In Mid May of each year we begin receiving tax form 5498 and this often times causes confusion. Do not let it, it is a simple form with the purpose of settling up IRA/401k/retirement transfer amounts and establishing an end…
Over the last six days I have been in Orlando Florida joining the CFA Institute’s Annual Conference. Being short on posts lately, we wanted to give you a heads up that due to a six day conference in Orlando as mentioned…
In a chance lunch visit with a peer in the professional investment community yesterday, he mentioned something, and I quote, “Good investment advice does not change on a daily basis.” We both took note, and I mention this quote today as a…
This Saturday morning (Feb. 7, 2009) I found myself dashing up the North Texas Tollway, running slightly late for a 7:30 a.m. Financial Planning Association meeting. Finding a void in my regular sports channel radio talk station, I scanned…
We have long awaited for a VIX ETN and much to our surprise Barclays has just rolled out two new VIX ETN’s. First in the interest of space, should you need a quick review of what an ETN is please follow…
A new and somewhat puzzling phenomenon we have seen this year with several very large corporate companies is an “even only matching policy.” An even only matching policy is our nick name for a company policy that will not match your…
Just a reminder that April 15th 2009 marks the deadline for regular filing of your personal federal returns. There is a twist this year from a reporting standard, the IRS has allowed 1099’s to be mailed on February 15th as…
In taxable accounts at this time of the year we make adjustments to portfolios to realize taxable losses. What this means is we sell an investment and immediately replace this investment with a similar, but not the same investment. As…
With long term rates at all time lows, now is the time to be a borrower if necessary. Mortgage or long term investment loans are the main items falling in this category. 3o year mortgage rates are finally coming down…
