Borrowing from Your 401(k)

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:29:00 GMT

With the current financial situation, you may be tempted to tap your 401(k). But before you decide to take a plan loan, be sure you understand the financial impact. It's not as simple as you think.

Step Up, Parents: Children Need Money Mentors

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:07:00 GMT

Step Up, Parents: Children Need Money Mentors

Our children need money mentors.

With consumer debt skyrocketing and the cost of housing, education, and health care increasing, younger generations fac

Getting an Early Start on Retirement

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Getting an Early Start on Saving for Retirement

Many people assume they can hold off saving for retirement and make up the difference later. But this can be a costly mistake. Waiting too long to start saving can make

Resources More Precious Every Day

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:45:00 GMT

I recently returned from a fascinating trip to China. It was my first. I was one of 45 financial advisors with a Financial Planning Association delegation who went to learn about the growing, Chinese financial planning community. It was a 12 day visi

Berkshire Hathaway Stock - A Must in Good & Bad Markets

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:30:00 GMT

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of our times. Berkshire Hathaway's stock performance proves it, beating the S&P 500 by 10.8% annually, over the last 45 years. But the stock's most alluring returns are not during the "b

Preparing for Uncertain Times

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:01:00 GMT

“Preparing for Uncertain Times” is the focus of a two-hour community workshop, presented by business continuity/disaster recovery expert Air Force Col. Lloyd Smith (Ret.) and Certified Financial Planner Greg Womack.

The w

Womack Returns from China Financial Planner Summit

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:43:00 GMT

Oklahoma financial planner travels to China to learn latest on world markets

Greg Womack, CFP was part of a select group of 50 financial advisers from North America who traveled to the Far East fo

Set Goals So You?ll Know Where You?re Headed in Life

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:16:00 GMT

A recent speaker told a story that I think most of us can relate to. Here?s my version of it.

Whenever I get in the car, I have a driving companion named Tom. Tom has an Irish accent. He charmingly calls highways ?motorways? and traf

Legal Insider Trading Can Be Used To Spot Investments

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:05:00 GMT

Insider trading can be a tell-tale sign of what is going on within a company.

Every October, legends are created under the bright lights and intense pressures of the baseball diamond. What allows some hitters to thrive under pressure when

Want to Sell Annuity? Don't Want Your Annuity? You May Be Able to Sell It

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:47:00 GMT

Are you receiving annuity payments but you'd prefer a single lump-sum payment instead?

As appealing as r

Cash-In Refinancing: Can You Benefit from This Growing Trend?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:30:00 GMT

With mortgage interest rates at or near historic lows, you may be wondering if it's time to refinance your home. But declining property values and stricter mortgage lending standards may make it harder for you to capitalize on low mortgage rate

Financial Tips for Twenty-Somethings

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 08:36:00 GMT

You're on your own now. You've finished school, are working your first real job, and maybe you're even buying a home or getting married. Here are a few tips to help you start managing your finances.

<

Ask the Experts: Can I roll over my traditional 401(k) plan distribution to a Roth IRA?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:25:00 GMT

In general, yes, but there are some important exceptions. You cannot roll over required minimum distributions (RMDs). You also cannot roll over hardship distributions from your 401(k) plan, or certain periodic payments you receive from the plan

Buffett a Net Seller?what?s next?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:23:00 GMT

The third quarter report for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) shows almost $35 billion in cash as a result of closing out several stock holdings and trimming back on others. All said, a net $1.5 billion was sold on the publicly trade

Health-Care Reform: High-Income Individuals Face New

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:49:00 GMT

The health-care reform legislation enacted in 2010 included new Medicare-related taxes. These new taxes take effect in 2013, and target high-income individuals and families. While additional details and clarifications will become available betw

Ask the Experts: What does a stronger dollar mean for my portfolio?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:22:00 GMT

In the summer of 2008, investors were watching the dollar shrink. Because interest rates here were still relatively low, investors favored riskier investments that offered higher returns. The euro's value climbed to a record of almost $1.60 at

Year-End Tax Planning--Special Concerns for 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:17:00 GMT

Year-end tax planning is as much about 2011 as it is about 2010. Often, there's a real opportunity for year-end tax savings when you can predict that you'll be p

Medicare Annual Enrollment Season Is Here

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:09:00 GMT

If you're currently enrolled in Medicare, you've probably begun receiving information about your coverage. That's because the annual enrollment period for Medicare runs from November 15 through December 31. During this period, you can make chan

Small Business Jobs Act of 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:41:00 GMT

Legislation includes increased IRC Section 179 expensing limits, "bonus" first-year depreciation, changes to treatment of small business stock, general business credit, and health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.

