First Financial Insights
Economic Commentary – Where Are We Now
Thus far, 2023 has been a confusing year. Certainly, the geopolitical landscape has been difficult, but overlaid on those headlines are alternating reports of a
How to Manage Sudden Wealth (7 Key Steps)
Sudden wealth is a blessing to many, but sadly it becomes a burden for too many people and has actually ruined lives. You would think
20 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor in First Meeting
Working with a financial advisor is a crucial part of achieving financial security. A good financial advisor will help you effectively manage your money. They
Retirement Income in a Down Market
Whenever the stock market takes a dive or seems to be stalled after a dive, the sharks come out, offering various retirement income solutions. These
Economic Commentary – How Fragile Are The Banks
The failure of Silicon Valley Bank and the simultaneous troubles afflicting First Republic Bank and now Credit Suisse can’t help but call into question the
Economic Commentary – Inflation Is Not Finished
Retirement Calculator Retirement Investment Calculator Your Information Current Age Retirement Age Initial Investment ($) Monthly Contribution ($) Desired Monthly Retirement Budget ($) Other Monthly Retirement
Working With a Wealth Management Advisor
Wealth management can be summarized as the problem of more. Affluent individuals have more assets to manage, but this also means they have more assets
Investing During a Market Downturn
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Economic Commentary | The Inflation Battle Continues
The inflation news is confusing, and we want to take this opportunity to help clarify why. We’ll start with the fact that the Fed is
Tax Strategies For High-Income Earners
High-income earners have a target on their backs, and you may be one of them. The IRS has a strategy in force to target and
Economic Commentary – Inflation, Recession & The Fed
The Fed’s move this week (6/13/22 – 6/15/22) to increase the Fed Funds rate by 0.75% was a surprise, and the market hates surprises and
Family Limited Partnership Comprehensive Overview
What is a Family Limited Partnership A Family Limited Partnership is simply a formal partnership where the partners are family members. Like other partnerships, a
Economic Commentary – Recession Worries
We start with the acknowledgement that multiple commentators are predicting a recession, and multiple sources – sometimes the same ones – are predicting a significant
6 Essential Wealth Preservation Strategies
Developing wealth preservation strategies has always been an essential part of retirement planning. However, today it is even more critical for one specific reason: the
Economic Commentary | Russia And Ukraine In Perspective
Russia and Ukraine in Perspective We all awakened this morning, February 22nd, 2022, to what was assumed as inevitable – Russia would invade at least
Economic Commentary – Trends and Transitions
This economic commentary comes at a year-end and, therefore, the beginning of a new year. It’s probably expected that we will recap what happened this
Economic Commentary – The Stock Market Paradox
A paradox is a “situation, person or thing that combines contradictory features.” That is a perfect description for the stock market of the last several
How to Avoid Estate Tax
America is still a place where if you work hard, save your nickels and dimes and practice prudent financial strategies, you can build substantial wealth
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Which is Better?
Choosing between a Roth IRA vs a Traditional IRA in 2025 depends on when you want tax benefits – now or in retirement. Here’s a
Estate Planning Checklist: 5 Documents You Need
With over $36 trillion in wealth expected to transfer from American retirees to their beneficiaries, it’s surprising that only 32% of Americans have an estate
Economic Commentary – Looking for Clarity (Part 2)
We rarely release sequels; we don’t want to get anywhere close to Rocky 27 (or wherever we are in that long series), but we do
The Essentials of High Net Worth Retirement Planning
Once an investor becomes a high net worth individual (HNWI), they face a number of new retirement challenges. Additional taxes, legacy planning, succession planning, and
Mega Backdoor Roth IRA | Everything You Need to Know
A Mega Backdoor Roth IRA is one of the best ways for high-income earners to maximize their retirement investments. Investors can use their traditional IRA
Economic Commentary – Looking For Clarity
The U.S. is not on a precipice, nor is it staring down an imminent recession, nor is it facing a looming economic crisis. In short,