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Private Sector Trends: Employee Financial Wellness

Originally published in the Baltimore Business Journal on August 17, 2018

Financial wellness training and tools have emerged as attractive workplace benefits in recent years. Companies that help employees improve their money management skills, manage debt, and alleviate financial stress and worry can reap dividends in the form of increased productivity and job satisfaction.

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Stack Up Charitable Giving for More Tax Impact

Originally published in the Baltimore Business Journal on July 20, 2018

Charitable giving and its associated tax benefits will be a more complicated proposition in 2018 and beyond, thanks to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). But with proper planning, many taxpayers will be able to continue to support their favorite philanthropic causes while reducing their tax bills.

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SRI/ESG Investing: What You Should Know

Originally posted on Mon, July 30, 2018

Deciding how to invest can be complicated. Naturally, you want to choose investments with a good rate of return, but you may also want to invest in companies whose values align with your own. That’s where Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) comes into play.

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The “Healthy” Retirement Strategy You May Not Have Heard Of

Originally published in the Baltimore Business Journal on March 2, 2018

The popularity of Health Savings Accounts (most commonly referred to as HSAs) has continued to increase with changes in the health care marketplace and rising medical costs. Not only do HSAs help Americans with high-deductible insurance plans cover current out-of-pocket healthcare costs, but their potential growth and tax advantages can also help accumulate resources for future medical expenses during retirement.

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It’s Never Too Late to Tee Up Your Golf Game

Originally published in the Baltimore Business Journal on April 26, 2018

Patience, persistence, and focus—the qualities that help long-term investors thrive in the markets— are advantageous on the golf course as well. Like investors, golfers are most successful when they can keep their emotions in check and adapt their strategy to face unexpected hazards. It’s no wonder investors are drawn to golf despite the commonly referenced quote by Raymond Floyd, “they call it golf because all the other four-letter words were taken.

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Making the Most of Volatile Markets

Originally posted on Tue, June 26, 2018

Now and then, investors get a vivid reminder that stocks can fall as well as rise. Let’s look at what happened in the first quarter of 2018 when volatility returned with a vengeance after a year of steady gains for stocks in 2017.

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What to look for when deciding to invest in an IPO

Originally published in the Baltimore Business Journal on June 1, 2018

When a privately held company issues its stock to the public for the first time, the excitement is often palpable. An initial public offering, or IPO, can be alluring to investors hoping for a chance to purchase a new stock before it takes off. 

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An Investor’s Guide: Three Time-Tested Investment Strategies

Originally posted on Wed, May 5, 2018

With so many opinions, theories, books, and products to choose from, what are the initial steps to developing a sound investment plan? The answer is fundamental to your investment success. The key to any investment plan is either finding the time, learning the skills, setting aside emotions, and designing and monitoring your portfolio, or developing a trusted relationship with a qualified financial advisor who can help you. Regardless of if you are managing your own investments or using the help of a professional, let’s look at three time-tested investment strategies.

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Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Definition – What You Need to Know

Originally posted on Mon, April 16, 2018

Whether you are driving through the city and staring at office buildings, through the suburbs and looking at homes and apartments, or in the middle of the country passing endless miles of farmland, real estate is abounding. Today, we are going to think about real estate in a different light – as an investment opportunity.

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From Collector to Investor: Practical Considerations for Art Buyers

 Originally posted on Tue, March 27, 2018

You may have wondered, is art an investment? The short answer is yes, but there is no balance sheet, cash flow or earnings to help determine its value. Perhaps that’s one reason many collectors treat the investment value of art as an afterthought.

Creating an art collection and tending to its value as an investment do not need to be mutually exclusive goals. Here are our tips for approaching art as an investment:

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