Bought a New Vacation Home? I’m So Sorry

August 13, 2014 Bloomberg By Ben Steverman Summer is a time to relax, kick back and make dumb financial decisions. That’s how financial advisers see it, when their clients get a hankering for a summer house after returning from an idyllic trip. Sales of vacation homes in the U.S. rose 30 percent last year to 717,000, the National Association of …

Using Health Savings Accounts to Invest for Retirement

August 19, 2014 New York Times by Ann Carrns Health savings accounts are often promoted as a way to help cover continuing out-of-pocket medical costs. But the accounts, which have tax advantages, can also be used to save money for health expenses in retirement — and the savings can be substantial, a new analysis finds. A report this month from …

Health Savings Accounts Can Double as Shadow IRAs

June 2, 2014 Wall Street Journal Ann Gugle of Alpha Financial Advisors was a contributor to an article that explained the rising popularity of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and how to best use a Health Savings Account for maximum growth. Ann is a principal and owner at Alpha Financial Advisors in Charlotte, N.C. *** You can read more of this …

Ways to Avoid Making Mistakes With Donor-Advised Funds

December 23, 2013 Wall Street Journal John Gugle of Alpha Financial Advisors was featured in an article explaining how donor-advised funds are used to promote greater philanthropy and to maximize tax savings.  John is a principal and owner at Alpha Financial Advisors in Charlotte, N.C. *** You can read more of this article at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304020704579276163221844326

4 tips for buying stocks with ‘play money’

December 2, 2013 Bankrate.com By Marilyn Kennedy Melia Taking risks with play money Did your pulse pick up when the Dow Jones industrial average crossed 14,000? Could you barely contain your itchy investment finger when the market eclipsed 15,000? Consider yourself fortunate. Unlike many, you’re probably not living paycheck to paycheck but are instead focused on how your savings might …

You Plan Your Retirement, Then You Get the Health Bill

November 20, 2013 New York Times by Ann Carrns JEFF STRACK, a 61-year-old sales manager in Charlotte, N.C., enjoys his work and is in good health. But the prospect of paying for health costs after he retires weighs on him. “Within health care,” he said, “there’s all kinds of uncertainties.” Mr. Strack hasn’t decided yet when he’ll stop working full …

Financial Advisers Shift After Fed Surprise

September 20, 2013 Wall Street Journal John Gugle was featured in an article addressing the ways that financial advisors are making changes to investment portfolios in response to the Federal Reserve interest rate policy changes.  John is a principal and owner at Alpha Financial Advisors in Charlotte, N.C. *** A version of this article appeared September 20, 2013, on page …

Tactical Funds Make Few Friends with Lagging Returns

September 19, 2013 Wall Street Journal John Gugle was featured in an article explaining tactical-allocation mutual funds.  John is a principal and owner at Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina.  *** To read the entire article, go to: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323308504579085034127440044