Blog
Perspective on Recent Bank Closures
You have likely seen in the ongoing news that some bank closures have occurred in recent days. As your financial partner, we are committed to following events that can affect you and your portfolio. Keeping our clients informed...
Read MoreHave You Considered All Your Options?
There is no shortage of available information in today’s world. And while this information is empowering, it can also be unsafe. This is true of all industries, but I’ll provide you a few examples as it relates...
Read MoreMega-Backdoor Roth 401(k)... Deconstructed (2023 Update)
You may have heard about the Mega-Backdoor Roth 401(k), but how do you do it? And why does it matter to you? This strategy allows you to maximize your 401(k) contributions for tax-free income in retirement. Now how does it work...Elect...
Read MoreFederal Tax Filing Extension for California Disaster Areas
Because of the recent and continuing storms, the IRS announced a blanket extension of the deadline for tax payments and for tax returns where the tax payment or the tax return is coming from an individual or a business located in the...
Read MoreKey-Person Insurance: Small Business Life Line
Would you hesitate to buy fire insurance for your lab or office building? Of course not. What about liability insurance in case someone slips on your steps? Same answer. But have you insured what could be your most...
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Market Update: Q4 2022
After more than a decade of strong returns across most asset classes, rarely interrupted by sustained declines, investments turned rocky in 2022. While in previous years markets did encounter their share of challenges, 2022 brought a...
Read MoreSECURE 2.0 Act of 2022
On December 23, 2022 Congress passed—and the President is expected to sign the legislation during the week of December 26, 2022— the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the Appropriations Act). The Appropriations Act...
Read MoreYear End Tax Strategies
With year-end approaching, it is time to start thinking about moves that may help lower your tax bill for this year and next. This year’s planning is more challenging than usual due to recent changes made by the Inflation...
Read MoreProvide a Financial Legacy
Leaving a financial legacy to support your family or a worthy charity shows how much you care. If this is one of your lifetime goals, there are several ways to help you make a real difference in the lives of others...
Read MoreMarket Update: Q3 2022
Investment markets during the third quarter continued a volatile course, with frequent advances and sudden reversals. In the early part of the quarter, investors had hoped that the Fed’s interest rate hikes had done their job and...
Read MorePerspective on Interest Rates, Market Returns and Recessions
The last few weeks have been difficult for investors. Persistent inflation has forced the Fed into a decidedly hawkish stance, aggressively raising rates by adding another three quarters of a point last week. Fed statements have...
Read MoreVolatility Continues
Volatility continuesAs we enter September, markets continue to deal with inflation, interest rates and the Ukraine conflict. As we have seen throughout 2022, investors debated whether the Fed would be able to control inflation...
Read MoreImportant Deadlines for Your Retirement
You have spent years planning for retirement, do not let a missed deadline derail your financial future. As you approach and enter retirement, there a several important age deadlines to be aware of. Below is a list of these important...
Read MoreMarket Update: Q2 2022
During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the world and markets had to adjust to a new landscape. We yearned for a return to normal. While the reopening has continued in 2022, it has had a different set of problems and has been both...
Read MorePerspective on Current Markets
After three straight calendar years of strong gains, investment markets have experienced heightened volatility in 2022. Investors have had to deal with a litany of concerns. Pent-up demand and easy money policies have, together with...
Read MoreDo Retirees Need a New Investment Strategy?
First growth, then income. If you’re like most investors, you want to achieve growth while you’re working and income after you retire. But that doesn’t necessarily make it smart to change your investment strategy when...
Read MoreWhat is a "Bear Market"?
Markets have had a rough go of it in 2022. After declines earlier in the year and a partial recovery in March, equity markets resumed the declines, recently hitting new lows for the year. In fact, as of last week, the DJIA registered...
Read MoreOmicron Variant: What We Do Know and What We Can Control
When world events begin to affect investment markets, we always try to see past the sometimes-unsettling headlines to seek perspective and stay actively engaged with our clients. Over the past few days, world investment markets have...
Read MoreYear-End Tax Planning
With year-end approaching, it is time to think about moves that may help lower your tax bill for this year and next. This year’s planning is more challenging than usual due to the uncertainty surrounding pending legislation....
