Blog

Looking Beyond the Abyss

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

We vividly recall the financial crisis of 2008. The economy was quickly contracting, several financial institutions required bailouts, layoffs abounded, and the stock market plunged. But we weren’t grappling with fear tied to a...

Special Market Report - April 7, 2020

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

I hope this message finds you and your family well and safe today. Over the past several weeks, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have increased, and what started as an event-driven “technical recession,” is feared...

Treacherous Times and Hope for the Future

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Friday, April 3, 2020

It has been a difficult month for investors. Since the February 19th peak, the S&P 500 Index has shed 34% to its most recent low (St. Louis Federal Reserve). That’s roughly in line with the average bear market pullback (LPL...

Big Changes to How We Save for Retirement

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

As 2019 came to a close, the President signed into law a sweeping series of changes that will affect how we save for retirement. Officially entitled the "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act," but more commonly...

Turning the Page on 2019 and Looking Forward to 2020

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Whether you reached your personal goals last year, faced challenges, or are looking for a 2020 reboot, a new year and a new decade bring challenges and opportunities. While waiting for the tax forms, I want to review the year that just...

The SECURE Act: What These Changes Mean For You

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Friday, January 3, 2020

On December 20, 2019, the "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement" (SECURE) Act was signed into law by the President, after making its way through the Hosue of Representatives and Senate. The legislation will impact and...

A Handy Checklist for Year-End Planning

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Reflecting and moving ahead As a new year approaches, it is only natural for us to reflect on how things went in 2019. Personal and professional accomplishments may take center stage. Or, we may take stock of any disappointments and...

The Hard Conversations—Talking About Money With Family

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

You’ve heard it and I’ve heard it—never discuss religion and politics. It’s easy to understand why. Some folks hold very strong opinions, and it’s easy to get swept up into an unwinnable argument....

As I was leaving the grocery store last month, a headline from USA Today jumped off the page: “College Student Loans: Debt hits a new high in 2018.” Last year, college seniors graduated with a diploma, a well-paying job (we...

On January 31, 1940, the first monthly Social Security check was issued to Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont. She received $22.54, according to the [[https://www.ssa.gov/history/idapayroll.html Social Security Administration]]. She was...

You’ve saved money all your life. Or, maybe you sold your business after investing years of hard work. You’ve chosen the smart path and have a comfortable nest egg as you set sail into retirement. But always be on guard!...

Records Are Made to Be Broken

Eric P. Zine, Esq., CFP®, CDFA®

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

We’ve all heard it said: “Records are made to be broken.” We celebrate record-breaking winning streaks from our favorite teams. Conversely, we hope to avoid a long string of losses. The bull market that began in 2009...

Kids learn the basics in school–reading, writing and arithmetic. But schools avoid almost any instruction about money. If they do offer a class, it may be an elective in high school, long after habits have been formed. I believe...

We all want what is best for our children. At an early age, we teach them to eat the right foods, we place them in the best preschools, we encourage them in grade school and high school, and we cheer them on when they excel in...

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” retells the story of a patriot who shouts a harrowing warning to his fellow colonists, “A recession is coming! A recession is coming! Well,...

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Whether you reached your personal goals in 2018, faced challenges, or are looking for a 2019 reboot, let’s take a moment to hit on the key themes from the past year. Before I get...

Tax reform and tax preparation As a new year approaches, many of us will reflect on the year that has passed. Personal and professional accomplishments may take center stage. And we may take stock of any disappointments and recalibrate...

What is it about the month of October? The stock market crash of 1929 ushered in the Great Depression. Black Monday 1987, also October, was driven by computer trading and portfolio insurance, though an economic calamity did not ensue....

A Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment For those over 65 and receiving Medicare coverage, that time is upon us. Medicare open enrollment season, which began October 15 and runs through December 7, is upon us. This is an important time to...

Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, extreme winds, and tornadoes. They all have the potential to create treacherous conditions and cause devastation. We prepare with insurance, but it is often inadequate. It covers many, but...

