In 2016, greater risks on a number of fronts are likely to increase the frequency and magnitude of volatility spikes for investors. 

More than five years ago, a client of mine who is a physician introduced me to Dr. Abul Sharah, who retired early from corporate life in Minnesota in 1999 and founded the International Village Clinic (IVC).  I learned that Abul had been born a fatherless, impoverished boy in Uttar Pradesh, India’s poorest province.  chance, brains, and hard work, he got an education and rose to senior engineering and marketing positions at Honeywell and MTS Systems over a 27-year career.

More than five years ago, a client of mine who is a physician introduced me to Dr. Abul Sharah, who retired early from corporate life in Minnesota in 1999 and founded the International Village Clinic (IVC).  I learned that Abul had been born a fatherless, impoverished boy in Uttar Pradesh, India’s poorest province. 

Donor Advised Funds can be set up easily to accomplish both tax savings and charitable giving goals.  Most people think they need to have a big sum of money before considering setting up their own family charitable fund.  But Donor Advised Funds are the most popular charitable vehicles for donors at many levels of wealth.  You can start your own donor advised fund with as little as $10,000.  I generally recommend a minimum of $50,000 to my clients if they plan to request grants from the Donor Advised Funds to their charities within a short period of time, however.  I would like to discuss how to use DAFs in various situations in this article.

It is hard to believe that it has already been 7 months since forming Echo Wealth Management.  Every day I am thankful for the opportunity to pursue my passion for wealth management and I am energized by my conversations with clients about helping them achieve their goals.  My firm continues to grow through a combination of previous clients who sought us out and new clients who appreciates our integrated approach to wealth management, by combining customized financial plans with individualized portfolio management within the firm.  We aim to take the complexity out of wealth management by creating an Echo Dashboard for each client.

Reflecting the growth of the firm, I am excited to announce that Echo Wealth Management has hired Steve Drost as Associate Wealth Manager, to work with me to provide dedicated service for our clients.  I believe Steve has the passion and knowledge to serve our clients well.  Steve works closely with me in creating and maintaining the Echo Dashboard, the customized client homepage for each client.  In addition, he is responsible for managing efficient business operations by leveraging new technologies in serving our clients.  He brings energy and creativity to the firm after two years of experience working as a financial institution regulator.

The decision to buy life insurance is one of the most critical decisions we make, which is why the decision as to which type of life insurance policy to buy can be just as critical. You can’t really try on a life insurance policy, so the one you choose needs to fit you like a glove from the outset. The challenge for most people is the sheer number of different kinds of life insurance products from which to choose. The choice is made easier when you have a clear understanding of your own needs, priorities, preferences, and outlook on the future. Working with an experienced life insurance professional, you should be able to narrow down your choices.