Entrust Blog

As Americans celebrated Labor Day weekend, many employees and workers probably gave thought to what they could do to “make work optional,” or retire, as soon as possible. If already retired, attention might have been given to improving their retirement income picture. After all, having enough income to maintain one’s standard of living throughout retirement is a cherished goal for most of us. Consider these tips as a starting point: INVEST: To support future spending. UPON RETIREMENT: Reduce ...

When you hear talking heads on financial shows mention the Federal Reserve, the drama attached to the reports may cause you to tune out. After all, you do not personally impact the decisions of the Federal Reserve and despite what is decided during prominent Federal Reserve meetings, it can be difficult to discern what long-term benefit is intended by incremental—such as one-quarter of one percent—changes in the Federal Funds rate. Perhaps having a better understanding of the purpose of ...

At Entrust Financial, creating diversified portfolios for our clients is part of our DNA. A vital facet of this work is the disciplined asset allocation of our portfolio models. Why disciplined? Because asset allocation has been proven time and again to be the most important factor in consistent long-term investment results. So not surprisingly, each asset in our Entrust portfolios is selected following a rigorous process of due diligence. That said, educating our investors on the characteristics of the ...

There is nothing like uncertainty to prompt investors to question just how well they understand the power of the capital markets. And uncertainty we have—politically, globally, and with respect to one common target of complaint—the weather. Well, we will never be able to control the weather, but we can respond to it effectively. And we can respond appropriately to the power of the capital markets, too, and put that power to work for us regarding our portfolio of investments, ...

Many investors own an IRA or other type of retirement account. Some own an annuity or life insurance policy. All such accounts or products designate a beneficiary—to whom the assets will transfer, or whom the assets will benefit—when the owner someday passes away. You are probably familiar with the idea of a beneficiary designation but may not realize just how powerful it is. What you choose to complete on your beneficiary form supersedes what you write in your Will, ...

You may be familiar with the idiom “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” When it comes to your money, not only can it be dangerous—it can be downright expensive. For example, one often reads that titling one’s assets as “joint” avoids probate following a death.  Doing so is touted as smart because it saves legal fees and keeps family business private. When parents read about such potential benefits, they often find it appealing to title accounts jointly with ...

More new college graduates than ever plan to, or have begun, an entrepreneurial endeavor. Moms who want to work but also want to have control over their schedules start consulting firms. Mention “angel investors” now and the term is commonly understood. A decade ago, the angel investor descriptor would likely have been mis-understood. However, statistics report that many, in fact most, businesses fail. How could this be? What is typically overlooked that leads to these unfortunate results? The answer ...

Protecting our assets is a priority for most of us, with respect to our personal as well as our business finances. One growing threat to the security of our assets is cyber-fraud. As investment advisors, Entrust Financial recognizes that cyber-fraud is often a people problem rather than an IT problem. Therefore, we encourage clients to be mindful of the following three tips as we aim to protect them from harm. Three easy tips to enhance protection: Do not open ...

We presented in a recent blog about protecting your business using proper business insurance planning. The attorney on your professional team often comes to the rescue, too, and saves your business from the consequences of harmful mistakes. If you assume that you are a sensible person who does not need an attorney on your team yet, you may think again after you read and watch the following. In a conversation with business attorney Christina (Tina) Reger, she reported to ...

Middle Class Millionaires: Personal and Business Finance As a business owner, you have enough on your mind without having to worry about your insurance needs. You want to have confidence that the business you have built is covered by a company that understands your business insurance needs. For that reason, we want to introduce insurance guru Judy Fobes. She owns Peninsula Excess Insurance Brokers Inc., a company that provides commercial business insurance. Fobes shared with us that commercial business ...