Read MoreGeneral Tax Provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Automatic Extension of Certain Deadlines for Taxpayers Affected by Disasters A mandatory (automatic) 60-day deadline extension period applies to qualified taxpayers impacted by federally declared disasters. Authority to Postpone...
Read MoreThe White House Build Back Better Framework
Overview of tax provisions under the framework: The Build Back Better framework includes a new surtax on the income of multi-millionaires and billionaires (including trusts and estates) – the top 0.02 percent of Americans. It...
Read More2022 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
On October 13, 2021, The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 5.9 percent benefit increase for 2022. The annual increase is known as the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Given the benefit increase, now may...
Read MoreBackdoor Roth IRA
The “Backdoor Roth IRA” refers to the strategy of making a non-deductible after-tax IRA contribution and subsequently converting it to a Roth IRA. Anybody with earned income (or a spouse with earned income) can contribute...
Read MoreMarket Update: Q3 2021
We have come a long way since the depths of the pandemic in March of 2020. Effective vaccines were produced far more quickly than many expected. In the face of a dramatically changed world, businesses and individuals adapted quickly...
Read More2021 Tax proposal: American Families Plan
As the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) sunset provisions (generally 12/31/2025) get closer every day, many tax and fiscal issues remain uncertain. Today, it appears that tax legislation may be in the offing once again. In fact,...
Read MoreTax Advantages of HSA
In June, Michael shared a concept called The Hierarchy of Savings that we discuss with many of our clients. This provides a great roadmap of where you should consider putting your money to work in order of importance. Another option...
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A 6.1% Bump in Social Security?
The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...
Read MoreThe Hierarchy of Savings
There are many different types of savings and investment accounts and an increasing number of ways to save for your goals and financial planning objectives. Specifically, many clients we work with are trying to purchase a home, save...
Read MoreLincoln Financial Network Announces 2021 Board of Directors of The Resource Group
Congratulations Ryan! Open Advisors Partner, Ryan Baker, has been elected as the Technology Committee Chair for The Resource Group's 2021 Board of Directors. See below for the full press release and all Board of Directors elections....
Read MoreMega-Backdoor Roth 401(k) . . .. Deconstructed
You may have heard about the Mega-Backdoor Roth 401(k), but how do you do it? And why does it matter to you? This strategy allows you to maximize your 401(k) contributions for tax-free income in retirement. Now how does it work......
Read MoreThe Calculated Investor
Recent market movements, events and thoughts on investing Market performance Markets have advanced so far this year, as vaccination numbers grew and new infections stabilized. U.S. stocks, as well as developed foreign and emerging...
Read MoreFederal Tax Update
As the country moves forward from the effects of the Coronavirus and the 2020 elections, it is time to consider potential key tax law changes that may affect you in 2021 and beyond. Given the 2020 election results and the Tax Cuts and...
Read MoreVolatile Trading in Leveraged Securities
Recently, there have been news reports of volatile trading in a handful of both domestic and international securities. These movements have been linked to the reported liquidation of a leveraged hedge fund that experienced liquidity...
Read MoreBusiness Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA, PL 117-2). Following are selected business provisions included in the Act. Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advances...
Read MoreIndividual Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA, PL 117-2). Following are selected provisions included in the Act. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ARPA extends the...
Read MoreWhat Interest Rate Movements Mean for your Portfolio
You may have seen news reports about recent interest rate movements in the media. We want to keep you informed as to what is going on in the markets and offer our perspective on what that means for you and your portfolio. Recent...
Read MoreCryptocurrency from an investment stewardship perspective
Overview In 2017, a relatively new “investment” called cryptocurrency garnered a tremendous amount of media attention, most notably Bitcoin. While Bitcoin lost media interest at the end of 2017, it is now back in the...
Read MoreReflecting on the Recent Craziness
Market activity involving a small number of stocks has certainly garnered a lot of attention in the media recently. At least for now, the frenzy has subsided a bit. However, these things are subject to frequent reversals and may take...
Read MoreComments on GameStop, Robinhood and the Recent Craziness
Over the past few days, there has been unusual volatility in a small number of stocks. This has garnered a lot of attention in the media. We thought a brief note on what is going on and our perspective on it might help. What exactly is...
