Credit Cards: What You Need to Know

August 12, 2019     

Looking to help your child start earning credit before going back to school? Looking for some new ideas on ways to earn points and rewards with credit cards? Read on for helpful information and ideas.

 What is a Credit Card?

Credit cards are similar to debit cards in transaction; instead of having the funds removed directly from your checking account when you make a purchase on your debit card, you are basically taking on a short-term loan with a credit card. Initially, this loan does not accrue interest- unless you miss your monthly payments beyond the stated grace period.

You start to accrue interest on the balance that you do not pay off from your billing statement. This is the piece where many people get into trouble: Paying off your credit card balance before it is due is the best way to build your credit history while avoiding high rates of interest and late fees.

APR is the Annual Percentage Rate- this is the measure of the full cost a lender charges for borrowed funds which are not paid off each month. The average APR for credit cards is 16.71% (based on a rate report for 2018). Compared to the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 4.74%, average auto loan at 4.21% for 60 months, and average federal student loans at 4.81%, you can see just how lofty credit card debt can be and how quickly it will accrue.

So why own a credit card? Three reasons for owning a credit card:  1) create credit history, 2) convenience, 3) benefits and rewards. The high interest rate is only charged if you do not pay off your balance each month! There are several benefits to using a credit card. 

Why is a good credit history so important?

Good credit history is like a good reputation.  When you have good credit, it illustrates that you are responsible and that you will pay your bills on time.  The bank or lender will in turn trust you to pay back a loan when you apply for a car or condo loan in the future.  Your track record of paying back your credit card on time creates a credit score. Lenders review your credit score each time you wish to borrow for a larger purchase; lenders can look at all your credit cards and see if you have a history of paying bills on time!

What are the benefits?

There are so many different credit cards out there and it pays to do your research. Here are a few different types:

  1. 1. Cash Rewards credit cards- many earn 1% back on all purchases made, with 2%-5% back on other qualifying purchases such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas and fuel etc. (often rotating higher cash back categories each month). There are many cash reward cards that have no annual fee, which is another important factor to keep in mind when selecting a credit card. Options for cash rewards cards include PNC, Capital One Quicksilver or Capital One Savor, Bank of America, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Discover it to name a few.

  • 2. Airline credit cards– most major airlines have a credit card in which you earn points or “flyer miles” to use toward flights, rental cars, and hotels. Some airline credit cards are with Southwest, American Airlines, and United. A travel card option for those not wishing to be loyal to just one airline is Chase Sapphire Preferred.

  • 3. Hotel or travel points credit cards- these range from specific hotel cards which work within a chain or branch of hotels, to broader travel cards which can redeem points at various hotels, travel, or theme park admissions. These cards are desirable for their many perks and features including access to airport lounges, concierge services, and priority passes. Platinum or Gold cards are desired by those who like to travel, and some select these cards for the prestige. American Express, Chase, and Capital One have travel cards with multi-level benefits.

  • 4. Student credit cards– these are a good choice for responsible college students with little to no credit history. These can help build accountability as well as credit. These cards tend to have little to no annual fee and a low borrowing limit at which their card maxes out, usually somewhere between $500 -$1,000. Discover is a popular card for students.

Some other benefits of using a credit card include:

  • Building your credit score- The more often you can prove to creditors that you are timely and spend below your credit limit, the more opportunity there is to improve your credit score and create good credit history.  A good credit score will allow you to receive better rates when you apply for a car or mortgage in the future.

Sign up bonuses may include large amounts of bonus points toward cash back or rewards, complimentary flights, no fees for the first year, and other promotional perks.

  • Fraud protection sorts out suspicious purchases or identity theft attempts

  • Complimentary travel insurance, which may act as a warranty, rental car insurance, or purchase protection insurance all aid in peace of mind.

  • Convenient and safe online shopping- as most have several layers of security protection.

  • Works in any currency, so you can take your card oversees with a minor currency conversion fee.

You will receive the greatest advantage if you pay back the credit card’s short-term debt in a timely manner. These benefits are enticing, so it is important to understand the fees, timing of payment, credit limit, and your ability to adhere to these rules before signing up. Overall, using a credit card responsibly is a great way to earn credit with many added advantages along the way. 

Please contact Schenley Capital, Inc.  We are happy to answer any questions.

