Articles
The Basics of Asset Allocation
The Basics of Asset Allocation The Two Biggest Investment Mistakes: 1. Failure to diversify. Don’t bet everything on one stock. Don’t put all your money into either stocks or bonds. 2. Failure to cope with inflation risk. Today you need over $2 to buy what $1 bought in 1980, over $4 to buy what $1 bought in…
Read MoreStock Basis Reporting on Form 1099-B in 2011
Stock Basis Reporting on Form 1099-B in 2011 By Ron Cohen, CPA, MST Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP See the new Form 1099-B for 2011 that requires “cost basis” information. Form 1099-B 2011 In the past, the client’s sometimes don’t know or can’t find their cost basis in stocks they have sold. Major…
Read MoreBond Risks and How Bond Funds Deal With Them
Bond Risks and How Bond Funds Deal With Them A bond is a promise. In return for the money lent to a corporate or governmental borrower, the borrower pledges to make periodic payments of interest at a fixed rate and to repay the original loan after a set period of time. Both the date at…
Read MoreMeeting the Challenge of College Costs
Meeting the Challenge of College Costs Your child has entered high school and is just four years away from college. It’s time to get serious about figuring out how much it’s going to cost. Based on recent data from the College Board, if he or she goes to a private four-year university, the cost for…
Read MoreWhat’s the Real Motivation Behind Keurig Moving Coffee Business From U.S.?
What’s the Real Motivation Behind Keurig Moving Coffee Business From U.S.? By Alan Olsen Just about any large American company that does business outside of the U.S. finds ways to save money on its tax bill. That is due, in large part, to the fact that the U.S. corporate tax rate is a whopping 35…
Read MoreCyclical Stocks: Ins and Outs, Ups and Downs
Cyclical Stocks: Ins and Outs, Ups and Downs A company can provide outstanding goods or stellar services. It can be well run by a board of directors and officers who choose the best and the brightest of employees, who, in turn, manage day-to-day business operations with skill and finesse. Seems as if purchasing shares of…
Read MoreGulf Oil Spill: Questions and Answers
Gulf Oil Spill: Questions and Answers Source: IRS.gov Posted: 7/2/2010 Q1. Is a taxpayer required to include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for lost business income, lost wages or lost profits? A1. Yes. The law requires that a taxpayer include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for lost business income, lost wages…
Read MoreFree Money For College Students
Free Money For College Students College. Tuition, books, housing, computer, food, etc… Sound familiar? These items are just a few of the many frequent expenses encountered in a student’s college career. The government made education credits to try and offset these expenses by giving tax benefits to them. From a tax standpoint, Education credits have…
Read MoreWhen Good Fortune Comes Your Way
When Good Fortune Comes Your Way Whether expected or not, an inheritance, divorce settlement, severance package or pension payout, proceeds from the sale of a business, life insurance, legal judgments, or even lottery winnings—all can put in your hands the equivalent of several years of earnings. Now you’re at a crossroads—suddenly called upon to switch…
Read MoreRising prices make inflation-protected securities more attractive
Rising prices make inflation-protected securities more attractive High oil and gasoline prices combined with trouble in the Middle East, saber-rattling by North Korea, and a slowing housing market have many investors worried anew about inflation. Inflation is an ugly creature; when it spins out of control, it can quickly erase gains built up over years…
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