Read MoreSignificant Changes to Retirement Accounts
On December 20th 2019, the SECURE Act went into effect. The Bill will make it easier for small businesses to offer 401(k(s), and to include annuities in retirement accounts. The most important change as we see it, is the abolition of...
Read MorePlanning for a Long Retirement
Americans are living longer than ever, thanks to advances in health care, improved diets and better exercise. About one out of every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and one out of 10 will live past age 95, according to...
Read MoreFinance of Remarriage
Getting remarried includes merging two well-established financial and emotional lives. Both partners bring accumulated assets, debts, forged spending habits, obligations and perhaps children to the relationship. Determining how to...
Read MoreAnalyzing the Flows in Your Financial Plan
For most investors—even those with significant wealth—a secure financial future doesn’t simply happen. Instead, it must be carefully crafted to help meet your most important goals and leave nothing to chance. Of...
Read More20 Charitable Planning Questions for the 2020 Holidays
It’s that time of year again! Whether your family is gathering together around a table or around a computer, the focus is still the same: don’t burn the turkey! It’s during these times that we join together to share...
Read MoreKeep Your Estate Plan on Track
For today's business owner, death can mark the beginning of a significant tax problem. The investment and sweat that went into building your business year after year could add up to a whopping federal estate tax bill for your heirs...
Read MorePost-Election Letter Part I: Investing
2020 has been an eventful year for the financial markets and the past few weeks have been no different. As we approached the election, nerves were frayed. Given the jarring personal and financial impacts of the pandemic, economic...
Read MorePost-Election Letter Part II: Tax Planning
Now that the 2020 elections are over (i.e., pending potential recounts, possible judicial review of various issues, and certification of results by the states), it is time to consider potential key tax law changes that may affect you...
Read MoreFinancially Savvy Women
Having a career that brings you personal satisfaction and financial success places many demands on your time and energy. You may find yourself putting off important tasks simply because there’s no strict deadline for completing...
Read MoreEstate Planning for Today's Blended Family
In a “traditional” estate plan, each spouse provides for his or her assets (or most of the assets) to pass to the surviving spouse, with the understanding that those assets will go to their children at the surviving...
Read MoreUnderstanding Your Options for College Funding
Tuition costs have risen dramatically over the last 30 years, and parents need all the help they can get in financing a college education. There are many of options available, including 529 plans and Coverdell accounts, so it’s...
Read MoreUnderstanding Employee Stock Options: ISOs & NSOs
Many successful companies know the importance of rewarding and retaining key employees. One tool your employer may use is to offer stock options. Stock options give you the opportunity to profit directly from your contribution to the...
Read MoreThe Five Myths of Roth
The main single from Queen's second album was a song that would become a future staple of live shows, the Seven Seas of Rhye. This article is entitled The Five Myths of Roth. While not nearly as cool as that song, hopefully this...
Read More401(k) Plan Advisory Services
Is your company 401(k) plan important for you to hire and retain employees? Is your 401(k) effective at inspiring employees meet their retirement savings objectives? Does your plan provide enough investment options to appropriately...
Read MoreInvestment Insights
Because it’s so important for us to stay connected, we’re excited to introduce Investment Insights. This audio episode provides a market update summarized in a few minutes from our Chief Investment Strategist, Tim Johnson....
Read MoreBusiness Provisions Under the CARES Act
Employee Retention Credit for Employers Subject to Closure or Experiencing Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19. This provision provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50 percent of wages paid by eligible employers to certain...
Read MoreIndividual Provisions Under the CARES Act
Individual Provisions Under the CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Provisions Benefit. The worker will receive an immediate benefit (i.e., no one week waiting period) for an additional $600 per week for up to four months. This $600...
Read MoreUncertain Times
Over the past few days, we have seen volatility that has impacted our world in many ways. It can be difficult to stay focused with the plethora of information in the 24/7 news cycle and the whirlwind of activity. During times like...
Read MoreTop 10 Movies for Sheltering in Place
These are strange days indeed. In the spirit of offering something productive to clients concerned about what comesnext, many of whom I fondly regard as friends, here’s a list of movies you can watch to pass acouple of hours with...
Read MoreThe Wonderful World of Roth
In the wonderful world of retirement investment accounts, we hear many different terms like Traditional, After-Tax and Roth. So, what does “Roth” mean and how is this different than Traditional?...