Written by: Lauren Porter
Associate at Schenley Capital, Inc.
  • 417 Walnut St.
  • Suite 200
  • Sewickley, PA 15143

Phone: (412)-749-9256

8 Ideas for First-Time Home Buyers

August 6, 2019     

8 ideas for First-Time Home Buyers

A Three-Part Series

Buying a home is very exciting, although it can be overwhelming. Especially, when houses are selling quickly, and over the asking price. In a HOT market, such as 2019, you may be tempted to make an impulsive purchase, which may crush your financial budget.  You want to be very careful to buy the home that you love in a way which does not hurt your future financial and personal goals.

Here are some great ideas for buyers at any age!

1.      Pay off all debt and build an emergency fund –

Owning a home is more expensive than renting. You are responsible for the maintenance; therefore, make sure you are debt free and have saved 3-6 months of expenses. Unexpected expenses pop up such as: a new washer, a new furnace, or replacing the roof. Tackle one room at a time. 

2.      Determine how much you can afford –

Make sure you can afford your monthly housing expenses plus fees, taxes and insurance. The total cost of the home per month should be less than 25% of your monthly take-home pay. Include your 20% down payment and allow for a cushion. Add in costs for snow, garbage removal and internet charges.

3.      Save for a Down Payment –

We can help you with short-term income investment options as you save for your down payment. The 20% down payment will reduce your monthly mortgage payments and eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI) expense. A 15-year fixed, or variable mortgage is an effective low-cost option. A 30-year conventional fixed mortgage is a longer-term option.

You can use a piece of your ROTH IRA as part of your down payment; however, we don’t recommend this strategy. This is for first time home buyers, such as yourself, your child or grandchild.

4.      Saving for Closing Costs –

Closing costs can add up; on average the costs could be 3-4% of the purchase price. These fees include: the appraisal, home inspection, credit report, and a title search.

5.      Get Pre-Approved for a loan –

Take the extra time to get a pre-approval letter from a lender or mortgage broker. This will show that you are a serious buyer and that you have a leg up on the competition. You will have to verify all your financial information, such as proof of income, taxes paid, a credit check and submit your loan information for preliminary underwriting.

6.      Find a home for sale in your price range –

Look for homes on-line, take a virtual tour, and hire a real estate agent for access to homes on the Multi list. Research neighborhoods, high quality school districts and length of your commute.

7.      Make a Competitive Offer (within your budget!)

You are pre-approved therefore you are ready to submit an offer. It may be tricky to know how much you should offer. Get advice from your real estate agent to ensure your offer will be competitive. 

8.      Get Ready for Closing –

On average it takes 41 days to close on a house. Read all documents carefully and ask questions if things are not clear; you are signing the documents.

Buying a home is a large and important purchase; therefore, you do not want to risk making costly mistakes. Your home is one piece of the puzzle, how it is financed and how you invest the rest of your finances is our business. We are here to help!

417 Walnut Street
Suite 200
Sewickley, PA 15143

Written by:
Beth Genter

Downsizing Your Home

August 6, 2019     

Newfound Money for Retirement

After decades of focusing on building your assets, retirement is the time you are finally able to sit back and enjoy your nest egg.  Perhaps you would like to be in a smaller house close to town, a contemporary town house, or a house on one floor with an open floor plan.  If you dream of traveling more, playing an instrument, hiking, and playing more golf or tennis during retirement, then you may consider downsizing to a smaller home to increase your savings.  Your retirement could potentially be 30 years without working income.  Nevertheless, moving to a smaller space at any point can often seem overwhelming and daunting.

The Upside of downsizing:  significant savings; more time to do the things you enjoy; declutter your life.  Maybe your children have left for college, maybe you really don’t need the extra bedrooms, or what if your house is just too large to maintain?  If eliminating a mortgage payment completely and putting a large chunk of money towards your retirement sounds like a dream come true, then downsizing during retirement could be the right choice.

Think of the financial benefits long term….

Reducing Debt… What if you could reduce or eliminate all debt that you are currently carrying by selling your larger home, paying off the old mortgage and purchasing a smaller home?  Paying off debt is always a wise decision, whether in a lump sum or short-term payment.  Consider if you reduced your mortgage an additional $500 a month and put the cash to work.  Example: You owe $18,000 on a loan with 6% rate, and a $200 monthly minimum payment.  It would take 10 years to pay off that loan; however, if you put an additional $500 toward that same loan each month, you would pay off the loan in less than 2.5 years!

