Mentor Monthly Missive – August 2014

Addressing Negative Issues can be a Positive Thing

Thinking about negative things is, well, negative. That’s why a lot of people procrastinate about managing risk: It deals with issues of poor health, infirmities and death. In addition, facing the prospect of working with an insurance agent often sends people running. It’s admitted that it’s difficult for people who sell insurance to be […]

July Market Commentary from Charles Schwab & Co.

A Rough Week for Stocks Despite Little News Stocks sold off last week, despite a lack of major news—outside renewed concerns over European banks—and even positive signs of some stabilization of the situation in Iraq. Global stocks -1.50%. DJIA -0.19% S&P 500 -0.90% Nasdaq Composite -1.57% 10-year Treasury yield -0.12 In a pattern eerily reminiscent […]

Obamatax Costs Some Taxpayers Thousands

During the most recent tax season, we saw the first effects of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, and for high-income clients they weren’t pretty. The act, which was passed by Congress and was designed to address the “fiscal cliff” (remember that?), had its first full effect on taxpayers last year. Although the act […]

When Nursing Home Insurance Makes Sense

One type of insurance coverage that has generated a lot of interest lately helps cover the costs of long-term nursing care. It provides a benefit for people who have difficulty caring for themselves as they age. From a wealth-management point of view, there are specific circumstances where long-term-care (LTC) insurance is most appropriate: You can […]

Mentor Monthly Missive – July 2014

Coalition backs more $$ for SEC

Bravo to the Financial Planning Coalition, which is backing legislation that would raise fees for investment advisers to increase the “dangerously low” number of exams the Securities and Exchange Commission currently conducts. The best way to protect consumers is to beef up examinations – which should be targeted at the riskiest of operations: For example […]

Bureaucrat-think

So the government wants to stop U.S. companies from moving overseas for tax reasons. The solution? Make the U.S. corporate tax environment even more onerous. This is typical of the way bureaucrats think. They fail to consider that businesses, like consumers, do what’s in their own financial best interests. A friend commented that it […]

Obamacare credit for small biz health insurance

Obamacare’s web site for small businesses to sign up for health insurance is still non-functioning, but it has a working calculator to find out if you qualify for a tax credit: https://www.healthcare.gov/shop-calculators-taxcredit/ Be prepared to enter current year projected numbers for: full-time employees; part-time employee hours; total wages; whether the employer will pay 50% or more of […]

Strike Out ALS 5k July 15th, 2014

Team Prepare for Glory will be running/walking/strolling again this year to fight ALS. The event will take place at US Cellular Field with an MLB All Star game watch to follow. Join us or make a donation as we remember John Piegari. Strike Out ALS

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