By Nick Montague of Montague Law P.C., L.L.O.
We have all heard the statistics: Half of all marriages end in divorce. While the actual number of marriages that end in divorce is hard to pinpoint, the generally accepted fact is that happily ever after is not always a guarantee. Frequently the clients we counsel are concerned that the once blossoming relationship of their son or daughter-in-law could be headed for... Read More
High costs can make it much harder for investors to achieve the returns of broad investment markets. Watch this video to learn about the different kinds of costs you may incur as an investor and how you can potentially obtain broad market exposure with low overall costs. ...
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By Mike Anderson of Bridgepoint Merchant Banking
Selling a company is no easy feat. Just like running a business, the selling process also can be full of ups, downs and everything in between. However, working with company owners in the sales process for more than 25 years has given us several key themes that owners should consider before beginning the selling process. Before you take that... Read More
The other day, I was sitting with a client, catching up and planning out the new year when the topic of taxes came up. “Will my taxes go down due to the new tax law?” he asked. “How much time do you have?” He looked at me with a nod and said, “All the time in the world.” Ok. Here we go. I don’t know. It should for most, but there is a lot...
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Our vision at Foster Group is to influence thousands of individuals, families, and organizations with wise financial counsel, while encouraging the pursuit of meaningful living and generous giving. Recently, my family moved back to Iowa after ten years in Paramount and Long Beach, CA. I’m guessing most of you are familiar with Long Beach, but have never heard of Paramount. I bet, though, you have heard of Paramount’s neighbor city...
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We frequently receive questions from clients about how to best protect their identity online. Prior data breaches have taught us some important lessons about what to do if we know, or if we fear, our personal information has been compromised. 1. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS to all online accounts if your assessment of impact indicates vulnerability. Make sure the new passwords are substantially different than those used previously. 2. USE UNIQUE PASSWORDS for...
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By Scott Berryman of Legacy Design Strategies
Whenever I counsel physicians and families about transferring and protecting their assets in an estate plan, we always talk about a few other items that tend to be appropriate in helping them manage taxes and risk. First, I ask them if they have long-term care insurance. If they say yes, I know they have had a conversation with a financial professional. If... Read More
A few months ago, our Institutional team reviewed an investment portfolio for a nonprofit that contacted us for a second opinion. We first reviewed its Investment Policy Statement (IPS) and then began the process of analyzing the portfolio. What is an Investment Policy Statement? An Investment Policy Statement is an organization’s road map for its investments. For example, it includes a target asset allocation, what types of assets are permitted in the...
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Why do we, as investors, fear our financial future? Sometimes it feels we live in a world of absolutes, black and white, when one might argue there’s really all kinds of gray. Often, watching the news and listening to recent current events, we can fall victim to focusing our attention on these events in a way that can lead to fear. The news sometimes makes us feel we live in a...
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A few years ago, our family decided to get a puppy. Some would say that’s a great decision, while others would not (Who doesn’t love puppies?). We thought it would be a fun addition to our family and give our kids a chance to learn some lessons in responsibility. And learn we have! We’ve learned that legs of our kitchen chairs can be used as chew toys, socks left on the...
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