Being successful with money is not only about the amount of money you have. We work with you to help you make the right financial decisions to best suit your budget, lifestyle, and goals.
A bond is like an IOU. As the bond holder, you lend the issuer a specified amount of money at a specified rate of interest. The value of the bond increases with maturity. At the end of the term, the issuer pays back the amount invested, plus a specified amount of interest. Bonds can be a risk, as the value of a bond will fall when interest rates rise. Higher-yield investments usually involve higher risk.
Our team will explain the various bonds offered to you, clarifying value potential and risk, and help you decide if bonds are right for you.
Mutual Funds are an assortment of stocks and bonds held by an investment company. In this situation, you choose a fund made up of various stocks, rather than selecting individual stocks. Because the stocks are bundled, redeemed shares may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Our investment team will explain the charges, risks, and expenses of various funds available to help you decide if mutual funds suit your investment objectives. We’ll also help you choose the right mutual funds for your portfolio.
A 529 Savings Plan is also known as a “qualified tuition plan,” is a tax-advantaged way to set aside money for tuition and other college expenses, including room, board, equipment, and more. Typically, earnings are not taxed if the money is used to cover college expenses. When you invest in a 529, the money may be invested in equity or fixed-income funds, money market funds, or principal-protected bank products.
With the right strategy, saving for college can become a manageable part of your monthly budget, making it much less daunting. We help you figure it out. We look at your full financial picture, including income, expenses, and existing savings and investments, and work with you to project how much you can invest in a 529 Savings Plan.
Stocks
When you purchase stocks, also called “equities,” you purchase shares in a company. We provide you with a comprehensive collection of stocks to choose from, and help you figure out which stocks and levels of risk makes the most sense for your financial goals.
Annuites
Annuities are essentially a contract with an insurance company that guarantees current or future payments in exchange for a premium or series of premiums. Interest earned is only taxable upon withdrawal, and withdrawals made before age 59.5 may incur penalties.
This type of qualified retirement plan is generally available to employees, with both employee and employer contributing to the plan. Sometimes your employer will match your full contribution. Other times, there may be a cap on what percentage your employer will match. Additionally, you will be able to decide which types of investments you will be making with your 401(k).
Having a 401(k) allows you to defer paying taxes on a portion of your income that you set aside for retirement. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to borrow from your 401(k), which you pay back with interest and without penalty. Other disbursements will be subject to taxation and penalties. We will work with you to help you decide what percentage of your income you should be contributing to your 401(K) and which investments should comprise your portfolio.
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are a common way to save for retirement. You can make contributions to an IRA that may be fully or partially tax deductible. Funds withdrawn from your IRA are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may also be subject to a 10 percent federal income tax penalty.
We will explain to you the specific advantages and drawbacks of both Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs to help you determine which option best suits your individual situation.
A Traditional IRA is a tax-deferred retirement savings account, which means money that you deposit and the interest you earn are not taxed until you make withdrawals in retirement. Deferring taxes allows an IRA to grow faster because all of your contributions and earnings can compound each year without being hindered by taxes.
If you have a Roth IRA, the money that you deposit is taxed at the time of deposit, rather than when you make withdrawals in retirement. A Roth IRA is also less restrictive than a Traditional IRA. A Roth IRA is eligible to more people, allows couples to contribute more, grants greater flexibility with withdrawals, and offers better tax benefits. You can even convert your existing Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (consult your tax advisor). A Roth IRA provides:
