Advance Health Care Directive
Here is a form you can print, prepared by California Hospital Association. It's important that you take control of your medical care while you are able to express your wishes.
Annuities
Variable annuities are an expensive way to build wealth. This article, although technical, explains why.
BEAR MARKET PROTECTION
How to Survive a Bear Market
BUY AMERICAN!
Tired of spending money on foreign made toys?
Bear Market Thinking and Opportunity
Nice summary of our somewhat contrarian approach. Compare the figures with Trusted Financial's composite unweighted performance for the first quarter of 2008, off 3.5%
(complete report available upon request)
Borrowing , Credit Cards and Consumer Loans
Bank Rate
CHECK LISTS
Legal Status Checklists help you through life's changes
Calculators
Finance Center.com
Can You Trust Stock Brokers?
After you read this, move to a fee only Certified Financial Planner!
Merrill Lynch in Trouble Again
April 2005 Business Week Article Tells It Like It IS
College Funding
Avenues for covering education costs
529 College Savings Plans
Financial Aid Calculators
Commodities Boom - can careful investors participate?
True diversification means investing across asset classes. At Trusted Financial, we have been doing this since inception. This article will give you a hint as to our current approach.
Consumer Help
Federal Trade Commission site - a wealth of resources!
Credit Cards
Convenient,yes, but also a license to pick your pocket and a temptation to overspend. Good article here.
Death of a Loved One
Written by MD, article helps families when a death is Imminent
Estate Planning - Living Will
California Health Care Directive on line form
Estate Taxes
In depth discussions Estate Tax Law
FDIC DEPOSIT INSURANCE
Wondering if you have too much money at the bank? If a failure could leave you exposed? This article offers a good summary explanation. Give us a call if you need more help.
FEE ONLY - WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN!
Even the White Knight of investment advisors risked his clients' highest interests.
FEE ONLY - WHAT IT MEANS
See the NAPFA description, which includes: "We believe there is a significant conflict of interest if an advisor stands to gain financially from any recommendations you may follow."
Financial Planner Selection
Excellent Guidepost for Choosing a Planner from Business Week online
Flexible Spending Accounts
November 16 2006 article Forbes online
Health Care-HIPPA form allows your loved ones to hear your health information.
The 2003 Health Information Privacy Protection Act (HIPPA) has made medical practitioners sensitive about revealing information to anyone not specifically authorized to receive it. Avoid getting caught in this trap. By executing this form, filing a copy with your doctors and hospital and by keeping the original for yourself, you reduce the danger that you will be shut out of the medical decision making process for your loved ones.
Home Ownership
Considerations in shopping for a home- a dose of reality
IRAs
Which is Better? ROTH or Regular IRA
Inflation
We agree with those who see this as the headline financial issue for Americans.
Inflation - the investment story you must know to protect your wealth!
We've addressed this topic often before in client meetings and in our most recent newsletter (see May 2008) also at this web site.
Investment Strategy Session
Useful Article Explains the Importance of Dividends
Investment Wisdom
Some Insight Into One of Our Investment Screens
Master Limited Partnerships
Excellent overview of this powerful investment vehicle widely used in our client accounts
Medical Insurance
Does your policy have a "maximum lifetime benefit" that has not been raised along with medical price inflation? Perhaps you need an insurance review.
Medicare
Medicare Questions
Mortgage Refinancing 2008
CNN article discusses sharply lowered mortgage rates, this may be an opportunity to get out from under an Adjustable Rate Mortgage. Contact us for help with your particular situation!
Pensions for Public employees Create Ominous Burden for Taxpayers
This will be THE financial story of the next five to ten years. Unions, especially police have somehow cast a spell on city councils and Boards of Supervisors throughout the state, obtaining outrageous pension guarantees from taxpayers who never dream of such retirement luxury (unless they happen to be government employees).
Pre-Retirement Savings
Retirement Spending Calculator
Real Estate
Thinking about buying property through an auction? Read this note from a Business Week editor and be forewarned.
Real Estate Calculators
Mortgage Calculators & More
Real Estate and Home Ownership
Enlightening analysis of the true return on home ownership from the Wall Sreet Journal August 25 2004
Real estate Speculation - the Tech Wreck of 2007
Condo Speculation in Florida Reminds Investors to Resist Greed
Required Minimum Distributions an easy explanation
This is a good Smart Money article that may help you understand and calculate your RMD. Also you can order Gary Miller's book, "Retirement Roulette" at this web site.
Retirement - Keep it in the 401K or Roll it out?
Balanced article from Wall Street Journal discussing pros and cons of this important decision
Retirement Distributions
Required Minimum Distribution from IRA's. This and other questions can be answered in Publication 590 from the IRS (or purchase our forthcoming booklet "Retirement Roulette").
Retirement Plans
There are a number of ways to gain use of your retirement savings plan money while still working. This article offers a useful summary. As usual, it's a good idea to check with us regarding the particulars of your situation.
Retirement Plans - Self employed
Succint Summary of your Choices - Call Us for Details
Retirement Savings
A fresh way of looking at what it takes to retire comfortably.
Touches on the greatest secret to wealth accumulation
Retirement Savings - never pay tax on a ROTH IRA.
ROTH IRA's celebrate their 10th anniversary. See why they may make sense for you.
Rich Dad, Poor Advice
A eye opening refutation of the author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"
SENIOR CITIZENS USEFUL WEB SITES
In our many hours researching on the internet, we sometimes come across valuable web sites. This one from Cayuga County Ohio is centralized collection of further links to websites specializing in items that may be of interest to seniors.
Save Money -Fight "Gotcha" Capitalism
Watch out for the rat nibbling your cheese!!
Social Security
Social Security questions
Suze Orman
A web site nearly as useful as Ours!
Tax Preparers
Helps you assess the value of getting professional help - note the warning (item # 7) about Tax preparer/Salesmen
Tax Savings
Strategies for Avoiding Sales Tax
Taxes
Need tax forms?
WOMEN'S FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Barbara Stanney, one of my favorite women financial writers, interviewed
Moms who want to work, start a business and need ideas and support!
Women achievers - Financial Services
Mrg Whitman, a banking indsutry financial analyst and a model for high integrity and courage, was the one who blew the whistle on the sub-prime mortgage crisis and saved a lot of money for those who first listened.
