Articles
Below is a list of selected articles from our newsletters and other sources. The staff of Pleasanton Financial Advisors has produced these articles and believes, but cannot guarantee, that information contained therein is accurate. We make periodic updates of the information, but some information may become out of date before we have a chance to modify it. You should always consult with an advisor regarding your specific situation before acting on ideas expressed in any source of general information. The articles may be copied only with permission.
General
- Earnings Potential Gives a Career a Large Value
- Superior Financial Advisors Go Far Beyond Investment Management for Clients
- Do Your Homework When Choosing a Retirement Community
- Tax Return Can Show Need for Financial Planning
- PFA Clients Now Have Expanded Access to Long-Term Care Planning Services
- During Spring Cleaning Remember Your Financial Records
- Comprehensive Financial Planning: Back to Basics
- Dollars or Shares: How Should You Measure Your Wealth?
- Mistakes Can Teach Valuable Lessons
- Organize Finances to be Prepared for Emergency
- Why It Is Hard To Predict What Interest Rates Will Be in the Future
- Planning Leads to Greater Wealth
Economy and Markets
- What Does the Eurozone Debt Crisis Suggest for Investors?
- Debt Crisis in the Eurozone Pressures World Markets
- Bonds Are Drawing Investment Dollars Even As U.S. Stocks Rebound
- One-Year Returns Are a Dangerous Guide to Investment Decisions
- Divergent Economic Outlooks, "New Normal" and "New Mix," Aid Investment Decisions
- Inflation and Deflation Cut Across Economic Sectors and Personal Circumstances
- Debate on Inflation and Deflation Cites Potent Factors for Each Possibility
- Don't Be Greedy: Rising Prices Should Lead to Rising Caution
- It's a Bull Market, but… Is It a Cyclical or Secular One?
- Economic Equilibrium Shifts Towards Something New
- Q & A with PFA
- The Economy and the Markets: Are We Turning a Corner?
- Market Volatility Continues
- Leverage Causes Pain During a Decline
- Housing Law Seeks to Ease Many Problems, but Economic Challenges Remain
- Markets Cause Distress As They Adjust to Reality
- Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts Affect All Investors
Education Planning
Estate Planning
- Combining Charitable Giving With Generating an Income Stream
- Donor-Advised Funds Provide Tax Benefits and a Structure for Charitable Giving
- A Simple Charitable-Giving Approach Is Sometimes Best
- Use Care When Reducing the Amount of Your Estate While Living
- Advance Healthcare Directives Protect Your Wishes When You Cannot
Insurance
- Does Healthcare Reform Include Long-Term Care?
- Liability Coverage May Need Reassessment
- Life, Long-Term Care, and Disability Coverage May Need Reassessment
- Less Robust Financial Health May Signal Need for Insurance Review
- Group Long-Term Care Insurance Is Not All It Promises
- LTC Insurance Can Be Durable
Investment
- Investors Seek Alternatives with Low Correlations to Stocks and Bonds
- Trailing Returns Are Not the Best Way to Estimate Future Returns
- Some Actively Managed Funds May Outperform Indexes
- Don't Just Save More, Save Smarter
- Negatively Correlated Commodities Reduce Portfolio Volatility
- How We Can Be More Intelligent Investors
- The Power of Fear and Greed
- Diversification Shows Its Benefits
Real Estate
- HELOCs Add Wrinkle to Refinancing
- Property Reassessments May Lead to Lower Taxes
- Congress Changes the Capital Gains Exclusion Rule for Home Sellers
- Appreciation of New Home Values is Cyclical and Relatively Low
- Computing the Investment Return of a Home is Complex
- California Homeowners Over 55 Can Keep Property Taxes Low When Downsizing
- Evaluate Real Estate As If You Were Running A Business
- Are REITs an Alternative?
Retirement
- Decisions on Retirement Contributions Are Important But Complex
- Deductibility Rules and Self-Employment Increase the Complexities of Making Retirement Contributions
- Qualitative Criteria Affect Decisions on Retirement Contributions
- Work With Your Tax Preparer on Retirement Contributions for 2009
- Roth IRAs Allow Investors to Keep Rewards of Investing
- 401(k) Accounts Are Still Good Savings Vehicles
- Custodial IRAs Help Teens Become Lifelong Savers
- Retirement Contribution Changes for 2009
- Delaying Social Security Benefits Allows You to Transfer More Risk
- Substantial Home Equity Provides Options When Entering Retirement
- How Good Is That Pension Guarantee?
Taxation
- Higher Than Expected Marginal Tax Rates Can Affect Financial Decisions
- Converting to a Roth IRA: Are the long-term advantages worth the upfront tax costs?
- Tax-Loss Harvesting Can Reduce Taxes and Improve Your Portfolio
- Retirement Contribution Changes for 2009
- A Capital Loss Carryover Can Be a Shelter and an Asset
- Avoid Double Taxation on Your IRA