Newton Financial Planner

This past weekend, I was unpacking some boxes of books from our recent move.

As I was sorting through them, I came across Dr. M. Scott Peck's classic, "A Road Less Traveled"

It has been years since I read this book and as I opened it, reading the first line of the book "Life is hard" caused me to pause.

Qualified Charitable Distributions.  The law that allows one to make a contribution to a charity from their IRA if they are over 70 ½ has been around awhile.  It was one of those laws that would lapse and then get reinstated.  With the passing of the PATH Act of 2015, it is now permanent.

In a previous blog article, I mentioned an investment property I bought way back in 1982

In that post, I mentioned how I was cleaning out the basement and there were actually items there that came with the house when I bought it.

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 lengthiest bull market in history, or at least since WWII.

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 turbulence and one that rewarded diversified investors.

Most of our blogs deal with topics related to finance.  Since we really care about the overall well-being of our clients here at FPS, we sometimes veer off in a more health related direction.  Hey, if you are financially secure that is great but if you are too stressed to enjoy life what good is that?  This is one reason you will find our weekly newsletter unlike any other newsle

Well, I'll tell you what it's not.  It is not investing in the next hot stock (or Bitcoin).  In fact, that's not really even investing.  That's called speculation.

True financial planning is an ongoing disciplined process where you make logical and well thought out steps to help you achieve your financial goals.

Alimony also known as "spousal support" is money that one spouse pays another. Usually on a monthly basis for a set period of time.

Generally speaking, the spouse that receives alimony (usually the lower income spouse) pays taxes as ordinary income on the money received.  The payor of alimony (usually the higher income spouse) gets a deduction on these payments.

Remember the movie Rocky?

Why did Rocky get up at 4:30 am, drink raw eggs and then go out in the cold and run?

Plain and simple, he had a goal. (and a burning desire)  He knew, that if he did that consistently, went a little further or faster over time, he would get stronger and closer to his ultimate goal.  Winning the heavyweight boxing title.