November 20, 2012 Nelson from Newton, MA: What exactly is the so called “Fiscal Cliff” and what are the impacts if we go over it? Friedenthal Financial: The Fiscal Cliff is really a combination of tax increases and budget cuts all set to become effective simultaneously on Jan 1, 2013, if no other…
Thomas from Ticonderoga, NY: I am a 54 year old pilot still flying for American Airlines. One consequence of our bankruptcy is that our B-Fund (Defined Contribution Pension) is being frozen as of November 1. Subsequently we will have three options, as the plan will no longer be maintained. 1) Take a lump sum…
July 12, 2012 Marjorie from Manalapan, NJ: How will my taxes be affected by the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)? Friedenthal Financial: Great question…..and we’ll preface by saying that this bill was far too long for us to read verbatim! That said, here are a few highlights that we’ve gleaned from our…
June 7, 2012 Stacy from Sedona, AZ: What is the difference between an ETF and a Mutual Fund? Friedenthal Financial: There are a number of similarities, as well as some pronounced differences. We’ll highlight both below, as well as differences to ETNs (Exchange Traded Notes). The primary similarity, which makes all…
March, 29 2012 Bradley from Biloxi, MS: I recently inherited an IRA, but I’m under 70 ½. Do I still need to take distributions? Friedenthal Financial: It’s a good question that contains some potential tax consequences. We remind you that we are not accountants and don’t provide tax advice. It is…
March 1, 2012 Wesley from Williamsburg, VA: I’m 61 years old, but still planning on working another 5 years. Should I roll my current 401k into an IRA or leave it where it is? Friedenthal Financial: It’s a very good question. As usual, the answer depends on a few factors, which…
1/26/2012 Neil from Narberth, PA: Should I just put my 401k in a Target Date Fund? Friedenthal Financial: Great question! The two primary factors to consider are risk level and cost. While the concept of a Target Date Fund (based on your anticipated retirement date) is appealing, it presumes that everyone…
December 6, 2011 Reid from Redmond, WA: Should I engage several advisors to manage my investments or concentrate with one? Friedenthal Financial: This is a great question with no “right” answer. There are benefits to both methods and ultimately you will need to evaluate your own needs to best choose. Here…
October 26th, 2011 Stanley from Sturgis, SD: What are the risks in owning a fixed income portfolio? Friedenthal Financial: Great question! At a high level, there are 4 major categories of risks in fixed income. Many fixed income instruments (aka “bonds”) bear more than one of these risks, and of varying…
August 24, 2011 Burt, from Boise, ID: Does the government have any other economic stimulus tools besides a third round of Quantitative Easing (QE3)? Friedenthal Financial: It’s a great question, and certainly one with many subjective opinions floating around. Here’s a bit of background and several of the ideas circulating, including…