Build Your Wealth: Personal Finance & Investing Insights

Current events Investing Tax & Estate Planning Tax planning Updated for 2021

Will Tax Hikes Hurt Stocks? Impact of Tax Rates on the S&P 500

Between the Biden tax plans and other bills already before Congress, it's likely that some level of tax legislation will make its way into law before 2022. For investors, there's a concern that tax hikes will hurt stocks, a reasonable conclusion. But historically, tax rates have mostly moved independently from…

Kristin McKennaMay 11, 2021

401(k) Plans 403(b) Plans Forbes Retirement Planning Secure Act SEP IRA Traditional IRA Updated for 2021

4 Ways the Secure Act 2.0 Would Change Retirement Planning

If passed, the 'Secure Act 2.0' would significantly alter the retirement landscape. Officially called the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021, the bill is essentially a follow up to the 2019 Secure Act. After passing the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday, the proposed legislation is now going to…

Kristin McKennaMay 10, 2021

Brokerage Account Building Wealth Diversification Forbes Investing Managing Risk

Trading vs. Investing: Which Is Better for Long-Term Goals?

Tesla, GameStop, Hertz, Dogecoin: retail traders continue to dominate headlines in the financial news media. Some individuals may be wondering, how is trading different from investing and which is better? For investors saving for long-term goals like retirement, placing speculative bets on single stocks rarely makes sense. But that doesn't…

Kristin McKennaMay 3, 2021

Business owners Cash Management Financial Planning Investing Tax & Estate Planning

What To Do With The Money From The Sale Of Your Business

After selling your business, you may receive a lump sum in cash. Deciding how to allocate and invest the proceeds after selling your business is a big decision that requires careful planning. If you are expecting a sudden windfall, develop a plan to invest the money so you're not sitting…

Kristin McKennaApril 26, 2021

IPO Stock options Updated for 2021

What Happens to Stock Options in a SPAC Merger?

Although the most common way for a company to go public is through the traditional initial public offering (IPO) process, it's not the only method. Although SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) were first created in 1993, they've recently became a very popular way for a company to go public. This…

Kristin McKennaApril 19, 2021

Forbes Investing Retirement Planning

Only 27% of Workers Say They’re on Track for Retirement. Where Do You Stand?

According to a recent survey of U.S. households by Schroders, only 27% of respondents who were still working reported 'very good' and 'fully on track' when asked how they feel about their retirement planning. Even more alarming, only 18% of workers between age 60 - 67 say the same. But…

Kristin McKennaApril 12, 2021

Building Wealth Diversification IPO Stock options Updated for 2021 Video

Managing Stock Options in a Direct Listing – Going Public Without an IPO

What happens to stock options if a company goes public without an IPO? A Direct Public Offering (DPO) or direct listing is a way for a company to list itself on a public stock exchange without the traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO) process. If you have employer stock options and…

Kristin McKennaApril 1, 2021

Asset Management Diversification Forbes Investing During a Crisis

3 Investing Lessons Learned from the 2020 Covid Crash

It was almost a year ago when the Covid-19 induced selloff in the financial markets reached a bottom. The S&P 500 fell from its February 19th peak with record-setting speed: it took only 16 trading days to enter a bear market (a decline of 20% or more from a previous…

Kristin McKennaMarch 29, 2021

Diversification Investing Investing During a Crisis

6 Crazy Facts About The Stock Market in 2020

We're all ready to put 2020 behind us. But before closing the books, it's worth reflecting on what was a crazy year in the stock market. Here are 6 stunning facts about the stock market in 2020. (more…)

Kristin McKennaMarch 22, 2021

Asset Management Building Wealth Forbes Investing Managing Risk

Should I Invest When the Market is High? Dispelling the Buy Low, Sell High Myth

Most investors realize trying to time the market by always buying low and selling high isn't a realistic endeavor. Yet even with that knowledge, if you have a substantial amount of cash to invest, the thought of investing when the stock market is hovering near all-time highs may give you…

Kristin McKennaMarch 15, 2021