Integras Insights
Insightful, Curated Articles to Help You Make Sound Financial Decisions
Where are the Opportunities in Today’s Markets?
Bullish sentiment ran out of steam during Q3 2023. In a previous blog we discussed the primary culprit for that. All that said, we are now in the final quarter of the year.
Will Rising Interest Rates Cause a Recession?
August, September, and October are historically the worst three months for market performance and 2023 was no different. Everything but cash, oil and short-term treasuries had negative 3rd quarter returns. The S&P 500 lost 3.25%, small caps fell 5%, international markets dropped 3.5%, and long-term treasuries lost an astounding 8%.
Should I Opt-Out or Take the Company Pension?
Do I want to rely on the company’s future financial strength? How long will I live? What will inflation do to my pension income over time? What happens if I die? Should I take a lower amount to protect my spouse? What happens if they die? Do I have a choice to take a lump sum and control how and when I spend the money?
Do You Still Have Money in a Previous Employer’s 401(k) Plan?
If you reached age 55 in your last year with the company, you’re eligible to access funds without early withdrawal penalties. Consider leaving an amount you might need to withdraw before age 59 ½, which is the penalty-free age for IRA’s.
Gift Mandated Retirement Distributions Tax-Free
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) take effect the year an IRA owner turns 73, so the government can start collecting taxes. This is payback for making tax-deductible retirement contributions while working. A few years ago, Congress enabled retirees to give any...
You Can Have Peace of Mind about Your Retirement
In an ongoing University of Michigan survey, older Americans recently expressed less confidence about having a comfortable retirement.[1] Inflation is the likely driver of this worry (both inflation itself and the affect it has had on the stock market). To top...
Finding Value in Overlooked Sectors
The big question for investors now is where to be invested going forward. With the overall market trading at 20x earnings and first half gains concentrated into only a select few stocks, most of the market has been left behind. With the valuations of the high-fliers...
Why Systematic Retirement Distributions Fail
There is a flawed assumption that 4% portfolio distributions are sustainable throughout retirement. Unfortunately, this has proven to be unreliable for too many retirees. The problem doesn’t lie in the math of a withdrawal rate but with the structure of the...
Will partnering with a Trusted Advisor help you find Peace of Mind?
Several years ago, a client couple referred their neighbors. Let’s call them Jim and Kate. They had been married almost 20 years and had established careers and two younger children. After recently purchasing their dream home, they came to us to help...
Comparing Private Real Estate Offerings
Article 5 of 5: Real Estate As An Investment Option This is the final installment in a series of five blogs on how Owning Real Estate Complements Stock Risks. The series addresses the attributes and differentiating factors of real estate that pair nicely with traded...
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