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What 2018 Tax Reforms Mean for Investors
Key Takeaways Tax reform presents important changes for investors, while also preserving several areas some thought could change. 529s get more useful, while 401(k) plans remain mostly unchanged. Business owners might consider changing their form of business to take...
Bitcoin: Everything You Need to Know
The digital currency bitcoin jumped to a fresh high above $11,000 Wednesday before quickly dropping below $10,000 again. Its outsized gains this year however are sparking curiosity. If you’re curious but confused, here’s a brief explainer. A: It’s a digital form of...
With stocks at record highs, maybe it’s time to give some assets away
Giving away stocks, or other appreciated assets is an especially timely move to consider before year end. With the S&P 500 index up more than 300 percent and the Nasdaq more than 400 percent since the March 2009 low, any money in taxable accounts has likely...
These Five Cognitive Biases Hurt Investors the Most
There is no shortage of cognitive biases out there that can trip up our brains. By the last count, there are 188 types of these fallible mental shortcuts in existence, and they constantly impede our ability to make the best decisions about our careers, our...
It’s Official, the 2018 401(k) Contribution Limit Is Increasing
For the 2018 tax year, the IRS has increased the employee 401(k) contribution limit to $18,500 to keep up with the rising cost of living. This means savers who want to max out their retirement savings have the ability to contribute an additional $500 to their 401(k)...
A Stock Market Panic Like 1987 Could Happen Again
Oct. 19, 1987, was one of the worst days in stock market history. Thirty years later, it would be comforting to believe it couldn’t happen again. Yet that’s true only in the narrowest sense: Regulatory and technological change has made an exact repeat of that terrible...
Four Things I’ve Learned About the Finances of a Surviving Spouse
Having worked in the financial field for more than more 20 years, I had some knowledge of what to do when a person dies. The passing of my father-in-law earlier this year quickly revealed how much I didn’t think to consider in terms of transitioning my...
The Richest Person in Every U.S. State in 2017
The massive empires of business tycoons like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Jeff Bezos are continually topics of discussion throughout the world, but much less attention finds its way towards the largest personal fortunes at the state level. That’s because while some...