Articles and Videos

Managing Your Financial Future

The Conventional Social Security Strategy That Could Seriously Backfire- Season 5: Episode 11

May 11, 2021

Conventional wisdom, rules of thumb, standard advice – those are what the lazy person often resorts to when they don’t have an answer for you, or they can’t figure out what to do.  “Everyone else does it this way” is not always a good reason to pursue a strategy that may not be suitable for… View Article

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How You May Avoid a Tax Audit

May 5, 2021

Last week’s video dealt with some of the things that may trigger a tax audit of your return.  Of course, there’s no hard-and-fast rule about why anyone’s return might be looked at more carefully by the IRS than others, but we do know that certain actions, or incorrect accounting, can lead to an eventual audit. It’s always best to avoid those situations.  In this week’s edition of Lucia Capital Group Weekly, “Professor” Rick Plum, CFP, gives you some tips on how to keep the IRS out of your hair in the first place.

Managing Your Financial Future

How Do Financial Advisor Fees Actually Work?- Season 5: Episode 10

May 4, 2021

One of the most common questions people ask us when they’re considering the services of an investment advisor and/or financial planner is this: “what will this cost me in terms of fees?” The question of how much an advisor charges, not just for their own services but for the team and others working alongside him or her, is one that you absolutely must get an answer for. And that answer should be clear, concise, and spelled out in simplistic form so that there’s no mistaking who’s getting paid, how much they’re getting paid, and who is actually responsible for paying them. Everyone should be paid for the work they do and the value they may add – you just need to be sure there are no surprises.

Capitalize

Bitcoin, Bias, and Millennials – Interview with Colin Slabach (Part 1) -Season 1: Episode 10

May 3, 2021

Part 1 of our interview with Colin Slabach, assistant professor of retirement.  Today’s topics are many and varied: Bitcoin – what are the red flags when considering an investment in Bitcoin, and in cryptocurrency in general? Bias in investing – Recency Bias and Confirmation Bias are everywhere.  What does this mean in the world of investing? Millennials and money – what the younger set of investors should consider for their future. All that, and much more, on today’s episode of CAPitalize, the podcast for the intelligent investor!

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What Might Trigger a Tax Audit?

April 29, 2021

For taxpayers, an audit notice is perhaps the scariest part of the entire tax-filing process. Even more than having to write a large check at filing time, the thought of being audited is for  many people worse. You may be almost entirely sure you’ve done nothing wrong, but still… that notice in the mail. This is why it’s good to know what might trigger a tax audit ahead of time. The odds of an audit are very low, when given the entirety of the American taxpaying public, but if you know what they may be looking for, and what actions may color your return a deeper shade of red, you may be able to avoid those triggers.

Managing Your Financial Future

3 Generous Tax Law Benefits You Didn’t Know Existed- Season 5: Episode 9

April 27, 2021

Taxes can be scary. Whether you’re anticipating a big tax bill this year, or you’re fretting about a tax deadline that’s coming up, or you’re concerned that you’re overpaying but can’t find a way out of it.  On top of that, the tax code is insanely large and complicated. But oddly enough, the tax code also gives us some good things — a few benefits that just may help allay some of those concerns. Learn more about 3 of those benefits,

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How Should You Withdraw Money From Your Retirement Accounts?

April 22, 2021

It’s hard to find anyone who really enjoys paying taxes. So it’s not surprising that people often want to put them off for just as long as they can. This is why some financial strategists find it easy to tell their clients to “never take money from a taxable account until you’re required to do… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

How Do You Know When You Can Retire?- Season 5: Episode 8

April 20, 2021

If you’ve been planning on working until a certain age (62? 65? later?), but you find that you are a) overwhelmed by stress at work, and b) a number of years short of that “required” age, are you still able to retire? This is a question that financial advisors and planners deal with every day. How do you know when you’re really able to hang it all up? Maybe your portfolio balance hasn’t reached the number you’ve always figured was the minimum amount you’d need. There’s a chance, given certain generous tax laws and some basic strategy techniques, that you may be able to retire well before you thought you could.

Capitalize

Advice for Those Who Want Financial Success – Interview with Craig Israelsen -Season 1: Episode 9

April 19, 2021

What’s the most important piece of advice for those that want financial success?  As we continue the interview with Craig Israelsen, founder of the “Seven-12 portfolio,” our own Christopher Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS® talks about what Craig would say to those who have a vested interest in achieving their own financial goals.  What is low correlation?  Why is it valuable?   Educating you on the important topics of the day – and more – on this week’s edition of CAPitalize, the podcast for the intelligent investor!

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What Is an “Alternative” Investment?

April 16, 2021

Diversification is not just a financial industry buzzword; it’s often an important part of just about anyone’s financial strategy.  A common form is a simple one: stocks, bonds, and cash.  But is that true diversification?  For some people, that may work just fine.  Others, though, may want to consider a little extra: something known as an “alternative investment.” Whether these are suitable for an individual investor, though, depends on several factors.  So before you jump into anything non-traditional, it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into and why.

Managing Your Financial Future

Annuities 101: Understanding the Basics- Season 5: Episode 7

April 13, 2021

Of all the financial products available to consumers, it is the annuity that is perhaps the most misunderstood. The initial concept of the annuity — you give money to an insurance company, they pay you some, or all, of that money back (and maybe more) over time — is rather simple. But over they years they’ve become more complex, with more features, more options, and (yes) in some cases, more fees. Whether an annuity is suitable for you will depend on many factors. But it’s never a good idea to own an annuity (or anything else) without understanding what you’re getting and why it’s been recommended to you.

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Why Having Multiple Sources of Retirement Income May Be Best

April 8, 2021

If you’ve ever thought about how you’ll be able to have enough income to make it through retirement, you’re not alone.  Many people are concerned about potential future cuts to Social Security, as well as a continuation of low interest rates — both of which can impact your income at retirement. This is why it may be a good idea to consider having multiple sources of income once you’ve stopped working.  But how do you do that? And what form should that income take?