Family wealth
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future
June 17, 2024
This piece combines into a single article our two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In it, we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. We also cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 2: Investing for your goals
June 17, 2024
Part 2 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. In the second and final article of this series, we cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals. The article is a follow-up to part 1, in which we discuss the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Young investor’s guide to building a financial future—part 1: Where do you start?
May 30, 2024
Part 1 of a two-part series exploring the steps young clients may take as they begin investing for the first time. This first article discusses the importance of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, embracing long-term investing and making the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. In part 2, we’ll cover the value of diversification, strategies to avoid speculative behaviors such as market timing and stock picking, and building a plan based on individual goals.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Wealth management, Young investor's guide
Protecting women’s wealth
March 16, 2024
This article describes some of the hurdles women face in protecting their wealth, including longevity and earning challenges, as well as ways to build greater financial stability through targeted financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Prospect-focused, Wealth management
Bringing order to your investment universe: A 3-part series
February 20, 2024
This three-part series walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. Each part explores the separate planning pieces involved in minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. This series is also available in white paper format for use as a separate prospecting resource.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning
Bringing order to your investment universe: White paper
February 20, 2024
This white paper walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. It explores how to strike an effective balance between minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. Each part in this three-part piece is also available in stand-alone format for use as a drip series.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning, White paper
Is Social Security Going Bust?
March 26, 2023
An analysis of what is projected for Social Security, some of the fixes Congress is exploring to replenish its reserves, and why taking Social Security early just to avoid potential cuts in benefit, is only shifting financial risks rather than eliminating them.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Politics, Report, Retirement planning
What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?
January 3, 2023
A five-page overview of key provisions in the newly enacted SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, including updates that impact: (1) savers/investors, (2) employers/plan sponsors, (3) current spending (such as emergency expenses), (4) Roth accounts, (5) RMD requirements, and (6) charitable giving.
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning
When Should You Take Your Social Security?
December 9, 2022
This 3-page piece summarizes some of the most common factors that may influence whether to start taking Social Security sooner or later, and emphasizes planning based on manageable factors, rather than hopes or fears that are beyond our control.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Retirement planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2022
November 11, 2022
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2022. This year's tips cover cash flow management, tax planning, healthcare coverage, and general financial planning in the context of 2022 events, including higher interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Economics, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, Fixed income, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Risk management, Tax planning, Wealth management
Healing What Hurts: The Essential Role of a Financial Therapist
February 16, 2022
This 3-page report describes the value a financial therapist can add to someone’s wealth management team when their own or a family member’s mental health may be interfering with their financial well-being. Points include when and how financial therapy can help, and how to identify an appropriate fit (including how your firm can assist in the selection).
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Wealth management
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021
November 7, 2021
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2021. This year's tips cover investment discipline, budgeting, tax-planning, charitable giving, and estate planning considerations in the context of 2021 events. It also optionally references the newly released "Tax Planning in Turbulent Times" report for additional insights.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning
Tax Planning in Turbulent Times
November 7, 2021
This report combines our earlier 3-part tax planning series into a single, 6-page piece. It pairs well with, and is optionally referenced in the separate piece, "Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021."
Categories: Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Quarterly Client Letter – 2021 Q3
October 4, 2021
This Q3 2021 quarterly client letter puts recent market highs and lows in the context of more enduring news and views.
Categories: Breaking news, Client-focused, Family wealth, Politics, Quarterly client letter
Tax Planning Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning
August 31, 2021
Part 3 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explored reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 explores integrating all of the above into broad financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques, Wealth management
Tax Planning Part 2: Tax-Wise Investment Techniques
August 12, 2021
Part 2 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Tax Planning Part 1: Tools of the Trade
July 27, 2021
Part 1 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defines "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 2
May 17, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. This part 2, at 1,413 words, offers step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 1
April 29, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. Part 2 (coming soon) will offer step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Understanding The 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments
March 12, 2021
An 864-word overview summarizing how the newly passed American Recovery Act of 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments work: Who will receive them, how much they can expect to receive (if anything), and the three ways they may qualify for full or partial payments based on their 2019, 2020, and/or 2021 AGI.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Client-focused, Family wealth, Tax planning
16 Things You Can Do To Prepare for the Next Recession
October 18, 2019
16 things investors can do to truly strengthen their financial well-being, instead of engaging in market-timing in reaction to a potential recession. Share this 783-word overview with clients and prospects.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Expenses, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Retirement planning, Scary market insights, Wealth management
FAFSA Application Advice for College-Bound Kids
September 6, 2019
This 482-word message alerts parents and their college-bound children that there's no time to waste when submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application as soon as October 1 arrives. It describes how FAFSA works, and why time is of the essence.
Categories: Article, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience
Protecting What’s Yours (While You’re Alive)
July 25, 2019
Use this 1,300-word article in its entirety or broken into three parts to cover three tools an individual can employ to protect their health and wealth care interests while they are alive: (1) the financial power of attorney, (2) the trusted contact, and (3) the healthcare advance directive (including a living will and healthcare power of attorney). Includes a summary, when each applies, common scenarios and additional tips for each.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Protecting what's yours, Report, Wealth management