If we had to pick one overarching metric to a successful financial plan, it would be that our clients do not run out of money. Most of the long-term cash flow planning we do for clients focuses on them not running out of money. A plan is deemed successful if they are projected to still have money in the bank at the end of their life. Certainly, this is… Read More

On December 23, the US House of Representatives passed a bill known as the SECURE Act 2.0 nearly three years to the day of them passing the original SECURE Act. The original bill was passed at the end of 2019 and brought a broad array of changes to the retirement planning landscape, including raising the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age to 72 and eliminated the ‘stretch IRA’ for non-spouse beneficiaries…. Read More

As financial planners, we spend a lot of time talking about the best way to save and invest our clients’ money. A healthy savings rate, no matter your income level, is one of the keys to building a successful long-term financial plan. However, there are also times when we must encourage our clients to spend money! Whether it is a special vacation, a family event, or a long-anticipated goal, it… Read More

If the year 2022 has shown us anything, it is that investing in the stock and bond markets is subject to risk. If the markets continue their current trajectory through December 31, the year 2022 will be the first year since 1969 that both the stock market and the bond market ended a calendar year with negative returns. I mention this to draw attention to a few important reminders that… Read More

As we officially enter the Christmas season and year-end is in sight, charitable giving becomes more of a focus for many people. It seems like there is some debate about how much of total charitable giving happens in December, but it clearly is the highest percentage month of giving for the year. As you make year-end giving preparations, here are five things to keep in mind. Giving appreciated securities to… Read More

It is no secret that 2022 has been a challenging year for investors. Both stocks and bonds are negative for the year, something that has only happened two times (1931 and 1969) in market history. These types of years in the market do not come often, but when they do, it can be difficult to know how to react and navigate the choppy waters wisely. Our adage for the year… Read More

I do not know about you, but it is hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving is already here, and Christmas is just around the corner! Personally, I love this time of year! I enjoy the food and the rich times spent with family and friends. My wife and I have three kids, ages 5, 4 and 2, so getting to see the holiday season through the eyes of little… Read More

At our recent Advisor Group Conference in San Antonio that Charlie wrote about last week, Malcolm Gladwell, the esteemed author and speaker, kicked off the event on Wednesday evening. During his address, he discussed the differences between puzzles and mysteries. To solve a puzzle, we typically just need the right information and ability to sequence it in the proper order. On the other hand, a mystery is not about having… Read More

This past week was not a typical week at Master’s Advisors. Seven of our team members were attending a large Advisor Group Conference in Texas. Deb and I did our best to “hold down the fort” while they were gone. Conference events like this one provide industry-leading thoughts and ideas related to advanced planning & client servicing, back-office resources, and cutting-edge technology, and more. Participating in events like this one… Read More

As we come to the end of the year, we are shifting our focus to year end planning. This involves cash flow allocation, charitable giving, and tax planning. We have a particular focus on tax planning given that taxes are the biggest lifetime expense most of us will pay. As we like to say around the office, pay your taxes to the IRS, but don’t leave them a tip! What… Read More