Being smart with $$ - Crappy earnings = Roth conversion opportunity

Were your earnings crappy this year? Your silver lining may be to convert some Traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA at a lower tax rate than if you earned more money.  But year end is days away so get that done if it suits your needs.  Let me know if you want to know more.
- Larry Pike, CFA, Client Priority Financial Advisors LLC
- www.clientpriority.com

Being smart with $$ - Even half of recent stock returns would be great

The stock market may be down slightly for the year. But the 3-year average annual return for the S&P 500 index of large stocks is a positive 12%. Long term investors will have good and bad years but we should be quite happy with 12% average returns. I'd be happy with half that in the years ahead. Even at just 6%, your money would double in about a dozen years.
- Larry Pike, CFA, Client Priority Financial Advisors LLC
- www.clientpriority.com

Being smart with $$ -- Too late for "file and suspend" but don't miss the next thing

Have you heard of the "file and suspend" strategy for squeezing thousands of extra dollars out of Social Security?  No? Well you can ignore it now because Congress put an end to it last month (though a few people over 66 can still benefit.)  But if you haven't heard of it, you should seriously consider having a financial advisor so you don't lose thousands on the next thing like it.
- Larry Pike, CFA, Client Priority Financial Advisors LLC
- www.clientpriority.com

Being smart with $$ - Don't click that link!

I got an email from my bank saying I need to click a link and fix a problem. Or did I? Classic trick by evil computer criminals trying to steal your data. They create lookalike sites designed to fool you. NEVER click the link. Always go directly to the bank's website by typing in the domain yourself. If there's really a problem, they will tell you when you log in.
- Larry Pike, CFA, Client Priority Financial Advisors LLC
- www.clientpriority.com

Being smart with $ - Even Warren Buffett can't always beat the market

Warren Buffett is a genius no doubt. Many assume you will always do better than the stock market if you invest with him. However, if you invested $10,000 five years ago, you would have $2,800 less today with Buffett than if you just put your money in an unmanaged S&P 500 index fund.  No stock manager has a crystal ball, and after taking out fees, even Warren Buffett can have a hard time beating the market average.
- Larry Pike, CFA, Client Priority Financial Advisors LLC
- www.clientpriority.com