Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing I recently received a question from a reader in Florida who is taking an early retirement. Like many investors, he was confused after meeting with a couple advisors. My advice to him might save you from making a wrong decision, too.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Most investors have absolutely no idea how much money advisors earn from their investments. There's certainly nothing wrong with advisors being compensated for their work. The problem arises when there is a lack of transparency in the advisor/client relationship. You should know exactly how much you are paying, for the investments and services you receive. Only then can you make an informed decision on whether or not you are receiving a good value for your money.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing We all remember those old television commercials where a little old lady, disappointed with the puny hamburger she just purchased, shouts out, "Where's the beef?" In last week's article, we discussed how investors often pay top dollar for below average results. How can you be sure you are receiving the service you are paying for?
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing There's nothing better than a hot and juicy steak, especially one from your own grill. But, can you imagine going to the grocery store to pick up a few prime ribs, only to get home and realize you ended up with cube steak instead? Talk about injustice! Of course, this doesn't happen to most of us, because grocery stores package their meat in clear plastic wrap, so we can see exactly what we're buying. If only we bought financial services the same way.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Trusts and private foundations aren't just for the rich and famous like Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. Nowadays, even people of modest means are realizing the great benefits trust and foundations can provide. Read on to see what they can do for you.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Investors fear losing money, but they are almost as afraid of losing out, of not making money when they could have. This is referred to as the fear and greed cycle and is one reason the Wall Street pros make money while the individual investor often loses it.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Countless investors have lost large portions of their investments. Some have been in investments where they lost everything. But investors looking for help in recouping losses often find there are few places to turn for assistance. Read on to learn about one investor that finally got justice.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing The current credit crisis has impacted multiple sectors of our financial economy. Home foreclosures are on the rise. Credit-worthy consumers struggle to secure mortgages. Investment banks are brought to their knees. Foreign and domestic stock markets experience gut-wrenching volatility. The Federal Reserve is forced to take historical steps to maintain liquidity. And the list goes on.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing It can be difficult for someone in the financial services industry to know how the investor feels, especially when first choosing which advisor to work with. I recently had an experience that put me in your shoes for a change.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Insurance We've all heard the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This applies to many areas of life, but perhaps none better than in the area of long term care. Nobody likes to think about the possibility of needing this kind of care and, as a result, many people put off preparing for it until it is too late. Here's a real life story that will hopefully motivate any procrastinators out there into action.
One of the biggest issues seniors face as they get older is how to preserve an inheritance for their children. Their biggest fear is spending all of that money on assisted living and/or nursing home care. As each family situation is different, so is each solution. Perhaps you can learn something from the experience of one of my clients.
Last week's article on reverse mortgages generated a very interesting response from one reader. Unfortunately, due to his choice of vocabulary, I can't print his response here. Suffice it to say that this advisor doesn't want me saying anything negative about his chief source of revenue. This week I'd like to pull back the curtain‚ on the real reason reverse mortgages have become so heavily marketed and what you need to do as a consumer to protect yourself.
Some of the most popular products being pitched to seniors today are reverse mortgages. Everywhere you turn there are free seminars, free reports and free DVDs, all touting the amazing benefits these loans offer. Are reverse mortgages the answer to seniors‚ prayers, or are they too good to be true?
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing We've all heard about the amazing growth taking place in developing countries and how the global economy will never be the same again. But countries like China, India and Vietnam seem so far away. It can be hard to understand how those marketplaces can affect the individual investor here in the U.S.A. After my recent trip to Cambodia, I'm here to tell you that emerging markets aren't some short-lived fad. We've only begun to see the impact they will have in the financial markets.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Taxes Capital gains taxes can be confusing. How much tax do you pay on an inheritance? How much if the property is passed on as a gift prior to death? Jeff puts this difficult subject into simple terms.
With the beginning of a new year, it seems everywhere you turn you hear something about self-improvement. There are plans for weight loss, exercise regimens, quitting smoking, going green and more. What about your finances? Even if you think your finances are in 'good shape', everyone could use a little 'tune up' to make sure everything is running smoothly. And it's not as hard to do as you think. There are some very simple steps you can take that can make a world of difference.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Some of my best article ideas come from my readers, and this week is no exception. This is a story of misplaced trust, dishonesty, inaction and great financial loss. The lessons learned through their experience will hopefully save you from a similar fate. Read on to find out more.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing Does your portfolio change with the economic seasons? It should. Find out more.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Annuities Wondering about the fine print on variable annuities? Check out Jeff's latest article.
Expert Author: Jeffery Voudrie | Category: Investing What do you do when the markets go down? Read Jeff's latest article.
