SHOULD YOU NAME A TRUST AS AN IRA BENEFICIARY?

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On September 6, 2017

Contrary to popular belief, there are times when two rights can make a wrong. Both trusts and IRAs are important components of any estate plan, and there are compelling reasons to use each one. Trusts allow your estate to avoid probate and help you provide for your heirs in a way that you control. IRAs […]

FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF INCAPACITY

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On August 7, 2017

Even with today’s medical miracles, it’s a real possibility that you or your spouse could become incapable of handling your own medical or financial affairs. A serious illness or accident can happen suddenly at any age, such as a fall, head injury, or automobile accident. Advancing age can bring senility, Alzheimer’s disease, or other ailments […]

DON’T RETIRE EARLY…UNLESS

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On July 15, 2017

To retire early is to choose to leave money on the table. Not only are you losing income for every year you elect not to work, but you also have less to invest, and fewer years for your investment accounts to accumulate interest earnings. You will also have more years to draw on your retirement savings, […]

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK A POTENTIAL ADVISOR

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On July 15, 2017

You work hard and travel frequently to build financial security. However, to prepare for retirement, you need more than hard work. The right financial advisor can be the difference between struggling through retirement and living comfortably after your final landing. Choosing that advisor can be difficult, but asking the right questions can help you find an advisor […]

INVESTING: EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITY

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On June 26, 2017

A quick Google search of the phrase “Dow Jones Industrial Average history” yields endless versions of one of the most iconic, and misleading, graphs in modern finance. With a few dips here and there, including the most pronounced one during the Great Depression, the stock market trend shows a steep incline that encompasses more than […]

TEMPORAL DISCOUNTING

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On June 10, 2017

Carpe diem: seize the day. Many take this to mean they should live in the moment, let go of the past, and let the future worry about itself. In the financial world, this mindset takes the form of temporal discounting. Temporal discounting is the tendency for people to put a greater value on what is happening […]

ONLINE SECURITY – PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY, PERSONAL INFORMATION, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Posted by Rutledge Gordon
On June 9, 2017

The rapid advancement of internet technologies over the past two decades has enabled us to do everything from banking and shopping to collaborating and socializing online. Unfortunately, the added convenience of a truly digital world means that cases of identity theft and other forms of cybercrime have risen dramatically, even as businesses and IT experts […]

USING TRUSTS TO MANAGE THE DISTRIBUTION OF YOUR ESTATE

Posted by Michael Kane, CFP
On May 26, 2017

When tailored to the unique needs of your family, trusts are one of the best ways to protect and execute the plans you’ve made on behalf of your beneficiaries. They help you control the frequency and timing of any inheritance and assist in providing a lifetime of financial security for your loved ones. Many people […]

TALKING TO YOUR COLLEGE-AGED CHILDREN ABOUT FINANCIAL PLANNING

Posted by Michael Kane, CFP
On May 16, 2017

Saving money is an important part of preparing for the future. Teaching your children how to budget and save early on will not only help them ensure a solid future, it will also help them to achieve financial independence. By the time your kids are old enough to go off to college, they are ready […]

FACTORS THAT AFFECT YOUR RISK TOLERANCE

Posted by Brad Bridgewater
On May 12, 2017

Investing at any stage of life involves some inherent risk. At RAA, we strive to help our clients understand their tolerance for risk and ways to address it effectively in a sustainable, long-term investment and retirement strategy. There are several factors that affect your comfort level with risk, and these should inform the composition of your portfolio […]