Rise?
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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