Super charge your retirement fund… Once you are debt free, you can really build wealth for the future by putting large chunks of money to work.  Example:  Suppose you sold your house and you have $250,000 net proceeds; if you invest the funds over 20 years at a 6% rate of return, you would receive $827,550, through the power of compounding.  You can create an even larger nest egg by consistently adding to your retirement accounts in earlier years on a monthly basis!  Remember, the money in your company retirement accounts and individual retirement accounts (IRA’s) grows tax deferred; you would not pay tax on the income or the capital gains.   Imagine how much faster your funds would grow when placing larger sums to work in the market.

Benefits of owning a smaller house…Less time spent maintaining your rightsized house.  You could reduce debt by paying off your mortgage and investing your funds directly, to jump start your retirement fund.  It is important to choose an experienced real estate agent to price your current home correctly. 

Ready to downsize? we can help you properly invest the proceeds from the sale of your larger home, let’s get started!

Schenley Capital Inc.

417 Walnut Street suite 200 Sewickley, PA 15143

Written by: Beth Genter Derek Green and Lauren Porter

Purchasing a 2nd Home?

August 6, 2019     

So, you would like to buy a 2nd Home?
Living in a desirable resort or other location could be a dream come true; nevertheless, it is important not to get too distracted by the beauty of the environment.  Ask yourself the difficult questions such as, “Why do I really want to own a house here?”  or, “What would I do with the house after the purchase?”.

Where Should You Buy?
When dealing with any real estate transaction, location is the first, second and third most important consideration.  Although, be sure to think about the local resale values, economic trends, tax rates, schools, health care, and other additional factors.  Ultimately, the ideal location for your second home will depend on your reasons for desiring a second home.  Here are some thoughts on a second home:

  1. 1. Spend more time in a favorite vacation spot
  2. 2. Invest in property that could produce income and appreciate
  3. 3. Rent to tenants short-term, allowing you to visit frequently
  4. 4. Fix it and flip it

If you think you might want to move to a specific location, you should consider renting in the area first.  This will allow you to “test out” the area, and experience “life” at the location before you dive into a massive purchase.  You would understand the rhythm of the area; find out where your ideal location would be, test out the best golf courses, and find near-by activities.

How much can you afford?
Buying a second home is a major commitment.  You must consider a mortgage, the expenses of maintaining a home, paying taxes, management fees, and insurance; these things can all add up.  If buying into a community or a condo, you should know about the HOA and maintenance fees.  Insuring a property with a pool or near the beach will increase the carrying costs of the second home (consider floodplain).   
Some second home buyers can purchase with cash, while others will need to qualify for a second-home mortgage.  Mortgage financing will be calculated in addition to mortgage debt on your primary home.
It would be wise to make a down payment of 10% – 20%. You must meet credit standards, debt-to-income requirements, and provide documents for income and asset verification.  Mortgage rates are very low; although, they are slightly higher on a second home.  A mortgage lender is helpful.

Consider the Tax Implications.
If you live in the home, you can deduct the property taxes. The new limit for State & Local taxes is $10,000 per tax return.  Recall that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act caps the mortgage interest deduction at $750,000 of total mortgage debt.
According to the IRS, second homes have different rules for investment properties than vacation homes; so, consult your tax accountant.
When considering the purchase of a second property, it is important to think about the taxes, insurance, maintenance, furnishings, property management, and repairs which come along with owning a second property.  Contact Schenley Capital Inc. before purchasing a second home to see how it fits in with your overall financial picture.

(412)-749-9256
417 Walnut Street
Suite 200
Sewickley, PA 15143
Written by
Elizabeth Genter

529’s

July 14, 2019     

     From the day a child is born, every family would love to plan and save for their child’s future. Paying for your child’s education can seem out of reach with college and trade school tuition constantly rising. Luckily, there is an investment plan called a 529 that can help make those big dreams become a reality!

     A section 529 plan is a savings plan designed to promote saving for your children’s college or trade school tuition.

     College savings plans allow the person who contributes to the account, the account holder, to save for their beneficiary, the future college or trade school student. The 529 account is tax deferred, meaning that the contribution into the 529 are not deductible, (a small portion is for the state of PA). Earnings grow tax free and will not be taxed when you take out money for college expenses. All earnings, income, and gains on the investment inside the 529 accounts are not subject to income tax or a 15% capital gain tax.

     A parent, grandparent, or family member can initiate a 529 for the child.  While the account is called a “college savings plan”, the plan does not exclusively cover colleges; but will cover trade school’s tuition, art schools, or a semester abroad, room and board costs, books, fees, and a computer. 

