Words of Candor
- Michael Scott, CFA®
- February 28, 2023
One of the most crucial pieces of a sound financial plan, and often the most overlooked piece, is the estate plan. Even though you may not realize, everyone has an estate plan, however some are more organized than others.
- Michael Scott, CFA®
- January 23, 2023
When Congress approved the $1.7trillion omnibus spending bill in December of 2022, much of the focus was on the size of the spending that would occur funding the government through September 30, 2023. While that is surely important, buried inside the bill was also legislation that would affect Americans everywhere. The SECURE 2.0 Act is now law and touches Americans at all stages of life.
- Michael Scott, CFA®
- January 16, 2023
In the beginning of December, I was able to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL with a few friends for a VIP Experience tour. The tour includes breakfast, lunch, and a guided walk throughout the parks guaranteeing you to ride at least ten rides, skipping the lines and going straight to the front. As an annual passholder, it was not my first time at these parks and I eagerly put together a list of rides that were essential for us to ride. The list included multiple rollercoasters, several simulators that were in 3D, and other rides that spin you and move you around in a quick fashion. As the day ended, I realized what started with excitement ended with a sore neck, nausea, and a group discussion on if thirteen rides were really a good idea after all. While that day is one of my favorite memories of 2022, the feeling getting off the last rollercoaster resonated with me as to what many investors probably felt in 2022: a period of excitement to begin the year, followed by the discomfort of what turned out to be a year full of ups and downs and unexpected nausea and fatigue...
- Michael Scott, CFA®
- January 13, 2023
In the beginning of December I was able to visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL with a few friends for a VIP Experience tour. The tour includes breakfast, lunch, and a guided walk throughout the parks guaranteeing you to ride at least ten rides, skipping the lines and going straight to the front. As an annual passholder, it was not my first time at these parks and I eagerly put together a list of rides that were essential for us to ride. The list included multiple rollercoasters, several simulators that were in 3D, and other rides that spin you and move you around in a quick fashion. As the day ended, I realized what started with excitement ended with a sore neck, nausea, and a group discussion on if thirteen rides was really a good idea after all. While that day is one of my favorite memories of 2022, the feeling getting off the last rollercoaster resonated with me as to what many investors probably felt in 2022: a period of excitement to begin the year, followed by the discomfort of what turned out to be a year full of ups and downs and unexpected nausea and fatigue.
- Michael Scott, CFA®
- December 15, 2022
One of the main benefits of working for Publix for both part-time and full-time employees is the ability to participate in the ESPP, or the Employee Share Purchase Program. This program highlighted in our first blog post allows employees of Publix to purchase non-qualified shares of Publix Stock. The plan document for the ESPP highlights the mission of this plan is to allow long-term investing by employees into the company so that they too will be owners of the company. Many employees do take advantage of this and accumulate sizable amounts of stock over their careers at Publix, which does allow for some special financial planning.
- Matthew Marcoux, CFP®, EA
- December 1, 2022
I’ve learned many things as an Enrolled Agent with the IRS, but the one universal truth I know is that the only constant with our tax system is that things always change! So let’s address those changes for the Child Tax Credit…