John's Articles

02/09/12 - Investment Interest Deduction

Understanding the investment interest deduction can pay big dividends.  The purpose of this article is to get individuals up to speed on how the...read more

11/23/11 - Morningstar has published John's article "Investment Interest Deduction"

John's article "Investment Interest Deduction" was published on Morningstar.com. Click here to read the article.read more

06/17/11 - Navigating the landmines and opportunities of premium bonds

If you purchased an individual bond over the past couple of years you probably paid a high premium to get any sort of a yield.  When a bond comes...read more

03/18/11 - The Cost Basis Revolution

Between January 2011 and January 2013 brokerage firms everywhere will start reporting investor gains and losses for new holdings directly to...read more

10/12/10 - Umbrella Insurance - Quick and Easy Asset Protection

Life couldn’t be better…Your business is booming, your wife is up for a promotion, your portfolio is way up, and all your kids received full...read more

07/23/10 - "Healthcare taxes stick it to affluent families in 2013"

Many affluent families have become resigned to the reality that the Bush Tax Cuts will expire at the end of this year and their tax bills will be...read more

06/18/10 - Charitable Lead Trusts - A bargain in a low interest rate environment

Do you want to help your favorite charity now when it needs you most? Are you concerned the estate tax will come back with a vengeance?...read more

05/03/10 - Charitable Remainder Trusts - Have your cake and eat it too

Would you give more money to a charity if : You could get a deduction for simply pledging assets to your favorite charity after you die?...read more

02/08/10 - 2010--The Estate Tax Oddity

Three! Two! One! Flat-line!!! While greedy beneficiaries of wealthy estates bring in the New Year by pulling the plug on their relatives, the rest...read more

12/11/09 - Don't Shoot Your Conversion in the Foot with Bad Tax Planning

When 2010 rolls around, more affluent families will blindly do Roth Conversions without evaluating the true cost that large amounts of additional...read more

11/20/09 - Are You Protected If Your Insurance Company Goes Belly-Up?

Problem with a bad bank? The FDIC has your back! Had a brokerage account with Bernie Madoff? SIPC has you covered!  Your life insurance company...read more

10/16/09 - "Free Money for College Saving... Upromise?"

There is a no risk, pain free way to save money for college that most families are not aware of called Upromise.  Upromise is an easy to use...read more

07/10/09 - A 529 Plan Fit For an Ivy League Education

If you are like the many thousands of people trying to save for a loved one's college education, the idea of investing in a 529 plan used to seem...read more

06/12/09 - Don't Lose Your Shirt on Mutual Fund Sales

How you report your  mutual fund transactions can have a serious impact on the amount of taxes you pay at the end of the year. For those of you...read more

12/28/08 - Rethinking 529 College Savings Plan

A conversation around dinner table USA… Parents "Son….you know how you wanted to go to M.I.T., so you could become a scientist and...read more

12/01/08 - Updated Info: Understanding the Letters That Protect Your Money

I find it difficult to write an update to my previous article while the massive thuds from current events are dropping all around us. The variety...read more

10/10/08 - Understanding the letters that protect your money (FDIC and SIPC)

"And you can take it to the bank." Most people would associate that statement as a guarantee or a solid promise that something will get done or...read more