Home Stretch 2009
Published December 28, 2009 6240 Views
Just four business days left in 2009: four days in which to book any gains or losses, four days for tax payments to get postmarked, four days for certain car buyers to get a tax break. The week between Christmas and New Years Day is often considered a "slow" week in many fields - a great week to enj...
Ho ho ho....
Published December 24, 2009 6551 Views
The day before Christmas has brought us a modest "Santa Claus Rally" in the form of the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 54 points and hitting an inter-day high for the year. A pleasant place to be when contrasted with the same time last year: 2000 points below where we are today and facing...
Be Prepared In Case You Are Suddenly Single
Published December 24, 2009 6680 Views
Here's a little advice for Tiger Woods in case he finds himself unexpectedly single...
While the emotional element of losing a spouse is the first and hardest blow, an important next step is looking towards the future and assessing your financial situation. As a single person for the first time in...
When would my dependent child be required to file a federal tax return in 2009?
Published December 23, 2009 5970 Views
If their only income is earned income (wages) and exceeds $5,700 a tax return is required. Although, if they earn less and have taxes withheld, a tax return would be required to claim a refund.
If their only income is un-earned income (investment income) and exceeds $950 a tax return is required...
Consider converting your IRA to a ROTH in 2010
Published December 22, 2009 6407 Views
2008 was not a good year for the market. Typically it is colder during the winter than in the summer. Ok - now that I'm done stating the obvious, what can we do about it? (Buy a coat?...No, not about that; about the market!)
2009 was a year of rebounding that saw the Dow Jones Industrial average cli...
IRS Reminds Car Shoppers about 2009 Tax Break
Published December 21, 2009 7393 Views
The Internal Revenue Service last week reminded individual taxpayers who are considering buying a new car that they have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of a tax break that may not be around in 2010. Taxpayers who buy a qualifying new motor vehicle this year after Feb. 16 can deduct the state or lo...
Sometimes All That Glitters is Shampoo
Published December 21, 2009 6508 Views
Gold. Silver. Oil. You hear and read plenty lately in the media about these red-hot categories. Often (far too often) investors tend to focus on what's hot, what's getting the buzz on CNBC, what they hear on the radio or read online. Gold seems to be getting the most buzz, with prices at record high...
Dear Citigroup: Fire Your CEO
Published December 18, 2009 6376 Views
If you are reading this you're probably a US taxpayer. That means that in a small way you own a significant chunk of Citigroup, once the largest US bank and recipient of $45 billion of TARP funds. Another name for TARP is "your money." That bailout represents nearly 60% of Citigroup's current mark...
Brighton Securities...Experts in You
Published December 18, 2009 6775 Views
For our newest T.V. spots, our advisors teamed up with their clients to create a natural, unscripted snapshot of the Brighton Securities' experience from the client's perspective. We all expect financial advisors to be experts in the financial markets - at Brighton Securities, you can also expect yo...
Planning for Retirement in Stages
Published December 17, 2009 6164 Views
Some of us consider the holiday visits and beach travel of the winter season to be much-needed breaks from the daily grind while others of us might find themselves even more stressed out after a weekend with Aunt Harriet or a delayed connecting flight home from Cancun. Still, there's one big break a...