As you develop or update an estate plan, consider the following ways life insurance can help address your needs. Determining how to meet your loved ones’ needs and accomplish your financial goals are the primary tasks of an estate plan. In addition, with a well-constructed plan, you can prepare for predictable events, such as the...

Creating a detailed succession plan is paramount for a smooth and profitable transition. When you’ve dedicated decades to building your company, it can be difficult to imagine your life without it— not to mention the future of the business with another family member as the lead. In reality, everyone will transition out of their family...

When life takes a left turn - and time and knowledge are in short supply - who’s in charge of your big picture? A case study in what it looks like to be a member of the Wambolt family.

Retirement planning today may look different for women than men, regardless of marital status.     By Cindy Alvarez – Senior Wealth Management Advisor Married women traditionally had been better off in retirement than single women, and two-earner households have fared best of all. But several trends demonstrate that the retirement prospects for married and single...

All investments carry risk. It pays to be choosy and mix up your holdings in a diversified portfolio.   All investments carry risk. Exposure to loss, and an investor’s appetite for taking chances, influence investment behavior and the design of your investment portfolio. While some investors thrive when the stakes are high, most investors are...

Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency in the world, jumped to a four-month high through April 2, briefly breaching $5,000 on the Bitstamp exchange. The 15% climb puts Bitcoin above its lowest selling price of $3,400 in December of 2018 but a far cry below its trading high of $19,783.06 in December of 2017. The jump...

When it comes to charity, many Americans have been able to “give ‘til it hurts” — knowing the pain would be only temporary. Barry Bridges for Bankrate writes taxpayers could write off the donations on their next tax return. However, changes ushered in by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could make the process less comfortable....

It’s tax season and many taxpayers and CPAs, including our own John Seevers and his team, are working overtime to answer client questions before tying up and turning in their 2018 tax returns. This year was more challenging than most with new and revised tax laws taking effect for the first time. The IRS is...

Join us in welcoming seasoned financial management advisor Kelly Fraser to the team! Wambolt & Associates is pleased to announce that Kelly Fraser has joined the advisory team as a Senior Wealth Management Advisor. Kelly has over 18 years of investment advising experience serving clients in the financial services industry. She has a strong portfolio...

The Federal Reserve hit pause on rate hikes in January. Consumers adjusted their inflationary expectations in February. Will this change in course continue?  The Fed hit the pause button in January in their steady march to increase rates. With inflation remaining near the Fed’s 2 percent goal, the Fed indicated the case for raising rates was...