Year-End Investment Planning Is More Challenging in 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:10:00 GMT

If you don't normally review your investments at the end of each year, 2010 might be a good time to start. And if year-end investment planning is already part of your routine, you might want to pay special attention this year. Why? Because sign

2011 Tax Changes At-a-Glance

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:02:00 GMT

A host of tax provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003--commonly referred to collectively as the "Bush tax cuts"--expire at the end of the year. While it's possible that new legislation could extend some or all of these expiring tax provisions, elec

They're Baaack: RMDs for 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:10:00 GMT

Required minimum distributions, often referred to as RMDs, are amounts the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans after you reach age 70? (or, in some cases, after you

Ask the Experts: Is it time to give mobile banking a try?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:16:00 GMT

If you like the idea of paying your bills or tracking your saving or spending 24/7, then you might want to consider mobile banking.

With mobile banking, you can use your cell phone or other mobile device to check your account balance

Health-Care Reform?Fact vs. Fiction

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:31:00 GMT

The health-care reform legislation that passed earlier this year was incredibly broad in scope, so it's probably not surprising that there's a good deal of confusion, and a number of false or misleading claims being circulated. Here's the truth

Year-End Tax Planning--Special Concerns for 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:05:00 GMT

Year-end tax planning is as much about 2011 as it is about 2010. Often, there's a real opportunity for year-end tax savings when you can predict that you'll be paying taxes at a lower rate in one year than in the other. For example, under the r

Ask the Experts: Will the new health-care law affect my Medicare drug plan?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:20:00 GMT

Yes, it might. Many Medicare Part D beneficiaries have had to pay for prescriptions out-of-pocket after reaching a gap in their annual coverage, referred to as the "donut hole." Currently, if you're a Medicare Part D beneficiary, you

Think About How to Best Meet Your Retirement Expectations

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:45:00 GMT
In a world where retirement seems ever elusive, what are your expectations and what are you doing to achieve them?

Most nations today are coming to grips with the same economic forces: an aging and growing population of seniors, a shrinkin

Transferring Your Family Business to Your Children

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:14:00 GMT
You've spent years building your family business. It's been a source of pride and income for both you and your family. But now you may be thinking about how to hand over the reins to your children. Because transferring your business interest to your

In-Service Withdrawals from 401(k) Plans

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:30:00 GMT
You're probably familiar with the rules for putting money into a 401(k) plan. But are you familiar with the rules for taking your money out?

All 401(k) plans are not the same
Federal law specifies the withdrawal optio

To Succeed, Write Yourself This Letter

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:15:00 GMT

Every night I plan for the next day, listing the six most important things I need to accomplish. I prioritize the list from most to least important.

The goal is to start each day with the highest priority and not skip to a lower one

Ask the Experts: What is a rewards program?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:01:00 GMT

Offered by merchants of all types, rewards programs are marketing tools that encourage brand-loyalty purchasing through price discounts, bonus points and/or coupons toward future purchases, donations to your favorite charity, and even cash reba

What You Should Know about Trusteed IRAs

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:28:00 GMT

The tax code allows IRAs to be created as trust accounts, custodial accounts, and annuity contracts. Regardless of the form, the federal tax rules are generally the same for all IRAs. But the structure of the IRA agreement can have a significan

Summary Of The New Financial Reform Law

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:37:00 GMT

The financial reform bill recently signed into law is an attempt to address some of the problems that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. The legislation, officially known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,

Ways to Trim College Costs

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:39:00 GMT

Here's a new twist on an old saying. There are three things in life that are certain: death, taxes, and college costs that go up every year, even during a recession. How can students and parents avoid the "extreme borrowing" phenomeno

Avoiding Probate: Is It Worth It?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:33:00 GMT

When you die, your estate goes through a process that manages, settles, and distributes your property according to the terms of your will. This process is governed by state law and is called probate. Probate proceedings fall under the jurisdict

Roth IRA: The ?Tiger Woods? of Retirement Planning Tools?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:29:00 GMT

If financial planning was a sport, what financial tool would be the “Tiger Woods” of our era? Which strategy is considered to be the best option out there?

