First Victory for the Fiduciary Rule

An early victory was scored for consumers last week when a federal court refused to place on hold the U.S. Labor Department’s “Fiduciary Rule.” The rule, which will take effect next April, requires anyone giving advice on retirement accounts always to act in the best interests of their clients. The ruling involved a case filed […]

Changes to Social Security and the Impact on you

After receiving no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2016, the Social Security Administration announced on Tuesday, October 18th that benefit recipients shall receive a 0.3% COLA for the 2017 year. This means an individual who received $15,000 in Social Security benefits for 2016, will now receive $15,045 for 2017. These adjustments are made to keep pace […]

Is it time to flee short-term bonds?

We couldn’t have said it any better than Catherine Gordon of the Vanguard Investment Strategy Group: “I also think that we often talk about trying to time the stock market. You know, is the market going to go up, is it going to go down? But trying to time the bond market is just as […]

www.ChicagoFeeOnlyFinancial.com

We are happy to announce the launch of a new website focusing on Fee-Only financial planning in the Chicago area. In cooperation with seven other advisors, John Davis and Dan Carey hope to make it easier for consumers to get objective advice about managing their personal finances. We are committed to providing these services to […]

Mentor Monthly Missive – November 2014

November Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co

There weren’t many tea leaves to read for the U.S. economy in this week’s relatively short list of economic reports. Retail sales rose modestly, as did inventories. But there was news from abroad with potentially significant impacts for the global economy. During President Obama’s trip to China, progress was announced on eliminating tariffs on a […]

Transferring Retirement Risk

Risk transfer is an important element of the wealth management process. When you pay another party to insure against catastrophe, it can be a good move Paying an insurance company a reasonable amount to ensure that you won’t go broke in retirement can also be smart. The cost, which is your agreement that your heirs […]

2015 IRS Retirement Plan Limits

The Treasury Department has announced inflation-adjusted figures for retirement account savings for 2015, and this year there’s extra room for savings for wage and salary types and the self-employed. If you have a 401(k), a SEP-IRA, or a SIMPLE, pay attention and if you can swing it, bump up your contributions to the new max. […]

Why ‘annuity’ is not always a dirty word

Financial independence means living the lifestyle you choose without fear of running out of money. Whether to work becomes a choice, rather than an obligation. Activity (travel, hobbies, volunteering) does too. Worst case from a lifestyle point of view is dying too soon. From a purely financial point of view, it’s living too long. One […]

Mentor Monthly Missive – October 2014

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