"You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view." - Obi Wan Kenobi, "Return of the Jedi" It's funny how things change so much. It's all state of mind. - Eddie Vedder, "In Hiding" Does luck really exist or is it all a matter of perspective? [...]
Notice 2018-58 provides rules that can be relied upon unless and until Treasury issues clarifying rules regarding the following: K-12: Distributions can be used to pay up to $10,000/yr of tuition per beneficiary at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school. Tuition Refunds: A beneficiary receiving a refund of tuition or other qualified [...]
Social media is for teenagers, right? It's a bunch of pimple-faced hormonal boys. Are you sure? Here's an interesting look at the demographics of social media users. You'll probably be surprised. The implications are interesting.
You meet the man/woman of your dreams. You marry. You name your spouse beneficiary of your IRA, life insurance, 401(k), etc. Fast forward a few years. Your marriage is one of the almost half that end in divorce. You forget to change the beneficiary of your IRA, life insurance, 401(k), etc. Fast forward a few [...]
One of the items getting little attention in the recent round of tax reform is the kiddie tax. Passed by Congress in 1986 to prevent taxpayers from shifting income to their kids (presumably in a lower bracket) the tax raises more than $1 billion per year for Treasury. What is it? The kiddie tax is [...]
A Limited Liability Company (or its cousin the S-Corp) can be a valuable tool for protecting personal assets by separating the entity from its owners for both tax and legal purposes. In doing so a “corporate veil” is created. But just like a properly-insured driver can’t drive with impunity and reckless abandon so too must [...]
We recently welcomed a new client to the Apollo family. He approached us after years as a DIY investor. During the get to know you phase he told us one of his biggest problems is the volume of information, not knowing what to believe, acting on (oftentimes competing) advice and ending up getting nowhere. We [...]
Investment A has a YTD ROR of 6.15%. Investment B has a YTD ROR of 4.32%. Which one is the S&P 500? Answer? Both. How can this be? Investment A was measured using the cap-weighted methodology where the larger the company and stock price the more impact it has. Investment B was measured using an [...]
Rather than reforming its fiscal policy to incentivize job creation and stem the tide of wealth leaving the state NJ seems intent on covering bullet holes with Band-Aids. Governor Murphy’s latest move to raise taxes will likely prove counterproductive. Contained in the recent budget deal is an increase in the state’s personal income tax from [...]
People die all the time. Why, you could wake up dead tomorrow. To be serious for a moment death is not something we enjoy contemplating. It’s nonetheless inevitable and something for which we should prepare while healthy and unemotional. Waiting until we’re terminal or leaving the chore to our loved ones after we're gone is [...]