When the U.S. declared war on Germany in April 1917, many Americans immediately signed up to serve. One of them was a young man named George Seibold. Raised in a civic-minded family, George was not content with just any type of service. Wanting to make as big a difference as possible, he volunteered for one…
DetailsQuestions You Were Afraid To Ask In March, I broke down some of the most common terms associated with bonds and what they mean. But there was one term I left unexplained – and often, it’s the one you hear the most about in the media. I’m referring to a bond’s yield. So, without…
DetailsOn May 1, the Secretary of the Treasury informed Congress that the U.S. could default on its debt by June 1 if legislators do not raise the nation’s debt ceiling.1 Here we go again! This announcement was not a surprise. The U.S. officially hit the debt ceiling in January but were able to…
DetailsHappy Mother’s Day! A few weeks ago, I was thinking about what sort of flowers to get my wife. I started researching the deeper significance behind many types of flowers. Doing so really made me think about my own mother and all the things she means to me. So, in honor of the holiday,…
DetailsIF You Plan Ahead As we start getting into summer, I’ve had several friends tell me about their vacation plans. Listening to them talk, it’s clear they’ve put a lot of thought and effort into planning for their trips. That got me thinking: what if people put as much time into planning their retirement…
DetailsNo one thought much about it when President Ronald Reagan began to make changes to Social Security in 1983. How old were you? Maybe in your 20’s or 30’s? We were all interested in other things at that point in our lives. Today, April 20, is the 40th anniversary of the 1983 Social Security…
DetailsThis is the Stealth Tax I’ve written about before. We did a search and very sadly I’ve written about this six times over the last 30 months. Sorry it seems to be a broken record! Here’s my previous writings: 12/10/2020 The Stealth Tax 5/13/2021 They’re Coming For You – We Are Broke! 9/23/2021 Only…
DetailsFor Your Lifestyle Planning Folder Planning for retirement is not just about finances; it’s about planning for your overall well-being, which should involve thinking about your health and personal needs. I understand that no one wants to think about the possibility of needing long-term care. Oftentimes it is something that is put off and…
DetailsWith Colorado Springs elections right around the corner I thought it would be a good time to share some information about the Financial State of Colorado Springs. Every year Truth in Accounting produces a report and reviews the 75 largest cities in the United States from an accounting perspective. It currently shows that…
DetailsIf only we could get Spring to come. Pike’s Peak just got covered up again! Either way, it’s a good time to begin thinking about some financial spring cleaning. Anything we can help with? Give us a call. #2ndHalfWealth 1-05278717 11/30/2023
DetailsSVB Update For most of us, the words “bank failure” immediately trigger the same recent memory: the financial crisis of 2008. That was a year no investor could ever forget. The year some of the largest, most storied financial institutions in the world — think Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and others — collapsed, never…
DetailsQuestions You Were Afraid To Ask The only bad question is the one left unasked. That’s the premise behind this series. Each covers a different investing-related question that many people have but are afraid to ask. Last month, I answered the question, “What’s the difference between the various types of bonds?” This month, I’d…
DetailsIf you’re a big fan of St. Patrick’s Day, you will wake up on the 17th, daydreaming of what’s to come. You can smell delicious, corned beef, cabbage, and the faint richness of Guinness floating in the air. You can almost taste it. Everywhere you look, you’re seeing green. Shamrocks on clothing, grand banners, even…
DetailsHere We Go Again “Here we go again.” That’s a line from Return of the Jedi, delivered by C-3PO just before he and his friends prepare to go out on another harrowing adventure. In the movie, poor 3PO was referring to taking down the Death Star, but he could have easily been referring to…
DetailsHow long will you live? It turns out this vitally important question tends to be given little thought by most. In the last two weeks I’ve reviewed three articles on this subject. Here’s one from Fox Business. New studies disclose that very few Americans know or understand their life expectancy. Because of…
DetailsIt’s tax time! For many of you it’s a complicated few months if not more because of extensions. Many of you may have received all of the tax forms you need and your ready to file. Other’s will need to wait a bit. Some may also get revised 1099s and other tax forms…never fun!…
DetailsQuestions You Were Afraid To Ask Some time ago, I wrote a series called “Questions You Were Afraid to Ask.” Each installment answered a common question many investors have but feel uncomfortable asking. When I was young, I was taught that “The only bad question is the one left unasked.” As a financial…
DetailsThe Art of Conversation Many people think that, as a financial professional, I spend all day with my head buried in numbers, following the movement of the markets. And it’s true – that is a big part of what I do. But the most important part of my job – and, quite frankly, my…
DetailsDon’t Take It Too Soon This topic will affect millions of people in our country. It seems every day I answer some form of the same question, “When should I (or we) take Social Security benefits?” For many this benefit may be the largest asset they have. And this one decision may be…
DetailsI hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Whether you reached your personal goals last year or faced challenges, a new year always brings new opportunities and a fresh start. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, popularly known as the SECURE Act, was signed into law in late 2019.…
DetailsMay your days be filled with peace, hope, and joy this holiday season. As always, thank you for your business, loyalty, and support. Sincerely, All of us at Wealth Advisors Holiday Schedule We will be working from home on Friday, December 23rd, closing for Christmas starting at 2:00pm and all day…
DetailsAs you know, there are many beautiful Christmas carols. We now consider many of them hymns but originally they were carols. Silent Night will always be a favorite. Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Holy Night are classics. But one of the most charming, to me, is O Little Town of Bethlehem.…
DetailsEveryone has a favorite ornament on their Christmas tree. For some, it’s those red, shiny glass spheres that reflect the lights around them, bathing the room in a warm glow on Christmas Eve. Others prefer ribbons, beads, or candy canes. There are those whose fondest ornament is the tiny macaroni angel or baked salt dough…
DetailsHappy New Year! I was thinking about goals and New Year’s resolutions when I came upon the story of John Goddard—an adventurer, lecturer, and perhaps “the world’s greatest goal achiever.” If you’ve ever read the book Chicken Soup for the Soul, you might be familiar with Goddard’s name. (His story was included…
DetailsOn October 3, 1789, President Washington gave the nation’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation. In it, he both specified the exact day the nation should come together in gratitude and suggested some of the things Americans had to be grateful for. Washington released a second Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1795. After this, only one president – James…
DetailsMy Memories Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. As I get older, I think more and more about Thanksgivings past and all the food, laughter, and company I enjoyed from childhood to adulthood. As a child, my mother’s extended family always gathered at someone’s home. I find myself nostalgic for the holiday…
DetailsShowtime in 12 Days With elections right around the corner, many have been asking me what the results could mean for the markets. Here are four things you should know about the relationship between midterms and markets. 1. The stock market usually dips before a midterm election. As you know, this has…
DetailsWe’ve now begun the fourth quarter of 2022 and for those of you 70 1/2 or older, you should be strongly considering using the second-best provision in our tax code: The QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution). Your gifts must be received before the end of the year, here’s how it works. Not 70 1/2 yet?…
DetailsWho Will Pay? How many times have I asked you, “Do you believe taxes will be higher in the future?” For those who look out at Pikes Peak every day, picture a little snowball rolling down the mountain getting ever larger. If you’ve ever hiked the mountain, the snowball has past the Golden…
DetailsInvesting Like Water I’ve been thinking about water. I know that might seem like an odd thing for a financial professional to think about. Especially during times like these, with interest rates on the rise, inflation remaining stubbornly high, and volatility dominating the markets. But, as investors, this is exactly the time…
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