Financial Planning Articles | Stewardship Advisors

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Is It Wise to Make a Charitable Donation on a Credit Card?

September 12, 2019 By Thomas Talbott

Credit card contributions are a quick and easy way to support your favorite charity. Using their website, or even by texting donations, makes sending money convenient and you often benefit from points or other rewards. According to the IRS, a last-minute year-end donation is deductible in the year it’s made, even if the charge is […]

investing

Saving vs Investing: What’s Better Now, What’s Better Later

September 9, 2019 By John Simkins

I was talking with a new client and they said they were saving for retirement. I replied with “Are you investing for retirement?” They asked me what the difference was. Savings is just that, setting small amounts of money aside for a rainy day or a short-term goal, and there is value in that. With […]

the market

More Stock Market Volatility to Come?

August 12, 2019 By Mark Brinser

This past weekend my family and I had a chance to visit friends who recently moved to a place steeped in history, Williamsburg, Virginia. The quiet, car-free street of Colonial Williamsburg provides a stark contrast to the modern-day engineering marvels just down the street, Water Country USA and Busch Gardens. It got me thinking that the last […]

credit

When Was The Last Time You Checked Your Credit Report?

July 15, 2019 By Thomas Talbott

Life gets busy and things inadvertently get postponed, but getting your credit report should not be one of those items. However, you may find yourself asking, “Why should I care about my credit score or what’s on the report? I don’t like debt and I’m surely not getting a loan anytime soon!” To better answer […]

young woman ready to travel with her suitcase

personal finance

How Long Do I Keep…

July 8, 2019 By W. Lee Shertzer

Bills, mortgages, bank statements, brokerage statements, credit card statements—being an adult certainly does require a lot of paperwork. Here is a guide for how long you should keep different kinds of financial records before putting them through the shredder (and yes, it should be the shredder, not the trash). Tax Documents: Keep tax-related records for […]

the market

What is Wealth?

June 7, 2019 By Mark Brinser

I know the stock market has been “up and down” the last few weeks, so I wanted you to think about something we have more control over, how we think about wealth. I think it is fair to say that most people think of wealth strictly in terms of money, the more the merrier. However, this one-dimensional […]

personal finance

No Need to Tip Uncle Sam

April 23, 2019 By Stewardship Advisors

With tax season not quite in the rearview mirror, it seems like an opportune time to mention some takeaways from the changes brought about by the Tax Cut and Jobs Acts (TCJA) as well as revisit some tax-related topics. While it may be too late to make any significant changes to your 2018 return, it’s […]

investing

What Is A Fiduciary?

January 30, 2019 By W. Lee Shertzer

According to the Cornell Law Dictionary, “A fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care.” It entails always acting in your client’s best interest. A few years ago, the question of whether your financial advisor was acting as a fiduciary was one of the top of questions asked of all financial advisors. This issue was […]

personal finance

Time vs. Money

January 13, 2019 By Mark Brinser

For many people the start of a new year is a chance to re-focus on things that are important to them, whether it is health, relationships or finances, a turning of the calendar means a fresh start. So as we prepare for a New Year, I wanted to share a personal story that challenges the […]

Travel and tourism. Senior family couple walking together on ancient sighseeing.

personal finance

Why Do I Need a Contingent Beneficiary?

October 22, 2018 By W. Lee Shertzer

Recently, as part of “Walking with You on Your Journey,” we have begun a review of the beneficiaries on your accounts. We are doing this as a way of making sure your assets are distributed to whom you wish and in the most tax-efficient manner. Most people, if they are married, name each other as […]