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February 26, 2025
Fee-only vs fee-based: what everyone is missing!
When seeking help with your finances, you may be contemplating the merits of fee-only vs fee-based financial advisors. While there’s been much said on this topic, we feel other explanations fail to analyze past the obvious. There is an important aspect that is being overlooked by other discussions, which we’ll address in this article. Before you get
February 19, 2025
8 investor biases to avoid – don’t be your own worst enemy!
While we’d all like to think that we are capable of handling the stock market on our own, investor biases play a big part in interfering with our ability to do so. Don’t let them! This article covers the eight major psychological investing biases that get in our way, and what to do about each
February 12, 2025
What is confirmation bias in investing (and what should I do about it?)
Confirmation bias affects many investors, and it often goes overlooked. In this blog we are going to talk about the definition of confirmation bias, and an example of how it may affect an investor. Lastly, we’ll discuss how to manage it and the role a financial advisor plays in helping clients manage confirmation bias. What
February 6, 2025
Vericrest Insights – February 2025
Good afternoon. It’s been a turbulent week for markets, driven by key developments across multiple sectors. From major AI breakthroughs that could reshape the tech industry to the Federal Reserve’s latest policy stance and newly imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, investors are navigating a shifting landscape as we head into February. Each of
January 27, 2025
Interval Funds: what to know before you invest
One of the newest investment vehicles on the scene is interval funds. We’ve found other discussions of interval funds to be quite uninformative. In this blog we’ll discuss what they are, what their inner workings typically look like, and when it does and does not make sense for an investor. Before we get started, you
January 20, 2025
Should you be pursuing the SALT cap workaround?
The SALT cap workaround is not well understood by most pass-through entity owners, and as a result it is underutilized. If you are the owner of a pass-through entity such as a business and are seeking to reduce your tax liability, here are some tips for how to leverage the SALT workaround. And by the
January 13, 2025
Say “no” to A share mutual funds!
Despite the availability of lower cost options, investors continue to buy A share mutual funds. They shouldn’t. In this blog we’ll talk about why we think investors should run away as fast as they can from A share mutual funds, and we’ll refute the fake logic of the hollow sales pitches that people are often
January 6, 2025
Vericrest Insights – January 2025
Happy New Year! Not sure about you, but I’ll still be writing 2024 until at least the middle of February. And speaking of 2024, if inflation was the word investors feared in 2023, AI was the word they couldn’t get enough of in ’24, as the hype for generative AI surged, reached fever pitch, and
January 1, 2025
How to find a good financial advisor in Philadelphia, PA
As a national wealth management firm, we serve clients from our local Philadelphia, PA area as well as across the country. In this blog we’ll provide you with all the information needed to make a smart decision about how to find a good financial advisor in Philadelphia, PA, from what questions to ask to what resources
February 27, 2024
Why 12b-1 fees take a big bite of your portfolio!
If you are buying mutual funds, we believe you should avoid paying 12b-1 fees at all costs; they bite off a bigger part of your wealth than you are probably realizing. In this blog we’ll talk about what these charges are, the impact they could potentially have on your portfolio, and how to tell how
February 27, 2024
Advisory Fees
An investor’s chances of doing well in the financial markets are significantly improved if they keep advisory fees to a minimum. Over a long period, high management fees and related expenses can have a significant drag on wealth creation. Let’s examine the magnitude to which the cost of a financial advisor (even if they charge
February 27, 2024
Fiduciary vs. Suitability – key reasons it matters!
It does not sound like much, but these two words, fiduciary versus suitability, are critical to determining the type of care and investment advice you receive from your financial professional. Fiduciary standard vs. suitability standard of care What is the difference between fiduciary and suitability? In a nutshell, fiduciary advisors have to put the client’s
February 27, 2024
Mutual fund fees can be sky high – know when you’re overpaying!
There is talk of the fees associated with investing in mutual funds, but much less clarity on the question of how high is too high a mutual fund fee. In this blog we’re going to discuss what mutual fund fees are composed of, what the average mutual fund fees are, and what is too high. What is
February 27, 2024
Average financial advisor fees – are you paying more than you should be?
What financial advisor should charge as fees is a topic of much debate. Unfortunately, there is little centralized reporting of data on what average financial advisor fees are. Here is our take, based upon industry data and our anecdotal experiences as financial advisors. Does the cost of financial advice matter? Yes, absolutely. What it costs to work
February 27, 2024
K-1 Tax Form for dummies: clear, easy guide (with screenshots!)
Whenever we hear the topic of form K-1 discussed, it’s always explained using highly technical language that is almost impossible for the average investor to decipher. We’re taking a much better approach. Here’s our clearly explained guide to the K-1 tax form, including an explanation of what the different parts of the K-1 mean, as well
February 27, 2024
So…how much do financial advisors ACTUALLY cost?
While there is much written about what they do, there is very little offered up to answer the question of what do financial advisors cost. In this article we will discuss: Finding a good, cost-effective financial advisor How do financial advisors earn money? Wealth managers are paid through advisory fees, which can be charged a few
February 27, 2024
When (in heavens) can I get my 1099 form?
Most investors don’t want to know much about Form 1099 other than when and how they get it. In this blog we’ll answer the question of when you can get your 1099, how you can do so, and how your 1099 plays into your overall tax return. 1099 fax form delays can be a pain
February 27, 2024
Are financial advisors fiduciaries – all, or just some of them?
The question of if financial advisors are fiduciaries can be confusing. In this article, we will clearly discuss the different types of financial advisors, define what a fiduciary is, and clarify which advisors within the industry fit into this category. What is a financial advisor? A financial advisor is a professional who renders guidance which may include,
January 2, 2024
Low-cost ETFs: what you need to know
Low-cost ETFs are a popular choice for many investors. In this article, you’ll learn the benefits of investing in low-fee Exchanged Traded Funds, what makes a good one, and how to tell if an ETF is low-cost or not. What is an ETF? To offer a simple definition, an ETF, or Exchange Traded Fund, is a
