News and Commentary

Weighing the Choice between a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA by Brendan T. Hayes

Posted June 27, 2018

A Roth IRA is a unique retirement savings account that allows eligible individuals to set aside money today for a potentially tax-free income stream in the future. Like a traditional IRA, a Roth arrangement allows individuals to make annual contributions of up to $5,500 in 2018, or $6,500 for savers age 50 and older. That […]

Diversification can be Key in a Rising Interest Rate Environment by Todd A. Moll, CFP, CFA

Posted June 19, 2018

In March 2018, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the sixth time since December 2015 while signaling potentially three additional rate hikes this year. For some investors, rising interest rates may present market opportunities and a potential increase in income; for others, a watchful eye may be needed. A key to investing in the current […]

Is your Financial Advisor Putting your Best Interests First? by Eric Zeitlin

Posted June 14, 2018

The ongoing saga of the Fiduciary Rule continues on following a March 15, 2018, appeals court decision that invalidates the requirement that financial advisors and brokers conduct their business in the best interest of their clients. As we wait for the Department of Labor’s response to the court’s action, astute investors must remain diligent when […]

Special Needs Trusts Can Help Improve a Disabled Family Member’s Quality of Life by Lee F. Hediger

Posted June 5, 2018

Caring for a family member with a physical, intellectual or emotional disability can be costly. Every-day expenses can include not only food and shelter but also specialized medications, assistive devices, special education, transportation, at-home nursing care and much more. Over time, these expenses will almost certainly increase. To ensure that a loved one continues to […]

8 Tips to Help Women Improve Financial Literacy by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted May 30, 2018

For too long, women were socialized to believe that they were bad with money or that financial management was a role better left to their husbands. While women have come a long way, there remains a significant gender gap in financial literacy. According to the results of a recent study conducted by the Global Financial […]

Joining an Independent Broker-Dealer Can Strengthen Financial Advisors’ Capabilities, Help to Improve Client Service by Eric P. Zeitlin

Posted May 24, 2018

Gone are the days when large, institutional banks and wirehouses were the only ones with pockets deep enough to arm financial advisors with the tools needed to attract and retain wealthy clients. Today, registered investment advisors (RIAs) and wealth-management firms that align with independent broker-dealers (IBDs) have access to a wide array of customizable strategies […]

401(k) Borrowers Now Have More Time to Repay Plan Loans when They Leave their Jobs by Sean Deviney, CFP

Posted May 15, 2018

Retirement savers who leave their jobs with outstanding loans from their employer-sponsored 401(k) plans now have up to 21 months to pay back unpaid balances, thanks to the new tax laws. This extended repayment period also provides cost-cutting relief to employers by reducing retirement plan leakage. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, workers who […]

Jamel Gordon Joins Provenance Wealth Advisors

Posted May 9, 2018

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – May 9, 2018 – Jamel Gordon has joined Provenance Wealth Advisors as a financial advisor based in the firm’s Ft. Lauderdale office. Gordon offers financial planning consulting services to entrepreneurs, business owners and high-net-worth families and individuals. He has specialized experience in financial planning for professional athletes and entertainers. “Jamel adds […]

Avoiding Basic, and Most Common, Estate Planning Mistakes by Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted May 9, 2018

If you gathered documents to prepare your annual federal income tax returns, take a moment now to look closely at your financial accounts, how they are titled, and who is named as a beneficiary, before filing those papers away in a drawer. A mistitled account or lack of a named beneficiary can lead to a […]

What Does the Court’s Invalidation of Fiduciary Rules Mean to Investors? by Todd A. Moll, CFP. CFA

Posted May 3, 2018

On March 15, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Court overturned a lower court decision that would have advanced a fiduciary standard for investment advice that the Department of Labor’s introduced in 2016. The appeals court decision invalidates the fiduciary rule requiring investment brokers and financial advisors to act as “fiduciaries” when […]

Provenance Wealth Advisors’ Chief Investment Officer Todd Moll Recognized by Barron’s for Fourth Consecutive Year

Posted April 30, 2018

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – April 30, 2018 – Provenance Wealth Advisors announced that Barron’s has named the firm’s chief investment officer Todd Moll, CFP®, CFA, to its annual list of top 1,200 financial advisors in the country for the fourth consecutive year. Moll ranked No. 14 out of 110 Florida advisors included on the list. […]

Staggered Retirement Requires Married Couples to Plan Carefully by Lee F. Hediger

Posted April 26, 2018

Spouses saving for an eventual retirement during their working years often have different timelines for leaving the corporate world behind. While a difference in retirement dates essentially eliminates one income stream and helps couples ease slowly into their golden years, careful advance planning can go a long way to ensuring their financial goals stay on […]

IRS Guidance May Help Retirement Plan Sponsors Substantiate Participants’ Hardship Withdrawals by Sean Deviney, CFP®

Posted April 18, 2018

The IRS provides employee plan (EP) examiners with the following guidance to help 401(k) sponsors’ understand their obligations with regard to safe-harbor hardship distributions, which are a frequent source of IRS examination. Safe Harbor 401(k) Hardship Distributions Under U.S. tax laws, companies that sponsor 401(k) plans may allow plan participants to tap into their retirement […]

Bitcoin and Blockchain by Todd A. Moll, CFP®, CFA

Posted April 10, 2018

A new technology has taken financial news by storm. While most investors have heard of Bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency, few fully understand what it is. Bitcoin is the first and perhaps most well-known cryptocurrency among hundreds of others, including Etherium, Ripple’s XRP token and Litecoin. In the simplest terms, cryptocurrency is a form […]

How Much Planning are you Putting into your Longest Vacation? Probably Not Enough by Olga Ismail

Posted April 4, 2018

Memorable vacations do not happen by chance. They require a certain level of effort and advance planning to ensure that you stay within your budget and maximize your actual time away for fun, sightseeing and relaxation. The more you plan, the more likely your getaway will meet your expectations. With this in mind, it is […]