There may come a time when you want to sell your rental property. After putting in all the time dealing with toilets, tenants, and trash, you're looking to cash in and relax. But there's one problem: Taxes. Despite common wisdom, you may be able to avoid them. While death is inevitable, there actually are two ways to avoid capital gains taxes on the sale of rental property. ... Read More
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Your Personal Plan to Deal with Uncertainty in Global Markets
You’ve likely been keeping a close eye on the news as the crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate. Above all, our thoughts go out to the Ukrainian military and citizens as they navigate this unfathomable tragedy. Aside from the terrible human toll, the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia is an important reminder that geopolitical risk is a part of investing in global markets. While external ... Read More
Reasons to Expect a Market Pullback and What to Do About It
The essence of Buddhist philosophy as I understand it is that everything is temporary. Night follows day. Good times follow bad times. And the cycle continues. We see that when it comes to the economy and economic data. A recent Bureau of Economic Analysis report (June 11, 2021) noted first-quarter Growth Domestic Product (GDP) up at an annual rate of +6.4%. This was on top of strongest readings ... Read More
Tips of a Portfolio Strategist: How to Grow Money
Investing is much like gardening. You've got to start with a vision, plant your seeds, and take care of them as they grow. Eventually, you'll harvest your crops. Simple enough. But there's always something to complicate such a simple plan. First, you have to know the soil and climate where you're planting. You have to decide which seeds will work best. Then you have to deal with weather and the ... Read More
Having a Financial Plan Can Help You Save for Your Long Term Goals
Whether you are saving for retirement, establishing a college fund for your kids or beefing up your emergency reserves, it pays to have the help of an expert. Having a financial planner in your corner can increase your knowledge, boost your returns and allow you to establish a financial portfolio that makes sense for you and your family. And having a financial plan can help you save for your ... Read More
How to Legally Avoid Taxes When Selling Investment Real Estate
Over the nearly thirty years of practice in financial planning and banking, I have been approached by many clients seeking to avoid paying taxes on highly appreciated real estate investments. There are a few options available to investors and some are better than others. It all depends on the facts presented and the goals of the client. In other posts, I've spoken about some alternative ... Read More
Confessions of a Portfolio Strategist: Looking for a Bottom
We live in uncertain times. While the current health crisis is novel, we have survived other crises and market traumas. I'm reminded of the advice from my parents: This, too, shall pass. That doesn't make it any easier though. And when trying to manage client portfolios all the logic in the world may not temper investor emotions. In light of the crisis, I wanted to share my thinking in these ... Read More
Bear Markets Are Painful but Markets Rise Over Time
While it's hard to watch the day-to-day meltdown in every major global market, we must remember that we've been here before. Yes, today's markets, economies, and social order have been disrupted in an unprecedented way because of a virus pandemic. And we have, by many measures, fallen into bear market territory after erasing many years of gains. We must remember this: Bear markets are painful but ... Read More
When Will We Hit Bottom?
With successive thousand-plus point drops in major indexes hitting us day after day like a champion prizefighter’s punch to the gut, it’s hard to watch and harder not to wonder “when will it stop?” When will we hit bottom? Watch the stock market's 'fear index' Stock market sell-offs often coincide with sharp spikes in the level of a popular Wall Street “fear gauge” or "fear index" known as the ... Read More
Meltdown: Know When to Hold Them
Here we are three weeks or so into the meltdown of the US and global stock markets. What's an investor to do after watching years of gains evaporate and, like a time machine, return to levels where we were three years ago? Perhaps we should take a lesson from "The Gambler" in the Kenny Rogers song. It all comes down to you need to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. And know when to ... Read More
What To Do When the Sky is Falling
As stocks have a bit of a meltdown today, there have been frenzied calls about what to do and what will happen next. Here are some thoughts on what to do when the sky is falling. Will the markets go up? Will they go down? Short answer: Yes. What should you do? Not panic. What to Do When the Sky is Falling This is not the first time that the market has given us pause. And it won't be ... Read More
