Buying a house is a big commitment. While one of your first steps (after saving money for the purchase) is to speak with a mortgage professional, they will provide you with an overview of what their formulas say that you can afford. Before committing to buy a home, it’s important to consider other important factors.
Taking Charge of Your Financial Life Delegating responsibilities to others may lead to problems down the road. When you are putting together a household, it isn’t unusual to delegate responsibilities. One spouse or partner may take on the laundry, while another takes on the shopping. You might also decide which one of you vacuums and…
Why DIY Investment Management Is Such a Risk Paying attention to the wrong things becomes all too easy. If you ever have the inkling to manage your investments on your own, that inkling is worth reconsidering. Do-it-yourself investment management is generally a bad idea for the retail investor for myriad reasons. Getting caught up in…
The Importance of TOD & JTWROS Designations A convenient move that could ward off probate on your accounts. TOD, JTWROS – what do these obscure acronyms signify? They are shorthand for transfer on death and joint tenancy with right of survivorship – two designations that permit automatic transfer of bank or investment accounts from a…
In the past several months, I have fielded calls from a few different clients that have heard, and become interested in, investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs for short). A REIT is a form of real estate investment designed to reduce or eliminate tax while simultaneously providing returns on real estate. REIT’s can either…
Are You Retiring Within the Next 5 Years? What should you focus on as the transition approaches? You can prepare for your retirement transition years before it occurs. In doing so, you can do your best to avoid the kind of financial surprises that tend to upset an unsuspecting new retiree. How much monthly income…