      One great aspect of a 529 is that the earnings are not subject to federal taxes, if, the withdrawals are used for college or trade school tuition and other college related expenses. If you withdraw from your 529 account and do not use the funds for college or trade school based expenses, you will be subject to income tax and an additional 10% federal tax penalty on your earnings. A 529 can impact federal financial aid for a student as well. When a student has a 529 plan, this usually greatly reduces the participation amount, if any, that will be awarded to a student with federal financial aid. As of 2006, assets held in either 529 plan will be counted as parental assets when filling out a student’s financial aid forms. Students with a carefully planned and funded 529 plan may not even have the need for financial aid, as their investments will work for funding their entire education.

     Speaking to a qualified investment advisor with a solid knowledge of 529’s is every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other family members safest decision.

An advisor would be able to guide you with proper planning to benefit your future college bound student!

   written by: ||Beth Genter – President||

Schenley Capital Breakfast Event Recap

May 1, 2019     

Schenley Capital, Inc. sponsored their 2nd annual breakfast speaker in Sewickley on April 18th, 2019.  They hosted this event for the Sewickley Non-Profit Consortium (SNPC) and invited additional regional non-profit organizations to the breakfast event.

Table Spread across the street from Schenley Capital Inc. at the Tull Family Theater

The event took place at The Tull Family Theater in the Esmark and Bouchard Family Community Room; a great location to host an event! Guests nibbled on croissants from Adesso Cafe (La Gormandine), and sipped coffee from Crazy Mocha. There were more than 35 Regional non-profit organizations invited to the event and +50 staff and board members who attended the breakfast.  Sewickley is a town which prides itself on being a giving community— leaders serve on boards and enthusiastically support organizations with varying missions.  The attending organizations ranged from large to small, and the communities represented hailed from Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Coraopolis, Ambridge, Moon Township, Leetsdale, and Beaver. Many of these organizations work together by promoting other organizations’ services and events. They collaborate and refer specific needs they encounter to the appropriate organization or group.

Fred Brown Speaking with enthusiasm to 50+ individuals in non-profits organizations

Fred Brown, President and CEO of The Forbes Funds was the main attraction attendees came to hear. The Forbes Funds’ mission is “building the management capacity and impact of community-based nonprofits individually and collectively”. Fred Brown gave an inspiring and enlightening talk focused on how the number of nonprofits in Pittsburgh have increased over time; but, it’s impact- not so much. He encouraged the SNPC group that their collaboration with one another is a great way to further impact the community by working together toward a common goal, sharing resources, and reducing duplication. He also noted how it is important to think about the longevity of an organization’s mission and how it can be sustained over time with the changing needs of the community. Working together with other businesses and nonprofits is an important part of sustainability and increasing an organization’s impact. His main idea was to be transformational in a transactional world. In being transformational over transactional in how we work toward the betterment of our communities- organizations can shift from good organizations to great organizations. 

Beth Genter and her associates Lauren Porter and Derek Green look forward to sponsoring next Spring’s event for the Sewickley Non-Profit organizations!


8 Ideas to enhance your Individual Retirement Account! (IRA)

March 26, 2019     

You have until Monday, April 15th, 2019 to make your 2018 Individual Retirement Account contribution.  It is possible you could add to your ROTH IRA or receive a deduction on your Traditional IRA contribution. 

  • 1. Maximize your 2018 IRA contribution—before April 15th

You can place $5,500 into your IRA +$1,000 if you are over 50 years old = $6,500

  • 2. Maximize your 2019 IRA Contribution—you can do this immediately

You can place $6,000 into your IRA and +$1,000 if you are over 50 years old = $7,000

  • 3. Consider a ROTH IRA – ROTH IRA’s have more flexible rules

You can contribute to a ROTH if you are under these limits:
Single filer and you make less than $137,000. Phase out starts at $122,000.
Married filing jointly and you make less than $203,000. Phase out starts at $193,000.
You DO have to pay taxes when you contribute to your ROTH IRA
You will NOT receive a tax deduction
You will NOT have to pay any taxes when you take the funds out at the time of your retirement
You can take out funds after 5 years without paying the 10% early withdraw penalty, such as a 1st time home purchase

  • 4. Consider a Traditional IRA – you may qualify for a tax deduction

You are single and make less than $63,000 – $73,000
You are married and make less than $103,000 – $123,000

  • 5. How can I invest my IRA savings?

You can invest in individual stocks, mutual funds, bonds or ETF’s (exchange traded funds)
We would be happy to talk with you about your IRA investment selections
Structuring your portfolio for long term growth is important

  • 6. Consider the fantastic advantages of an IRA!

