Self-Employed? Not Sure What The Self-Employment Tax Is? Read here!
If you thought that running a successful business on your own was hard enough already, think again. As a self-employed individual, defined by the IRS as someone who operates a trade, business or profession, (either by yourself or as a partner), you are required to pay self-employment tax as well as income tax. Self-employment tax […]
2013 Q1 Client Letter
We have completed your 2013 First Quarter Holdings & Performance Report,and it is now available in your Client Portal (Sharefile).Our lower risk portfolios yielded high single-digit returns while are more aggressive portfolios turned in low double-digit returns. The first quarter of 2013 provided great returns across the global equity markets after a flat fourth quarter […]
On the Events in Boston
The heartbreaking events in Boston on Monday are a sobering reminder that tragedy can strike when we least expect it. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. As we mourn the victims, we also hail the acts of courage, comfort and generosity we’ve seen from people in response to the tragedy: Regular […]
Credit Card Basics
Credit cards are magic little pieces of plastic that allow you to use money without having it, right? Wrong. The reality is that credit cards are magic little pieces of plastic designed to make money for the credit-card companies. Not being aware of your full responsibilities as a credit card holder can bury you deep […]
Protecting Seniors From Scams
Financial scams that target seniors are all too common—and they often end tragically. In one of the most recent examples, the Securities and Exchange Commission is charging a couple in Florida with using a charitable-gift-annuity scheme to cheat seniors out of $75 million. The alleged perpetrators, a husband and wife team, persuaded older investors to […]
Bleak Picture
Bleak Picture. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) is an organization founded in 1978 with the mission of encouraging and contributing to the development of sound employee-benefit programs. Every year, the EBRI publishes a retirement confidence survey. The 2012 survey interviewed 1,003 workers and 259 retirees in order to find out their confidence in being […]
The Importance of Consistent Contributions
Imagine you’re walking down the street when you spot an obviously inebriated fellow—maybe he’s celebrated a promotion a little too heartily—who is swerving along, chuckling to himself, and headed in your direction. Most of us will, wisely, give this gent a wide berth. Our attitude toward the markets, unfortunately, is often the same. In volatile […]
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 other liquid financial assets, paying off a mortgage could be a wise use of cash. Such homeowners aren’t likely to be saving a lot because […]
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 number of question marks with certainty. And certainty around tax rates and tax policy means it’s easier to make the best decisions for specific clients’ […]
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 4.2%: Back in 2010, President Obama and Congress cut the Social Security payroll tax rate for individuals to 4.2% instead of 6.2%. The rate remained […]