4-minute Money Ideas

What Should You Do About the FBAR? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® - helping olim handle U.S., IRA, investment, and brokerage accounts from Israel Whenever I mention the acronym FBAR, Americans often say one of two things: “F what??” or “I don’t need to do that.”   What’s an FBAR? The “Report of Foreign Bank Accounts” (FBAR) is a required U.S. government form, which is important in the post-9/11 world. The purpose of the form is to alert the authorities about accounts held outside the United States with a total value of $10,000 or more at any time during the year.   Can I just skip it? Bad idea. If you have reportable FBAR assets that you don’t disclose, the fines can be severe. If you neglect to file or file incorrectly, you can face fines that are greater than the value of the accounts that you didn’t include on the form.   The FBAR is due on June 30 for the preceding year. It provides a list of accounts that you have signature authority on, interest in, or are named as a holder, so the American government can t

Is Your Brokerage Account in Danger of Being Sold Out? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Imagine if your brokerage firm called you up and told you that they were going to sell out all of the positions in your brokerage account within the next 60 days. “Why?” you ask them. They respond that due to increasing regulatory restrictions they will no longer service your account. They give you two options: Transfer your assets to another financial institution, Distribute the assets directly to you. Believe it or not, many people in Israel are receiving such a call. This is because they are U.S. citizens, and due to tough regulations regarding Americans living abroad originally intended to prevent money laundering, many U.S. financial institutions no longer want to work with any non-resident Americans. Though it may be disconcerting to receive notification that a long-standing relationship with a brokerage firm is about to end, there is no need to panic. Americans living in Israel who have U.S. brokerage accounts have a so

Can Your Israeli Bank Provide Investment Services?       By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Have you found that your Israeli bank no longer provides investment services for Americans living in Israel? Because if onerous reporting requirements to the American government, many Israeli banks have stopped opening investment accounts for U.S. citizens. While dual American-Israelis can continue with banking and checking services, they need to look elsewhere for their long-term investing. Where can Americans open investment accounts? If American firms turn away U.S. citizens with a foreign address and Israeli banks don’t open accounts for Americans, how can Americans living in Israel have investment accounts? That’s where investment firms with relationships with U.S. brokerage houses and Israeli investment licenses come into play. Profile Investment Services, Ltd. is one of a select few companies that is able to help, as we work with an American brokerage firm (Portfolio Resources Group, Inc.) that understands there are law

Read This Before You Transfer Your Money to Israel By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Making aliya doesn’t mean you need to close your American brokerage accounts. In fact, there are many sound reasons for maintaining assets in America even if you move away. Think twice before converting your American retirement accounts to shekels and bringing them to Israel. Recently, some American brokerage firms asked their non-resident clients to transfer out their accounts. To the shock of many clients in Israel, major firms decided to end long-term relationships with them. If this has happened to you (or you fear it may) don’t panic! There are U.S. brokerage firms who realize the benefit in holding accounts for law-abiding and tax-paying citizens who just happen to have a non-U.S. address. As a licensed financial planner in both Israel and America, I have over two decades experience in counseling American olim on the benefits of maintaining an American brokerage firm while living in Israel. Benefits include: Tax Reporting Bene

Is Financial Success Just a Matter of Luck? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Is financial success more about planning or luck? In the book Rich Kids, Tom Corley discusses three different kinds of luck: Random luck is the kind of luck we can’t control. Random good luck includes winning the lottery or getting an unexpected windfall. Conversely, examples of random bad luck include sudden illness or being struck by lightning. Opportunity luck is good luck created as a result of your actions. You can create good luck by following positive “rich” habits that enrich your lifestyle and protect you from fiscal harm. An example of this would be getting an unexpected bonus from work, based on your diligent work. If you hadn’t worked hard and made yourself indispensable to your company, you may not have received a reward. In other words, your hard work created this piece of good luck. By following good practices, you are able to create your own good fortune. Detrimental luck is the dark side of opportunity luck. This is when,

