Something More with Chris Boyd

AMR discusses the financial bucket approach for money that will be needed now, soon, and later. If you are in need of a financial planner, we discuss what to look for: education and experience, credentials, standard of care, etc. What is the cost of love? The average person spends around $150 on Valentine's Day for flowers, candy, jewelry, and/or other gifts. Hira Rafiq tells us about Verde Floral...

Chris and Brian talk about Robinhood limiting GameStop shares and coronavirus vaccines. Chris and Scott discuss AMR's 360 Financial Planning process, where the entirety of your financial picture (cashflow needs, tax and estate planning, etc.) is considered. They also discuss how buckets (now, soon, later) figure into financial planning. Join AMR's next financial planning webinar "Uncovering the Se...

AMR continues the discussion on financial planning for life milestones - college, divorce, and retirement. Are you familiar with the 4% rule of thumb for withdrawing retirement funds once you reach 65 years of age? AMR suggests developing a thoughtful model that takes into account different variables – like how you like to invest, spending patterns, and other circumstances. If you are going throug...

Chris and Brian explain what happened with the market last week and they discuss Bitcoin. Stocks are a long-term investment where investors own an underlying piece of the business; therefore, it is important to know what you own. Asset Management Resources (AMR) encourages caution if investing in speculative schemes.  

Chris continues the buying a home discussion with Annie Hart Cool of Sotheby's International Realty Cape Cod and Ryan Tufts of Harbor One Mortgage. Their biggest advice is to know your financial limits and don't jeopardize your credit score in advance of applying for a mortgage. Chris, Cathi, and Scott discuss the cost of raising a child, which can be over $200,000 according to the USDA "Consumer...

Ceremonial milestones in our lives take #financialplanning.  Did you know that the average cost of a wedding on Cape Cod is  $50,000? Annie Hart Cool, Justice of the Peace and realtor from Sotheby's International, joins to talk about wedding trends during the pandemic.  Did you know that the median price for a home in MA is $614,900? Ryan Tufts from Harbor One Mortgage shares how buyers can prepar...

AMR shares new year #financialplanning housekeeping tips: maximize plan contributions, update dependents, take delayed capital gains, rebalance portfolios, review insurance, take RMD if turning 72 or older this year, allocate funds across buckets, pay off debt, and automated savings contributions and debt payments. Bill Blaisdell from the Cape & Islands Veteran's Center provides an update on the D...

AMR recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Chris and Brian review last quarter's performance, and how the economy and other key considerations inform AMR's portfolio decisions. We are now in Act 2, where the government, stimulus, and vaccines are moving forward. There is a lot to be optimistic about, but there are also concerns of continued high unemployment. View the AMR Economic & Market Update...

AMR talks about principles for long-term investing: plan for a long life, identify your risk tolerance, volatility is expected, diversify and rebalance, and more.   To help with the challenges in structuring an investment portfolio, especially in these uncertain times, AMR is offering a Complimentary Portfolio Review. If you would like a review of your portfolio, visit AMRfinancial.com or call us...

Brian and Chris talk about how the  #stockmarket  was affected by the events of last week,  #investing  for income vs. return, and Barron's "Best Income Investments for the New Year". Companies can reinvest in their company, buyback stock and/or pay dividends. Total return provides the best possible return based on the growth of stocks and dividends. #financialplanning   #wealthmanagement  

Brian Regan, AMR's CIO, shares his two (really three) biggest investment lessons from 2020: don't overreact to politics; stocks are long-term assets and short-term volatility can provide an opportunity. Cheryl Rogers, President of On Course Training and Fitness, shares tips on setting health and fitness goals: take it one step at a time; don't wait for everything to be perfect.

The market hit 50 all-time highs in 2020. Chris shares performance for the Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq, small company stocks, oil, gold and silver, Bitcoin, and semi-conductor companies. AMR is currently offering a Complimentary Portfolio Review, which consists of 2 one-hour meetings with an Investment Advisor Representative. The first to understand your financial life and risk tolerance; the secon...

