Real Estate Investment Trusts – or “REITs” – allow individual investors to own a basket of real estate properties via a third-party, reducing the headaches that accompany real estate ownership and management.
Unfortunately, losing a loved one not only brings a tidal wave of grief, but what may seem like a flood of overwhelming tasks and responsibilities. Before and after the funeral, you may find yourself having to tackle tasks like administering a Trust, filing insurance claims, and retitling accounts. To keep the process organized, this checklist outlines next steps for you to take in managing the financial affairs of your loved one’s estate. Remember, not everything has to be done today.
Do you have a long-lost retirement account left with a former employer? Maybe it's been so long that you can't even remember? With over 24 million "forgotten" 401(k) accounts holding roughly $1.35 trillion in assets, even the most organized professional may be surprised to learn of their unclaimed "found" money.
At the FAI office, many conversations at staff lunches revolve around pop culture. From Mark quizzing us on classic rock trivia to Diana reviewing the latest Netflix rom com, our team enjoys sharing media that we find compelling and enjoyable. This year, we want to share some of our favorites with you. In this blog, the FAI Staff each shares a book that we read this year. Our list varies from academic to graphic novels, so we hope you can find something to add to your reading list this winter. Enjoy!
It’s an amazing feeling to give to those in need through organizations you are passionate about. Many donors assume that giving to a charity automatically gets them a tax deduction, but this is not always the case. If you’re looking to give and feel the tax benefits, choose a tax-efficient way to give. This blog gives a brief outline of how much donors can deduct on their tax return and outlines three giving methods to achieve a tax reduction.
What should I expect from my investment returns? A very simple question, but one that has a very complicated answer. In order to earn a return on investments that exceeds inflation, an investor must take some risk. By taking risk to increase possible future returns, the investor is also taking on return variability.
When you receive paperwork to renew insurance policies every year, it can be tempting to check the box to renew without looking at your coverage. But renewing an old policy doesn’t mean that your previous coverage meets your current needs. Things may have changed since you purchased the policy – properties are renovated, driving habits change, the cost of parts go up. Here are four questions to ask your insurance agent to make sure you have enough coverage to protect your home and vehicles.
“As if the rising cost of gas and groceries wasn’t enough… my healthcare costs seem more expensive these days! After 15 years on Medicare I thought I would have it all figured out, but do you have any tips and tricks for using my benefits to the fullest capacity?”
Since a sound financial strategy includes an estate plan, FAI works alongside clients through the estate planning process. While discussing your estate plan, your financial advisor or attorney may suggest estate strategies that are new to you, such as a living trust. In this blog, we discuss why a living trust is a popular consideration in many estate planning conversations, but its appropriateness will depend upon your individual needs and objectives.
“A few weeks ago, my sister was contacted by a debt collections agency requesting payment for a credit card that she didn’t recognize. After some digging, she found out that a fraudster opened a credit card in her name and charged thousands of dollars! Now I’m scared something like this could happen to me. What can I do?” With fraud on the rise, there are steps you can take to protect your credit. Services like LifeLock provide credit monitoring for a monthly fee, but if you’re looking for a no-cost step to take, you can protect your reports proactively for free with a credit freeze.
