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Retiring Soon? Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?
The decision to pay off a mortgage or invest in the market is far from black and white. For those who are close to retirement and already have plenty of
Finally, Taxes Come into Focus
Washington’s agreement early this month on tax legislation brought good news for some and bad news for others. But from an investing and financial planning perspective, the agreement replaced a
Fiscal Cliff Decision Reached
Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 on January 1st, 2013, providing taxpayers with clearer expectations about what lies ahead. Social Security Payroll Tax Reverts to 6.2% from
Is Cash Really a Safe Choice?
If you see storm clouds hovering ominously over the markets, it’s only natural to seek a safe harbor. Right now, many people do fear that turbulent times are ahead, whether
The Ins and Outs of the 5-Year Rule for Roth IRAs
If you want to take a tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of the portion of a Roth that consists of investment earnings (amount above your initial contribution), you need to be
“Cliff”-hanger? Or Hype?
For months, Americans have been hearing about the “fiscal cliff.” Washington gridlock, we’re told, is driving the country toward that cliff—and plunging over it would mean catastrophe for the economy
The Do-It-Yourself Health Savings Account
When deciding how much to set aside for an emergency fund, there is a growing category of expenses most people tend to overlook: potential out-of-pocket health-care costs. Even if you
Don’t Play the Sector Game
The S&P 500 index is having a fabulous year. Through the end of September, the index, which tracks top American stocks, had risen 16.4%–making it the top-performing asset class. It’s
FPC’s Monthly Update Oct. 2012
Investors were not disappointed, as additional quantitative easing (QE3) was announced on September 13th. Riots in Spain caused markets to react negatively, durable goods orders took a dive because of
The Art of Asset Location
Asset location is a part of the investing strategy that involves deciding which investments to hold in which accounts, and taxes play an important role in this decision. Here are
Retirement Investing Q&A
These are some common questions we receive on retirement investing. If you have any further questions please give us a call! Q: Under current law, at what age can you
Help Us Complete Your Puzzle
It may sound cliché, but it’s true: Your financial life is a puzzle. We love the challenge of helping to solve your puzzle. By fitting the pieces together, we help