Alisa Magnotta, CEO, Housing Assistance Corp., talks about the demand for housing on Cape Cod and the changes that they have made to operate during the pandemic. Their Workforce Housing Fund helps people who are facing housing challenges during this time. Chris and Cathi talk about highlights from the 2020 radio program, including: - AMR and guests sharing insights on the markets, investing, and f...

Brian reviews what's in the Stimulus package and how the markets might react. Chris reviews AMR's Complimentary Portfolio Review – learn more at AMRfinancial.com . Scott explains AMR's 360 Financial Planning process – understanding your full financial picture to determine needed cashflow for various life scenarios, including planning for the unexpected.  

Mike provides some year-end tax planning tips, including: Max out your retirement plan contributions IRA RMDs are not required this year IRS is allowing a $300 charitable gift deduction for standard filings If self-employed, consider making purchases before year-end and billing clients after year-end Barbara Cotton, Executive Director of American Red Cross - Southeastern MA Chapter indicates the n...

Chris and Brian talk about things to consider when purchasing individual stocks, including the company's: market capitalization income statement gross margin operating margin earnings per share expected profit Stocks should be considered as a long-term investment and part of a balanced portfolio.

What is a stock buyback? Brian, AMR's CIO, explains how companies direct excess cashflow to capital reinvestment, shareholder dividends, and/or stock buybacks. The AMR team discusses their holiday plans and tips for managing debt: use credit cards with low interest rates, always make at least the minimum payment, make payments on time. #financialplanning #stocks

70% of charitable giving occurs in November and December. Chris and F. Keats Boyd, President of Boyd and Boyd, P.C., discuss three smart ways to give this year: RMDs, Cash, and Appreciated Assets. They also talk about the difference between Spousal and Beneficiary IRAs, and why it might make sense to consider harvesting tax gains this year.    

Kristen O'Malley, President and CEO, of The Cape Cod Foundation, announced a Strategic Emergency Response Fund challenge campaign to help Cape Cod families who are struggling with food insecurity, and need fuel and medical assistance.   Lisa Guyon, Executive Director of WE CAN, tells how they support the needs of women going through challenging transitions. Mike and Chris explain tax brackets. If...

The AMR team reviews takeaways from the SECURE Act and the CARES Act, and year-end financial planning priorities to consider: maximizing retirement plan contributions, tax harvesting, Roth conversions, charitable giving, Biden administration implications, and Covid-19 planning. For more information, view the AMR "2020 Year-End Priorities" financial planning webinar.     

Susan Huettner, Esq., specializing in family law, shares how the MA courts are currently handling family cases. She is seeing an uptick in divorce cases, with more being settled through mediation and pre-court agreements. Scott shares how financial planners can help couples going through divorce – including getting organized, understanding implications of decisions, and making a list of all shared...

Chris and Brian talk about Covid-19 vaccinations and Biden's appointment of Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary. Douglas MacDonald, President, Murray & MacDonald Insurance provides great advice on earthquake and wind insurance. It's important to know the difference between wind, hurricane, and named storm insurance deductibles.  

Is your 401(k) working as hard as you do? Chris and Scott talk about things to consider. AMR is offering a complementary 401(k) review. Learn more at https://amrfinancial.com/getting-started/ Mark Skala President of Cape and Islands United Way talks about the need and ways to give – their Annual Fund, Power of the Purse virtual event, or Puritan's donation and discount. The AMR team wishes everyon...

Chris welcomes Skip Schweiss, President-elect of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Skip shares a few initial thoughts on what a Biden administration might mean for investors. He indicates that a "split federal government has, over the decades, produced the strongest returns". Brian Regan, AMR Chief Investment Officer, recaps highlights and takeaways from the New York Times Deal Book Summit...

Chris welcomes Bob Vandy, President of Advisors Insurance Brokers. They discuss factors to consider when choosing between traditional #long-termcareinsurance, hybrid policies, or hybrid annuities for long-term care. Tammy Leone, Director of Cape Kid Meals, tells how they are getting weekend meals to food insecure school-aged children. They are currently working with 26 public schools on #CapeCod t...