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Second Homes: The Real Return
I’ve noticed a pattern among clients. Many of our clients under 45 are searching for – and actively buying – second homes. Meanwhile, a number of our clients in their 60s (and beyond) are doing ...
Yield-Maxxing
When it comes to fixed income investing, some investors prefer safety at all costs. Others want to squeeze every last bit of yield out of cash and bonds. Everywhere I look, someone is recommending a ...
The Social Security Decision Isn’t About Social Security
With one piece of critical information, I can tell you exactly when to claim your Social Security. Ok… ready? When will you (and, if married, your spouse) die? Tricky, huh? That’s what makes Social Security ...
No Taxation Without…
As a financial planner, I spend a lot of time thinking about taxes. So heading into the Fourth of July, I figured I’d be writing about…well…taxes. Instead, Walter Isaacson sent me down a rabbit hole. ...
You’re Living Longer Than My Planning Software Allows
The Age 100 Assumption As I’ve been going through my annual State of the Union meetings with clients, one topic keeps coming up in my mind: What if we’re still dramatically underestimating how long we ...
Tax Alpha: The Most Overlooked Investment
In investing, “alpha” refers to excess returns. Few opportunities may offer more of it than thoughtful tax planning. This week I’m in Las Vegas attending the AICPA Engage conference, one of the largest gatherings of ...
Spider-Man Gets a Brokerage Account
Quentin has been wearing a Spider-Man costume every day for the past four weeks. We picked it up for free at a costume swap last October and didn’t think much of it. It just recently became part ...
The 4 Tiers of the Liquidity Ladder
I was recently reading an article that referenced Pledged Asset Lines (PALs). Familiar with these? A PAL is a line of credit backed by your taxable investment account. Rather than selling investments (and potentially triggering ...
The Vanderbilt Problem: Why Wealth Rarely Lasts
You’ve probably heard the saying: “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” The phrasing changes across cultures – the British say “clogs to clogs,” the Italians “from the stables to the stars to the stables” – ...
Against Nihilism: Finding Meaning in a Noisy World
Spend enough time online and it’s hard not to notice the cultural shift. Younger generations are growing up in an environment where information is endless. Despite the abundance of content, there is evidence that we ...
Real Returns Are All That Matter
In 1980, a certificate of deposit (CD) briefly yielded nearly 19%. Just imagine that offer today: a risk-free 19% yield. Not even Bernie Madoff promised something that sweet. But the reality wasn’t so sweet. Inflation was running in the double ...
How Much to Spend on Your Health
While camping over Labor Day Weekend, I shared with my brother-in-law yet another supplement I was considering adding to my routine (sulforaphane, for those wondering!). He laughed and said, “Where do you draw the line on ...
Rethinking Education Funding in the Age of AI
College planning used to feel pretty straightforward. Save into a 529, borrow if you have to, send the kids off, and hope it all works out. But now? Tuition keeps climbing, borrowing is getting tighter, ...
Becoming a Supple Leopard: Why Longevity Lives in the Middle of the Strength-Flow Spectrum
A leopard is a rare combination of raw power and effortless grace. As Manny taught me (BIG fan of Wild Kratts and all things animals), leopards can haul prey twice their weight into a tree… then move through ...
Sports Betting: The House Always Wins
I got a call a couple months back from a close friend: “Yo, remember Steve from college? He just reached out. Told me he’s had a down streak gambling – like, down $400k bad. He and his wife both emptied ...