There was a time when classification was simple. Coca-Cola sells discretionary consumer goods. J&J is a health care company. Pretty straightforward, right? But what about Comcast? Is it a telecommunications company? Media? Information technology? Semantics to some. Important to others – particularly the investment community insofar as comparisons to benchmarks, diversification, etc require specificity. To [...]
The problem with bulls? It's the bulls**t! Be careful where you step. Now that the fiduciary rule is dead Merrill Lynch has confirmed it's business as usual. Customers be damned. Best interest? Forget about it. When it appeared regulators would require a fiduciary obligation Merrill jumped at the chance to be head cheerleader. See here, [...]
"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.
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 [...]
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 [...]
We all know that guy. Heck, we might be that guy. You know who we're talking about. He’s the guy who solves one problem by creating three even worse problems. Well, that guy is at it again. In an attempt to get around the $10,000 cap on state and local income and property tax deductions [...]