How Modern Portfolio Theory Can Make You a Better Investor By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Can “Modern Portfolio Theory” increase your investment returns? Recently, on The Goldstein on Gelt Show, I spoke with the inventor of Modern Portfolio Theory, Nobel Prize in Economics winner, Dr. Harry Markowitz. Dr. Markowitz explained various aspects of Modern Portfolio Theory and its impact on the individual investor. His theory explains how to construct an investment portfolio by optimizing expected returns based on the level of market risk. The goal is to help investors construct portfolios to maximize returns while limiting risk as much as possible. By combining various asset classes in one portfolio, Markowitz explains, the overall account may have a lower volatility and higher return than a portfolio that isn’t properly optimized. Can theories really help investors? When investors are faced with market upheaval, they often panic and lose confidence. When I asked Dr. Markowitz how to advise clients during turbulent m

Avoid Making This Mistake with an Inherited IRA By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® If you are the beneficiary of an inherited IRA, avoid immediately withdrawing the money. If you make an immediate withdrawal, you might forfeit the tax-deferred status of the account and be subject to paying taxes. A proper withdrawal strategy for an inherited IRA can minimize your tax bill. What you need to know when you inherit an IRA In an effort to encourage savings, America lets the assets inside an IRA account grow tax deferred – owners only pay tax once the funds are withdrawn. If you are the beneficiary of an IRA, depending on how you title the account and withdraw the assets, you too can take advantage of tax-deferred growth. Any mistake made in titling, transferring, or withdrawing funds may not only cause you to lose future tax-deferred growth, but also may make you liable to pay current taxes on the funds. To maintain the tax- deferred status, your new account must be coded as a “beneficiary IRA” by the custodian of the acc

How to Avoid Tax Mistakes When You Receive an Inheritance By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® When receiving an inheritance, it’s important to avoid making tax mistakes. Certain tactics, such as opening a U.S. brokerage account (see below for an interactive tool) can help. Watch out for these mistakes: Mistake #1 – Taking money out of an IRA To maintain the tax-deferred status of an inherited IRA (Individual Retirement Account), the money must remain in a specially titled account. As an heir, you can transfer the IRA into a “beneficiary IRA” (a.k.a. “stretch IRA”) and not pay taxes on the account’s capital growth until money is withdrawn. Transferring the money overseas jeopardizes the tax beneficial status. As many overseas bankers and investment advisors may not know this crucial piece of information, work with professionals who are well-versed in cross-border investing and tax law. Mistake #2 – Choosing the wrong investments for an IRA The IRS allows U.S. citizens not to pay capital gains tax (or tax on interest a

Why You Might Benefit from Having a U.S. Brokerage Account By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Unsure of the benefits of a U.S. brokerage account? Use a free interactive form to find why it may be helpful to keep some of your investments in America even though you live in Israel. See the URL below. One of the most common financial problems Americans living in Israel face is when their U.S. investment company closes their account because of their Israeli address. There is no legal reason why you can’t have an Israeli address on American brokerage and IRA accounts. In fact, while some investment companies balk at your foreign address, others have no problem. (My company, Profile Investment Services, Ltd., specializes in dealing with people who live outside the United States but still want to have their investments held in America.) This issue can affect you even if you don’t have an American investment account Often, clients initially call my office when they receive an inheritance from a family member in America. Ameri

The Best Way to Pay for a Wedding By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® After accepting all the good wishes and mazal tovs, the first thing parents of a newly engaged couple need to think about is the best way to pay for a wedding. Making a wedding can be costly. If you have savings to cover the cost, great. That’s the topic of today’s article. If you haven’t saved for the big day, however, you’ll need to adjust your child’s expectations since you should certainly not take on debt to cover a four-hour party (no matter how much your bank – or children – encourage you). From which account should you withdraw? If you have retirement accounts, don’t use those funds to pay for a wedding. Those funds were earmarked to pay for your retirement, and will likely be subject to onerous taxes and fines if you withdraw them before retirement age. If you have some well-performing assets and some under-performing assets, which ones should you sell? Though it’s not written in stone, analysis of stock portfolios often shows that winning

