Last year seniors were given a reprieve from the requirement to take minimum distributions from their IRAs and qualified retirement plans.  The suspension of the rules, included in the CARES Act, was enacted at a time when the stock market had moved sharply lower, and so it was intended to prevent a forced emptying of…

The U.S. stock market continued to climb out of and above the hole it dug in 2020, with the S&P 500 SPDR ETF (SPY) gaining 6.4% in the 1st quarter. The U.S. bond market (as measured by the US Aggregate Bond ETF – AGG) declined 3.4%, and a 60% stock/40% bond portfolio gained 2.5%. For…

DEAR TRUST OFFICER:   I have $6,000 to put into an IRA before I file my tax return for 2020.  Which is better, the traditional IRA or the Roth IRA? — TARDY SAVER DEAR TARDY:   There is no simple answer to your question, unfortunately.  Do you qualify for the tax deduction for the contribution…

Imagine two archivists sifting through old stock charts 1,000 years from now and saying to each other “2020 must have been a great year!”  The U.S. stock market finished a very bad year on a very strong note, with the S&P 500 SPDR ETF (SPY) gaining 12.1% in the 4th quarter. The U.S. bond market (as measured…

Have you ever received a mailer about a “free dinner” at a local restaurant? All you must do to earn your $50 steak and $12 glass of cabernet sauvignon is listen to a “financial advisor” give you a pitch about “strategies to protect your nest-egg,” or “how to ensure a stress-free retirement in these turbulent…

DEAR TRUST OFFICER: I understand that you are a “corporate fiduciary.” What is that exactly? Aren’t you just a different flavor of stockbroker or financial planner?—SHOPPING FOR ADVICE DEAR SHOPPING:  “Fiduciary” is a legal term that describes the duties that one party owes to another in a business relationship. A fiduciary duty is the highest…

Keep Your Politics Out Of Your Portfolio The stock market had a decent 3rd quarter, with the S&P 500 SPDR ETF (SPY) gaining 9.0%. The U.S. bond market (as measured by the US Aggregate Bond ETF – AGG) eked out a 0.4% gain, and a 60% stock/40% bond portfolio gained 5.6%. Despite 2020 being…2020, investors…

DEAR TRUST OFFICER: I’m old enough to retire, but I’m not sure I’m ready yet. I think I have strong financial resources, but I don’t know if they are enough to make me financially independent for the rest of my life.  Retirement seems so terribly uncertain to me. When should I make the jump? –…

Have questions or concerns about your assets during this volatile market environment?  This brochure offers context for the current situation, with informed observations on how we may help you to respond to it.

DEAR TRUST OFFICER: When should I talk to my children about their inheritances? —THOUGHTFUL PARENT DEAR THOUGHTFUL: As a general rule, sooner is better than later.  An inheritance should not come as a surprise; it is something that requires preparation and planning.  In that way, an inheritance may prove to be more than a temporary…