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What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along. 

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
―Benjamin Franklin

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Medicare open enrollment runs from October through December. During this time, people who are already covered by Medicare have the opportunity to make changes to their plan's benefits.  If you're thinking about adjusting...

Thursday, December 8, 2022

In 2022, it has been a rare occurrence to have positive returns in both stocks and bonds in any month.  November was one of those months.  US stocks, international stocks, bonds, and even gold had positive returns in the...

Thursday, December 1, 2022

In the news recently, a high-profile cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, has fallen into bankruptcy and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, is embroiled in scandal. Sam Bankman-Fried’s fall from grace has been widely followed as many...

Thursday, November 17, 2022

The last year has seen a lot of changes in the insurance industry, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the extended-care policies have been affected with most people now finding it difficult to qualify. The most...

Thursday, November 10, 2022

In recent years, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing has been gaining popularity and attracting a growing number of investors wishing to make safer and more profitable investments. But what is an ESG investment? And...

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Friday, November 4, 2022

Understand the IRS’s calculations and tables.As much as you would like to, you can’t keep your money in your retirement account forever.These investment vehicles include 401(k)s, IRAs, and similar retirement accounts...

Thursday, October 27, 2022

What are the keys to prepare to grow wealthy together?When you marry or simply share a household with someone, your financial life changes—and your approach to managing your money may change as well. The good news is that it is...

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Life insurance choices can be confusing.Man is Mortal. That makes life insurance a little unique and interesting, doesn’t it? We purchase things like health insurance, car insurance and home insurance, then hope we never...

Thursday, October 6, 2022

As summer ended and fall began, many investor concerns came back to the forefront and led to a significant September swoon.  The number one concern of investors this year has been inflation.  Inflation touches all asset...

Friday, September 30, 2022

Life insurance choices can be confusing.Man is Mortal. That makes life insurance a little unique and interesting, doesn’t it? We purchase things like health insurance, car insurance and home insurance, then hope we never...

Thursday, September 22, 2022

The estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from anxiety disorders know well the dread one feels when faced with the mental and physical symptoms of this affliction. Paralyzing headaches, shortness of breath, or obsessive...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

As we have progressed through the year, Gradient Investments’ opinion is that the probability of a recession has increased. The term recession invokes unpleasant thoughts of high unemployment, bankruptcies and business failures. 

Thursday, September 8, 2022

To qualify for Medicaid, you need to meet several requirements such as having limited assets and income, and a need for care. The limits vary from state to state, by marital status, and by the program.   If...

Thursday, September 1, 2022

A practical financial checklist for the future.When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration estimates that...

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Don’t fall for these misconceptions.Financial generalizations are as old as time. Some have been around for decades, while others have only recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine a few.Retirement means I can stop...

Thursday, August 18, 2022

There are benefits and limitations when you decide to donate stock.Why sell shares when you can gift them? If you have appreciated stocks in your portfolio, you might want to consider donating those shares to charity rather than...

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Companies adding employee benefits may want to consider it.As companies grow and add employees, they also add employee benefits. Retirement and medical plans can be provided, but what about group life insurance?Group life on the menu?...

Thursday, August 4, 2022

How many pieces do you have in place?When you read about money matters, you will sometimes see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean?When your financial “house is in order...

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Just because it’s a nice problem, doesn’t mean it’s not still a problem.Here’s a scenario for you: You pick up what appears to be a lottery ticket. You check the numbers for a laugh and discover a winning...

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Understand the IRS’s calculations and tables.As much as you would like to, you can’t keep your money in your retirement account forever.These investment vehicles include 401(k)s, IRAs, and similar retirement accounts...

Friday, July 15, 2022

Happiness is not a volatile feeling. It is much more than the joy that one can feel, for example, when buying a new pair of shoes or winning a raffle. Happiness depends on a whole other factor: on you.Life circumstances, such as...

