THE FRONT LINE OF INFLATION

“We're paying more for freight than I would like to pay.” The above quote is not from the manager of a small Mom & Pop store adjusting to the new post-pandemic online reality. It is from Apple CEO Tim Cook during the company’s conference call for the quarter ending June 2021. In other words, the CEO of the largest company in the world is complaining about shipping costs. Somewhat ironically, the largest package delivery company in the US by revenue, UPS, is dealing with wage increases. CEO Carol Tome had…

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FINANCIAL PLANNING: WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT

Am I saving enough? Will I have enough to maintain my current lifestyle in retirement? Should I convert my IRA to a Roth? What’s the best way to save for college? How much risk do I need to take in my portfolio to meet my goals?  What ARE my goals? If you have ever asked yourself one of these questions, you could benefit from doing some financial planning. In a Financial Plan, you evaluate your entire financial picture, set short and long-term financial goals, develop strategies to achieve those goals,…

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WHY TAKE CAPITAL GAINS?

Even though capital gains taxes make selling appreciated securities less attractive, there are often compelling reasons to reduce or liquidate a position. The two most common reasons to sell appreciated stock are to increase portfolio diversification and boost long-term returns. Capital gains taxes are the main deterrent to selling a stock which has appreciated in value relative to its purchase price. The Federal government currently assesses a maximum combined long-term capital gains/investment income tax of 23.8% on appreciation that has occurred more than one year from date of acquisition. Stock…

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