The specter of conflict with Iran has dominated headlines recently. Should it also determine your investment strategy? In this episode of The Adviser You Can Talk To Podcast, Chief Investment Officer Jim Lowell and Deputy Director of Research Brian Mackey break down the research on past crises in the Middle East and their effects on:

• Commodity prices (including gold)
• The stock market
• Energy prices—and why a ‘70s-style oil shock is unlikely

They also discuss the potential impact of a cyberattack on U.S. infrastructure.

The Middle East has been plagued by turmoil, but markets have pulled through in the past. To find out what the latest tensions mean for the future of your portfolio, listen today!

You spend your whole career growing your tax-deferred investment accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs. And once you reach age 70½, the IRS requires that you start withdrawing your savings (thus giving Uncle Sam his annual income-tax cut) through what’s known as required minimum distributions (RMDs). Understanding how RMDs work so you can avoid costly penalties and account for the tax liability is a critical element of every investor’s spending and saving strategy in retirement.

In this straightforward discussion, two of our experienced financial planners use real-world examples and share some tips and tactics we employ for our clients that can benefit anyone in or nearing retirement.

Among the discussion topics:  

• How RMD amounts are calculated
• What are the tax and legacy implications?
• The IRS penalties you need to look out for
• Using RMDs for charitable purposes

It’s never too soon to become more informed about financial planning in retirement. To learn more, listen to the podcast today.

And if you’d like good reference guide to all things RMD, click here for our free, no-obligation infographic, 9 Need-to-Know RMD Facts.

Vanguard’s and Fidelity’s growth and evolution over the past 25 years have been astounding to watch, and we’ve been paying close attention all the while. Getting data on their managers and services was once like squeezing water from a stone, but today’s investors are faced with so many funds and so much information that it’s easy to be overwhelmed. That’s where we come in.

In this exclusive conversation, Chairman Dan Wiener and Chief Investment Officer Jim Lowell—who have spent decades covering Vanguard (Wiener) and Fidelity (Lowell) in their independent newsletters—dissolve the myths, cut through the spin and look at what’s ahead for these two fund titans. Among the discussion topics:

• Is Fidelity just a growth shop? Vanguard a mere conservative indexer?
• What Morningstar’s fund rating system doesn’t tell you
• The possibilities afforded by each firm’s deep international bench
• How are Vanguard and Fidelity reacting to the rise of roboadvisers?

It’s never too soon to become an informed investor. To learn more, listen to the podcast by clicking the button above.

Roth IRAs—you may have heard of this type of individual retirement account, but do you know how to use one? In this episode of The Adviser You Can Talk To Podcast, financial planning specialists Andrew Busa and Rick Winters give an in-depth explanation of the many uses of the Roth IRA, including details on:

• Building tax diversity into your savings
• Why to open one at the start of your career
• Their role in your legacy plans
• The so-called “backdoor” Roth conversion—what it is and when to do it

Don’t let this important tool in your financial planning arsenal go to waste—to learn how you can deploy Roth IRAs for maximum benefit, listen now! Curious about whether converting a traditional IRA to a Roth is right for you? Click here for more.

Every investor has unique needs and goals driving their investment strategy. But the behaviors that can derail that strategy are universal. Failing to recognize and factor these innate biases into your investment decision-making can lead to missed opportunities or compound missteps.

You can't control the stock market. But you can spot and fix your own bad investing habits. In this podcast, Chairman Dan Wiener and Vice President Josh Jones address five common behavioral biases that can impact your portfolio.

Topics include: 

• Reassessing your risk tolerance amid bad headlines
• The value in arguments that don’t confirm what you believe in
• Avoiding paralysis in making buy or sell decisions
• The tendency to overvalue something you already own

When it comes to your investments, thinking rationally and with discipline is a winning combo. To learn more, listen to the podcast today.  

While younger couples are splitting up less often, the divorce rate for people 55 and older has tripled since 1990. These so-called “gray divorces” just before or during retirement emphasize the importance of knowing what you and your spouse have for assets and how your financial picture will change as a result.

In this podcast, three wealth management professionals discuss their experiences helping clients and loved ones navigate the challenges of divorce and adjust to new financial realities. This practical, wide-ranging conversation uses real-world examples to shed light on three focal themes:

• Having a budget
• What do I own?
• How do I protect myself and my family?

Whether the beginning of divorce proceedings is collaborative and mutual or comes out of the blue, it’s essential to be as prepared as possible for what comes next. Listen in to hear more. 

At Adviser Investments, many of our clients are committed to supporting the causes that matter to them. Deciding on the best way to give can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this episode of The Adviser You Can Talk To Podcast, portfolio executives and financial planners Charlie Toole, Kari Wolfson and Rick Winters review options that philanthropists of every stripe can use to maximize their impact while making smart tax decisions. Topics include:

• Donor-advised funds
• Qualified charitable distributions
• Giving directly from your IRA
• Why cash is not always king

To listen to the podcast, click the button below. And for even more information on how to make your charitable giving impactful, check out our special report Making the Most of Your Charitable Giving.

You’ve worked to build a legacy for your loved ones—you deserve the peace of mind that comes with having trusted help in place to ensure your wishes are carried out. And there’s a lot more to it than merely drafting a will.

Putting an estate plan in place can feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. If you have any additional questions, give us a call! We’d be happy to speak with you.

Referenced links: Estate Checklist (https://bit.ly/2m4GtTI); 10 Questions for an Estate Attorney (https://bit.ly/2lGL52q).

A trust might be the most powerful estate-planning tool you haven’t explored yet. And despite their reputation as a tool of just the very wealthy, they can be helpful for people across the income and wealth spectrum.

Listen in to hear Adviser Investments’ experienced wealth managers and financial planners use real stories to explain what trusts are, what they’re designed to do, how legal and financial know-how intersects and how trusts may be able to benefit you.

We hope you enjoy this overview on trusts. And if you have any questions about how a trust could help with your specific situation, give us a call! We’d be happy to speak with you.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/30FmjPM

Insurance needs vary depending on what stage of life you’re in. But regardless of whether you’re just starting your career, building assets and raising a family, or headed into retirement, the world presents perils that require protection. And that’s where insurance comes in.

Tune in to hear Victor Colella, CFP® together with Adviser Investments’ own Chris Hagan and Andrew Busa discuss how risks change over time and the types of insurance you might use to cover yourself at every age.

Listen to the whole episode or skip ahead to the age group most applicable to your situation if you or a loved one is in their 20s (2:00), their 30s, 40s and 50s (5:15) or in their 60s and beyond (13:35).

For other valuable Adviser Investments resources, click here for our guide to helping aging parents; here for our Estate-Planning Checklist; click here for our podcast episode on Medicare.