Thursday, July 7, 2022

High blood pressure is a serious condition, but you can manage it with the right lifestyle changes. Chances are if you've been told by a doctor that you have high blood pressure or are at greater risk for it, you've also been warned...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Several factors can affect your energy level and make you feel tired regularly. If you've ruled out any underlying and potentially dangerous medical conditions, you need to take a closer look at your lifestyle.In this article, we are...

Thursday, June 2, 2022

What are the keys to prepare to grow wealthy together?When you marry or simply share a household with someone, your financial life changes—and your approach to managing your money may change as well. The good news is that it is...

Thursday, May 26, 2022

You don't have to leave your job when you start receiving retirement benefits.But continuing to earn income from work could reduce the amount of your benefits if you apply for Social Security before you reach full retirement age, the...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

In recent years, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing has been gaining popularity and attracting a growing number of investors wishing to make safer and more profitable investments. But what is an ESG investment? And...

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Companies adding employee benefits may want to consider it.As companies grow and add employees, they also add employee benefits. Retirement and medical plans can be provided, but what about group life insurance?Group life on the menu?...

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The last year has seen a lot of changes in the insurance industry, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the extended-care policies have been affected with most people now finding it difficult to qualify. The most...

Thursday, April 21, 2022

When we look in the mirror in the morning, we usually see no difference in our faces compared to the night before. But when we look at old photos of ourselves, we immediately see how young and different we were back then. And...

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Two centuries of burning fossil fuels and other human activities have added more carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere –much more than nature can remove. As CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere, more and more heat is trapped near...

Thursday, April 7, 2022

If you’re trying to build your retirement paycheck, then learning how to maximize your social security benefits is a great start. Unfortunately, many people don’t even understand how social security really works. Some claim...

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Managing a supply chain, from production to distribution, is an extremely complex process. Even with existing information systems that allow them to track orders and shipments, most businesses still have limited real-time visibility...

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Opening a Roth account is a smart way to save for retirement because you can invest after-tax dollars today and avoid paying additional income taxes in the future - as long as the account meets certain requirements. A Roth option is...

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Life insurance choices can be confusing. Man is Mortal. That makes life insurance a little unique and interesting, doesn’t it? We purchase things like health insurance, car insurance and home insurance, then hope we never...

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Should you withdraw and reinvest your retirement plan money while you are still on the job? Did you know you might be able to take some or all of the money in your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan and roll it over into another type of ....

Thursday, March 3, 2022

What role should taxes play in your investment decisions? Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a 401(k) or a traditional IRA? If so, you will receive income from both after age 72. However, if you have saved and invested mu

Thursday, February 24, 2022

If retirement is on the horizon, you might be wondering if you will be able to maintain your lifestyle after retirement. For most people, a retirement portfolio is based on their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and timelines.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Retirement is one of the most crucial phases of your life, and it is essential to plan and prepare for it. The right decisions can allow you to live comfortably and enjoy a financially secure retirement. On the other hand, the wrong choices

Friday, February 11, 2022

This vital investment account question should be answered sooner rather than later. If you are being exploited financially or could be at risk of such exploitation, that person will be alerted and called to action. As the old saying goes...

Friday, February 4, 2022

Individuals hold about $2.2 trillion in annuity contracts; a tidy sum considering an estimated $9.2 trillion is held in all types of IRAs.1 Annuity contracts are purchased from an insurance company...

Friday, January 28, 2022

Vegetarian dishes are gaining popularity even among regular meat eaters. As more and more people reduce their meat consumption, a key question remains: are vegan diets healthy? The answer is yes.

Friday, January 21, 2022

Many people plan their estates diligently, with input from legal, tax, and financial professionals. Others plan earnestly but make mistakes that can potentially affect both the transfer and destiny of family wealth. Here are some common and

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Financial advisory can an ambiguous industry, therefore you may not receive the same value from your professional financial advisor as your neighbor. The difference can sometimes be staggering. In addition, the industry has gone...

