Blog
How we’re thinking about coronavirus
The public’s concern about coronavirus (COVID-19) is increasing. As is often the case, concerns are frequently magnified by what’s called “negativity bias,” an evolutionary mechanism in the brain to minimize risk. More often than not, people over-react to potential risks. But sometimes the reaction is warranted. Regarding coronavirus, it is too soon to tell how justified these worries are, and the appropriate level of concern at any point in time…
Longevity’s ripple effect: Why Gen X cannot count on inheritances for their retirement
As if Gen X (now age 40 – 55) didn’t have enough to think about in midlife, they also need to be careful about including any expected inheritance in their retirement planning. While there is much talk about a great transfer of wealth in America in the coming 25 years, with estimates anywhere from $30 – $65 Trillion, this estimate and its timing is by no means a sure thing….
Q4-2019 Quarterly Context Webinar
What should you be training your brain to do now, given the longest bull-market ever? What are people doing with their better physical state later in life? Where are we in the business cycle now? What is the “Fed pivot” and how are market returns projections changing for the next 10 years? What does “growth recession” mean and is that the new normal? Where does the 2019 market return…
The SECURE Act: What individuals and business owners need to know
Business owners, especially smaller employers, now have more incentives and options to offer retirement savings plan. Individuals have additional opportunities to grow their retirement savings. Signed in to law by the President on December 20, 2019, The SECURE Act (‘Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement”) brings the most significant pension reform in more than a decade. The goal of the legislation is to promote retirement savings and affects both individual investors…
3 book recommendations
What are you going to read (or listen to) next? Whether you want to form new habits, create systems in a business, or preserve what’s meaningful to you, you can find answers in these books. Atomic Habits by James Clear James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, shares practical strategies in his book Atomic Habits that can be of particular interest to business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs as you…
Is your company prepared for the next disaster?
Preparing your workplace for a natural disaster is as critical as preparing your home, yet many businesses do not have an emergency plan in place. In the Bay Area, earthquakes are a constant threat with no advanced warning, and the “new normal” of California fire season reminds us how devastating nature can be. Other regions have risks that are different but also dangerous. Whether or not the business and your…
2020 IRS contribution limit updates means you can save more in your retirement plan
You can now save more in your retirement plan! See below for 2020 IRS contribution limit updates, and click the link for IRA account and other updates. 401(k), 403(b), 457 Plan deferral Limit: 2019: $19,000, 2020: $19,500,“Catch-up” Contribution >age 50: 2019: $6,000, 2020: $6,500Defined Contribution Total Dollar Limit: 2019: $56,000, 2020: $57,000Highly Compensated Employee definition: 2019: $125,000, 2020: $130,000Click here for full IRS announcement of 2020 limits Some lower-income folks…
Q3-2019 Quarterly Context Webinar
How many generations does it typically take to wipe out family wealth, and what can you do about it? What is the impact of emotional investing on the average investor’s returns? How would the economies of all US 50 states rank if they were countries? How should Fiduciaries evaluate target date funds? Is a CEO economic confidence index up or down? How many months after an inverted yield curve does…