The end of the year provides a number of planning opportunities and issues. Year-end topics can include tax planning, investment and retirement accounts, charitable giving, cash flow and savings, insurance and estate planning. In this checklist, we cover a number of planning issues that you need to consider prior to year-end to ensure they stay […]
Read moreFee-Only: Compensated only by the client without earning commission of any kind for product sales or referrals. Fiduciary: Legally sworn and obligated to always place the interest of the client ahead of their own. Independent: Not affiliated with any brokerage firm, bank, or insurance company.
Read moreThe Solution to the Challenge of Investing The real key to successful investing involves disciplined application of three major themes found in modern prudent fiduciary investing: Broad diversification of risk Low costs Low taxes (for taxable investors). These factors allow investors the chance to reduce portfolio risk and enhance long term wealth effectively and efficiently. […]
Read moreIn 1604, the Dutch East India Company held the world’s first initial public offering that allowed investors to buy shares in its ship’s voyages. Over the years that followed, in the wake of this first IPO, the world’s first stock exchange formed in Amsterdam out of a need to trade those shares among investors. Once […]
Read moreI’m often asked, “Where should I invest my cash if I plan to make a large purchase in two years?” My answer is always, “ Make a long term plan to help avoid market crashes. Put it in your savings account so you know it will be there when you need it.” Sure, you could […]
Read moreAny Individual or entity with discretionary authority over a 401(k) plan’s administration or investments is considered a “fiduciary” to that plan. 401(k) plan fiduciaries ordinarily include the employer, trustees, and investment advisers. Attorneys, accountants, recordkeepers, brokers and insurance agents are generally not fiduciaries. The key to determining whether an individual or an entity is a […]
Read moreOverpaying for a 401(k) could lead to serious consequences like being sued or postponing retirement. Business owners do this all the time. They’ll hire a 401(k) provider without fully understanding their fees. Even when they know that paying excessive 401(k) fees could get them sued or force plan participants – including themselves – to work […]
Read moreWhether large or small, employers that provide a retirement plan all face one common risk: Fiduciary Responsibility. Employers that provide a retirement plan have a fiduciary responsibility to keep the plan in compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Due to the complex regulatory rules, plan sponsors can often find it difficult to […]
Read moreAre your recommendations truly in my best interest? Imagine going to your doctor with a concern about your heart. Before running any tests, the doctor tries to sell you a pacemaker. The doctor then explains that you need to act today before prices go up. Later you learned that the doctor was paid extra to […]
Read moreKnowing when to hire a financial advisor If you want to build wealth and optimize your financial life, hiring a financial advisor can be a smart move. Unfortunately, not all financial advisors are equal – not by a long shot. And if you hire someone who isn’t qualified, you could wind up worse off than […]
Read moreShore Financial Planning is a fee-only financial advisor based in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. As a fee-only/commission-free/flat-fee financial planner, I do not sell products or collect commissions. I am a fiduciary financial planner that specializes in tax-focused planning as a CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA), and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ CFP® professional. I serve clients in New Jersey and remotely throughout the U.S.A.