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Investors, business owners and entrepreneurs are increasingly involved in blockchain transformative technology. It is not only used in the financial sector; it has wide application in different kinds of industries. Therefore, everyone...

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Walking again when you are paraplegic/quadriplegic or becoming a "superman" is no longer an unattainable dream thanks to the development of exoskeletons. It seems that exoskeletons are taking root in our daily lives. The kick-off of...

Sunday, December 26, 2021

I think everyone dreams of a retirement where they can live a long and happy life. This has been researched by PhDs around the world, and the answers may surprise you.

Thursday, December 23, 2021

If retirement is on the horizon, you might be wondering if you will be able to maintain your lifestyle after retirement. For most people, a retirement portfolio is based on their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and timelines....

Thursday, December 16, 2021

A thriving kitchen garden is something any homeowner can be proud of. A space to grow your own vegetables. Whether in raised beds, pots, from seed, or not, there is nothing better than using the freshest cooking ingredients in your...

Thursday, December 9, 2021

While most working people hope to achieve retirement, planning for the same is not easy. A lot of variables like the future cost of living, the housing market, life expectancy, etc., need to be accounted for. Knowing just how much you...

Thursday, December 2, 2021

We have all witnessed significant lifestyle changes caused by the onset of a Covid-19 pandemic where people spent more time at home than ever before and when the importance of health and healthy living was emphasized. Generally,...

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Metaverse is a kind of new cloud technology that will change the way we connect. These are immersive technologies that allow a sense of true presence. It will be made a reality by the use of AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual...

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022. Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts...

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Rising health care costs have made health insurance a much-needed product offering to mitigate the financial blow that could derail your finances. However, it’s important to know that over the years the health insurance space...

Thursday, November 4, 2021

From relieving nausea to reducing stress symptoms, there are a variety of herbs that have numerous health and therapeutic effects. As you may know, herbs and plant extracts are the foundation of medicine, dating thousands of years back...

Thursday, October 28, 2021

There is a lot of hype surrounding cryptocurrencies like the old-timer Bitcoin, well as NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Now that you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already heard about this ‘blockchain’ hype....

Thursday, October 21, 2021

If by any chance you’re worried that your retirement funds won’t comfortably cover the entire period, you’re probably right –and you’re not alone. About 70% of Americans are concerned that their savings...

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names. The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Planning for your future and beyond. For most, creating an estate strategy is important to make sure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone. But it may be just as important to have an estate strategy for your...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

It’s time for your life insurance check-up.September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to review your coverage.1If you don’t have any life insurance, you’re not alone. Life...

Thursday, August 26, 2021

College Funding OptionsYou can plan to meet the costs through a variety of methods. How can you cover your child’s future college costs? Saving early (and often) may be key for most families. Here are some college savings...

Thursday, August 19, 2021

The interest in 5G is undeniable in the USA, a region where data consumption is doubling every year due to users' enthusiasm for services such as streaming. A trend that will only increase as 4K and 8K resolutions become more popular....

Thursday, August 12, 2021

A few things you may want to think about before filing for benefits. Whether you want to leave work at 62, 67, or 72, claiming the retirement benefits you are entitled to by federal law is no casual decision. You will want to consider...

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Saving money to fund a comfortable retirement is perhaps the main reason people invest in the first place. Finding the right balance between investment risk and return is critical towards earning regular income after retirement. In...

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Prepare now to better protect your business in the future. As a business owner, you’ve worked hard for your success. The long hours, the difficult decisions, and the sacrifices you have made have led to where you are today. The...

Thursday, July 22, 2021

In simple terms, the blockchain is similar to a large database: it stores, transmits, and updates information of all kinds. Each time the database is updated, the new changes are shared simultaneously between several individuals who...

Thursday, July 15, 2021

As a business owner, ascertaining the value of your business is essential for a variety of reasons, including business succession, estate tax estimates, or qualifying for a loan. There are several valuation techniques, ranging from the...

