Employer-provided retirement plans have some tremendous advantages over other investment accounts.  They are convenient, allow for relatively large contributions, and usually receive employer-provided matching contributions.  Unfortunately, they also have some large disadvantages, some of which matter more today than they … Continue reading →

As a follow-up to an article in our last monthly newsletter, “Zombie Bull Disease”, we mentioned that the next few weeks would be important in learning whether or not the Federal Reserve’s “all in” monetary policy intervention would be enough … Continue reading →

The history of estate taxes in the United States is convoluted, and that is an understatement.  There is little point in reviewing all the various changes federal estate taxes have gone through over the decades aside from pointing out the … Continue reading →

Simply put – yes. Most pensions are still calculating their benefits assuming a 7%+ long-term rate of growth. Looking back at the last 30 years of market returns, that doesn’t seem so far-fetched, but unfortunately a pension fund’s ability to … Continue reading →

A 529 ABLE account (or 529 A Savings Plan) was created by the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 to provide Americans with disabilities the opportunity to save up to $15,000 (2019 limit) per year in a … Continue reading →

One of the most dangerous delusions being pumped and disseminated by Wall Street today is that the economy and stock market can and should continue to thrive indefinitely without interruption. Wall Street is notoriously perma-bullish based on its business model … Continue reading →

As we’ve discussed with clients for a couple years now, the outlook for precious metals has been steadily improving. From a price or relative value standpoint, they’ve seldom been cheaper relative to financial assets and as we’ve stressed, long-term investment … Continue reading →

You may have to account for at least one, but probably more of the preceding issues before and during your own retirement.  However, the biggest threat that we can think of is also the one that gets almost no attention … Continue reading →

The month of July has seen the broad U.S. stock indexes such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq achieve new highs – which of course is a good thing for those with meaningful exposure to them. … Continue reading →

For many years now, home-owning Americans had more equity in their homes than they did in their retirement accounts.  In order to afford their retirements, they would have to find a way to unlock that equity, either by selling their … Continue reading →