Bedel Blog

Currency exchange rates around the globe are always fluctuating, including our U.S. dollar. Right now the U.S. dollar is “strong.” That’s a good thing for your wallet and the economy, right? Not necessarily. Economists can make a valid argument either way. Take a look at what determines the strength of a currency and the impact it can have.

If you’re nearing retirement age, you’re probably thinking about Medicare and the potential premiums. Did you know premiums can vary based on plan type, enrollment date and your income? You’ve worked hard for your retirement savings, make sure you’re in the know about Medicare premiums so you can avoid a costly mistake.

Any mountain climber will tell you that reaching the summit requires preparation, patience and perseverance – and the same goes for investing. Without a plan, patience, and the persistence to grow your investments despite volatility and risk, you can’t reach the “summit” of your investment plan. We explore the lessons you can learn about investing from the perspective of a mountain climber.

Becoming the trustee of a trust or choosing a trustee for your trust is not a decision that should be taken lightly. There are many traits you should be looking for and responsibilities you should be aware of before committing to choose or become a trustee. We’ve broken down the responsibilities, as well as what qualities a trustee should possess to help make the process a bit easier for you.

Many think of trusts as estate planning tools that only apply to high-net-worth individuals, but in reality a trust can be helpful for anyone with estate management and distribution goals. Unsure if a trust would be beneficial in your situation? We’ve outlined the basics of trusts and their benefits for you.

When it comes to your investment portfolio, taking risk shouldn’t be a foreign concept. But many don’t necessarily think of risk when investing in bonds. We discuss the types of risk you would commonly find in the world of bonds and highlight what those risks could mean for your portfolio.

Youth sports can bring a host of benefits to the athlete, but it can be a real drain on a parent’s wallet. Before diving into the world of youth athletics, it’s important to understand the full costs you’re committing to when your child participates. Read on for one staff member’s experience with elite youth sports – hopefully you’ll benefit from her naiveté and be better prepared for the financial impact.

As your child heads off to college, you might feel a bit of relief knowing that your job is done...at least for a few months. But if you don’t have legal medical documents in place for your child, your job just became much harder should your student be hurt or incapacitated while away from home. Read on for our advice on documents it makes sense to have in place so you can make healthcare decisions for your child should he/she be unable to.

Equity compensation can be a confusing topic for many workers, but it’s becoming a more common and accepted method of payment to workers, especially in the tech sector. We explore the types of equity compensation and what a payout might look like for you.

The recent sharp downward move in interest rates, coupled with recent downturns in the market, has created an interesting situation for some investors – guaranteed negative returns on nearly 25 percent of bonds currently trading. What could this mean for your portfolio? Read on for the details.

If you have a student heading off to college soon, now might be a good time to review your options for saving money on college expenses. A good place to start? Two tax credits – the AOTC and the Lifetime Learning Credit – that can reduce your tax liability by up to $2500 and $2000, respectively. We discuss the criteria for these credits and which might be better for your particular situation.

Wire transactions can be a great way to move money from account to account quickly…but they can also come with their own set of headaches. We want the process to be as seamless as possible for you, so we’ve outlined several ways to jump-start your wire transaction and make the process easier.