News and Commentary

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 109: Expectations versus Reality

Posted on September 13, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys discuss differences between expectations and reality for various areas of financial life including investment returns and opening your own business. They also discuss other unexpected life events and the opportunities they may bring.

Don’t Forget Your Pets in Your Estate Plan By Robert Mark Weiss, CFA

Posted on September 07, 2022 by

It is increasingly common for pet owners to make provisions in their wills to provide ongoing care of their furry companions in the event they pass away or become unable to do so on their own. Moreover, all U.S. states and the District of Columbia allow their residents to establish pet trusts and set aside […]

How Does the Inflation Reduction Act Impact Consumers? By Scott Montgomery

Posted on September 01, 2022 by Scott Montgomery

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which represents the largest investment the country has ever made to fight climate change. Also included in the $430 billion spending-and-tax package are provisions intended to reduce consumers’ healthcare costs, lower the federal deficit and bolster the IRS’s taxpayer support services […]

IRS Clarifies SECURE Act Rules for Withdrawals from Inherited IRAs By Sean Deviney, CFP®*

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Sean Deviney

The SECURE Act signed into law at the end of 2019 brought new restrictions to non-spouse beneficiaries of inherited individual retirement accounts (IRAs), requiring them to empty those accounts within 10 years of the original owner’s death and pay the taxes due. Not only was the new law bad news for beneficiaries who were previously […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 108: Implications with China and Taiwan

Posted on August 23, 2022 by

With the recent trip by House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China has responded by conducting military drills after threating severe consequences if she were to do so. In this episode, the relatable finance guys provide some background on the China-Taiwan relations, some implications should conflict escalate further, and how this can be factored into […]

401(k) Plan Sponsors Get More Time to Adopt Amendments By Olga Ismail

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Olga Ismail

The IRS recently issued guidance extending the deadline for retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to adopt amendments reflecting legislation passed into law in 2019 and 2020. The previous deadline for calendar year plans has been postponed from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2025. The additional time is good news for sponsors and […]

What does the Federal Interest Rate Hike Mean to your Wallet? By Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Scott Montgomery

In July 2022, the Federal Reserve Bank enacted its fourth interest rate hike for the year and its second consecutive 0.75 percentage point increase in an attempt to rein in record-high inflation without triggering a prolonged recession. While additional rate increases are expected in the Fall, the benchmark federal funds rate, which began the year […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 107: Personal Inflation Rates and Consumption Habits

Posted on August 09, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys discuss personal inflation rates and how our consumption decisions may be more or less affected than broad inflation numbers. They also discuss how these decisions affect market cycles and prices.

Are More Changes Ahead for Retirement Savings? By Brendan T. Hayes

Posted on August 03, 2022 by Brendan Hayes

Since Congress first passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) in 2019, it has been working on a secondary package of regulations to further expand taxpayers’ access to workplace retirement plans and improve their financial security during their golden years. The proposed regulations, commonly referred to as Secure Act 2.0, […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 106: Comparing the Current Bear Market with those in the Past and looking for clues on when the Market Could Turn

Posted on July 26, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys look at prior bear markets and clues on when the current market may start to move. Things such as the magnitude of the decline, the duration, and the time it takes for the market to recover can help one make better investment decisions.

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 105: Interest Rates Effect on the Forgotten Asset Class: Fixed Income

Posted on July 12, 2022 by

In this episode the Relatable Finance guys discuss the fixed income markets and how the recent jump in interest rates have affected performance. They also go into how this is different than the past 40 years and the key factors that affect fixed income returns.

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 104: How Changes in the Real Estate Market Affects Potential Buyers

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Joseph Karl

The Relatable Finance guys talk about the rising prices in the real estate market and how the added cost of recent interest rate increases affects your ability to purchase a home. They also discuss some less obvious housing costs along with some benefits of having a mortgage.

4 Critical Actions to Help Recession-Proof Your Finances By Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Kathleen Marteney

Looking back over the past two decades of the subprime mortgage crisis and the COVID pandemic, we are reminded that good times do not last forever. In each of these circumstances, we learned that the best way to protect yourself during hard times is to plan and prepare for a potential downturn while the economy […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 103: Drivers Behind Current Market Volatility

Posted on June 14, 2022 by

Markets have been volatile in recent weeks for a variety of reasons. In this episode, the Relatable Finance guys dig into the causes behind the current market volatility, and what may be in store going forward.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Establishing Trusts By Brendan T. Hayes

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Brendan Hayes

Trusts are essential to estate planning, regardless of your financial means. After all, you do not have to be a millionaire to protect your family members and plan for their continual care after you are gone. With a trust, you can help ensure that your wishes are followed, and your assets are transferred to heirs […]

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