Just as there could be other opinions about whom today’s b

They?re Baaack?Required Minimum Distributions for 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:19:00 GMT
Required minimum distributions, often referred to as RMDs, are amounts the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans after you reach age 70½ (or, in some cases, after you

What is a Medicaid compliant annuity?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:21:00 GMT
A Medicaid compliant annuity is a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) purchased on or after February 8, 2006, that meets the guidelines described in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). Because the income from this type of annuity is not cons

Quarterly Market Review: April-June 2010

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:18:00 GMT
The Markets
Investors who had been waiting for a correction finally got it this quarter as equities took a pause after their year-long rally. Concerns about Europe's ability and willingness to stave off sovereign default, Goldm

My child got a scholarship for college. Is it taxable?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:38:00 GMT
In certain situations, yes. If a scholarship is used to pay for college tuition, fees, books, or required equipment, it's not taxable. But if the scholarship is used to cover room and board, travel costs, or optional equipment, or if it's awarded as

Using Yield to Evaluate Stocks and Bonds

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:31:00 GMT
A core consideration for income investors is an investment's yield, which indicates the value of the payments you'll receive. Yield can be a useful tool in considering whether you'd rather try to generate future income from bonds or stocks, and wheth

Social Security: File-and-Suspend for Higher Benefits

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:58:00 GMT
If you're married and looking for opportunities to increase retirement income, you may want to look closely at your Social Security benefits. One opportunity for maximizing Social Security income, called "file-and-suspend," may enable a mar

Will You See Higher Tax Rates in 2011?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:55:00 GMT

The year was 2001. The top marginal federal income tax bracket was 39.6%, and the tax rate that applied to most long-term capital gains was 20%. Then came the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, followed two years later b

Returning to Work After You've Retired

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:44:00 GMT
No matter how much you've looked forward to retirement, you might find yourself missing the social interaction and financial benefits you enjoyed when you were employed. Perhaps getting a full- or part-time job will enable you to rely less on your re

Paying for Health Care Reform

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:27:00 GMT
The recently enacted health-care reform legislation includes new Medicare-related taxes. These new taxes take effect in 2013, and target high-income individuals and families. While additional details and clarifications will become available between n

Health Care Reform and Small Business

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:05:00 GMT
The health-care reform legislation that was recently enacted includes new taxes, but there are also some tax breaks available to help small businesses pay for health insurance. Two of the changes getting a lot of attention: a tax credit available to

The Keys to Inflation ? Proofing Your Portfolio

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:22:00 GMT
If you are like me, for years, even before the economic seizure we experienced at the end of 2008, you were probably wondering when the low interest rates and all of the “easy money” policies were going to result in inflation. Then, after

Why consider dividends?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:06:00 GMT
Since 2003, when the top federal income tax rate on qualified dividends was reduced, dividends have acquired renewed respect. When (or if) that tax rate increases (under current law, dividends will once again be taxed as ordinary income in 2011), the

Student Loan Repayment Options

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:29:00 GMT
At one time, there was only one student loan repayment option--the standard 10-year plan. Now, there are an assortment of flexible repayment options to help borrowers meet their loan obligations. And it couldn't have come at a better time. According

The Independent 529 Plan

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:31:00 GMT
If you're a parent or grandparent looking at your state-sponsored 529 prepaid tuition plan as a vehicle to stash your college savings, you may be interested to know there's another type of prepaid tuition plan that is sponsored by colleges. To date,

What You Should Know about Inherited IRAs

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:20:00 GMT
The rules governing inherited IRAs can be complicated. Here are the major issues.

Transferring inherited IRA assets

If you inherit an IRA from someone who isn't your spouse, your options are fairly limited. You

Experts and Public Differ on Inflation Fears

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:15:00 GMT
Things are afoot in the land of the free economy. Big things.

For the first time in several years, the threat – or perceived threat – of inflation is beginning to loom, and there are whispers in the corridors of power asking w

Dow Dips Below 10,000 ? Almost 1,000 points ? Before Recovering

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:44:00 GMT

Stocks were off most the day due to Greece debt concerns. But around 2 p.m. EST time, the markets began free-falling down almost 1,000 points at the lowest end. This dramatic drop is being reported by CNBC as the largest drop in the Dow’s hi

Health-Care Reform: High-Income Individuals Face New Medicare-Related Taxes in 2013

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:47:00 GMT
The recently enacted health-care reform legislation includes new Medicare-related taxes. These new taxes take effect in 2013, and target high-income individuals and families. While additional details and clarifications will become available between n

How Much Life Insurance Is Enough?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:19:00 GMT
Your life insurance needs often depend on a number of factors, including whether you're married, the size of your family, the nature of your financial obligations, your career stage, and your goals.

