Welcome to our NCM BLOG page where we will address timely investment and financial planning topics...
We are often so focused on saving enough to achieve financial independence that we may fail to address the concern of how our portfolio will perform once we retire. Simply put, it's not only about how your assets are allocated and the average return of those investments over time, but also—importantly-- the order in which those returns occur; known as the “Sequence of Returns.”
Given the stock market volatility, increased lifespans, as well as the state of the world today--with inflation, geopolitical risks and political uncertainty here in the US, more and more individuals are looking for "guaranteed" sources of income. Pensions are being phased out and social security is meant to only be a supplement to retirement income. So, it may not be surprising that sometimes investors feel they have no other option but to buy an annuity, and in some situations, that may be the only choice. In this blog, we will delve into this insurance product and also provide another possible solution!
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. In short, if your income is high enough you will be subject to elevated premiums for Medicare. That’s right, you will pay more for the same coverage.
In this blog we review popular Wall Street lingo such as: What does it mean to "outperform or underperform"? Is something labeled "Private" always special? What are the different Fee Models and how do they relate to the Fiduciary Rule? Our thoughts and opinions on each......
In 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which put in place many beneficial tax changes that are set to expire in 2026. Among the changes implemented, the most applicable are the cuts to individual income tax rates, a doubling of the standard deduction and a large increase to the estate tax exemption. If Congress doesn’t extend these, the benefits to taxpayers will expire on December 31, 2025. In this blog, we will focus on the income, estate, gift & charitable planning opportunities to consider, as well as a very recent update from the IRS on mandatory distributions from inherited IRA accounts.
When it comes to managing a financial plan, some people choose to do this without the help of a professional. This might be a viable option if they have the discipline, interest, expertise, time and the ability to remove emotion from important financial decisions. For those people, the DIY approach may, indeed, work. However, for the many others who may lack in one (or more!) of these aforementioned areas, it may be beneficial to set up a consultation with an experienced wealth advisor.