Read MoreQ1 2020 Perspective: Financial Household Management
Welcome to a new month, a new year, and a new decade of perspective shifting, benefit rich content in all your favorite areas related to retirement planning, investments, estate planning, business succession, and executive compensation...
Read MoreSecure Act of 2019
Congress recently passed—and the President signed into law—the SECURE Act, landmark legislation that may affect how you plan for your retirement. Many of the provisions go into effect in 2020, which means now is the time to...
Read MoreQ4 2019 Perspective: Year-End Tax Planning
As the end of the year approaches, it is a good time to think of planning moves that will help lower your tax bill for this year and possibly the next. Year-end planning for 2019 takes place against the backdrop of recent (i.e., the...
Read MoreQ2 2019 Perspective: Volatility Has a Silver Lining
Perspective Series: bringing you perspective enhancing commentary, often from third party experts, to benefit you, your family, and your network. Before we introduce this quarter’s third-party Perspective, let’s take a look...
Read MoreQ1 2019 Perspective: John Wayne Investing
Before we jump into a new year with our Perspective series quarterly letter we’d like to hit pause for a moment and do three things: First, we’d like to say thank you to our long time readers, especially those who take the...
Read MoreQ4 2018 Perspective: LTC, Important But Not Urgent?
This month’s Perspective sheds light on challenge that more families are experiencing first hand: the need to provide Long Term Care (LTC) for a loved one. How will your family handle it when the time comes? The answer may depend...
Read MoreQ3 2018 Perspective: Time off vs. OFF time
Summer… a time when many of us step away from our daily routine for some Time Off in order to reset and recharge our bodies and minds with a period of rest and relaxation. At least that was the idea, once upon a time! Now when a...
Read MoreQ2 2018 Perspective: Sound Investment Principles
This quarter’s Perspective is a video from our Chief Investment Strategist that takes us back to the basics with a summary of our key investment principles. These are fundamentals that guide our thinking and advice in good...
Read MoreQ1 2018 Perspective: Tax Cuts and Stock Market Bliss
Welcome to the first Perspective of 2018. First, we’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year from your team at Sagemark! Second, let’s take a moment to revisit what our Perspective series is all about. In a word, it’s...
Read MoreQ4 2017 Perspective: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
So far, 2017 has been a year of progress in the investment world against a backdrop of uncertainty and concern. While most asset classes continued to build on gains, unsettling global events generated headlines. Deplorable acts of...
Read MoreQ3 2017 Perspective: Netflix and Narratives
Welcome to the first Perspective in our new quarterly series. The format is the same: our comments with a link to a third party perspective on topics we hope you find interesting and beneficial to you, your family and your network....
Read MoreMarch 2017 Perspective: What To Do When Stocks Are Expensive
This month’s Perspective comes from Robert Shiller, by way of an article originally published by Bloomberg. Shiller is a Nobel Prize winning economist and Yale University Professor best known for his stock market valuation method...
Read MoreFebruary 2017: Ticking Time Bombs
This month’s Perspective comes from Steve Blumenthal, the Executive Chairman and CIO of CMG Capital Management Group, on the topic of rising interest rates. The reason we are sending this to you can be summed up with one quote...
Read MoreJanuary 2017 Perspective: The More Things Change
Welcome to a New Year with new policies from a new administration and a host of uncertain outcomes as a result. Uncertainty seems to be a consensus reached by many economic and financial forecasters this year. Some forecasts are...
Read MoreDecember 2016 Perspective: Do you believe in the Santa Claus?
My son loves holiday movies… this year we’ve watched The Santa Claus, The Santa Claus 2, Santa Paws, Fred Claus, The Polar Express, and of course, Elf. All are modern classics judging by the frequency they air on TV. Most...
Read MoreNovember 2016 Perspective: Half and Half
This month’s Perspective comes from Ed Easterling, the founder of Crestmont Research on what is perhaps the most important concept in investing: cumulative returns. Cumulative returns are the only returns you get to spend. Period...
Read MoreOctober 2016 Perspective: Aging, Everybody's Doing It
Aging. We’re all doing it. Most of us accept aging as a fact of life. After all, there is nothing we can do about it, right? As you’ll see, getting older and aging are not exactly the same thing, and it turns out we can...
