Why We Love Robo-Advisors

One of the largest trends in investment advice is coming from an increasing number of online robo-advisors.  While services vary, the main service offering is an easy access investment plan and in some cases, basic financial planning advice.  We certainly appreciate their fee transparency (you should always know exactly what you pay for a service!) […]

JP Morgan Private Banker Pens ‘Sales Culture’ Diatribe

As if the fiduciary standard meme isn’t enough of a debate these days, JPMorgan hopes that nobody notices how far away they are from relative suitability. In fact, the entire JP Morgan private banker model is to shovel as much $JPM product down clients’ throats as they possibly can. Mutual funds, mortgages, trust services, credit […]

On the Right Side of History

story written by fellow ACA member: Sheila Padden, Padden Financial Planning John “Jack” Bogle, founder of the $3 trillion Vanguard Group and the world’s first index mutual fund, spoke to the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) recently in Philadelphia at our annual conference. Why did one of the investment industry’s “Giants of the 20th Century” choose […]

Four Ways a CPA Could Help Wealth Management Clients

Financial advisors get trained in taxes, of course, but they often just get a basic framework for how to structure investments. A CPA can bring a much deeper level of understanding to a client’s tax situation, here’s four reasons how: 1. Let’s face it – taxes are complicated. From the Medicare surtax to the new, […]

The Cost of Doing Your Own Taxes

Doing your own taxes is frustrating: finding the forms, deciphering the instructions, finding your paperwork, doing the math, figuring out what needs to be attached, worrying about a tax audit.    What you may not realize is that doing your own taxes also costs you money. It costs you money because you don’t know all the […]

Why Financial Industry Regulations Impacts You

Currently, the financial advisory industry is in the midst of numerous regulatory changes with the most important issue involving the definition of “financial planner” and “financial advisor” and whether these titles require professionals to have a legal responsibility to put their clients’ interests first.  As the law stands now, only advisors registered with the SEC […]

Basis of Investment Decisions

We at Lighthouse Financial Advisors believe in investing strategically in Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) mutual funds because of their unique approach of translating financial science into practical investment solutions for clients.  We invest in Dimensional to build portfolios along the dimensions of expected returns that can be pursued in a cost-effective manner.  Their dynamic, market-driven […]

I Got a Guy & Second Opinions

Many prospective clients we talk to already have someone they consider a financial advisor or close too.    Your guy could be an accountant that only prepares your taxes, but does little tax planning.  Or an insurance/annuity salesman where seemingly every problem can be fixed with complicated annuities or costly whole-life insurance.   All too […]

Why it is Important to Have a Will

According to a recent study, more than half of Americans age 55 to 64 do not have wills (the numbers are worse for those 45 and 54).  I want to focus on the ramifications of why a will is necessary and why it is important to act now to discuss the matter with your financial […]

Why We Love Robo-Advisors

One of the largest trends in investment advice is coming from an increasing number of online robo-advisors.  While services vary, the main service offering is an easy access investment plan and in some cases, basic financial planning advice.  We certainly appreciate their fee transparency (you should always know exactly what you pay for a service!) […]

JP Morgan Private Banker Pens ‘Sales Culture’ Diatribe

As if the fiduciary standard meme isn’t enough of a debate these days, JPMorgan hopes that nobody notices how far away they are from relative suitability. In fact, the entire JP Morgan private banker model is to shovel as much $JPM product down clients’ throats as they possibly can. Mutual funds, mortgages, trust services, credit […]

On the Right Side of History

story written by fellow ACA member: Sheila Padden, Padden Financial Planning John “Jack” Bogle, founder of the $3 trillion Vanguard Group and the world’s first index mutual fund, spoke to the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) recently in Philadelphia at our annual conference. Why did one of the investment industry’s “Giants of the 20th Century” choose […]

Four Ways a CPA Could Help Wealth Management Clients

Financial advisors get trained in taxes, of course, but they often just get a basic framework for how to structure investments. A CPA can bring a much deeper level of understanding to a client’s tax situation, here’s four reasons how: 1. Let’s face it – taxes are complicated. From the Medicare surtax to the new, […]

The Cost of Doing Your Own Taxes

Doing your own taxes is frustrating: finding the forms, deciphering the instructions, finding your paperwork, doing the math, figuring out what needs to be attached, worrying about a tax audit.    What you may not realize is that doing your own taxes also costs you money. It costs you money because you don’t know all the […]

Why Financial Industry Regulations Impacts You

Currently, the financial advisory industry is in the midst of numerous regulatory changes with the most important issue involving the definition of “financial planner” and “financial advisor” and whether these titles require professionals to have a legal responsibility to put their clients’ interests first.  As the law stands now, only advisors registered with the SEC […]

Basis of Investment Decisions

We at Lighthouse Financial Advisors believe in investing strategically in Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) mutual funds because of their unique approach of translating financial science into practical investment solutions for clients.  We invest in Dimensional to build portfolios along the dimensions of expected returns that can be pursued in a cost-effective manner.  Their dynamic, market-driven […]

I Got a Guy & Second Opinions

Many prospective clients we talk to already have someone they consider a financial advisor or close too.    Your guy could be an accountant that only prepares your taxes, but does little tax planning.  Or an insurance/annuity salesman where seemingly every problem can be fixed with complicated annuities or costly whole-life insurance.   All too […]

Why it is Important to Have a Will

According to a recent study, more than half of Americans age 55 to 64 do not have wills (the numbers are worse for those 45 and 54).  I want to focus on the ramifications of why a will is necessary and why it is important to act now to discuss the matter with your financial […]

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