Most companies offer traditional 401(k) accounts to employees. In these accounts, employees make pre-tax contributions (up to $18,500 in 2018) to save for retirement and reduce current taxable income. When funds are withdrawn (not rolled over) from the 401(k), the entire withdrawal is taxed at the taxpayer’s current tax rate. Hence, if you are in […]
The Rule of 72
Compound interest is the most powerful force in investing. By allowing our investments to grow through the magic of compounding, an investment of $50,000 can grow to $1,000,000 over a 40-year investment period at a rate of return of just under 8%. We see interest rates and rates of return, but it is not always […]
Invest for Future Healthcare Costs and Save on Taxes Now!
Open enrollment season for employee benefits is upon us. One thing worth checking out is a high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP) coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs offer a unique way to save for current and future medical expenses. The HSA is the only investment account in which contributions are tax-deductible and distributions […]
Does your account have so many investments, it makes your head spin?
Recently, I was reviewing a client’s account that is managed by a large retail brokerage company. The account had 31 mutual funds and a value of approximately $165,000. This equates to a little over $5,000 per fund. The funds were allocated to a diversified portfolio that was based on the client’s time horizon, investment goals, […]
My mutual funds are down. How can I have capital gains?
It’s that time of year when mutual funds make their capital gains distributions. As of Nov 23, the S&P 500 is up a little over 1% for the year. The Dow (DJIA) is actually fractionally down for the year. However, many mutual funds will be paying out large taxable distributions in the coming weeks. How is this […]
A Financial Lesson for the New College Grad
It’s that time of year again when college seniors head into the real world. First of all, we would like to congratulate all the new grads on their achievement. Luckily, the job hiring environment is better this year than it’s been in a long time, with the unemployment rate around 5.5%. New grads are often bombarded […]
Manifest Destiny
24 years ago, I quit my job at IBM’s East Fishkill semiconductor facility to go to work for a small, high tech company in California. It wasn’t an easy decision at the time. I had grown up in an IBM family in the Hudson Valley. IBM was in my blood. At that time, very few […]
Help! My Restricted Stock Units Just Vested. What Do I Do?
Many employees in the Bay Area, especially in Silicon Valley, have restricted stock units (RSUs) that have been granted to them by their employer. These RSUs are one method that your company uses to retain talent. Back in the 1990s, many companies used stock options for this purpose, but these have largely been replaced by […]