Many of us have been brought up with the adage, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” I was raised in a household where my parents committed around 10% of their income to the church, instilling in me the value of giving back. The concept of regularly contributing a portion of my earnings to charity was a tangible way to show gratitude for the blessings in my life…. Read More
4th Quarter Series: 5 Ways to Be Generous Before Year-End, Part 2 – Securities Gifting
Two weeks ago, 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. Last week, Jon’s blog gave us some great “cash giving” ideas. Today’s blog post will explore the 2nd tax-efficient… Read More
4th Quarter Series: 5 Ways to Be Generous Before Year-End, Part 1 – Cash Giving
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
4th Quarter Series: 5 Ways to Be Generous Before Year-End, Introduction
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
Riding the Bond Market See-Saw
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
Proactive Financial Management: The Key to Achieving Your Financial Goals
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
Security & Courage
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
Embracing “Enough”: The Path to Greater Generosity
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
3rd Quarter Series: 5 Considerations for Protecting Against the Unexpected, Part 5 – The Crucial Role of Liquidity in Your Financial Plan
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
3rd Quarter Series: 5 Considerations for Protecting Against the Unexpected, Part 4 – Incorporating Generosity Into Your Estate Plan
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