Blog
International Investing: Opportunity Overseas?
June 28, 2021
For the past decade, U.S. stocks have outperformed foreign stocks by a wide margin, due in large part to the stronger U.S. recovery after the Great Recession. In general, U.S. companies have been more nimble and innovative in response to changing business dynamics, while aging populations in Japan and many European countries have slowed economic…
Don’t Let Debt Derail Your Retirement
June 28, 2021
Debt poses a growing threat to the financial security of many Americans — and not just college graduates with exorbitant student loans. Recent studies by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (CRR) and the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) reveal an alarming trend: The percentage of older Americans with debt is at its…
Three Reasons to Keep Your Personal and Business Finances Separate
May 24, 2021
If you are launching a new venture, you may wonder whether it’s necessary to open a dedicated bank account for your business. Even if your company is established and already has separate checking and credit-card accounts, you may be tempted to pay business expenses from personal accounts on occasion — or vice versa — particularly…
Considerations When Making Gifts to Children
May 24, 2021
If you make significant gifts to your children or someone else’s children (perhaps a grandchild, a nephew, or a niece), or if someone else makes gifts to your children, there are a number of things to consider. Nontaxable Gift Transfers There are a variety of ways to make transfers to children that are not treated…
Decisions, Decisions: Weighing the Pros and Cons of an IRA Rollover
May 24, 2021
If you lose a job, switch employers, or step into retirement, you might consider rolling your retirement plan savings into an IRA. But this isn’t your only option; it could make more sense to keep the money in your previous employer’s plan or move it to your new employer’s plan (if allowed by the plan)….
Symphony Financial Planning Partners with Healthy Davis Together
May 12, 2021
Davis financial planning firm joins the effort to facilitate a safe reopening of the community. DAVIS, California—May 13, 2021—Symphony Financial Planning announced today that it has partnered with Healthy Davis Together to help ensure the safety of team members, clients, and the community upon returning to the office. Healthy Davis Together (HDT) is a joint…
Symphony Financial Planning Adds Three Team Members
April 29, 2021
Davis RIA hires trio amid preparations for holding in-person meetings once again. DAVIS, California—April 29, 2021—Symphony Financial Planning, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor in Davis, today announced that it has welcomed three new team members into the fold: Matthew DeTorres as Operations Manager, Mike Paulson as Technology and Trading Manager, and Valaree Nash as Administrative…
How Well Do You Understand Retirement Plan Rules?
April 27, 2021
Qualified retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, have many rules, and some of them can be quite complicated. Take the following quiz to see how well you understand some of the finer points. You can make an unlimited number of retirement plan rollovers per year. A. True B. False C. It depends If you…
Growing Interest in Socially Responsible Investing
April 27, 2021
U.S. assets invested in socially responsible strategies topped $17.1 trillion at the start of 2020, up 42% from two years earlier. Sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investments now account for nearly one-third of all professionally managed U.S. assets.1 This upward trend suggests that many people want their investment dollars to pursue a financial return and make…
Home-Sweet-Home Equity
April 27, 2021
Buying a home is a long-term commitment, so it’s not surprising that older Americans are much more likely than younger people to own their homes “free and clear” (see chart). If you have paid off your mortgage or anticipate doing so by the time you retire, congratulations! Owning your home outright can help provide financial flexibility and…