Taking Steps to Safer Investment Decisions in 2009
It’s tough to tell how much one investor can do alone to preserve their assets in 2009, particularly with unprecedented government intervention in world markets. But there are some general ideas to employ as markets and economies hopefully stabilize in the New Year.
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After a Turbulent 2008, Make Some New Year’s Resolutions
for a Financially Healthy 2009
Money worries are the most common cause of holiday stress, according to Mental Health America. The 2006 study showed that parents are more stressed than all other demographic groups by finances and females are more likely than men to feel stressed by finances.
Money isn’t everyone’s No. 1 worry, but if it’s yours, why not consider the following New Year’s resolutions to improve your financial life?
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Welcome to My Newsletter
Knowledege to Help You Make Smarter Money Decisions
Hopefully, you are finding value in reading my e-newsletter.
Ideally, I would like to discuss these topics on a face-to-face basis. Since this is not always possible, I decided to use this e-newsletter to provide information you may need to make knowledgeable financial decisions. Obviously, not all articles will pertain to your specific situation; however, I trust that in each issue there will be several ideas of interest to you.
If you have any questions about a specific article, please call or e-mail me so we can discuss its implications. Additionally, if you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know. I would be happy to e-mail a complimentary copy to any of your friends.
The newsletter will arrive via e-mail every month, containing informative articles on a variety of financial and investment topics.
If you don't want to receive this newsletter, simply fill out the subscribe box below, indicating you wish to be deleted from my mailing list. You can also use the subscribe box to add friends or relatives to my mailing list. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
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A Wealth of Services to Chart Your Course
Our goal is to aid our clients in managing their personal finances to achieve their long-term goals. Some areas we can best be of service include:
Financial Planning -- Through meticulous fact-finding, we analyze your current planning and develop strategies to help you achieve your long-term goals.
Retirement Planning -- We can either design a retirement plan for your company or help you maximize a plan that you participate in.
Estate Planning -- Through the use of the latest estate planning techniques, we can help you develop an effective estate plan, which considers wills, trusts, insurance, and other vehicles to help minimize your estate taxation.
Personal Insurance -- We assist clients in evaluating coverage to protect their wealth including life, health, disability, homeowners, and automobile.
Tax Planning -- We can help you develop strategies designed to reduce your tax burden. We will work with your tax advisor or attorney to coordinate a plan that may be appropriate to your overall needs.
We find out your goals first, then decide the appropriate course to accomplish those goals. Feel free to call or e-mail us if you’d like help with any of your financial needs.
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My Financial Planning Services
A proper investment and financial plan is more than just an occasional consideration to be thought of once every couple of years. It is an ongoing process of cooperation between financial advisor and client that should be based on honesty, accessibility, and education.
There is more to managing wealth than managing investments. While investment selection is an important part of this relationship, short- and long-term goals, debt considerations, and lifestyle goals are all vital parts of the total plan.
I am committed to providing the comprehensive service that clients deserve to navigate through today’s increasingly complicated financial world. Whether it’s a creative plan to handle estate or business continuation concerns, an investment strategy based on today’s market situation, a detailed plan to fund your children’s college education, or action steps to handle other life-changing events like a retirement or divorce, my team and I are committed to properly consulting with and educating our clients.
Now is a good time to review your personal situation and update it.
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Guest Column
Stuart Goldman's "Real World" Personal Strategy
http://www.cpa-boston.com/
by Stuart Goldman, CPA
Not to make you feel guilty, but for every seven years you delay saving and investing for the future, you cut in half the income you would enjoy at the end of your life. So, let's make 2009 the year we get on the right financial course, shall we?
Here are some suggestions to get started...
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Keep Your Estate Plan Flexible
Estate planning has become more difficult
in recent years due to changing estate tax laws.
All these changes can make it difficult to determine whether your
estate plan should be revised due to new changes. Thus, it is
increasingly important to build flexibility into your estate plan.
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Gifting Considerations
Deciding whether you should give a significant
asset to an heir during your life or after your death has typically
involved weighing potential estate tax costs against capital gains
taxes that would be due when the asset is sold.
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What Happens if You Become Disabled?
For many people, a long-term disability
would be financially devastating. Although no one likes to think
about this possibility, you should consider your options now so
you can obtain disability income insurance if needed.
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Watch Out for These Portfolio Mistakes
Investing is a gradual process - purchasing
some investments and selling others as the years go by. After
a period of years, this can result in a mixture of investments
that don't fit your overall investment strategy. Thus, periodically
review your portfolio, watching out for these mistakes.
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Painful Lessons about Saving for Retirement
First, the stock market declines in 2000
and during the past year removed substantial gains from individuals'
net worths. Now, the decline in housing values has reduced people's
net worths even more. For instance, the Center for Economic and
Policy Research estimates that the average net worth of individuals
between the ages of 45 and 54 is 25% less than it was in 2004,
due to declining home prices.
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My highest priority is getting you where
you want to be. If it's an important goal for you, then it's important
to me to help get you there. Whether you need a road map for
retirement investing or want an answer to a specific financial
challenge, I am available.
My goal is to provide the peace of mind
that comes with knowing you have entrusted your financial future
to a team of experienced professionals that cares about making
your dreams a reality - regardless of the size of your portfolio.
I work with retirees, busy professionals
and growing families who are motivated to achieve financial success
or need help with the challenges that result from a life changing
event.
For more than 18 years I have been involved
in helping individuals and organizations tackle complex financial
issues through a progressive career in mortgage banking. For
the last ten years I have focused my practice on all aspects of
retirement and investment planning and have published articles
on a variety of financial planning issues.
I am a CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELOR(sm)
and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Professional. I earned a Master of Science degree in Finance from
Bentley College and an undergraduate honors degree from the University
of Massachusetts.
Based on my credentials, education, and
fee only practices I also hold a five-star quality rating from
the Paladin Registry, earned by fewer than 3% of planners in the
country.
I am never too busy to help you or someone
you know and care about.
Feel free to contact me via e-mail at
steve@focus-capital.com
or visit my Web site
www.focus-capital.com
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