Wendy and I recently traveled to Connecticut and stayed at a nice hotel in West Hartford. When we arrived, we were each offered a glass of champagne. I looked at Wendy, smiled, and said, “This is fancy.” We were both tired and glad to receive such a nice welcome. Naturally, we happily indulged in the champagne.
Then, to top things off, they offered us a tray of mints at the front desk, complete with a spoon to pick one up. I thought to myself, This is going to be a very pleasant stay. I accepted their offer and popped a “mint” into my mouth.
This is where things started to take an odd turn.
Key Blind Spots Addressed
The mint didn’t have any flavor at all. I looked at Wendy and mentioned that I was a bit disappointed. I started to chew it, but it had a very strange consistency—soft, which I really did not expect. I turned toward the front desk, where the hotel reception staff were staring at me with puzzled expressions.
Deciding I couldn’t worry about embarrassment, I spit it into my hand. It was awful. When I looked down, both Wendy and the hotel staff burst out laughing. I had just tried to eat a towelette. They then pointed to a sign to the right of the tray, which I hadn’t noticed. Wendy began pretending she didn’t know me—but it was far too late for that.
In investing, there are always new and interesting products being created, often on a daily basis. It is tempting to dive in when a certain aspect of an investment is appealing. However, many of today’s products are very complex. While the initial allure may be enticing, it is important to take the time to research and understand all the risks. Otherwise, you might end up with something very different than you expected.
I was on fire - almost
4. Managing Surcharges on Investment Income: Even small income changes can trigger surcharges on long-term capital gains or qualified dividends. We work to keep clients below those thresholds whenever possible.
5. Georgia Retirement Income Planning: For Georgia residents, we help develop a plan to fully take advantage of the state’s retirement income tax exemption starting at age 65.
6. Bracket Management for Retired Couples: With retired spouses, we often maximize the Georgia exemption while keeping total income within the 12% federal tax bracket—creating tax-efficient income streams.
Final Thoughts
In my case, the risk of not paying attention resulted in nothing more than mild embarrassment—and enduring Wendy’s constant reminders and jokes. The risk of moving too quickly on an investment opportunity, however, could be financially harmful.
Our motto is: We can help you with that. We will collaborate with you on any financial decision, engaging other subject matter experts when necessary. We will not stop until we get things right. We encourage you to reach out to us for assistance in making important financial decisions, and we always appreciate your recommendations to others.
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And Now …
Today, 10 years later, our practice has grown considerably. We have phenomenal clients, a great team, and our practice is still part of the Integrated Financial Group. During this time, we have helped individuals and families with their estate planning, investment planning, executive compensation planning, retiree tax planning, and insurance planning. These are just a few of the areas we focus on for our clients.
I eventually got my drivers’ license (at the ripe age of 27), married my lovely wife, Wendy, and purchased a home in Woodstock GA complete with a fire extinguisher on each floor and a built-in sprinkler system.
Working with my amazing team to best service you has been the ultimate privilege. Our team will continue to expand our range of offerings with the goal of responding to all your financial planning needs. We will also make sure to do so without ever letting up on our service and responsiveness to you.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey.
Most investments are meant to be long term. Always evaluate whether the time horizon required for an investment to succeed matches your timeline for liquidity.
Imagine in mine and Wendy’s case if the doors and the windows locked just as we were trying to leave or that someone came down the stairs just as we were wandering around the main level.
Our motto is “we can help you with that.” We will collaborate with you on any financial decision you make, engaging other subject matter experts when necessary. We will not stop until we get things right. We encourage you to reach out to us for assistance in making important financial decisions and we always appreciate you recommending us to others.
by Hetmayar
Authored by Gary Alpert
Tracking ID: 782543
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