Are you a former employees of LyondellBasell? If so, you may have recently been offered the option to take your retirement pension in a lump sum and we just wanted to let you know the deadline for this decision is Tuesday, November 15. This reminds us of the importance of deadlines like these to ensure..
As you may already know, investing your hard-earned money can be daunting. No matter what stage of life you are in, putting your money in someone else’s hands is never a comfortable decision. However, working with a credentialed professional who provides advising and investment management may not be nearly as risky as handling your own..
It’s easy to focus on the doom and gloom reported in our 24/7 news world. Simply put, bad news always gets more attention! The focus on bad news seems even worse in an election year when candidates can’t stop speaking about the country’s problems. Of course this is followed closely by all the reasons the..
There have always been tumultuous events. How you react to them is what really matters. For most people, action is the antidote to anxiety. However, taking action is usually the wrong thing to do when you’re a long-term investor. And, investor doubts are especially prevalent during presidential election years. To help you stick to your long-term..
As the battle for the White House heats up, candidates are drawing attention to the challenges facing the nation — everything from economic instability to immigration. With all this negative campaign rhetoric, it’s no wonder investors grow more concerned. However, history shows the value of not giving in to election-year fears. In fact, investing during election years has almost always turned out to be a good idea for long-term investors as you..
Since mid-2014, crude oil prices have been on the decline, causing gas and other oil-product prices to drop quite a bit. “Although the long-term effect of falling oil prices remains to be seen, this dramatic price change is affecting Americans’ everyday lives in a number of ways,” says Sharon Duncan, a Houston-based investment manager. Big..
With the end of 2015 quickly approaching, it’s a great time to begin organizing your finances for the New Year. “There are a few easy but important financial-planning items you can take care of as a 2016 gift to yourself and your family,” says John Westerman, a Houston-based financial planner. Flexible spending accounts It..
If the holidays are a time that you enjoy “giving back”— whether that means donating to a favorite charity or helping out a family member financially, Houston-based Financial Services Advisor John Westerman recommends taking the time to build strategy into your gift giving. “Before you make a donation or gift this year, pay close..
Unexpected Wealth Brings Unexpected Challenges. Interestingly, the word windfall comes from an 18th-century law that allowed settlers to build only with wood blown to the ground by the wind. Wood that was actually cut down became the property of the English monarchy so settlers looked forward to strong winds that allowed them to gather fallen..