As a full-service wealth management advisory firm, WorthPointe advisors weigh in on issues like the ones noted in this article during the planning process. Those who have these one-off challenges would be better served to speak with a local tax lawyer to gain the required advice. U.S. ESTATE AND GIFT TAX TRAPS FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS […]
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Historically, estate planning centered on wealth transfer. But an increased exemption and portability of the federal estate tax exemption, coupled with laws that capped damages in injury cases being struck down across the country, has caused many families and their advisors to look at wealth preservation. Wealth preservation is not just for the wealthy or […]
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In a recent article for USA Today, investor Warren Buffett shared what he feels are the three biggest mistakes that investors make. To read this list, and the article in full, click here.
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by Charles L Stanley CFP® ChFC® AIF® When entering retirement, having a big, fat IRA feels good. It provides a certain sense of security —and that’s a good thing. However, when you consider estate planning for a family with a taxable estate in excess of $5.25 million, that big, fat IRA is a horrible asset […]
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by Scott O’Brien, CFP® Director of Wealth Management We are thrilled to share news that University of Chicago Professor and Dimensional Fund Advisors board member Eugene F. Fama has been named a co-recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, in recognition of his contributions to the “empirical analysis of asset prices.” It’s about […]
Read ArticleTrust Connection October 2013
The Portfolio Assassin: Undisclosed Fees
After a great meal, we generously tip the waiter. The dentist soothes our toothache and we happily pay for the relief. We don’t mind paying for services when the benefits justify the cost. Similarly, we don’t mind paying investment fees if performance warrants the expense. However, there are two reasons why brokerage fees are rarely […]
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All of us here at WorthPointe wish to congratulate Prof. Eugene Fama for winning the Nobel Prize in Economics. Most of our clients won’t remember us mentioning Prof. Fama’s work as we described the theoretical underpinning of our investment philosophy but, Eugene’s ideas (including the efficient market hypothesis and small, value, profitability stock premiums) underly […]
Read ArticleWhat Happens When Interest Rates Rise?
Scott W. O’Brien, Director of Wealth Management According to Morningstar, in May the average bond fund dropped in value by nearly 7% when interest rates spiked. This followed much speculation about the possibility and timing of when the Federal Reserve may end their bond-purchasing program. The timing is important, as this program and the quantitative […]
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