Newsletters - Sacks and Associates

Why You Should Revisit Your Estate Plan

Lloyd A. Sacks, CFP®, NSSA®

Estate planning is an important, but often times overlooked, aspect of financial planning. Estate plans are used to make sure that an individual’s final property and health care wishes are honored and loved one’s are taken care of in the event of incapacity or after their passing. Estate plans are typically comprised of a variety of legal documents and financial strategies including a will, power of attorney (POA) and health directives, trusts, insurance policies, beneficiary designations, gifting strategies, and projected estate tax liability.

529 Plans vs. Roth IRA

Sacks & Associates

According to Lloyd Sacks, a Certified Financial Planner and managing director of the private client group at Sacks & Associates, contributing to a 529 plan has some benefits when it comes to your taxes. “Some states allow a deduction for contributions made to in-state 529 plans,” he said.

4th Quarter Fallout

Sacks & Associates

Passions routinely lead to bad decisions. Retirement savers must control their passions. They must possess the discipline to sit quietly when everything in their heart (not their brain) tells them they must act.

Tax Season Checklist

Neil J. Sacks, AAMS®, NSSA®

As the April 15 deadline for the 2018 tax year rapidly approaches, it is important to keep in mind these five key points that will help you to get organized and make this year’s tax filing process a little easier.

Your Finances in the Year Ahead

Lloyd A. Sacks, CFP®, NSSA®

When it comes to economic issues, there are usually some signs that we can look to as an indication of what we can expect for the year ahead.

Recent Market Volatility Has Revealed This About Target Date Funds

Sacks & Associates

The numbers are in. The fourth quarter of 2018 brought the markets well beyond correction territory and to the precipice of a bear market. For the first time since the 2008/2009 market crash, we’ve had the opportunity to glimpse at whether the various “fixes” to target date funds following that debacle have created a more durable vehicle.

This New Year, Resolve to Re-evaluate your Financial Plan

Lloyd A. Sacks, CFP®, NSSA®

January not only marks the start of a new year, but also the beginning of Financial Wellness Month. January has always been a time for new beginnings and setting goals. And what better time for high net worth individuals to pause to reassess your financial plan?

Should You Use a Robo-Advisor?

Lloyd A. Sacks, CFP®, NSSA®

Technology continues to evolve and change all aspects of our lives—from advances in healthcare that help people live longer, to the imminent arrival of the self-driving car that we often hear about. When it comes to personal finance and investing, robo-advisors, which use algorithms and software to provide automated portfolio management services, and the role that they are filling in the market place is just getting started.

The Pros and Cons of Borrowing From Your 401(k) Plan

Sacks & Associates

One of the biggest disadvantages that participants face when taking a loan from a retirement plan is that the dollars used to pay the interest on the loan from the account are taxed twice. According to Lloyd Sacks, managing director of Sacks & Associates and a certified financial planner professional, the first tax occurs when the participant earns the funds and pays income tax on that earned income.

High-Net-Worth Investors Turn to Alternatives. Should you?

Edgar Lara, NSSA®

Even in the face of the continuing bull market that we have enjoyed since 2008, high-net-worth investors are seeking alternative investments to protect and hedge their portfolios and other investments, according to a recent survey from Millennium Trust Company, an institutional custodian headquartered in Oak Brook, IL.