Investing Articles
Practical explainers and guidance for investing decisions.
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Should You Build a Treasury Ladder for Near-Term Spending?
A Treasury ladder can help line up short-term Treasury maturities with planned spending, but it works best when the dates, liquidity needs, taxes, and reinvestment plan are clear.
Investing
What Is an Investment Policy Statement and Do You Need One?
An investment policy statement turns a portfolio plan into written rules for goals, allocation, rebalancing, cash, taxes, concentration, and when to make changes.
Taxes
What Is Tax-Loss Harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of realizing investment losses in a taxable account to offset capital gains and, within IRS limits, reduce other income.
Taxes
How Capital Gains Tax Works
Capital gains tax depends on what you sold, how long you held it, your taxable income, and whether the gain is short-term or long-term.
Wealth & Estate
How to Manage a Concentrated Stock Position
A concentrated stock position is not just an investment question. It can affect household risk, taxes, retirement timing, charitable planning, estate decisions, and how much one company is allowed to control the plan.
Wealth & Estate
How a Step-Up in Basis Affects Heirs
A step-up in basis can reduce capital gains for heirs who inherit appreciated property, but the rule depends on the asset type, valuation date, records, and whether the property is later sold.
Wealth & Estate
What Should You Do With an Inheritance Before Investing It?
Before investing an inheritance, slow down long enough to identify what you received, set aside taxes and near-term cash, review inherited-account rules, and choose a plan for the money.
Wealth & Estate
When a Donor-Advised Fund Can Make Sense
A donor-advised fund can be useful when real charitable intent overlaps with a high-income year, appreciated investments, deduction timing, or a desire to separate giving decisions from grant timing.
Investing
How Should You Invest a Lump Sum?
A lump sum should be invested by first protecting near-term cash needs, choosing the right asset allocation, deciding whether to invest all at once or in stages, and placing the money in the right accounts.
Retirement
How Should Your Investment Mix Change as You Approach Retirement?
As retirement gets closer, your investment mix has to do more than chase long-term growth. It also has to support withdrawals, cash reserves, tax planning, and the possibility that weak markets arrive early in retirement.
Investing
Why Did My Fund Pay Capital Gains Even If I Did Not Sell?
A fund can distribute taxable capital gains even if you never sold your shares because the gains were realized inside the fund itself.
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