Read MoreSeptember 2016 Perspective: Waist Deep... In a Bowl of Spaghetti?
We have been hearing a lot of questions and concerns about Europe lately. So, in this month’s Perspective we are wading into the muddy waters of geopolitics in Europe and the Middle East with ex-CIA agent George Friedman as our...
Read MoreAugust 2016 Perspective: Gold
In certain finance circles gold is held in such disregard that it is commonly referred to as a “barbarous relic,” seen as having absolutely no reason to own. Interestingly, the term “barbarous relic” was...
Read MoreJuly 2016 Perspective: Crazy - A Story of Debt
Last month we looked at two dominant market narratives that we described with the caricature-like titles: “party-on” vs. “doom and gloom.” We shared a video from Oppenheimer Funds that we thought neatly captured...
Read MoreJune 2016 Perspective: When Not Good Enough Is Just Right
This month’s Perspective comes from Krishna Memani, Chief Investment Officer at Oppenheimer Mutual Funds in the form of a short video. There are currently two dominant camps, or perspectives, when it comes to investing in the...
Read MoreMay 2016 Perspective: Epiphanies!
This month’s Perspective is a six-for-one! Meaning you are receiving the perspectives of six gifted people on a single topic: Epiphanies. Why Epiphanies…? Because they are fundamental, perspective-shifting, revelations...
Read MoreApril 2016 Perspective: Making Your Tax Bracket Work For You
This month’s Perspective comes from our new website in the form of a short one minute and thirty second video. We know you have been busy sorting through various statements and tax forms, diligently working to fulfill your civic...
Read MoreMarch 2016 Perspective: The Land of NIRP
Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP): a bizarre, upside-down experiment where the lender pays the borrower interest, instead of the other way around. The theory is that this will incentivize borrowing and spending, which in turn may...
Read MoreJanuary 2016 Perspective: T Junction
This month’s Perspective comes from Mohamed El-Erian. El-Erian is the former head of the Harvard Endowment and former CEO/CIO of PIMCO, the world’s largest bond investors. He is also credited with contributing the term...
Read MoreDecember 2015 Perspective: Holiday Message
With the Holidays in full swing, this month’s Perspective is a note from your team at Sagemark. In the months ahead we will be discussing an important phenomena playing out in the market, one that we are already positioned for,...
Read MoreNovember 2015 Perspective: Foreign Travel
Right now the dollar is strong relative to other currencies thanks to the action of Central Bankers around the world. With the recent drop in headline unemployment to 5%*, will the “data-dependent” Fed finally raise rates...
Read MoreOctober 2015 Perspective: What's the Forecast?
Last quarter we brought you an independent market outlook from one of our tactical managers, Harry Clark. A few highlights from Harry’s Perspective as of July: The current bull market in US stocks is getting old by historical...
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Perspective: Housing the Millennial Generation
This month’s Perspective is a recent Wall Street Journal article discussing a niche real estate opportunity: mid-tier apartments. The article features the perspective of one of our specialty investment managers who is an expert...
Read MoreAugust 2015 Perspective: A Beautiful Deleveraging
This month’s perspective is a little different. It is a 30 minute animated video by Ray Dalio. If you don’t recognize the name, Ray Dalio is the founder of the world’s largest hedge fund firm, Bridgewater Associates,...
Read MoreJuly 2015 Perspective: It's a Bull Market Until Proven Otherwise
This month’s Perspective comes from Harry Clark, CEO of Clark Capital, one of the investment managers we use. Harry is the author of Clark’s Navigator Report, the attached quarterly market and economic commentary. We hope...
Read MoreJune 2015 Perspective: What's the Difference Between Michael Jackson and Robin Williams?
Ok, so there are a lot of differences. And, no, we didn’t steal this setup from a late-night comedy show. This is serious. As in, SEVEN-HUNDRED-MILLION-DOLLARS serious. That’s right, $700,000,000 is what the Jackson estate...
Read MoreMay 2015 Perspective: Hi Yield Opportunity of a Lifetime?
This month we are hearing from Steve Blumenthal about what he thinks may be “an outstanding investment opportunity.” Steve is the CEO of CMG Capital Management Group and writes to advisors on a regular basis. Steve gave us...
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