The month of August marked an important milestone for the long-running bull market. On August 22, the bull market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, extended its run to 3,453 calendar days (CNBC, various sources), becoming the...

Have you ever embarked on a home improvement project? You are confident you can complete the task, but you are unfamiliar with the details. A “how to” clip is usually available on YouTube, but there isn’t a practical...

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It’s a quote that comes down to us from...

Health care costs will be the biggest expense for most retirees. It’s not a pleasant prospect, but it is a reality. A 65-year-old couple that left the workforce in 2017 will spend an average of $275,000 to cover medical expenses...

Last year, stocks marched higher with only minor pullbacks. When the year ended, the largest peak to trough decline for the S&P 500 Index was just under 3% (St. Louis Federal Reserve data on the S&P 500). It was a year that lacked...

There are many different ways you can shelter your savings from taxes. It is a powerful incentive for us to save for retirement. Options give us choices, but choices can confuse as options proliferate. In the name of simplicity,...

Busting 5 Big Retirement Myths Urban legends, urban myths, and the latest that’s on everyone’s lips–fake news. Whatever you call it, in our age of information, claims of spurious repute can go viral in minutes. Anyone...

“Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that fellow behind the tree,” quipped Senator Russell Long, who chaired the powerful Senate Finance Committee from 1966 to 1981. This past year, Halloween was barely over when House...

As 2017 draws to a close, we can reflect on a year full of surprises capped with the last-minute passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (hereinafter referred to as “tax bill”). In regard to the tax bill, listed below is what...

The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was approved by Congress on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. President Trump is expected to sign it into law shortly. There are many provisions and changes you need to know in regard to the incoming...

I hope you and your loved ones had a pleasant Thanksgiving. There are many reasons to engage the services of a financial advisor. Some investors don’t understand the complexities and the array of choices, and they would prefer to...

As we head into the final lap, 2017 has been a pleasant year for stocks not just in the U.S., but around the world. Investors have been focused on the upbeat fundamentals–corporate profit growth sparked by economic gains at home...

Phased Mailing Schedule for 2017 Tax Reporting The mail dates for IRS Form 1099 (B, DIV, INT, OID and MISC) tax statements for the 2017 tax year are below. We will continue with our phased approach, ensuring our clients receive their...

Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays to you and your family. As we approach Thanksgiving, I'd like to share with you this quote from actor and investment commentator Ben Stein: "I cannot tell you anything that, in a few minutes, will...

Medicare and Health Insurance Enrollment: Finding the Best Coverage

I have had the pleasure of assisting many clients over the years. Some are newer clients. Our paths crossed via referrals, or we met through various professional organizations. There are many reasons why you’ve reached out to me...

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve covered several topics that span the financial planning spectrum. This month, I’d like to take a slightly different tack and discuss the ins and outs of buying a home. For many, it will...

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Eric P. Zine (Esq., CFP®, CDFA®) Elm Tree Capital LLC Tel: (781) 236-0802 Fax: (866) 831-9994 Eric@ElmTreeCapital.com www.ElmTreeCapital.com Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Joe Smith...

Picture this—it’s Friday afternoon, your work is done, and you have the weekend ahead of you. But what makes this weekend different than any other weekend is that two-week vacation following it. You wish your colleagues...

Cybersecurity

The steady diet of headlines pouring out of the Trump administration has been unsettling for most Americans, regardless of where they sit on the political spectrum. We know equity markets loathe heightened uncertainty. What is...

Planning a Debt-Free College Education

So, You Just Won the Lottery, Now What? Successfully managing a financial windfall We’ve all heard the stories. If not first hand, at least in various news reports and anecdotes. Some “lucky” person picks the winning...

THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF MUNICIPAL BONDS Investors are attracted to municipal bonds for three reasons: safety of principal, regular predictable income and the tax free benefits. Together, these three elements can make a compelling case...

