Insights

Anyone who has lived in, rented, or owned a home or apartment has some level of familiarity with real estate. Compared to other investments like stocks and bonds, this familiarity can make rental real estate investments seem like the most straightforward way to produce passive income.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), as the name implies, are savings accounts for health care expenses. There are restrictions on who may contribute, how much, and what counts as a qualified medical expense. It is worth exploring whether you have the opportunity to participate in one of these accounts as they provide some compelling tax benefits.

Is an “income investing” strategy right for your portfolio? 

The right answer requires a bit of nuance. While many investors may eventually want to rely on their portfolio for income, doing so does not necessarily require shifting toward income-generating investments.

This Insight explains why. Below, we define income investing, examine some common income-generating investments, and explain why this approach is likely not the best way to maximize total returns.

The Wealthstream Advisors team was excited to learn that the firm has been named as a 2023 finalist for the University at Buffalo’s UB Fast 46 list for the third year in a row.

This competition honors University at Buffalo alumni who own or lead businesses, recognizing 46 (a nod to the institution’s founding in 1846) of the fastest-growing firms each year. 

Wealthstream Advisors President and founder Michael Goodman is a proud Buffalo alumnus.

According to the university’s official contest announcement, “eligible companies must have been in business since January 2019; have verifiable revenues of at least $100,000 or more in 2019 and 2020 and at least $250,000 in 2021; and the owner or leader must be a UB alum or former student.”

We extend our thanks to the State University of New York at Buffalo for this honor and look forward to seeing the full list of finalists unveiled at a September 14 event at UB’s Center for the Arts.

 As financial planners, we get to assist people on a quest. Simply put, our job is twofold. 

In this Insight, we explain Monte Carlo analysis (also commonly called Monte Carlo simulation), how it works, and how it can be a powerful tool when projecting a family’s long-term financial future. 

10b5-1 plans can be a great option when divesting from concentrated equity positions in a firm, potentially offering protection against insider trading charges while avoiding the perception of failing confidence.

In this Insight, we explain these plans, how they work, and how they will be affected by new SEC rules changes.

The Wealthstream Advisors team is excited to announce that we have been selected for two 2023 awards! We are passionate about our work and proud to see this recognition of both the value we deliver to clients and the supportive team we have built.

Recent legislation, SECURE Act 2.0, makes important rule changes related to Roth IRAs, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), and more.

Investors are wondering why bond returns were down double digits in 2022. The reason is simple: rates are rising faster than any other time since 1988.