Home ownership has long been a cornerstone of the American dream. Owning a home says you’ve “made it.” More than that, a home is a place to nest, raise your children and make memories. Understandably, these factors then make it difficult to think about moving to a retirement community and the dream to “age in … Continued
In the beloved 1956 musical My Fair Lady, Alfred Doolittle, the father of Eliza Doolittle, has one last spree before his own wedding. The familiar tune “Get Me to the Church on Time” is a plea to his friends not to let his merriment get in the way of his good intentions! Few things are … Continued
Over the last seven years, many investors have been hard pressed to find a single investment option with a relatively safe and consistent return. The long running backdrop of low interest rates, the real estate market slide of 2007, and Great Recession of 2009 have left conservative investors anxious for certainty and security. The … Continued
One of the biggest challenges facing retirees is the rising cost of healthcare and how they’ll pay for it. Medicare, the country’s health insurance plan for Americans age 65 and older, helps to make health care affordable; however, the enrollment process and decisions of when and how to file can be complicated and stressful. If … Continued
Most of us imagine our transition to retirement will be filled with both excitement and relief; however many find the transition to have an unexpected emotional impact. As a way to manage the transition, a growing number of professionals are making a calculated “downshift” into a flexible state of semi-retirement that has both personal and … Continued
In my house we are running either the theme song from The Lego® Movie or the hit ballad from Disney’s Frozen on a continuous dizzying loop. Either my daughters are parading around the kitchen with their princess capes on – “letting it go” – or my son is pumping his fists in the air shouting … Continued
For many of our clients approaching their retirement years and beyond, this question is starting to come up more and more: How will I pay for my long-term care if and when I need it? According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people turning sixty-five can expect to use some form … Continued
“This is not a prediction, it is a certainty–there will be serious disruption in the world’s financial services industry…. It’s going to be ugly.” – The Times, London, 1999 (discussing the “Y2K” threat) Years ago in the midst of another date-specific moment in time, the world became obsessed that planes would drop from the sky … Continued
It is becoming a common occurrence to see new clients of Sand Hill arriving with excess baggage in tow. By baggage, I am referring to: 1) Assets held at multiple brokerage firms, 2) in multiple accounts, 3) registered with incorrectly titled names, 4) stock held in certificate form or held directly with transfer agents, and … Continued
For those who reached the age of 70 ½ and are required by the IRS to take a mandatory distribution from their tax deferred retirement accounts, the first quarter of the year provides a good planning point to determine the most effective way to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) in 2014. The most common ways … Continued