Recent Articles from Bruce Hemmings
Exit strategies for small-business clients
For successful entrepreneurs, the road into the business is often more clearly laid out than the route from involvement. However, a well-drawn roadmap for the endgame can be the difference between achieving success and missing the target on important life goals. As a result, preparing an effective exit plan can provide a valuable service. Laying […]
Do you know where your retirement savings are? Part Two
(Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts. Read the first part.) Knowing how rollovers work can help you make a decision about whether or not to consolidate. IRA-to-IRA rollovers: You can ask your current IRA custodian to send you a check for the amount held in your IRA. You will then have 60 […]
Do you know where your retirement savings are? Part One
A traditional IRA here, a rollover IRA there, four job changes (so far!) and three retirement plan account balances left in the plans of former employers… If this describes your situation, you are not alone. Over the years, people accumulate a significant sum in retirement savings, often spread across various accounts. As accounts multiply and […]
Great benefits key to building a great team
If you own a business, you understand the importance of attracting and retaining key employees. One of the most vital steps you can take to take care of those you hire is to create an appealing benefits package that includes a retirement plan. In choosing a retirement plan you should consider, among other things, your […]
Dividend strategies for 2012 and beyond
A dividend investing strategy is a smart way to generate income and total return, as history has shown. Dividend-paying stocks have outperformed non-dividend payers over time; since 1990, consistent dividend payers, as represented by the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, earned an annualized 11.04 percent total return, while the broader S&P 500 index earned only 8.23 […]
Make the most of the new gift and estate tax law
Gifting assets to loved ones while you are alive can prove deeply satisfying, especially if those assets are used to pay for meaningful financial objec¬tives like starting a business, purchasing a home or educating a grandchild. In addition, every gift you make removes assets from your estate and may help you achieve some of the […]
The muni bond exodus
Historically, municipal bonds have not generated national headlines, but the fiscal problems facing many state and local governments have led to newsworthy concerns about the future of these securities. As a result, by February 2011, investors had pulled nearly $40 billion from municipal bond funds—the largest exodus from such funds in decades, according to the […]
When it comes to your money, politics matter
Economics in the U.S. and globally are being affected by governments and their actions more than any time in recent history. With that in mind, we recently invited Sean West, Director of U.S. Political Risk for the Eurasia Group to travel from New York to Northern Colorado to speak with a group of our clients. […]
It’s 2011: Do you know where all your retirement savings are?
Over the years, you may have accumulated a significant sum in various retirement accounts. While keeping those assets in various accounts at different financial institutions isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there is a strong case for consolidating them into one account with the same financial institution. Why Consolidate? Consolidating your retirement savings, where appropriate, offers [&helli[...]
Six timely tax tactics for uncertain times
What does the future hold for US taxpayers in 2011 and beyond? While there’s no crystal ball to accurately answer that question, it’s likely that Congress will tackle our taxes now that the midterm elections are behind us. And, with current tax and legislative headwinds trending toward higher personal income tax rates, it’s time to […]