Understanding the Basics: Incentive Stock Options & Non-Qualified Stock Options
Today many companies grant employees stock purchase rights as a form of incentive. These rights are often one part of a total compensation package. Employers use these incentives to attract and retain valuable employees. These grants are given through a stock plan and grant agreement. They can come in two different forms: incentive stock options […]
How to Get Out-of-State College Education at an In-State Tuition Rate
The college decision is one of the more important moments of a young adult’s life and making the best decision can be rather challenging when analyzing all the factors, whether it be the cost of tuition, location, or the programs offered by an institution. Over the last decade, we have seen rising college costs weigh […]
Tax Implications of Investing in Master Limited Partnerships
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) have been a hot topic in the investment community in the last few years and for good reason. One of the top performing sectors of the market, MLPs have and continue to play a major role in the developing U.S. energy renaissance. A MLP is a partnership that provides liquidity because […]
Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up-to-Date?
The disposition of retirement assets such as individual retirement accounts (“IRA”) and employer-sponsored retirement plans as well as death benefits from life insurance policies and annuity contracts are not covered by your will or trust as long as beneficiary designations are in place for those assets. These vehicles are a great way to transfer assets […]
A Different Twist on Education Planning
At THOR, we continually strive to find the best financial solutions for our clients. We recently reviewed the “Private College 529 Plan,” which has an interesting twist to saving for college expenses. Most of our clients are aware of traditional 529 plans. The Private College 529 Plan is different from a traditional 529 plan in […]
The Emotional World of Investing
Investing is far from an exact science and in many ways it can be considered an art. Nobody has the perfect process or equation to tell them when to buy or sell, even though many will try to convince you otherwise. Just walk through a bookstore. You will see the shelves lined with investing books […]
We are #66!
On Wednesday May 14, CNBC announced their inaugural list of the Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Management firms in the country. THOR Investment Management, Inc. was named to the #66 spot on this prestigious list. Rankings were based on criteria that included assets under management, average account size, client segmentation and growth of assets. These criteria […]
Changing Dynamics in the Hedge Fund and Mutual Fund World
If one were to ask the average investor their general thoughts about hedge funds, the feedback would include things like specialized investment strategies, astute managers, large returns, high net worth individuals, and minimal regulations. To this day, many see hedge funds as a symbol of the elite and wealthy. Although this image of the space […]
Importance of Investing at a Young Age and Best Practices
Arguably the most fundamental lesson that can be taught in personal finance is the importance of saving and investing at a young age; it is vital to the process of wealth accumulation. The first point that needs to be stressed is that compounding interest can be very powerful over time. For example, suppose at the […]
Do Your Financial Advisor’s Incentives Match Your Best Interests
It is important to note that every individual’s financial situation is different. This means that everyone’s financial needs are going to vary. While some individuals will have a more complex financial picture and may need a more focused approach, others may only need minimal guidance and in many cases a more hands off approach. It […]