Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We are going to work our way through a 1040 (individual income tax return) and give the highlights of the tax changes. The first item on the return that changed is alimony. Starting in… Read More
-
Dividends in a Portfolio
WHY CONSIDER DIVIDENDS? Dividend income has represented roughly one-third of the total return on the Standard and Poor’s 500 since 1926. According to S&P, the portion of total return attributable to dividends has ranged from a high of 53% during… Read More
-
Interest Rates Rising… What About the Stock Market?
• What is the relationship between interest rates and the stock market? • Can stocks rise in a rising interest rate environment? • Do interest rates impact all stocks the same? Logic, and recent stock market volatility, would seem to… Read More
-
Millennials: Coming of Age
In March 2018, Pew Research Center released a new study seeking to more conclusively define the Millennial generation. The study concluded that a Millennial is someone born between 1981 and 1996, making them now, in 2018, between the ages of… Read More
-
Making a Large Financial Commitment? Borrow or Pay Upfront?
For those who were raised in the Great Depression Era or raised by Great Depression Era parents, we sometimes have developed an aversion to borrowing money. Let us explore the benefits today of borrowing, versus paying outright for a large… Read More
-
Inflation Doesn’t Retire When You Do
The need to outpace inflation doesn’t end at retirement; in fact, it becomes even more important. If you’re living on a fixed income, you need to make sure your investing strategy takes inflation into account. Otherwise, you may have less… Read More
-
BWFA’s Rob Carpenter Featured in January 2018 Business Monthly
President and CEO Rob Carpenter gives an astute prediction of the market’s direction for the coming year in this month’s edition of The Business Monthly, the business newspaper of Howard and Anne Arundel Counties and the BWI Business Corridor. You… Read More
-
Choosing an Entity for Your Business
Now that you’ve decided to start a new business or buy an existing one, you need to consider the form of business entity that’s right for you. Basically, three separate categories of entities exist: partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies…. Read More
-
Tax Planning for the Self-Employed
Self-employment is the opportunity to be your own boss, to come and go as you please, and oh yes, to establish a lifelong bond with your accountant. If you’re self-employed, you’ll need to pay your own FICA taxes and take… Read More
-
Holding Equities for the Long Term: Time vs. Timing
Legendary investor Warren Buffett is famous for his long-term perspective. He has said that he likes to make investments he would be comfortable holding even if the market shut down for 10 years. Investing with an eye to the long… Read More
-
What Rising Rates Could Mean for Your Money
After years of keeping the benchmark federal funds rate at historic lows, the Federal Reserve has been raising it gradually. Near-zero rates were an emergency measure, and gradual increases reflect greater confidence in the U.S. economy. However, rising rates can… Read More
-
Women: Moving Forward Financially After the Loss of a Spouse
The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. This has hit close to home for BWFA as very recently some long standing clients have… Read More
-
Six Potential 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
You’re about to receive a distribution from your 401(k) plan, and you’re considering a rollover to a traditional IRA. While these transactions are normally straightforward and trouble-free, there are some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. 1. CONSIDER THE PROS AND… Read More
-
New Year’s Resolutions
A new year means fresh beginnings, time for reflection and hoped-for changes. New year’s resolutions abound! They are a time-honored tradition for many of us, including myself. According to research, about 60% of us acknowledge making New Year’s resolutions, but… Read More
-
Are Your Cash Investments Fully Insured?
As many of you know, a person’s bank accounts are only covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000 per person. Many people may be unaware that any cash held in a savings, money market and checking accounts… Read More
-
Transferring Your Family Business
As a business owner, you’re going to have to decide when will be the right time to step out of the family business and how you’ll do it. There are many estate planning tools you can use to transfer your… Read More
-
BWFA Focus: Tax Services
Art Buchwald, the famous American humorist and syndicated newspaper columnist, once said—“Tax reform is taking taxes off things that have been taxed in the past and putting taxes on things that haven’t been taxed before.” Since Benjamin Franklin long ago… Read More
-
Pay Down Debt or Save for Retirement?
You can use a variety of strategies to pay off debt, many of which can cut not only the amount of time it will take to pay off the debt but also the total interest paid. However, like many people,… Read More
-
Monte Carlo Analysis
When you sit down with a BWFA financial professional to update your retirement plan, you may encounter a Monte Carlo simulation, a financial forecasting method that has become more prevalent in the last few years. Monte Carlo financial simulations project… Read More
-
Health Insurance In Retirement
At any age, health care is a priority. When you retire, however, you will probably focus more on health care than ever before. Staying healthy is your goal, and this can mean more visits to the doctor for preventive tests and… Read More
-
Our Summer Interns
This summer BWFA was fortunate to have seven talented student interns work with our team. Each brought their individual skills to the table and, hopefully, each gained some meaningful exposure and experience from their time with us. The team of… Read More
-
BWFA Client Advisory Board
Today, the CAB consists of approximately 30 members, typically serving 2-4 year terms. The board meets twice a year, usually at a local restaurant, for luncheon presentation and follow up discussion. Among the current members are professionals, retirees, small business… Read More
-
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
As a business owner, you should carefully consider the advantages of establishing an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Generally, you’re allowed a deduction for contributions you make to an employer- sponsored retirement plan. In return, however, you’re required to include certain employees in the… Read More
-
Gift & Estate Taxes
If you give away money or property during your life, those transfers may be subject to federal gift and estate tax and perhaps state gift tax. The money and property you own when you die (i.e., your estate) may also be… Read More
-
Time in the Stock Market + Market’s Resiliency = Potential for Long Term Financial Success
In the last quarterly newsletter, I wrote about the benefits of time in the market and, conversely, the perils of missing the most successful, unpredictably timed, individual positive days in the market. Simply stated it is “time in the market” that trumps “timing… Read More
-
Financial Planning: Helping You See The Big Picture
Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That’s where financial planning comes… Read More
-
Establishing a Budget
Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals. EXAMINE YOUR FINANCIAL… Read More
-
Caring for Your Aging Parents
Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but it’s the last thing you want to think about. Whether the time is now or somewhere down the road, there are steps that… Read More
Content Library
