Insights
2010 Commentary & Economic Overview :
By William B. Smith, CFP®
A New Year, the end of a decade and quite possibly one of the worst decades in history. Time Magazine coined the phase “The Decade from Hell”. Not a bad title considering that we saw the market collapse after Y2K, 9/11, 2 wars, the real estate bubble and ‘the great recession’! Sounds like we should all crawl into a hole and hibernate until things improve. That is not the way of Americans or quite honestly any industrious person or people. We have suffered a major hangover in 2009 caused by the 2008 market collapse. [read more...]
By William B. Smith, CFP®
With the S&P rallying a remarkable 69% since March 2009 through March 2010, it has caught many investors by surprise. Is the speed and magnitude sustainable? Considering the average rally following a bear market is 46%, does this lead one to react to the notion the rally is a bit overdone? [read more...]
In the News:
Make Giving Part of a Financial Plan - August 2009
By Greater Worcester Digest
Though it’s seldom done, weaving a client’s charitable giving into his or her investment strategy can yield superior tax benefits—while also having the potential to boost the client’s philanthropic efficacy. “Clients are often already giving to causes they love, so talking to them about philanthropy has to be part of the overall strategic discussion,” says Thomas W. Smith, CFP, a private planned-giving consultant and senior philanthropic advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation. [read more...]
The Evolution of Estate Plannning - June 2009
By Accounting Today
To take a phrase commonly used in general aviation, "flying blind" is not a good thing. With storm clouds all around and visibility severely limited, qualified pilots have to rely on a combination of instrument flight rules and the air traffic control system to safely arrive at their destination. In many respects, estate planning is similar to flying, as the goal of estate planning is to transport your client from one point to another safely and securely without experiencing any major financial problems. Successfully accomplishing this goal requires a formal plan and proper decision-making by the client. [read more...]
