Investment Management Archives

As an investment management firm in Los Angeles, a quick online search for “Dow rallies 500 points” yields a cascade of news stories with similar titles, as does a similar search for “Dow drops 500 points.” These types of headlines may make little sense to some investors, given that a “point” for the Dow and what it means to an individual’s portfolio may be unclear. The potential for misunderstanding also exists among even experienced market participants, given that index levels have risen over time and potential emotional anchors such as a 500-point move do not have the same impact on performance as they used to. With this in mind, we examine what a point move in the Dow means and the impact it may have on an investment portfolio.

Planning for college is an expensive thought whether you’ve got a newborn, toddler or teenager. For 2018, tuition and fees at the University of Texas at Austin were $10,398 for Texas residents and $36,744 for out-of-state undergraduate students. While there are many account types that can be used to pay for higher education, 529 plans offer the most flexibility, freedom and savings when paying for college. As a financial planner in Austin, TX, college planning is an important consideration for families.

You’ve left your job but still have a 401(k) plan with your former employer… now what? You have four options on how to move forward. These options include: do nothing, roll into your new employer’s 401(k) plan, roll into an individual retirement account (IRA) or cash out immediately. As a fiduciary financial planner in Los Angeles, I will highlight the pros and cons of each choice below to help you make an informed decision.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) were created in 2003 to incentivize individuals covered by high-deductible health plans to save for medical expenses by receiving a triple-tax advantage. Recent studies estimate that only 8% of Americans have HSAs. While HSAs have been around for several years, three out of four HSAs were established within the last five years. What gives? Given the preferential tax treatment let’s review why a HSA can be a valuable component to your financial plan.

As a Los Angeles financial advisor, I can confirm I’ve never spoke with anyone that gets excited about losing money from their investments. However, markets don’t go straight up. Recognizing losses from tax-loss harvesting creates tax benefits that can help your overall financial picture. In the short-term, market volatility produces opportunities to recognize investment losses. A diversified portfolio won’t have as many opportunities to recognize investment losses with a long-term time horizon. How do investors maintain their overall portfolio while recognizing losses?

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Getting to the Point of a Point

529 Plan for Higher Education

What to Do With a 401(k) When Changing Jobs

Health Savings Account Triple-Tax Advantage

Tax-Loss Harvesting Basics