Planning Matters (March 2019) – Time Is Running Out for Certain Social Security Claiming Strategies

  |  March 31, 2019

compass on top of money

he universe of potential Social Security retirement benefit claimants is divided into two groups that are separated by one date: January 2, 1954. All individuals who were born on or after that date are limited to one Social Security benefit claim when it comes time to file for benefits. Married (or formerly married) workers born prior to that date have the potential ability to claim one Social Security benefit while allowing the second, the larger benefit, to grow by up to 32% before claiming it. The first benefit in question is called the spousal benefit and it has a special application for households with claimants born prior to January 2, 1954. Read more. Read More

Market View (January 2019) – This Might Sting a Little

  |  January 30, 2019

“This might sting a little,” “You might feel some discomfort,” “You might experience some pain,” these phrases are meant to prepare and supposedly ease imminent pain from a needle or other medical procedure, but somehow they often do not. I suspect that as you read those phrases you almost immediately remembered an unpleasant experience. Read more. Read More

Capital Conversations (Fall 2018) – Investing Doesn’t Stop When You Retire

  |  November 5, 2018

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, people (mainly men) worked for one company their entire professional career, saved for their retirement, retired at age 65, received a gold watch and a pension, and then did not live very long after that. Does that sound familiar to you? It was certainly the story for my father and both of my grandfathers.

Oh, how times have changed. Read more. Read More

Market View (October 2018) – Volatility: Déjà vu All Over Again

  |  October 12, 2018

In the first two week of October 2018, we have seen a fairly rapid decline in market values. At the time of this writing, the S&P 500 has declined about 6.2% during the month of October with developed international equities performing in a similar fashion and emerging market equities performing worse. Ostensibly, it is valuations, rising interest rates and trade tariffs that are to blame. We added “déjà vu all over again” to the title, because we were in a similar situation as our February 2018 newsletter. Read more. Read More

Planning Matters (September 2018) – Risk Management and Retirement Planning

  |  September 26, 2018

compass on top of money

Last quarter, this newsletter focused on the Retirement Planning section of REDW Stanley’s Wealth Management map. We looked at the inter-relationships between various aspects of financial planning and how retirement planning can span decades and often dominate other planning goals.

At the bottom of the diagram are three additional sections we refer to as the lenses through which we view the decisions that are made in the main planning areas. Because we at REDW Stanley are fiduciaries, we must first act in our client’s best interest. Then we measure and account for the tax impact of planning decisions, and finally, we factor in how those decisions affect risk.

When risk is considered, the following are possible responses... Read more. Read More

Capital Conversations (Summer 2018) – So … What’s a Blockchain?

  |  August 6, 2018

Curious about blockchain? Like bitcoin, it’s a new digital technology term you may have heard bandied about recently. You may have even heard it described as a secure method for people and organizations to transact business with each other without requiring a trusted, central institution to verify the information. With a blockchain, there is no central authority, like a bank, involved in the transaction. What does that mean? Read more. Read More

Planning Matters (June 2018) – A Deeper Dive into Our Map of Financial Advice, Planning and Wealth Management

  |  June 29, 2018

compass on top of money

This month, we are focusing our attention on the Retirement Planning section of REDW Stanley's Universe of Financial Advice, Planning and Wealth Management map. We’re starting here because most of the planning advice we are asked to provide centers on retirement-related issues. Whether you are near or far from the subject, most people have long range goals that revolve around retirement. Read more. Read More

Financial Advisors No Longer Compelled to Use the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule

  |  June 28, 2018

A rule requiring financial advisors to act in their clients’ best interests with regard to retirement accounts has been ended by a U.S. court. The “fiduciary advice rule” made investment advice standards for retirement savings tougher, requiring investment professionals to put clients’ interests ahead of their own with regard to retirement accounts. Read more. Read More

Capital Conversations (Spring 2018) – Cybersecurity and Fraud

  |  May 8, 2018

Copyright Roy Delgado

Protecting your personal and private financial information is critical and important to your financial health. There are serious threats out there, but there are also practical steps you can take to safeguard your identity and assets. By following the guidelines below and being careful when sharing any kind of personal and private financial information in online transactions, you can minimize your chance of falling victim to some form of cyber-crime. Read more. Read More