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Even the most seasoned investors are prone to their influence. Investors are routinely warned about allowing their emotions to influence their decisions. However, they are less routinely cautioned about their preconceptions and biases...

Thursday, July 1, 2021

The Employee Retention Tax Credit is one of our Employer Incentives. The most current version of the tax credit was signed into law as a result of the COVID-19 crisis with the CARES Act in 2020. It was then updated by the CAA and then...

Saturday, June 26, 2021

The IRS Is Trying To Help Funeral Homes Pay Them Less! (Don’t believe it? – read on) This statement is directly from www.irs.gov, “Buildings and structural components have substantially longer depreciable lives than...

Friday, June 4, 2021

The Hotel Industry is unique in that like a commercial product a hotel follows a definite life cycle. If a hotel owner does not keep this in mind, their facility can quickly become worn out and dated in comparison to their competition....

Thursday, May 13, 2021

The “Startup Jobs and Innovation Act”, properly evangelized within the economic development eco-system, can be reasonably expected to create jobs by nudging innovative technologies into the promised land of commercial...

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

As we move into Spring, there appears to be a sense of optimism over future economic growth prospects. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 84.9% in March[1], the highest reading since the outbreak of...

Thursday, April 22, 2021

All across the nation, Civil Engineering Firms are consistently missing out on millions of dollars in Federal Tax Incentives! How? Simple. Federal Tax Incentives have been crafted, passed, and signed into law making hundreds of...

Friday, April 9, 2021

If you have yet to hear; Local, State, and Federal Governments have been feverishly enacting numerous incentives to help stimulate business economies. Due to the high tax brackets of most medical practitioners, these incentives are now...

Monday, April 5, 2021

Restaurants have several major tax incentives available to them, yet most are not taking advantage and consequently losing money. The main programs that most in this industry are missing out on are:Engineering-based Property Cost...

Saturday, March 27, 2021

A Message From Carol Are you taking ownership of your life? In other words, are you spending your time intentionally, or are you allowing life to happen to you? We can’t always control our circumstances, but we are never without...

Friday, March 19, 2021

Every year millions of dollars go unclaimed by businesses that think they can’t take advantage of R&D tax benefits. So if you think research and development (R&D) tax credits are only for large corporations or big scientific...

Thursday, March 11, 2021

The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion relief package focused on economic relief following the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law at the White House on Thursday.1Beyond the much-discussed $1,400 stimulus...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Stock indexes finished the month mostly positive in a trading pattern that was oddly similar to January’s. Strength in the first half of the month gave way to weakness in the second half, but this time around the sell-off did not...

Friday, February 26, 2021

Most of us have a basic understanding of how credit and debt works based on our personal experiences. We borrow someone else’s money (the bank’s, the mortgage company’s, a friend’s), then we buy something and...

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

On Bubbles and Bitcoin Part 1: How Bubbles Inflate There’s been a lot of talk about bubbles lately; stock indexes are at all-time highs, real estate prices are posting record increases, GameStop stock rose 1,700% in four weeks...

Thursday, February 18, 2021

2020 will forever be remembered as a year of major changes in how we live our lives, whether it be social distancing, or distance learning, or remote workplaces. And thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that Congress...

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Disruptive technology has come to the financial world. Bitcoin and other digital currencies are reshaping how we think about money. As Peter Diamandis observes, cryptocurrencies are making money “more digitized, dematerialized,...

Monday, February 8, 2021

No matter what is happening in the world at large, a change of mindset is the most powerful strategy. To THINK is about more than financial strategies (though those are important). The principle also refers to our thoughts around money...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Stock indexes spent most of January continuing to grind higher before a sell-off over the last few days of the month led to mixed returns by the end. The S&P 500 was up as much as 2.7% on January 25th but finished the month with a 1.0%...

Monday, February 1, 2021

It’s been a year since the first Coronavirus infection was reported in the United States. And nearly a year since the first state-wide stay-at-home order. Since we’re all a little (or a lot) more isolated these days, it can...

