Articles and Videos

Articles

Taking Advantage of Market Volatility

March 12, 2021

It probably goes without saying that 2020 was one of the most volatile years for stocks that we’ve ever seen.  We saw a decade-long bull market come to an end, followed by the shortest bear market in S&P 500 history, and then a rebound that sent the index back to all-time highs in early 2021. … View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The Unintended Consequences of Social Security’s Survivor Benefits- Season 5: Episode 2

March 9, 2021

You may have heard that Social Security provides a “survivor benefit,” which allows a surviving spouse to continue to receive their deceased spouse’s benefits. The original intention (back in 1940) was to ensure that widows would not be left without a Social Security payment. Today, though,  with many dual-working households (and thus two Social Security benefits), those same survivor benefit rules may actually cause the survivor to take a cut in benefits — in some cases, by nearly 50%. How is that possible? And, even more importantly,  how can you strategize to keep this from happening?

Capitalize

Are Stocks Risky? Interview with Michael Edesess- Season 1: Episode 6

March 8, 2021

Does rebalancing one’s portfolio actually reduce risk?  Is there any value in benchmarking investments? Financial advisor Christopher Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®,  speaks with Michael Edesess, Chief Investment Strategist of Compendium Finance about the idea of rebalancing, and why it may not be everything that people in the financial services industry often say it is. They also discuss Michael’s views on buy-and-hold investing, passive investing, whether diversification makes sense these days, as well as his opinion on just how risky stocks actually are.

Articles

Three Hidden Benefits of the Roth IRA

March 5, 2021

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are designed to be used as savings vehicles for your retirement.  As an added incentive to save, they often come with distinct tax advantages, such as deductions, deferrals, or tax-free withdrawals.  There are also, in most cases, penalty taxes for removing your money from the account too early. With the Roth IRA, though, there are exceptions to this “penalty tax,” potentially allowing you to access your money before you would normally be allowed to do so.  How might you be able to benefit from that? 

Managing Your Financial Future

The 3 Biggest Risks Facing Your Portfolio Today- Season 5: Episode 1

March 2, 2021

It’s a fact that retirees in general dislike spending down their savings.  In today’s low interest rate environment, and given declining dividend yields, how should one remove money from a portfolio for income without damaging the portfolio’s integrity and longevity? There are several possible routes to take, and unfortunately, many people may be tempted to reach for yield with either low-quality bond purchases or stocks with higher dividend yields.  But doing so almost certainly will raise the risk within a portfolio without any guarantee of higher returns.

Articles

Why You Should Take Your RMDs Early in the Year

February 25, 2021

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can be a tricky thing to navigate.  This has always been true, but even more so for last year (2020), when some of the rules either changed or were temporarily put on hold.  Not understanding these rules, or having the wrong information, can be costly. But did you know that you… View Article

Capitalize

How much can you actually spend in retirement? Interview with Dr. Wade Pfau- Season 1: Episode 5

February 22, 2021

Do you really spend more in retirement as time goes on? What should your asset allocation look like before and after you retire? We continue our interview with Dr. Wade Pfau, Ph.D., CFA, RICP®, following up on our previous discussion. Today, host Chris Panagiotu,  CFP®, CRPS®, will speak with Dr. Pfau about the conventional planning  perspective regarding retirement spending, and whether or not retirees tend to spend more – or less – as they get older. The answer may surprise you. Find out more on Part Two of this edition of CAPitalize, a podcast for the intelligent investor!

Articles

Practical Advice on Buying and Selling a Home

February 18, 2021

Homeownership is for many people a major goal in life.  And while it’s often the most expensive thing we will ever buy in our lifetimes, there are also several potential financial benefits for owning, purchasing, or selling a home. If you’ve got plans this year to either buy or sell a primary residence, there are some things you should consider before doing so. 

Articles

Beware of the Hidden Taxes in Retirement

February 11, 2021

One of the bigger myths that people often take into retirement is that their tax situation will become simpler once they’ve stopped earning a paycheck.  While this may be true in some instances, it’s certainly not the case for everyone.  In fact, it may be that your tax headaches are just beginning. Knowing what to expect, and then making plans in anticipation of that, is one of the best things you can do to potentially improve your financial situation in retirement. 

Capitalize

How can you potentially increase your income in retirement? Interview with Dr. Wade Pfau- Season 1: Episode 4

February 8, 2021

Can you increase your retirement income AND your legacy for your heirs? Is it the right time to look into buying an annuity? On today’s podcast, Chris Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®, is joined by Dr. Wade Pfau, Ph.D., CFA, RICP®,  host of the Retirement Researcher Blog, monthly columnist for Advisor Perspectives, and all-around smart guy. Chris will get into the reasons why Dr. Pfau believes that bonds may not belong in a portfolio, and why right now may – or may not – be a good time to look into annuities.  Lots to talk about on Part One of our interview on this edition of CAPitalize, a podcast for the intelligent investor!

Managing Your Financial Future

Is It Time to Re-Think the “4-Percent Rule?”- Season 4: Episode 12

February 8, 2021

It’s a fact that retirees in general dislike spending down their savings.  In today’s low interest rate environment, and given declining dividend yields, how should one remove money from a portfolio for income without damaging the portfolio’s integrity and longevity? There are several possible routes to take, and unfortunately, many people may be tempted to reach for yield with either low-quality bond purchases or stocks with higher dividend yields.  But doing so almost certainly will raise the risk within a portfolio without any guarantee of higher returns.

Articles

How the 2020 Economic Relief Acts Will Affect You in 2021

February 4, 2021

If nothing else, 2020 was a year of change.  Most of it temporary, some of it permanent.  This was true in all phases of life, including finance.  We saw, among other things, stimulus checks (two rounds), extra unemployment benefits, and people who were forced to relocate and change their lives completely around. Each of these… View Article