What do I need to know about my Required Minimum Distribution?

by Elle Kaplan | Feb 6, 2015 | BDE, Investing, Retirement, Wealth Management

What is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? Certain types of retirement accounts and qualified plans stipulate a minimum amount that must be distributed from the account each year after the account holder reaches age 70.5. This amount is called the required minimum...

How do world events affect the stock market? And what does that mean for investors?

by Elle Kaplan | Jan 23, 2015 | BDE, Investing

A number of factors, including lower costs of trading and the increase in high-frequency trading, have helped create a “new normal” for the financial markets in which greater volatility is expected. With that said, there will still be events in our country...

Asset Allocation: No Such Thing As One-Size-Fits-All

by Elle Kaplan | Jan 15, 2015 | Allocation, BDE, Investing, Wealth Management

Asset allocation is not formulaic, nor is it purely age-based. Investing should always be goals-based. The way you invest money for a particular goal depends on your needs and time horizon relative to that goal, as well as your personal risk tolerance. Asset...

Retirement Planning for All Ages

by Elle Kaplan | Jan 8, 2015 | BDE, Investing, Retirement, Wealth Management

As you begin the retirement planning process: The first step in determining how best to reach your retirement goals involves simply envisioning the retirement you want. Start to bring to life the high-level goals you see for yourself once you finish working. Things to...

Reviewing Your Retirement Goals

by Elle Kaplan | Dec 31, 2014 | BDE, Investing, Retirement, Wealth Management

The new year is a natural point to check in, review your financial goals, and re-evaluate your plan to make sure that it is still a good fit and that you are on track to meet those goals. A common question that arises as part of this goal-mapping conversation is: am I...

Re-thinking Your Financial Plan As We Approach Year End?

by Elle Kaplan | Dec 17, 2014 | BDE, Investing, Wealth Management

The end of the year can serve as a natural check-in point at which to evaluate your financial plan. The new year suggests reflection and renewal as we look to the season and the year ahead. It is a good idea to assess whether any of your major goals or areas of focus...