MICHAEL McLEOD, CFP®, CTFA
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Inflation: Past, Present, and Future
Inflation has been a part of human society as long as goods and services have been exchanged for one another. In ancient Rome, emperors and senators actively tried to manage inflation by striking the ideal balance between money supply and growth. In the thirteenth century, King John of England...
Business Owner Transition Planning
Small businesses are a major economic force in the United States, comprising about half of the country’s GDP and representing almost 27 million companies. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that family businesses, defined as those in which two or more family members exercise control, represent about...
Minimizing (or Eliminating) IRMAA Medicare Surcharges
As with many transitions in life or business, a little advanced planning helps the process run much more smoothly. For investors in their 60s, a number of planning considerations come into sharper focus which means it is an especially important time for prudent planning. These considerations are...
The ABCs of Financial Advice
Like most industries, the wealth management field has its own “language,” with a range of terms, jargon, and acronyms used by people in the profession. If you’re investing, it’s wise to take the time to understand common terms – as well as their implications – to make sound financial decisions for...
Why An Estate Plan Is Essential For Investors
A new President brings new priorities and a new fiscal plan to fund those priorities. Consequently, there has been much discussion this year of potential impacts to income and estate taxes. Despite a lot of conversation and preliminary proposals, we still lack clarity on what changes may ultimately...
The History of Retirement
For many Americans, building the financial assets to transition from daily work to retirement later in life stands apart as a top goal. The concept of retirement is deeply ingrained in today’s culture, but it’s actually a relatively new idea. In 1900, the average global life expectancy was just 31...
Planning Throughout the Retirement Lifecycle
We generally think about retirement in three broad phases. Within each phase, distinct trends and priorities have emerged among retirees in the numerous studies that have been completed on the topic. Each client has their own unique plans for retirement, but understanding these general patterns...
The Election Is Over. Now What?
Election Day 2020 has come and gone, and many clients are naturally interested in what the results mean for their personal finances. Although President-elect Joseph Biden’s policy agenda offers stark contrasts to many current policies, particularly in the realm of tax policy, the degree to which...
Survivorship Planning Checklist
In many families, one partner takes a more active role in handling the finances than the other. Often, this division of labor stems from fear, time pressure or lack of interest. Regardless of the root cause, having one spouse exclusively handling family finances can put the other partner in a...
Planning Amid Uncertainty
In times of heightened volatility and uncertainty, it’s helpful to revisit the fundamental question of why we plan and invest in the first place. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we will continue to see significant and wide-ranging implications on many aspects of our daily lives,...