The death of repeal and replace, the Trump agenda, and stocks There was no shortage of angst in the investment community that a Donald Trump victory in last year’s election would send shares down sharply, at least in the...

In the April 2017 issue of Money Magazine, the Editor, Diane Harris, represents that one can achieve financial security and even greater wealth by adhering to a discipline and series of steps. But on the most basic level, the keys to...

How to Create Ultra-Secure Passwords That Keep Hackers Away

Hackers

article

% Ways

Ballooning college costs The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016–2017 school year is $33,480 at private colleges, and $9,650 for state residents at public colleges. It averages $24,930 for out-of-state residents...

As adults, we know the importance of saving for retirement. It’s really easy. Just set up an automatic withdrawal from each month’s paycheck and direct it into a retirement account. What becomes trickier is the amount we...

On guard against fraud Fraud is a reality that we must constantly guard ourselves against. There are those who can be considered trusted advisors and there are those who will always be unscrupulous. We know and understand that. Yet, by...

12 smart planning moves to consider The end of the year is upon us. Following is a list of items you might want to consider as you get set to enter 2017. Many of the IRS publications referenced below are reference tax year 2015....

How a Parent and Child Asset Affect Financial Aid

7 Ways to Help You Cut College Costs

Essential Tax Tips for IRAs

September has come and gone and we have exited the month following a period of unusual complacency. Complacency is Wall Street speak for days upon days when the major market indices trade within an unusually narrow range. Recall that...

Have you ever met or approached a professional at a social event and been tempted to ask a personal question that relates specifically to your circumstances? I know I have. Whether it’s a physician, attorney, or CPA, when I am in...

A European political earthquake that’s felt at home Like many of you, my family and I had a wonderful time celebrating the Fourth of July holiday weekend. When I was growing up, the Fourth seemed mostly about barbeques, friends,...

For most investors, implementing a long-term investment strategy is an easy thing to do. But, what happens when significant market volatility and uncertainty presents emotional strains such as anxiety, anger or excitement? That is...

Why we buy what we buy Last month, I talked about stocks and how the collective wisdom of the market values, or prices, companies. Continuing on with that theme, it’s important to understand why I may recommend a particular stock...

Probably the simplest reasons anyone invests in stocks are to make money (capital gains), generate income (dividends), or some combination of the two. Of course, that really is putting it in the simplest of terms. Many of you have...

Recession or no recession Recently, the focus for investors has been all over the map: Oil prices Corporate earnings The global economy China’s economy China’s currency (the yuan) Anxieties about banks (especially in...

Tax season is underway and that means an uptick in tax-related scams. One particularly pernicious form of fraud is tax identity theft. Tax-related identity theft happens when someone uses sensitive personal information (like your...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is made up of 30 large, well-known companies. It is the best known and oldest of the many yardsticks that measure stock market performance. While not necessarily a household name, the S&P 500 Index—as...

According to the Center for Retirement Research, two-thirds of baby boomers can expect an inheritance.[i] If you’re lucky enough to inherit money, you might wonder: how will an inheritance change my financial picture? For some, an...

Joe got excited about Apple and ordered his advisor to buy 100 shares; his advisor worried about the out-of-character behavior but wasn’t authorized to speak to Joe’s family. Sally thought she had won the lottery and wired $50,000 to a...

With all the volatility markets have experienced in recent weeks, we wanted to discuss a few of the economic events that have occurred around the world, and offer our perspective on what recent events might mean for you as an investor....

Click here to read our full post

Few things strike fear into a taxpayer’s heart like a letter from the IRS. Fortunately, the odds of you ever being audited by the IRS are lower than ever. Recent budget cuts have reduced the number of IRS auditors, and last...

The rules around Required Minimum Distributions can be confusing and the penalties for failing to take the correct distribution can be severe. For that reason, we’ve developed a brief primer on RMDs to help you understand your...

