financial planning

As we ring in 2018, the stock bull market that started in 2009 continues. The extended length of this bull market (close to historic levels) has caused some people to become concerned about a correction, which leads to considering moving more of their portfolio into bonds. Generally, bonds can be a good diversifier and lower the volatility of a portfolio when added to the asset allocation.

After almost a year of “buzz” from President Trump and Congressional Republicans, the proposed tax reform bill has finally been introduced as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”. This is a major piece of legislation and will have significant impact on your financial and tax situation if passed.

One of the most important decisions a person nearing retirement needs to make is when to take Social Security. Most people are aware that you can start your benefits as early as age 62 and this often becomes a trigger point for deciding when to retire.

A recent article in Financial Planning magazine by Dr. Craig Israelson had a great analogy for the benefits of saving for retirement early. He compared using slow and steady saving, which allows for time to do the work of growing your next egg to using a crockpot to cook.