Gifting Money to Children to Purchase a Home
In today’s real estate market, many first-time home buyers struggle to raise enough cash for a down payment necessary to purchase a home. In this case, those home buyers may look to their parents for help. For parents who are in a financial position to help, gifting money to their children is a wonderful way […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 3
In the first two parts of this series (Part 1 & Part 2), we explored six of Bob Farrell’s rules of investing, highlighting the importance of market cycles, sentiment, and valuation. As we delve into the final segment, we’ll examine rules 7 through 10, which offer insights into market breadth, consensus views, and the phases […]
Why Rules of Thumb Are Out of Style
There seems to be a plethora of financial ratios and rules of thumb whenever you are searching the web for an answer to a personal finance related topic. Here are some common financial rules of thumb that you may have seen or heard of: Save 10% of your income Have 3 to 6 months of […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 2
Back in April, my THOR colleague, Drew Woodard, began a blog series where he discusses Bob Farrell’s 10 Rules of Investing. Bob Farrell was a pioneer in market psychology and sentiment, and he believed there was more to a stock’s performance than just the financial statements. At THOR, we focus on fundamentals, but we also […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 1
After studying under Benjamin Graham, known as the “father of value investing,” at Columbia University in the late 1950s, Bob Farrell began his career as an analyst at Merrill Lynch. Following a distinguished tenure as one of Wall Street’s leading analysts, Farrell ascended to the position of chief market strategist at Merrill Lynch. During the […]
IRA Contributions
The 2023 tax season is almost complete – your tax return is due to be filed by Monday, April 15th unless you extend your return. But, if you have not yet filed your return, you still have a chance to have an impact on your taxes and/or your savings plan. Let us go over some […]
Investing Myth: Buying a Home is Always a Good Investment
In a previous blog, we deconstructed a common investment myth about market returns. We will continue with that theme by going through another common investment myth about home buying. No matter if it is your first time or tenth, buying a home is an important life event. One myth that is common to hear is […]
Why Save to a Dependent Care Flexible Spend Account (DCFSA)?
Among the list of savings accounts offered by an employer (FSA, HSA, 401(k), etc.), the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be a powerful tool for parents. It is a tax-advantaged account designed to pay for childcare expenses. The DCFSA allows you to save up to $5,000 pre-tax money in 2024. You can then […]
Medicare’s Secret Form – Which Could Come in Handy for You
As most people know, Medicare eligibility begins at age 65. And once you are enrolled in Medicare, your premiums are determined based on your level of income (the idea being that those with higher income pay higher premiums). But here is the catch – it is not your most recent tax year that determines your […]
An Investment Adviser’s Value Proposition: When and Why Do I Really Need a Financial Adviser?
At what point should you hire a financial adviser? People often assume the answer to this question is largely based on the size of their portfolio. Once your portfolio has reached a certain size, either the job becomes too daunting or complex or the risks of making a wrong move carry too much weight. In […]