Birthday Reminders: 9 Important Milestones to Remember as You Prepare for Retirement
No matter when you decide to stop or phase-out of work, there are some important milestones to remember and plan for:
Fourth Quarter Review - Higher Interest Rates, a Few Good Stocks
Two important developments are worthy of exploration in this quarter's commentary. First, rising intermediate and long-term interest rates are creating a markedly different environment for bonds and the broader investment landscape. Second, the trends that have characterized stock market returns over the last few years continued to an even greater degree in the fourth quarter and full year 2024.
QCDs – An Underutilized Philanthropic and Tax-Planning Tool
QCDs (Qualified Charitable Distributions) are not widely utilized but can be very beneficial to taxpayers aged 70 1/2 or older, who are charitably inclined and carry high IRA balances.
Third Quarter Review: The Fed Cut Rates - Small and Value Stocks Finally Outperform
Investors were treated to a bumpy ride in the third quarter, but stocks are at record highs as the final three months of 2024 get underway, and bonds are solidly in the green. The Federal Reserve’s long-awaited reduction in interest rates played a crucial role in the solid returns on stocks and bonds.
Tax-Efficient Inter-Generational Transfers: Downstream vs. Upstream Gifting
Many of the TCJA's provisions will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress extends them. Given the political uncertainty, some wealthy households may wish to revisit their estate plans over the next year and consider pulling forward planned bequests to take advantage of the greater lifetime exemption.
Second Quarter 2024 Review: Where’s the Breadth?
Global stock returns were mixed yet relatively flat in the second quarter—except for a handful of mega-cap U.S. companies (“The Magnificent Seven”), which once again dominated the return of market capitalization-weighted indices.