There is considerable discussion in the investment profession concerning the compensation of advisors for investment advice. What is the difference and does it matter? That’s the subject of this discussion. Fee Only Fee only compensation means the advisor is compensated by a flat fee or percentage of assets under management (annually); compensation may also be […]

The “talking heads” on the financial news networks broadcast a seemingly never-ending stream of numbers and discuss the implications of those numbers on the investment market. While we at Paragon Financial Advisors do not presume to be economists, there are some numbers which definitely warrant following. Some of the major ones follow:Gross Domestic Product (GDP)The […]

There is much discussion in Washington these days about “entitlement reform.” An obvious example includes the Social Security system. A question that often arises in this area is “When should I begin to draw my benefits?” That question is critical since the benefits one receives is reduced if taken before “full retirement age” (which is […]

Paragon PerspectivesAs 2013 draws to an end, we want to use our final newsletter to say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy New Year,” and “Thank You” to our readers.  We are privileged to work with you and we truly appreciate the opportunity to do so.   We have included in this issue some items that are intended […]

Clients frequently ask about “non-traditional” investments in their IRA-especially in this investment climate.  Let me quickly say that some of these investments are possible; however do not make any investments without consulting your tax advisors.  Improper investments can result in disqualifying your IRA and subjecting yourself to IRS penalties and interest.  Here we are briefly […]

The word “bubble” is surfacing around the stock market as it marches to all time highs.  But is there rationale for that movement-or is quantitative easing (QEI, QE2, Operation Twist, QE Infinity) and a zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) drawing investors to riskier assets (stocks) since bond yields are so low?  The Federal Reserve personnel […]

It’s Friday November 8, 2013 as I write this and the stock market is basking in all-time highs-which were driven by based on an employment report of 204,000 jobs added vs. the 120,000 median forecast of 91 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.  In addition, the third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized rate […]

Earlier in the summer we wrote about the troubling increase in student loan debt.  As mentioned HERE, since 1999 and adjusted for inflation, tuition has increased more than 50%. As costs continue to rise, if sources of college funds fall short of what is needed, student loans are taking up more of the slack.  According […]

As more baby boomers near retirement the topic of Social Security planning is becoming more prevalent in financial publications like the Wall Street Journal and magazines.  Simply put, Social Security planning is evaluating your specific situation to determine the best course of action to take with benefits to meet your goals during retirement.  If your […]

In this quarter’s newsletter I will be discussing Estate Planning, Exchange Traded Funds (EFTs), and Retirement.  Although each of the following articles cover a different topic, they are all components of the financial planning process.   Although estate planning is a subject that some people would prefer not to discuss, it is a vital part of […]