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Sound, visionary stewardship
Welcome
Greetings!
The lead up to Christmas is always the best part for me. It's filled with anticipation, festivities, family and friends. Each year there are new people who enter our lives and it's fun to "surprise & delight" them in some way. I often worry that we've made Christmas another "Hallmark"  holiday. We often loose sight that it's not about the perfect gift, outfit, dinner but about spending quality time with those we care about. As you go to buy one more toy or another sweater for your children, that they may not even need, consider reading this article Financial Gifts Any Child Can Learn to Love and set your child on the path to financial independence. Now that is a gift worth giving and receiving! Thank for another year of allowing us to share our insight and perspective on the financial world with you each month. As always, we welcome your feedback and the opportunity to assist you in securing your financial future. We wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with love, happiness and peace. And as Mother Teresa said "Peace begins with a smile". May you smile often now and in the New Year. Cheers,     |
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From Bill's corner...
Hold on to your wallet!
The fiscal cliff is fast approaching. If Congress doesn't act soon, expect to be hit by a bevy of tax increases. Don't believe the mainstream rhetoric that it's only going to hit the rich; it will hit each and every one of us. Taxpayers in the lowest federal income tax bracket are scheduled for a 50-percent increase. Retirees living on dividend income may see tax increases as high as 189 percent. A typical Massachusetts family will pay $6,632 in new taxes if Congress doesn't act, according to The Tax Foundation. (Estimate based on a four-person family living in Massachusetts with a median income of $101,523).
While ordinary income tax rates get most of the press, there are many ways an invisible hand may reach into your wallet. Let's take a look at how the 2013 tax structure may change.
Read on...
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Time to Share. Create a Buzz.
During this season  of giving, and nearly 3,500 charities to choose from in Massachusetts alone, how do you choose? The Massachusetts Philanthropy Directory can narrow your search by defining your interests generally; the MPD will then combine these into a more precisely focused group of eligible charities. This is a terrific tool to research the organizations you might already know and discover some new ones!
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| 9 year-end financial tasks
Some important financial deadlines are looming. Make some time for these key financial tasks, and you could have a richer 2013.
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Givers turn to donor-advised funds
With just a few weeks to go in the giving season, many investors are still struggling with when and how best to make their charitable donations.
Looming tax changes threaten to limit charitable deductions in the future, which could argue for making big gifts this year. At the same time, possibly higher income tax rates could make deductions more valuable next year.
Among the apparent beneficiaries of all this uncertainty are donor-advised funds.
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It pays to stock kids' IRAs
More parents, and even grandparents, are making gifts that last-in the form of IRA contributions to their children and grandchildren. Here's why it might make sense.
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Where your lost luggage goes
Airlines in possession of lost suitcases send the contents to an Alabama warehouse store that's been drawing visitors and bargain hunters for 40 years. Might be worth a trip?
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The new rules of holiday tipping
For the holiday season, you face a long list of service providers who deserve a token of your appreciation. Here's how much to tip -- and when not to.
Read on...
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About us
We are authentic, thoughtful, straight-shooters who provide the sound, visionary stewardship that helps our clients protect their financial foundation while building their wealth.
We are private and independent, which means we have the unique ability to build deep, meaningful relationships with our clients with no competing agendas.
We have several decades of broad financial and business expertise that enables us to knowledgeably advise on a wide range of financial and business affairs and to help our clients navigate the sea of complexity with confidence.
We are strong believers in the power of near-term, actionable planning and disciplined focus on forward-facing goals.
We are at our best when we help our clients optimize their financial resources to realize their goals and dreams.
Cheers,
Paula Harris and Bill Harris, CFP WH Cornerstone Investments 781.934.9154 www.whcornerstone.com
Sound, visionary stewardship |
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