Change of Custodian A custodian is a financial institution with regulatory responsibilities for an investor’s securities, a “house” where your investments live. Blue Spark Capital Advisors is changing custodians to Fidelity from TD, a move that we believe is better for our clients in several ways. You should have received the paperwork, call us with any questions. Investments that you…
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Can We Make Divorce Easier?
Know Your Options in Divorce By Matt CareyDivorce is often traumatic, with a large emotional impact on all parties. And the financial ramifications of dissolving a marriage can be no less devastating. I’ve found that many put the financial considerations last on their list. It’s very easy to want to “get it over with” but many have regrets later. That’s…
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The Trouble With Averages
The US stock market has delivered an average annual return of about 10% since 1926. But short-term results don’t tell that story. In fact, in any given period, stock returns can be positive, negative, or flat. So it’s helpful to your peace of mind to look the range of historical outcomes. Exhibit 1 shows calendar-year returns for the S&P 500…
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Self-Employed: Tax Issues
Being self-employed has many advantages beyond being your own boss. But it also comes with challenges, especially how to handle taxes. As we head into the final quarter of 2017, here are some things to know. Retirement plans for the self-employed If you are self-employed, you don’t have access to an employer’s 401k plan, but there are other avenues to…
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How to Evaluate an Early-Retirement Offer
In today’s environment of corporate cost-cutting and restructuring, many employers are offering early-retirement packages. But how do you know if the offer is a good one? By evaluating it carefully to make sure that the offer fits your needs. What’s the severance package? Most early-retirement offers include a severance package based on your annual salary and years of service at…
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