Should You Have a Shared Savings Account With Your Spouse? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® What’s the best way to invest with your spouse? Should you have a shared savings account or separate accounts? Whenever I help a couple set up U.S.-based brokerage and investment accounts, I ask whether they want a “joint” account, or whether they want to keep their money separate. Shouldn’t couples always invest together? In an ideal world, spouses would combine both their personal and their financial affairs. But given the complexities of today’s family structure, one account type doesn’t meet everyone’s needs. Some couples enter matrimony on equal financial footing, while others have children from previous marriages, and debts from the past. Before deciding on the structure of the account, therefore, consider each party’s assets, obligations, and needs. Money should not become a power tool in a marriage. Benefits of a joint account A joint account often makes sense as either owner can give trade orders in a joint brokerag

  Some people say the next best thing to being personally financially successful is having rich kids. However, teaching children good financial habits can be challenging. Here’s where Tom Corley and his book Rich Kids comes in handy. This is a great resource for teaching children (of all ages) about money. The three paths to wealth There are three paths to wealth: Live below your means. If you put 20% of your monthly salary into savings, as well as save all raises and bonuses, you are setting yourself up for a safer future. This is because not only do your savings increase with compound interest, but you avoid increasing your lifestyle beyond your means. Expand your means. Find efficient ways for generating more income, such as a side job. Use both strategies together. By saving properly and increasing your earnings you can effectively build your wealth. Starting young While these paths sound like they may only apply to adults, children can - and should - acquire these habits. If you give your children an a

Note: After reading the following true story, try the free Investment Evaluation Tool to determine if you are invested more aggressively than you should be. Details for accessing the tool are below. When I talk with people about how they should structure their U.S. investment accounts, one of the common questions I ask is how long do they plan to keep the money invested. Folks who see themselves as “long-term” investors can often take on the added risk of the stock market. What about long-term investors who don’t need growth? I recently met with a couple who were good earners, solid savers, and on top of it all, had inherited a sizeable amount of money.  They told me that they thought they should invest mostly in the stock market. “Why do you need to take on the added risk of stocks?” I asked. They felt that they should invest for growth because “that’s what everyone does.” I told them that even though the media and popular websites might tell people that they must invest in the stock market if they’re long-t

Is Panic the Best Reaction to a Drop in the Market? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® As an investment advisor who helps olim manage their American brokerage accounts, I’m often asked, “Why should I invest in the stock market when it only goes down?”  If you believe that the stock market only goes down, then putting your money in stocks is a big mistake. The people who tend to make money in the stock market aren’t investing for the short term. They realize the market can, and sometimes does, drop, but their long-term time frame allows for plenty of opportunity for the market to recover. If you’re trying to grow your wealth and believe that the economy will strengthen, the stock market offers many possibilities. Remember: “possibilities” does not mean guaranteed gains; it includes the very real chance of loss. Folks who can’t tolerate volatility should avoid the market. This doesn’t mean that you have to panic, sell everything, and bury your treasure in your backyard. There are investing opportunities that aren’t bas

How to Solve this Common Problem with American Brokerage Accounts By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® I often receive calls at my office from people who say that their U.S. investment advisor asked them to change firms. It’s not because they don’t meet the minimum balance requirements. Rather, it’s just because they have chosen to live overseas. For various regulatory reasons, several large investment companies in the United States have decided to stop servicing clients who live abroad, many American olim included. Stringent legislation designed to prevent terrorism, money-laundering, and other criminal activities has made it much harder for U.S. brokerage firms to deal with cross-border finance. For this reason, some firms that used to work with U.S. citizens living overseas have decided that it is no longer worth their while to do so. Despite the legislators’ intentions to hurt terrorists, many law-abiding citizens who live overseas are also feeling a negative effect from the war on terror. If you’ve recently gotten

