Before You Buy Gold, Ask Yourself This Question

Before You Buy Gold, Ask Yourself This Question

Gold and other precious metals have been used as stores of value for thousands of years, so naturally investors are curious about adding them to their portfolio. Curiosity typically peaks not when the markets are quiet and things are going well, but when things are volatile and the future is uncertain. Whereas common investment classes like stocks and bonds generate growth and income for a portfolio, and provide liquidity, gold provides none of these. It doesn't produce income, it doesn't compound, and is not as liquid. As Matt says, gold is not a plan, it's a compliment to a plan. Before you buy, it's important to ask yourself what the actual problem is you are trying to solve. Adding gold to a good financial plan doesn't necessarily improve the plan, it just changes it. If anything it adds more complexity to the plan, which carries its own risk. Moreover, buying gold carries opportunity cost, shifting assets away from growth and income production. So ask yourself, what are you trying to do by buying precious metals? Are you looking for stability, protection, diversification, or something else? Most of these questions point to structural issues that you may need to address elsewhere in your plan before buying gold. Follow Matt Murphy Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com [https://www.benetaswealth.com] Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc [http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp] Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.

What to Do When You Have a Windfall

Follow Matt Murphy Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com [https://www.benetaswealth.com] Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc [http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp] Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.

Why Taxes Feel Higher In Retirement

Retirement income is not like income from a job. It's a layered system, and it can be confusing. Matt explains how retirement income shows up on a tax return, and how each piece -- IRA distributions, Social Security, etc -- builds up to your taxable income. He also explains why people are sometimes surprised by their tax bill in retirement, and why financial planning that looks at your income throughout your retirement years (not just the beginning) is so important. Follow Matt Murphy Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com [https://www.benetaswealth.com] Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc [http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp] Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.

What Happens to Your IRA When You Die

Matt walks thorugh exactly what happens with your IRA as you approach end of life and death, including required minimum distributions, changing Medicare thresholds (IRMA), and the changing tax brackets upon death as the surviving spouse inherits the account and, therefore, the additional income stream. Matt also covers how IRA's transfer to children and the income and tax implications of the remaining funds as they are paid out to the inheriting children. The lifecycle of the IRA income ends up looking like this: 1. Deferred income 2. Forced income 3. Compressed income 4. Accelerated income At each stage, you have less control over what happens to the funds and how they are paid out. This is why it's critical to have a financial plan that considers your income not just at the start of retirement, but throughout retirement. And, as Matt has pointed out in past episodes, a plan is only as good as the attention you pay it -- monitoring it and adjusting it over time to account for changing life circumstances ensures that you are navigating your money wisely through your wisdom years. Follow Matt Murphy Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com [https://www.benetaswealth.com] Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc [http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp] Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.

What Growth Really Means for an Organization

Growth for a company tends to be talked about in simplistic ways: revenue, profits, employee count, new locations, etc. However these are simply outputs. When an organization grows, it's responsibility grows as well -- at least the way Matt looks at it. As Benetas grows he's looking carefully at how he can preserve good communication and relationships, to make sure that important conversations are had, that the coordination between professionals he talks about frequently is happening consistently. In a word, to ensure clients and their unique circumstances feel known, not just processed. Follow Matt Murphy Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com [https://www.benetaswealth.com] Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc [http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp] Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.