There are a number of approaches you can

Evaluating Risk in Your Portfolio

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:31:00 GMT

If you're like most people, you probably evaluate your portfolio in terms of the return it earns. However, as we were all reminded in 2008, returns aren't the only factor you should consider when determining whether your portfolio is allocated

Time Isn?t On Baby Boomers? Side

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:13:00 GMT

Nearly 80 million baby boomers are rapidly approaching retirement age and many of them have a problem, a very BIG problem. The problem stares them in the face every month when they look at their retirement plans, savings accounts, and bro

A Mid-Year Financial Review: More Time to Plan

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:01:00 GMT

Mid-year is an ideal time to take a look at your finances, because the demands on your time may be fewer, and the planning opportunities greater, than if you wait until the end of the year. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Weigh Factors in Roth IRA Conversion

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:11:00 GMT
Thinking about converting to a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA)?

While many people will make that decision more from their heart than head, one important question to ask yourself is, how long can you keep your money in a Roth IRA?<

Got Stock? The Long and Short of Capital Gains

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:18:00 GMT

If you buy or sell shares of stock, you need to be familiar with the rules that govern the way capital gains are taxed. That's because the amount you owe in tax can depend on a number of factors, including the length of time you hold the shares

Understanding Mutual Fund Expense Ratios

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:49:00 GMT
Every mutual fund must disclose certain costs associated with running the fund. Those costs represent a fund's expense ratio, which is expressed as a percentage of a fund's assets. For example, a fund that has $100 million in assets and annual expens

Can I buy gold and silver in my IRA?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:24:00 GMT

Yes, but you'll need to establish a self-directed IRA with a trustee/custodian who has experience with precious metals and is able to take physical possession of the assets. The company you purchase the metals from will generally have a relatio

College Debt: How Much Is Too Much?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:05:00 GMT

According to a recent survey by the nonprofit College Savings Foundation, the confidence of parents in their ability to save for college dropped significantly over the past year (go to www.collegesavingsfoundation.org to read the survey). That'

ARMed and Dangerous?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:58:00 GMT

Remember how adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) were all the rage when the housing market was a boom town? Especially the more exotic ones, like interest-only and payment-option ARMs? Well, now that the housing market looks more like a ghos

529 College Savings Plans vs. Roth IRAs

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:49:00 GMT

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal ("More Parents Are Becoming 529 Dropouts," November 11, 2009), after the 2008/09 market collapse, some investors--and financial advisors--have reduced their reliance on 529 plans. Som

How to Double the Power of Your Tax Refund

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:10:00 GMT

Filing your taxes may be a dreaded chore, but receiving your refund is a wonderful reward. What you do with a refund is up to you, but here are some ideas that may make your tax refund twice as valuable.

Double your savings

10 Financial Terms Everyone Should Know

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:02:00 GMT

Understanding financial matters can be difficult because of the jargon used. Becoming familiar with these ten financial terms may help make your financial picture clearer.

1. Time value of money

The time v

Alternative Investments - The Pros and Cons

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:55:00 GMT

If you start to really look at all of your investing options and you start collecting advice, it would not be long before you ran into an investment professional who touts the benefits of a “public, all-cash, non-traded REIT. “ Your

Struggling States Are ?A Drag on the Economy?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:55:00 GMT

Tough decisions must be made.

The Pew Center recently reported that 10 states – Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin – are barreling toward economic dis

What Will Be Good In 2010?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:16:00 GMT

The first decade of the millennium has come to a close. Prices have begun a cautious climb out of the doldrums, unattractive interest rates have driven investors back into the fray, less government money is available, and unemployment and conti

Time to Consider a ROTH IRA

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:47:00 GMT

The Time is Right to Consider Roth IRA Conversion

Since its creation more than a decade ago, the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) ha

Key Mistakes of Do-It-Yourself Investors

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:35:00 GMT

Three Big Do-It-Yourself Investor Mistakes

The media is not your friend.

It’s quite common to come across people who think they

Have A Living Trust? Make Sure It?s ?Funded?.

