Should You Offer a 401K Plan?
Offering a 401K plan can be a great benefit for both the owner of a business and its employees. But a 401K requires time, money and some human resource acumen to set up and maintain
DetailsTodd Schanel, CFA, CPA, CFP®
Why We Invest Abroad
The 12 month period ending 6/30/2017 marked the first time in about five years that non-US stocks performed better than US stocks on a trailing 12 month basis. Regardless of recent performance, investing in companies based overseas is a crucial component of a diversified portfolio. Below are some of the reasons we invest abroad: Investing overseas…
DetailsMy Personal Finance Vision Statement
A little while back I began jotting down some of the rules that I try and live by when it comes to personal finance. Eventually, I turned it into what you see below, something I’m calling a personal finance vision statement. My plan is to update this over time as I continue to learn more about money, investing and life. For now, here is version one.
DetailsPlan For, and Then Accept, Embrace and Appreciate Bear Markets
While there is no official definition, a bear market has traditionally been defined as a 20% decline in a broad stock market index. Since the end of World War II, we have had 13 bear markets, with an average decline of about 30%. Needless to say, bear markets can be horrifying. We not only have…
DetailsInterview: What Role Should Dividends Play in Your Retirement Plan?
I was recently interviewed by Gary Foreman of the website DollarStretcher.com about the role of dividends in a retirement portfolio.
DetailsPursuing a Better Investment Experience
Let’s face it, much of the traditional financial services industry has failed to serve investors properly. A sales-driven culture and an active-management investment model has left investors frustrated and wondering if there is a better way.
DetailsTips for Tax Efficient Investing
An investment portfolio with a mix of stocks and bonds will produce three types of investment return: interest, dividends and capital gains. Added together, they make up what is known as “total return”. Inside an IRA or other qualified account, the relative mix of investment return does not matter. A 5% return is a 5% return, regardless of whether it comes from interest, dividends or capital gains. In a taxable investment account, however, the story is much different.
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Reader’s Corner: The Devil’s Financial Dictionary
The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Zweig offers a humorous, cynical and insightful look into the financial industry and the world of investing in his new book The Devil’s Financial Dictionary. As described by TIME: “Part social commentary, part instruction manual, Zweig’s book is must-reading for anyone who presumes or desires to understand the investment world….…
DetailsPATH Act of 2015 Makes Most Tax Extenders Permanent
On December 18th, Congress and the President once again agreed to a deal on the tax “extenders” that had expired at the end of 2014 in a piece of legislation called the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. However, unlike past tax extenders legislation which would extend these provisions for only a…
DetailsBehavioral Mistakes to Avoid in Investing
Whenever the market is in a bit of turmoil, it’s important to revisit some of the common behavioral mistakes that can potentially derail even the most well thought out financial plans. Below I discuss six mistakes that we should all look to avoid. Fear and panic: Perhaps the most costly and pervasive of all behavioral…
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