What You Need to Know When Blending Two Families By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® Many second marriages are the blending of two families, not just two people. This situation raises various questions about child support, how to divide household bills, and inheritance issues. To ensure a smooth financial union, make sure to discuss these issues before the actual ceremony takes place. Sign on the dotted line A financial prenuptial agreement detailing which assets belong to whom and which funds will be used for specific purposes such as children’s college funds and weddings is critical in second marriages. Both spouses should use their own lawyer and the couple should meet with a financial advisor who has experience with blended families to discuss the fairest ways to protect their financial responsibilities and their children. Joint and separate accounts Sometimes it makes sense to keep three separate bank accounts in second marriages: his, hers, and joint. Individual accounts can continue to support previous financia

Why You Need to Think Big and Start Small to Get Rich By Douglas Goldstein, CFP®  One of the most effective ways to achieve your financial goal is to develop good habits. Here’s what you need to know: Rome wasn’t built in a day Acquiring good financial habits does not happen overnight. First, you need to decide what you want to change, such as your spending or saving habits, budgets, etc. Whatever you decide to change, make sure you are beginning with a small step. Habits built on small, but steady, steps take hold quicker and last longer than sudden drastic changes. One small target at a time If you want to become less extravagant and more careful about spending your money, start by writing down what you spend every day for a week. When you have done that, think of which of your regular purchases are unnecessary. Rather than dropping them all at once, gradually phase them out of your shopping list, one item at a time, week by week. At first this may be difficult for you, but each time you successfully save

What is the Best Way to Transfer Dollars to Israel? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® When clients ask to transfer dollars from their U.S. investment account to their Israeli bank, the details they must provide sometimes take them by surprise. Living in a different country from your assets means that money transfers are necessary to meet your cash-flow needs. Following procedures properly can expedite the process. The easy system of transferring funds Although we help people choose investments for their U.S. brokerage, IRA, and 401(k) accounts, many clients seek more than advice on what to buy/sell. They are looking for service and attention to details. When transferring funds, you must pay meticulous attention to details. Even if all the account numbers, names, and addresses match up, the clearing firm often asks additional questions. Because of regulatory concerns and anti-money-laundering policies, compliance officers can require documentation related to the purpose of the funds. This means that what you might h

Do All Married Couples Need to Share Their Money? By Douglas Goldstein, CFP®           What’s the ideal way to handle your money? In a perfect world, married couples merge their lives as well as their finances, and have joint accounts. However, sometimes a couple can be connected at the heart but have separate bank accounts. While partners should look at their overall assets together, depending on the circumstances, sometimes having separate accounts is more appropriate. A second marriage Most people enter second marriages with financial baggage from their first marriage. Either partners may be supporting children, or they may have debts incurred by the cost of a divorce. This creates a delicate situation, balancing the financial needs of merged families. To resolve issues such as making sure that children from the first marriage are supported or that one spouse is not responsible for the other spouse’s debts, separate accounts may be a wise idea. It creates clarity and makes sure that each side is dischargi

How to Make the Most Out of Your Parents’ Stocks By Douglas Goldstein, CFP® What should you do if you inherit a portfolio of stocks from your parents? Should you sell them? To answer the question of whether you should sell the stocks, start by asking yourself whether you would buy these stocks if you had extra cash. You have no moral or legal obligation to keep the positions just because your parents owned them. I’ve had people come into my office with stocks that their parents bought decades earlier, and they said, “My father said this was such a great company that I should never sell the stock.”  But how could anyone have known whether a company that was in business 10 or 20 years ago would still be a good investment today? Remember Pan Am, Blockbuster, or Enron?  Even though your father’s research many years ago suggested that a company would be a good buy, times have probably changed. What about the tax I’ll have to pay? Everyone is in a different tax situation, but people who live and die in the United