Thursday, January 28, 2021

The first week of 2021 has already had many ups and downs. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that the 2020 issues go away, and so far, 2021 has been no exception to this rule. The markets opened on January 4 and...

Thursday, January 21, 2021

If you scan the financial headlines for 2020, it looks pretty grim. Whether it’s unemployment numbers… Or small businesses permanently closing their doors… Or even giant corporations filing for bankruptcy…...

Monday, January 18, 2021

When we hear the word “insider trading,” most people think of something illegal. Images of Martha Stewart being hauled off to jail in an orange jumpsuit start racing through our heads. But the fact is, it is not against the...

Sunday, January 17, 2021

The end of year rally continued through December. Of the equity and fixed income indexes that we report in this space, all but one rose for the month. Small caps continued to outpaced larger companies with the S&P 600 posting an 8.3%...

Thursday, December 24, 2020

For many of us, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. For some, it’s brought hardships that have tested the hardiest of souls. For others, it has brought unspeakable loss. Yet, we press on, and as we do, we may be surprised to...

Monday, December 21, 2020

The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty malls and busy...

Friday, December 4, 2020

MARKET SUMMARY Buckle up, the rally is on! Equity and, to a lesser extent, fixed income markets surged during November on a tandem of huge news items. First was the fact that the 2020 election resulted in a mixed government, and that...

Monday, October 12, 2020

I spent much of last year waking everyday only to be more tired than the day before. I would anticipate every weekend, hoping it would be the recharge I desperately needed. I tried being active; I tried being inactive. I tried long...

Monday, October 5, 2020

The stock market fell back to earth during the month of September. Months of endless gains left us overdue for a correction and gridlock in Washington over further stimulus seemed to provide the perfect catalyst. US indexes were down...

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

CEO’s are about the thrill of the deal, achieving something no other person has, the adventure, the vision! Terms like survival, and cost cutting are something they’re willing to tolerate, but only as a means to the next...

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Stock indexes spent the month of August defying belief. The S&P 500 (7.2%) and NASDAQ Composite (9.7%) both climbed to intraday record highs on the final day of August trading. Those gains were mirrored by major indexes across the...

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Keeping clients informed of new or expanded Federal tax programs is very important to us. We've identified a tax credit that your business immediately qualifies for. This program falls under the Worker's Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC),...

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Depending on your answer, you could be getting bad advice which puts more money in the IRS’s coffers (and leaves less in your pocket). Below is the crux of a typical tax preparer’s opinion regarding Engineering Based Cost...

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Cost Segregation on Older Buildings? It is impossible for me to calculate the number of calls I’ve had with building owners and CPAs on the subject of Cost Segregation. Working some numbers in my head (ok, on my calculator), the...

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Many people think the only thing wrong with the economy is the coronavirus lockdown and the social distancing rules that have shut businesses across the country. Of course, the lockdown has been devastating. But the economy was...

Friday, April 24, 2020

Respect the Time Horizon Anyone who has taken a risk tolerance or asset allocation questionnaire has answered a question regarding the time horizon for their investments. Taking time horizon into consideration allows us to have a...

Friday, February 14, 2020

How the SECURE Act Impacts Inherited IRAs Last week, we published an article summarizing many of the changes the SECURE Act brings to retirement plans. These include new rules regarding retirement plan contributions, distributions, the...

Friday, February 14, 2020

As we approach Valentine’s Day, millions of Americans will celebrate with special dinners, cards, flowers, chocolates, and “I love you’s.” Whether you’re a fan of Hallmark Holidays or not (I’m not),...

Monday, February 3, 2020

At the end of 2019, Congress passed the biggest bill affecting retirement accounts in more than a decade. (You may have been unaware of it since the news cycle has been filled with the impeachment drama!) Today, we summarize the SECURE...

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The 401(k) is often considered the no-brainer, gold standard of retirement plans. But far from being a bedrock retirement plan, the 401(k) started as an experiment in 1981 and still has to prove itself. Those who decided to be a...