Have you thought about how living longer might affect your retirement savings? One of the biggest issues facing many Americans is the risk of outliving their money in retirement – we call this longevity risk. With average life...

If you’re like many Americans, you might be worried about how to prepare for your own or your loved ones’ long-term healthcare needs. In previous generations, elderly parents and grandparents could count on moving in with relatives...

Decide how you are going to spend your time. What are you going to do during the first six to 12 months in retirement, and what do you plan to do for the rest of your retired life?Determine (realistically) how much money you will spend...

What are the potential benefits of coordinating your financial plan in concert with your estate plan plan.Question: I’m meeting soon with an estate attorney, but I’m a bit apprehensive because I think estate planning should be done in...

As a financial professional, it’s part of my commitment to you to help you guide your financial affairs. One area that is particularly critical to get right is estate preparation and the protection of your loved ones from the...

One of the most common questions that we get from clients nearing retirement is, "How much income am I going to need to be comfortable?" It's an important question that gets right at the heart of the retirement puzzle. Although we wish...

Are the young people in your life financially literate? By helping them learn about money, you give them an important head start on important life skills like developing good savings behavior, living within their means, and avoiding...

In October, hackers accessed the personal information of over 83 million JP Morgan Chase customers. Fortunately, the hackers weren’t able to access financial information or gain access to client accounts. However, they were able to...

As they get older, Americans face complicated decisions about long-term care, estate strategies, and their finances, while potentially struggling with diminished capacity to manage their affairs. At some point, your parents and other...

Many Americans are in their second and third marriages. In fact, statistics from a 2012 book, The Remarriage Blueprint, suggest that nearly 40 percent of new marriages include at least one previously married spouse.[1] Remarrying later...

Home loans frequently make up significant amounts of household debt, and reducing as much debt as possible before entering retirement can seem like a good idea. A 2013 survey found that 40% of Americans age 55 and older believe that...

The IRS recently issued new guidance about the rules governing rollovers1 from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)2. The new regulations state that IRA owners will only be allowed one 60-day rollover per 12-month period, regardless...

Tax time is here and we’re getting close to the April 15th filing deadline. Tax laws changed significantly in 2013 and taxpayers are now responsible for several new taxes as well as changes to deduction limits and exemption phaseouts...

After 2013, many investors had forgotten that stocks could actually decline. While 2013 was a banner year for stocks, it was very much a historical abnormality in which equities seemed to ignore bad news (including a federal government...

Retirement is an exciting journey . . . but you may have concerns about your financial security and how you are going to cover the expenses that come with this new journey. The reality, of course, is to do it in style—and...

Five Star Professional has selected Boston's Five Star Wealth Managers for 2014. Please click the link below for further details on your trusted financial planning partner.

Social Security is a topic on many people’s minds these days and most retirees have questions about how and when they should begin taking Social Security benefits. This post aims to answer some of those common questions...

Market timing is basically the strategy of trying to predict future market movements in order to time buying and selling decisions. When markets are rallying or pulling back, it can be very tempting to try and seek out the top to sell...

Is your child 18 years of age and off to college? If so, he/she is an adult in the eyes of the law and has the legal right to control his/her own life. This essentially means that if your child were to lose the ability to make or...

The J.P.Morgan Asset Management website presents an excellent introduction to Rollover IRAs. Titled . . . the website states that rolling over your company retirement plan "to a tax-advantaged IRA" . . . is often the best option...

Following is a link to a dated but informative Forbes article titled "Roth IRA Conversion: Are You a Good Candidate?" The author, David John Marotta, provides a helpful introduction to the Roth IRA Conversion...

Rising health care costs are the primary reason why many baby boomers deplete their retirement savings and do not reach their retirement lifestyle goals . . . . with proper and insightful planning . . . . a number of steps to prepare...

Dear Clients and Friends,Five Star Professional has named Elm Tree Capital a 2013 Five Star Wealth Manager. This level of excellence is achieved by fewer than 7 percent of the wealth managers in the Boston area.The selection is the...