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:26:00 GMT

Using effective Estate Planning strategies could prove to be one of your best overall investments. That’s because your estate is everything you own, including the value of life insurance in most cases. One of the most effective tools fami

Root Causes of Recession Unaddressed

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:29:00 GMT

The Great Credit Crisis of 2008 and the pursuing crash into recession has generated a huge volume of news coverage, speculation, and analysis. You may wonder why the news of its apparent end isn’t now being shouted from the rooftops.

The Perfect Retirement Storm

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:45:00 GMT

When 401(k) plans were officially sanctioned by Congress in 1982[1], the S&P 500 index had been struggling to gain traction for more than a decade.[2] Back then, few could have imagined one of the longest bull markets in U.S. history

Luck vs Skill - Is there a difference?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:41:00 GMT

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LUCK AND SKILL and knowing when you are just lucky and when you are successful due to skill is of paramount importance as an investor. Let’s say you correctly called the flip of a coin five times in a r

Investors Be Aware of Timing the Purchase and Sale of Mutual Funds

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:10:00 GMT

As the end of year approaches, many investors will be selling investments to lock in gains or harvest losses. If you do this, you’ll want to make sure you review important dividend and capital gain dec

Is it Time to Harvest Tax Benefits from Investment Losses?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:50:00 GMT
Investment losses are never pleasant, but you may be able to minimize the pain if you're able to use them to your advantage at tax time. Though tax considerations shouldn't be the primary factor in your investing decisions, taking them into acc

Gold Rush or Gold Bust

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:34:00 GMT
GOLD RUSH OR GOLD BUST?

Gold has reached an all time high on Monday closing at $1,139 per oz. How much higher can gold go? Should you jump on the golden band wagon? Or should you sell? How can you buy your pot of gold without ge

Earnings Beating Expectations?But for How Long?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:14:00 GMT
What do Caterpillar, Netflix, Apple and Microsoft have in common? They all posted quarterly earnings last week that exceeded analyst expectations?and they are not alone.

We are about one-third of the way into the quarterly earnings season

New Social Security Figures

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:49:00 GMT
The Social Security Administration recently announced changes for 2010, including:

Beneficiaries will not receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2010 because there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the

Alzheimer Disease Victimizes Someone Every 70 Seconds!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:38:00 GMT
On September 21, 2009, World Alzheimer's Day, Alzheimer's Disease International released a new report indicating that the number of people with Alzheimer's or another dementia, currently 35 million worldwide, is expected to nearly double every 20 yea

Catch UP on Your Retirement Plans!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:42:00 GMT
Playing Catch-Up with Contributions

Most Americans are no longer convinced that they are financially prepared for retirement. In the 2009 Retirement Confidence Survey, only 13% of workers indicated they were “very confident” th

All That Glitters is GOLD!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:40:00 GMT
GOLD PRICES HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH last week driven by a weak dollar and concerns over potential inflationary pressure, according to CNBC. Many people consider gold to be a good inflation hedge. Is it true? Let’s look at some examples.

Deadline for Retirement Account Holders to Rollover 2009 RMDs

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:03:00 GMT
RE: Deadline for Retirement Account Holders to Rollover 2009 RMDs

As announced earlier this year, the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 that was signed into law in December 2008 waived the 2009 required minimum distribution

Don't You Mean Social (In)Security?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:19:00 GMT
Social Security Tipping
Point Draws Near

Rising unemployment and falling tax revenues are taking a toll on Social Security.

In 2008, the Congressional Budget Office projected that Social Security would have excess tax reve

Time to Consider a Roth IRA Conversion

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:01:00 GMT

The Time is Right to Consider Roth IRA Conversion

Since its creation more than a decade ago, the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) has been among the best tax breaks availabl

Living with the Market?s ?Messiness?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:18:00 GMT
ONE OUTCOME OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS may be that we have to “live with messiness.” Instead of a neat and tidy explanation for everything that happens in the markets, it may turn out that humans are sometimes irrational and, as emotional cr

Is the Market Due for Correction??

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:41:00 GMT
A CONCEPT KNOWN AS “ANCHORING” may influence whether the stock market is due for a correction or not. In a famous 1974 paper titled, Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases, Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman defined anchoring as

The Budget Deficit & The Big Mac

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:10:00 GMT
WITH THE RISE IN OUR BUDGET DEFICIT and the quantitative easing taking place, there is some concern that the value of the U.S. dollar could drop significantly (i.e., become cheap). Why should we care? An extremely weak dollar could lead to the follow

The 2000's -- The Lost Decade

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:02:00 GMT
The 2000s are turning into a lost decade for investors and for jobs.

The stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 index, is lower today than it was at the start of the decade excluding reinvested dividends, according to data from Yahoo

Sunrises and the Financial Markets

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:14:00 GMT
THINK BACK TO A TIME when you saw a beautiful sunrise. Perhaps you were standing on a beach mesmerized by the quickly changing interplay of light, clouds, and water. While you were caught up in the moment, you probably didn’t realize that the l

Government Lighter Fluid and the Economy

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:15:00 GMT
HOW MUCH OF THE STOCK MARKET RALLY since the March lows is real versus fake?

On the surface, 100% of the rally is real since we can clearly document through third-party sources that the market has risen significantly. But, is the rally re

Berkshire Hathaway?s bets on financials pays off big in 2nd quarter!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:29:00 GMT
Berkshire Hathaway’s public stock holdings increased by $8.07 billion during the 2nd quarter. This represents a 20% increase from the value on 3/31/09. As of June, 30, the portfolio was valued at $48,944,953, up from the March 31 value of $40,8

The Markets & Emotions: The Tale of Two FEARS

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:11:00 GMT
INVESTORS ARE DRIVEN BY THE FEAR OF LOSING AND THE FEAR OF LOSING OUT.

Last winter, as the financial markets were seemingly in a free fall, panic and fear reigned. There was a sense that the worldwide financial system could collapse and t

Inflation or Deflation?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:05:00 GMT
ARE WE HEADING TOWARD INFLATION OR DEFLATION over the next few years?

The answer to this question may have significant portfolio implications.

With the economy having just completed four consecutive quarters of negative GDP gr

Are You Bullish or Bearish on the Markets?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:44:00 GMT
Whether you are bullish or bearish, there’s plenty of ammo in each camp to support your view.

Here are three keys supporting the bullish case:

1. The unfolding earnings season is generally positive. As of last week, a whop

Americans in Savings Mode!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:02:00 GMT
AMERICANS SOCKED AWAY MONEY AT THE HIGHEST MONTHLY RATE IN 15 YEARS last month, according to the Department of Commerce, and that’s good news – mostly. The personal savings rate rose to 6.9% in June, which is well above the average saving

How will we know when the market hits rock bottom and starts a new secular bull market?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:38:00 GMT
Can we pinpoint the bottom of a bear market?

This is one of those questions where if we knew the exact answer we could probably make a fortune. Unfortunately, we cannot pinpoint the bottom of a bear market in real time, but according to mo

The Wild Swing in the Price of Oil: A Great Example on the Markets Extreme Movements.

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:55:00 GMT
Want one really great example of how the financial markets tend to move from one extreme to another?

Take a look at THE WILD SWING IN THE PRICE OF OIL OVER THE PAST YEAR. Back in July 2008, oil soared to $145 per barrel on the i

Investing in America: Build America Bonds

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:01:00 GMT
What is a Build America Bond?

Investors have a new mechanism for investing in municipal bonds, courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As part of the Obama administration's economic stimulus program

Hot Stock Picks for the Summer!

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:51:00 GMT
The S&P 500 is up 30% since it's lows made back on March 6th. Despite the still sluggish economy, the momentum appears to be on the upside, at least for now.

Summer tends to be so-so for much of the stock markets, however, there are s

Financial Meltdown - 2 yrs later. What Have We Learned?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:58:00 GMT
This week marks the two-year anniversary of the financial meltdown. What lessons have we learned?

On June 12, 2007, news broke that a 10-month old Bear Stearns hedge fund that speculated in mortgage-backed securities was melting down. The

Hazards to Your Wealth: Sunk Costs and Mental Accounting

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:47:00 GMT
Are Investors succumbing into the "sunk cost" trap?

Let's pretend that you just arrived at a theater and as you reach into your pocket to pull out the $10 ticket that you purchased in advance, you discover that it's missing. Wou

Improvement in the Credit Markets

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:23:00 GMT
One key to an economic recovery is a thawing of the credit freeze.

Let’s look at three indicators that suggest we’re making some progress in this area.

First, the LIBOR is coming down. LIBOR stands for London

Are Women Better Investors Than Men?

