401k

As you know, your financial plan is comprised of many parts. This would equate to what one of the greatest investors and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, calls the “economic trees.” In other words, let’s not get too caught up on any one investment.

Robo-advisors have been heralded as the “future of investing” by their fans, but can computer algorithms really replace human financial advisors?

Many of my clients know how much my husband and I love to explore the world through travel. Since we are both able to work remotely, we're able to get away about once every quarter. Although some of those trips are in the US, many are not.

It may be hard to see sometimes, with the often apocalyptic 24-hour news cycles, but there is a lot of good out there in the world. One of the good things is how generous Americans have been with their charitable giving. Part of this widespread generosity is tied, no doubt, on the internet connecting people all over the world. Americans gave $410.02 billion dollars to charity in 2017, breaking a record and 70% of that was given by individuals.[i] As wealth grew, so too did charitable giving and generosity. Within that huge number, over $400 billion, some interesting patterns and data appear. Within this article, we will discuss why people practice charitable giving, who is giving, and how, if inclined, you could give more as well.

Why Give?

There are so many in need and for so many reasons. Between medical research, animal charities, environmental disaster, the refugee crisis, health crisis, homelessness, drug addiction, food instability, arts organizations, you name it, and there is a cause that could use the help. There is also solid evidence that your donations actually do make a difference to these causes. They do need and appreciate every penny they receive. But did you know that giving is actually good for you too? In fact, giving triggers a pleasure point in our brain, the same area of reward processing that is activated by pleasurable activities like sex and food.[ii] Donating our time and money to a cause makes us feel good, helps contribute to our overall happiness, and can actually help our health and mortality rates.[iii] On top of helping others and feeling good, charitable donations can be tax deductible, and for some, that is motivation enough. A good rule is before donating to anything you plan to claim, do your research and confirm that they are a recognized non-profit organization by the IRS and always get a receipt.

Recently, the headline news was about the U.S. yield curve “inverting,” and what this might mean for the economy and markets.

In a few short years, it seems as though the banking industry has revolutionized. It is now easier (and more convenient than ever) to tend to your banking needs, all from the comforts of your pajamas. Gone are the notions of banking hours, and the never-ending lines when you want to deposit your paycheck.

While owning a home is the quintessential American dream, not everyone is able to purchase a home when they desire. If you’re fresh out of school with a boat load of student debt, it’s probably best to wait until you’ve been working for at least a year before you start looking to buy. You’ll also want to make sure that your credit score is where it should be, since the higher your score, the lower your interest rate will be. It’s also important to pull a copy of your credit report prior to contacting any mortgage companies; examining it in minute detail to ensure that everything is correct. If you do find an error, dispute it with the credit bureau immediately and keep the documentation.

Earlier this week, the Federal Liberal Government tabled their election-year budget, albeit through historically unorthodox methods. As expected, several measures were included that were designed to appeal to voters, especially the segments that the current government had seemingly lost approval with.

We believe your personal safety online is of the highest importance. That’s why we are writing to share some important tips on making sure your passwords are strong enough to keep your data as safe as possible.

If you’re looking to diversify your investment portfolio, you may want to consider purchasing investment property.

Depending on how hands-on you want to be, you may want to purchase real estate as a short-term investment; fixing up the property and then selling it immediately for profit. For a long-term investment, rental property can provide a steady income stream over the longer term.