December 2016 - The Us Wealth Advisors

Christmas Tax Breaks for Christmas Trees

By stevesharp|2016-12-27T09:00:35+00:00December 27, 2016|Tax Planning|

Christmas Tax Breaks for Christmas Trees 'Tis the season to be jolly, and how jolly could we be without Christmas trees on display? For some of us it's the classic Pinus Sylvestris, or scotch pine. For others it's the soft-needled Abies fraserie, or Fraser fir. Still more make do with the store-bought plasticus annualensis, or "Target special." (Artificial trees can be beautiful, too!) Christmas trees are a festive symbol of holiday spirit, and most of us can't help but smile when we see one. (Unless [...]

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The Money Talk With Your Parents (or Children)

Retirement Income Planning

The Money Talk With Your Parents (or Children)

By stevesharp|2016-12-22T09:00:34+00:00December 22, 2016|Retirement Income Planning|

The Money Talk With Your Parents (or Children) Guess how many people between the ages of 50 and 80 think that one day they won’t be able to manage their day-to-day finances? Nine percent. And how many of them have watched friends or family lose that ability? Sixty percent. This alarming conflict is reflected in a new study by Fidelity Investments, which also found that while many parents are leery of burdening their kids by asking for help with their finances, eight out of 10 [...]

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Danger Will Robinson!

Investment Management

Danger Will Robinson!

By stevesharp|2016-12-17T09:00:32+00:00December 17, 2016|Investment Management|

Danger Will Robinson! Danger Will Robinson! What a fun childhood memory that show is. And yes, I’m standing here flailing my arms with a warning - Danger! Danger! - about the market, the media and the hyperbole. Feeling good about your portfolio? The DOW is up 9% since the election! Woohoo! The S&P is up 7%. And the bond market is down 3%. We tend to focus on the stock market when things get moving. In fact, based on the call options pricing, Wall Street [...]

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Sweet!

Tax Planning

Sweet!

By stevesharp|2016-12-15T09:00:28+00:00December 15, 2016|Tax Planning|

Sweet! December is a busy month for holidays, what with Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all crowding calendars. But there's a lesser-known holiday that falls on December 16 that we don't want you to miss. It's not Ugly ChristmasSweater Day or Free Shipping Day (although those are both fun, too). We're talking, of course, about the obvious celebrations surrounding Chocolate Covered Anything Day. (Look it up!) Most of us look for foods that are delicious, filling, and healthy. Chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered potato chips, chocolate-covered bacon, and [...]

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Over the River and Through the Woods

Tax Laws

Over the River and Through the Woods

By stevesharp|2016-12-02T09:00:25+00:00December 2, 2016|Tax Laws|

Over the River and Through the Woods Thanksgiving is a time for homecoming, and some of us are fortunate to return to a place where we've spent decades of holidays. Who wouldn't relish celebrating in a cozy farmhouse out of a Norman Rockwell print, with an overstuffed chair in front of a crackling fire and a warm kitchen smelling of pumpkin pie? But these days, more Americans spend their Thanksgiving in a different setting. Who wants grandma's cramped parlor when they can welcome guests in [...]

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