2019

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 have since the last major market crash, like a serious lack of diversification options.  If the next major financial crash is like the last one, where both stocks and bonds lose meaningful value, then there is nowhere to hide in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan that does not have alternative investment options.  Likewise, seemingly diversified options like retirement date or…

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 to save the economy and markets from the downward part of the cycle. What we’ve learned in the three weeks since writing the piece is that although stock markets have marched higher in true zombie fashion, completely unfazed by any news that would typically cause at least temporary volatility in prices, things are not normal by any stretch. We continue…

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 taxes that used to be imposed on estates large enough to be taxed were so high that avoiding federal estate taxes was the main reason many people did estate planning.  Paying 40% or more to the federal government made paying any state-imposed estate taxes at their much lower rates seem like small potatoes.  The objective, then, was to reduce federal…

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 tax-deferred account similar to a 529 college savings plan to supplement their government benefits. Contributions may be made by any person using post-tax dollars. If the beneficiary works, the beneficiary can also contribute part or all of their income to their ABLE account up to the poverty-line amount for a one-person household (which was $12,490 for 2019) unless their employer…

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 being dependent on steady investment inflows, so for those paying attention, it’s no surprise why its foot soldiers don’t express opinions through the financial media or otherwise that are counter to this perpetually rosy view. More recently, and it’s been increasing in intensity over the last couple decades at least, the Federal Reserve has taken it upon themselves to attempt…

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 performance is all about the price we pay for something. From a fundamental standpoint, the potential for precious metals to provide investors, governments, and the global populace in general with peace of mind and a reasonably stable store of value has probably never been better. Here’s why, as we touched on above: Central banks are ten years into an economic…