The Master’s Minute

  Last week, Garry introduced our fourth quarter blog series where we will cover various strategies for accomplishing charitable giving goals. At Master’s, we believe in heartfelt generosity rather than treating giving solely as a tax planning tool. However, integrating tax strategies can help us fulfill our charitable goals more efficiently. Let’s dive into the first strategy: cash giving. Cash giving is a familiar method, but there are ways to… Read More

  Our 4th Quarter blog series will center around the themes of giving and generosity as the year comes to a close. At Master’s, we emphasize the importance of giving out of a genuine desire to be generous, rather than solely for a particular tax break or advantage. Nevertheless, if you wish to express generosity, we are dedicated to carefully planning how to maximize the tax benefits associated with your… Read More

Congratulations are in order! You have weathered one of the worst bond markets ever recorded! The US 10-year Treasury Bond is poised to show negative returns for three consecutive calendar years (2021-2023). This phenomenon has never happened before. This news may cause some investors to consider getting rid of their bond investments. Would that be prudent? Certainly not! Let’s take a closer look. First, we will look at the “see-saw… Read More

In the financial world, there are two distinct ways to approach decision-making: proactive and reactive. The choice between these methods can significantly influence your financial future. In this post, we will dive into both approaches and provide practical tips for proactive financial management. Reactive Financial Management Reactive financial management involves making impromptu decisions when unexpected financial surprises arise. Unfortunately, this approach can pose challenges, particularly when emotions are high. Quick… Read More

This sketch hangs in our office, and it serves as a reminder that our behavior carries greater significance than our investment strategy. This brings up the question, “Why is our behavior so difficult to regulate when it comes to money?” While the response to this question varies from person to person, when we engage in conversations with our clients about their deeply rooted values, a recurring theme often emerges: money… Read More

Clients often approach us with a burning question, “Am I on track to have enough money to retire?” This inquiry surfaces most frequently among our pre-retiree clients, especially when we begin our partnership. The importance of this query is undeniable. Within the initial few weeks of our engagement, we can offer a comprehensive analysis of your retirement preparedness and outline the necessary steps to meet your retirement objectives. This process… Read More

  Welcome to the final installment of our third-quarter blog series covering various aspects of risk management. Today, we are exploring a fundamental element of financial planning that has significant implications for your daily life: the value of liquidity. What is Liquidity? To start, it will be helpful to define liquidity. In the realm of financial planning and wealth management, liquidity refers to how easily and quickly an asset can… Read More

  Many of our clients recognize the many blessings they have received and are motivated to be generous. This often takes the form of annual charitable contributions to their church and other worthy organizations. Additionally, some individuals wish to leave a portion of their estate to charity after their passing. When considering leaving estate assets to charity, the initial inclination is often to specify a percentage in your will for… Read More

  Trusts come in all shapes and sizes, and many professionals promote them for various reasons. In part 4 of our blog series on risk management, we are sorting through some of the common reasons to have or not to have a trust as part of your estate plan. To start off, we need to discuss the differences between a revocable and irrevocable trust arrangement: Revocable – A revocable trust… Read More

Today’s blogpost will focus on the importance of well-thought-out legal documents and the importance of the persons you will name to fill vital roles within your estate plan. Having current legal documents that accurately state your choices, preferences, and future estate distribution wishes is an essential component of your financial plan, which we review during our 3rd quarter focus on Risk Management. One of the initial estate planning choices that… Read More