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Walter Cifuentes
- 4 days ago
- 2 min
2023 IRA and 401k Contribution Limits
Retirement savings through Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are vital components of a sound...
Steve Coker, CFP
- May 19
- 3 min
Does an Advisor Add Value? An Update
Periodically, we revisit research asking the fundamental question: Does an advisor add value? It is an important question for us since it...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Mar 12
- 2 min
Is My Pension Protected?
While pensions are a complex topic most private (non-governmental) pensions are backed by a pension trust established by your employer to...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Mar 5
- 3 min
Caregiving Conversations
According to AARP, more than one if five Americans are caregivers. As Americans age and life expectancies rise, more and more people find...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 12
- 2 min
Is Cedarstone a Fiduciary?
I am frequently asked whether Cedarstone is a fiduciary and so I like to periodically address this common concern. The answer is yes, of...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 3
- 3 min
Social Security Survivors Benefit
When the unthinkable happens and one spouse dies, Social Security provides a benefit, commonly referred to as the widow’s benefit, to the...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 20
- 1 min
RMD Age Changing to 73
The beginning age for retirement plan Required Minimum Distributions (“RMD’s”) is changing once again! Required Minnimum Distributions...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 15
- 1 min
Updated Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2023
The IRS has published the 2023 contribution limits for your 401k, IRA, and other retirement plans. Now is a great time to review your...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 6
- 3 min
2023 Outlook
I admit that I read very little mainline news, including business news. I decided long ago that most business news (Bloomberg, Forbes,...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 30, 2022
- 2 min
2022 A Year in Review
Many investors are happy to see 2022 end! After a roaring 2021 driven by easy money and high levels of stimulus, the proverbial chickens...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 16, 2022
- 1 min
New Year Organization (A Financial Documents Checklist)
The end of the year is a great time to get organized, so you can start out the new year right. Here is a handy checklist to help you get...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 2, 2022
- 2 min
Giving with Joy
I had several conversations this week about the importance of giving. The Christmas season does, rightly, remind us that it is better to...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 16, 2022
- 2 min
Roth Conversions
With the stock market down in 2022, now may be a great time to consider converting a portion of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. We...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 2, 2022
- 2 min
How much will I spend in retirement?
I am often asked, “How much money do I need to retire?” The answer is, of course, “it depends.” It depends on many factors but the most...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 12, 2022
- 2 min
Medical Expenses in Retirement – an update
For many Americans finally retiring from their job means more than just walking away from a paycheck; it also means walking away from...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 5, 2022
- 2 min
Maximizing Social Security
It is tempting to start taking Social Security Retirement benefits as soon as possible but making the most of Social Security often means...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 29, 2022
- 2 min
How much cash should I hold?
With continued market volatility, we have been receiving questions about how much cash to hold. How much is too much and how much is too...
Carole Meitler
- Jul 23, 2022
- 3 min
Our Top 5 Things To Consider Doing In A Down Market
With the S&P 500 down over 20% this year so far and the NASDAQ even more so, many are understandably concerned. However, there are some...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 15, 2022
- 2 min
Bonds Have Had a Terrible Year (and that is what makes them attractive)
There is no question that bonds have had a terrible year. How terrible? The Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index has fallen over 10%...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 8, 2022
- 3 min
Why you shouldn’t pay off your mortgage with your IRA
Paying off the mortgage is a noble goal and is a great idea for most Americans. Having a ‘mortgage burning’ or ‘debt free scream’ is a...
