U.S. stocks rose 24% in 2024, marking a second straight year of strong gains, fueled by optimism around technological advancements and a more accommodative Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, stocks outside the U.S. delivered more modest returns. This widening performance gap, which has been building for some time, raises important questions about valuations, market dynamics, and the…
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If you’ve recently lost your spouse and either inherited IRA assets and/or have substantial IRA assets of your own, it may be worth considering a ROTH conversion in the year of their passing to help reduce future taxes. Why the Year of Death Matters In the year of death, you can file as Married Filing…
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the new contribution limits for retirement plans for 2025. 401(k), 403(b), 457 Plans, and Thrift Savings Plans: Workers will now be able to elect up to $23,500 in salary deferrals. As in 2024, if you are age 50 or above, you can elect an additional $7,500 in catch-up…
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In the fall of 2022, surging interest rates—driven by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive efforts to combat inflation—caused significant turbulence in both stock and bond markets, leading to declines across many asset classes. However, for savers, this spike in rates offered a silver lining in the form of higher returns on bank deposits, including savings accounts,…
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Earlier this year, the IRS provided long-awaited guidance related to the SECURE Act of 2019 on the treatment of retirement accounts inherited after December 31, 2019. The rules are complex, and we strongly encourage anyone who has inherited an IRA to work with their financial advisor or tax professional to understand their options. This article…
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There are many approaches when it comes to investing. At one end of the spectrum is passive investing. Passive investors believe that because markets are basically efficient, it is extremely difficult to outperform the markets over time, especially after fees and costs are taken into account. Therefore, rather than try to beat the market, own the market. On the opposite end of the spectrum is active investing. Active investors believe that through research and analysis, they can identify what and when to buy and sell, and as a result, outperform the market.
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One of the key investment principles we emphasize at Core Wealth Management is that investing solely in US large company stocks does not provide sufficient diversification. True diversification requires spreading investments across different asset classes that behave differently at various times. This means building a globally diversified portfolio that includes US large company stocks (such…
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By strategically managing your tax payments, both in amount and timing, you can significantly enhance your chances of achieving your financial goals. This is why tax planning is such an integral part of financial planning. In this article, we will explore five essential tax concepts that the planners at Core Wealth Management consistently utilize. While…
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Despite rising mortgage rates, real estate prices in Florida continue to climb, leaving many Florida homeowners feeling trapped in their current homes. As real estate prices increase, so do property taxes. However, homeowners can mitigate this through the Homestead Exemption. This article explains how the Homestead Exemption works, how property taxes are calculated, and the…
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Many had predicted that 2023 would be an extremely difficult year for the financial markets, but instead, both the stock and bond markets demonstrated remarkable resilience adapting to the new realities of higher interest rates and persistent inflation. After a challenging 2022, we saw a strong rebound with the Russell 3000 up over 25%, the…
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