In a recent survey, 94% of marketers reported that they are using social media to market their businesses, and many small-business owners were willing to tout its potential benefits. About half (51%) of small businesses (2 to 100 employees) reported that social media helped to improve sales.1 Although established networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and […]
read more »
There’s an old saying that some things get better with age, and apparently one of those things is the ability to manage personal credit. A consumer reporting agency study indicated that people aged 66 and older had the highest average credit scores, followed by those aged 47 to 65.1 Your credit score can affect your […]
read more »
Bonds are usually less volatile than stocks and are often used as a way to help diversify a portfolio and potentially mitigate risk. Bonds also tend to offer lower total returns than stocks over the long term, although corporate bonds outpaced stocks by an average of 4% per year during the 10-year period from […]
read more »
If you’re like most investors, you probably pay at least some attention to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). For more than a century, the Dow has been a symbol of the U.S. stock market. It’s so ingrained in American financial thinking that you may not have stopped to consider what it represents and […]
read more »
The end of the year is fast approaching, so now may be a good time to start thinking about steps that could help reduce your 2012 income tax liability. Of course, before you take any specific action, be sure to consult with your tax professional. Consider income timing. Some tax experts recommend deferring income to […]
read more »
In February, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke coined the phrase “fiscal cliff” to warn Congress about the potentially harmful combination of nearly $600 billion in federal tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013, unless lawmakers address the deficit, taxes, and government spending. Economists and government officials […]
read more »
The IRS calculates the estate tax due on your gross taxable estate by adding the value of your assets, including your home and/or business, and subtracting any applicable exemptions. Through 2012, the top federal estate tax rate is 35% with a $5.12 million exemption amount. However, in 2013, the top estate tax rate is scheduled […]
read more »
A number of tax provisions are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012, including the highly favorable treatment of federal estate and gift taxes. If you are considering a gift that could be subject to the gift tax, this may be a good time to examine your options. Limits and Exclusions In 2012, you […]
read more »
The first exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States debuted in 1993 as an alternative to mutual funds. Interest in ETFs grew slowly at first but increased substantially over the last decade. By May 2012, there were more than 1,200 ETFs available with total assets exceeding $1.1 trillion.1 Even so, ETFs remain somewhat mysterious to […]
read more »
Many people think trusts are only for the rich, but that’s not necessarily the case. Most estates must go through the probate process, which can be costly and time-consuming. And with tax changes scheduled to take effect in 2013, even modest estates could be subject to federal estate taxes. Certain types of properly executed trusts […]
read more »Securities and Advisory Services offered through Geneos Wealth Management Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC (The materials at this web site are maintained for the sole purpose of providing general information about the law and do not under any circumstances constitute legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on these materials without first obtaining the advice of professional legal counsel. Please carefully read the terms and conditions for using this site. This website contains links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for, and make no representations or endorsements with respect to, third-party websites, or with respect to any information, products or services that may be provided by or through such websites.) © Copyright 1998-2002 by Silverman Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy For comments and questions, please email marc@sfinancial.com