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:01:00 GMT

In a battle of the sexes, finance professors Brad Barber and Terrance Odean crunched the trading data on over 35,000 households from a large discount brokerage firm. They built upon psychological research, which indicates that in the area of finan

The Market Week Report by Greg Womack on CDTV.net

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:12:00 GMT
In this featured interview, John Mitre asks Greg what his Market Week Report covers; what moved the markets this past week, and what we are looking for this week. You can listen to the interview through this link:

Greg Womack -- Certified Financial Planner

The Federal Debt Ceiling: What Is It and Why Should You Care?

Borrowing from Your 401(k)

Step Up, Parents: Children Need Money Mentors

Getting an Early Start on Retirement

Resources More Precious Every Day

Berkshire Hathaway Stock - A Must in Good & Bad Markets

Preparing for Uncertain Times

Womack Returns from China Financial Planner Summit

Set Goals So You?ll Know Where You?re Headed in Life

Legal Insider Trading Can Be Used To Spot Investments

Want to Sell Annuity? Don't Want Your Annuity? You May Be Able to Sell It

Are you receiving annuity payments but you'd prefer a single lump-sum payment instead?

Cash-In Refinancing: Can You Benefit from This Growing Trend?

Financial Tips for Twenty-Somethings

Ask the Experts: Can I roll over my traditional 401(k) plan distribution to a Roth IRA?

Buffett a Net Seller?what?s next?

Health-Care Reform: High-Income Individuals Face New

Ask the Experts: What does a stronger dollar mean for my portfolio?

Year-End Tax Planning--Special Concerns for 2010

Medicare Annual Enrollment Season Is Here

Small Business Jobs Act of 2010

Year-End Investment Planning Is More Challenging in 2010

2011 Tax Changes At-a-Glance

They're Baaack: RMDs for 2010

Ask the Experts: Is it time to give mobile banking a try?

Health-Care Reform?Fact vs. Fiction

Year-End Tax Planning--Special Concerns for 2010

Ask the Experts: Will the new health-care law affect my Medicare drug plan?

Think About How to Best Meet Your Retirement Expectations

Transferring Your Family Business to Your Children

In-Service Withdrawals from 401(k) Plans

To Succeed, Write Yourself This Letter

Ask the Experts: What is a rewards program?

What You Should Know about Trusteed IRAs

Summary Of The New Financial Reform Law

Ways to Trim College Costs

Avoiding Probate: Is It Worth It?

Roth IRA: The ?Tiger Woods? of Retirement Planning Tools?

They?re Baaack?Required Minimum Distributions for 2010

What is a Medicaid compliant annuity?

Quarterly Market Review: April-June 2010

My child got a scholarship for college. Is it taxable?

Using Yield to Evaluate Stocks and Bonds

Social Security: File-and-Suspend for Higher Benefits

Will You See Higher Tax Rates in 2011?

Returning to Work After You've Retired

Paying for Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform and Small Business

The Keys to Inflation ? Proofing Your Portfolio

Why consider dividends?

Student Loan Repayment Options

The Independent 529 Plan

What You Should Know about Inherited IRAs

Experts and Public Differ on Inflation Fears

Dow Dips Below 10,000 ? Almost 1,000 points ? Before Recovering

Health-Care Reform: High-Income Individuals Face New Medicare-Related Taxes in 2013

How Much Life Insurance Is Enough?

Evaluating Risk in Your Portfolio

Time Isn?t On Baby Boomers? Side

A Mid-Year Financial Review: More Time to Plan

Weigh Factors in Roth IRA Conversion

Got Stock? The Long and Short of Capital Gains

Understanding Mutual Fund Expense Ratios

Can I buy gold and silver in my IRA?

College Debt: How Much Is Too Much?

ARMed and Dangerous?

529 College Savings Plans vs. Roth IRAs

How to Double the Power of Your Tax Refund

10 Financial Terms Everyone Should Know

Alternative Investments - The Pros and Cons

Struggling States Are ?A Drag on the Economy?

What Will Be Good In 2010?

Time to Consider a ROTH IRA

Key Mistakes of Do-It-Yourself Investors

Have A Living Trust? Make Sure It?s ?Funded?.

Root Causes of Recession Unaddressed

The Perfect Retirement Storm

Luck vs Skill - Is there a difference?

Investors Be Aware of Timing the Purchase and Sale of Mutual Funds