In late 2008, the Federal Reserve took the unprecedented step of lowering interest rates to near zero. But when will this near-zero environment end? Your guess is as good as mine, but one thought is certain: rates remain at historically low levels. Some are calling for the Fed to raise interest rates this year, but…
Over the past few years, we’ve heard a lot of bad news regarding the housing market. Bad news, however, breeds opportunity. Anyone able to get a home loan or refinance their existing loan would have been able to lock in rates at record levels (in some cases less than 3% for a 30-year mortgage). Those…
A key part of the financial planning process involves being cognizant of the estate tax. A large portion of the estate at death could be your home, and although you may be far from the time your estate goes through probate, removing this asset from your estate could save you and your family millions of dollars…
The media is doing a great job of pointing out what is wrong with the financial industry. However, the present may represent a great financial planning opportunity. Removing assets from the estate is one strategy of financial planning. The goal is to download the estate and allow family members to enjoy your property, leaving less…
The beginning of August marked the end my penultimate semester at Fordham Business School. Over the summer semester, I took three classes: Personal Branding, Financial Planning Case Studies and Marketing of Financial Services. Personal Branding was an exceptional class, taught by a Senior Partner at Ogilvy & Mather. It provided me with valuable perspective on…