When it comes to purchasing a new home, it's essential to be realistic about what you expect to pay. While most people focus on their monthly mortgage payment, other costs related to the purchase are frequently overlooked. Some of these costs are one-time (paid at purchase or immediately after) while others persist over your entire ownership tenure.
At Bristlecone, we implement the best online practices to protect our clients' assets and privacy. We thought we would share the tools we use in our professional and personal lives.
With interest rates on the 30-year mortgage below 3%, now might be a good time to refinance or even pay off your mortgage balance early. When does it make sense to choose one or the other?
Nearly everyone is familiar with the expression "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush." On its face, this proverb conveys the risk of exchanging a sure thing for the uncertain prospect of something better. But underlying this time-tested truism is a core concept of finance: The Time Value of Money (TVM).
Nobody likes to consider the possibility that they could fall ill or become incapacitated, yet the current health crisis is putting these concerns into sharp relief. One way to mitigate this anxiety is to have a well-considered estate plan in place beforehand, just in case it is needed.
As fiduciaries, we continually question whether our investment process is sound and likely to deliver the returns that our clients need to reach their goals. We draw from history, academic studies, common sense, and apply the lessons to today’s environment. We are generally skeptical of the oft-repeated phrase: “This time it’s different.” It is often abused to justify poor assumptions and flawed decisions. Yet, the current pandemic triggered some unprecedented policy responses from governments around the world.