Muddling Through After the Debt Ceiling Debate
August 4, 2011 by Tom Licciardello, CFP · Leave a Comment
- After months of political wrangling, a deal has been reached to raise the U.S. debt ceiling.
- Few are happy with the results, and long-term measures to address the debt must still be implemented.
- While a debt-rating downgrade is still a very real possibility, the financial markets have already moved beyond the spectacle of the debate and are reacting to the host of indicators signaling a potential economic slowdown.
- Despite the economic woes, we remain firmly in the camp of those who anticipate continued market advances.
- We view any market pullbacks as opportunities to add to equity exposures using assets currently invested in U.S. Treasuries or investment-grade securities as a source of funding.
Read the Full Report – After the vote
Most Americans Haven’t Planned for Retirement and Other Areas of Concern.
June 9, 2011 by Tom Licciardello, CFP · Leave a Comment
The “troubling picture of the state of financial capability in the United States” comes from a new working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, authored by Professor Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business. “Americans’ Financial Capability” surveyed nearly 1,500 Americans in the summer 2009 and found that not only is the household financial hole deep, but people might not be able to dig themselves out of it as easily as they thought.
Read the full article from the Wall Streeet Journal – Most Americans Haven’t Planned for Retirement
Medicare Supplement Options
November 18, 2010 by Tom Licciardello, CFP · Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year when those clients who qualify for Medicare need to analyze the best choices for their Supplement Plan. While one of our favorite “go-to” plans, First Freedom, will no longer be available, we have done thorough research into what we believe will be the best options in 2011.
The plans we highlight are not HMO options. We have selected only “Medicare Supplement” options which means that any physician that accepts Medicare will also accept the Supplement plan…an especially important feature for clients who spend time in a second location such as Florida.
Additionally we have prepared a second summary of recommended “Part D” Rx plans.
To view the complete worksheet of the Supplement options click – 2011 Non Group Medicare Options Medical. To view the complete worksheet of Part D Prescription Plans click- 2011 Non Group Medicare Options Rx.
Where Does Social Security Fit in Your Plan?
August 2, 2010 by Tom Licciardello, CFP · Leave a Comment
We get lots of inquiries about the best way to treat Social Security Retirement beneifits in the retirement planning process. The following will help provide some insight into important aspects of this benefit:
Doing the Math on Social Security
July 15, 2010
How are your Social Security benefits figured? This question comes up a lot. The short answer is it’s complicated, MarketWatch’s Andrea Coombes says in her Personal Finance Minute.
Social Security: What Couples Should Consider
July 9, 2010
Deciding when to take your Social Security benefits is no easy matter — and it gets even more complicated when a husband and wife, who will retire at different ages, have to make that decision together. In this Personal Finance Minute, MarketWatch’s Andrea Coombes takes a look at a few things to consider.
Timing Your Social Security Benefits
July 7, 2010
Many people start their Social Security benefits early, but given average life expectancy today, that’s often not a good idea. In today’s Personal Finance Minute, MarketWatch’s Andrea Coombes looks at the timing of your payout.