Your money grows without paying capital gains tax or income tax on your dividends and income
Your money compounds and grows over the years – very powerful!

  • 7. Minimize Fees and Expenses in your IRA Account

Choose an account with inexpensive trading fees – we work with Schwab Institutional = $4.99 per trade
Choose a Schwab account – No annual account fees
Choose inexpensive no-load mutual funds for broad diversification – US large companies, US small companies, European large companies and a mix of bonds to invest your IRA funds

  • 8. You could initiate an IRA for your spouse even if they do not work outside of the house

Rush to make your Individual Retirement Account contribution this year and every year.  An IRA account is one of the most powerful investment vehicles because of the tax-free nature of this account.  Most importantly, your money grows and compounds over time. 

We at Schenley can guide you through the process!

Worried about the current Volatility?? Think big Picture…

December 19, 2018     

The Big Picture:

• The diversified approach will ward off the effects of the current volatility
• Late year sell-off has created attractively priced US Equities
• This is the longest expansion in history – 113 months from June 2009

There were three .25-point Federal Reserve (FED) rate hikes in 2018 – heated trade squabbles between the US and China which commanded investor attention. The emerging markets slow-down in China, which influenced and spread to other emerging market economies. This volatility expanded from the emerging markets to the developed markets affecting equity and bond markets. Rising interest rates and fears of slowing earnings growth fueled a sharp decline in US equities, that began in early October.

Will the FED continue to raise rates?

This week all eyes are on the FED, waiting to see if the FED will announce their last rate hike for 2018. We think the FED will not raise rates in 2018, due to the recent market volatility. We do believe that the FED will tamp on the breaks in 2019 and be slow to raise rates. Although we do believe that the market and the economy will be able to withstand 2-3 rate hikes in 2019. The hard-economic data signals continued strength in the US labor market and industrial production are “reasonably” strong. Inflation is moderate and there seems to be no further changes on the horizon. The FED is still on the path of “normalizing” rates as they have been very open to announce and communicate their intension to raise rates, although there might be a pause in this strategy.

Are we in Mid-Cycle or Late -Cycle rally?

This argument has been going on for the last several years; we may be in the 7th or 8th inning or more mid-market cycle. In the wake of the 2008 crisis leverage was decreased, corporate cash was at very low levels, and corporate debt was very high, hence there was no strength or cushion in the corporate balance sheets. Currently, companies are stronger, have higher amounts of cash not so much corporate debt and banks have higher reserves. Fiscally the economy is doing very well, economic fundamentals remain strong and solid.
For 21 months the growth stocks lead the market. In the past five years the S & P Index returned 11%! After such an up-turn the market usually goes into a corrective phase, which we have experienced in October and November; this type of market decline is not unusual. The leadership of the equity markets has been narrow, as a few stocks lead the market, there has been a change from the big-cap Tech stocks – the FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) stocks in favor of more defensive type of stocks, such as the utility or consumer staples, such as Home Depot or Pepsi. Although, today the market has rebounded and is up +239 points.

Looking ahead….to 2019

Economic fundamentals in the United States remain solid. US Stocks are still relatively cheap on a long-term basis – corporate earnings grew at 25% with the help of the 2017 US tax reform package along with the Trump administration’s push for deregulation. Those factors were positive for economic Growth and corporate profits.
We remain positive for the market to return mid-single digit earnings growth in 2019. It is the precise reason why our portfolios remain fully diversified in the equity sectors and the fixed income sectors to protect our client’s assets. Our bond portfolios are very short term to ensure our portfolios keep up with rising rates. After two years of virtually no volatility, we believe that the current market volatility will continue in 2019. We have introduced several investments to dampen the effects of volatility.

In the 2nd half of December we encourage:

• Gifting for tuition and to family members – Each individual can give $15,000 to each family member
• Contributing to your IRA’s and 529
• Using your Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA – to gift to charity rather than paying income tax on the amount
• Perhaps initiating a Donor Advised Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation

We would be happy to discuss our market and gifting thoughts
Happy Holidays & a Prosperous New Year from our Schenley family to yours!!

8 Tips to Boost the Value of Your IRA

April 11, 2018     

A Traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account) allows you to defer income tax
on the money you set aside for retirement. This Individual account is separate
from your 401(k) at work. Your IRA account is NOT tied to your job, so you can
maintain the same IRA account throughout your career.

Here is how to maximize the value of your IRA account:

1)Maximize your tax deduction
You can put $5,500 into your IRA account each year and $6,500 if you are +50
The amount of income you make depends on the amount you may deduct

2) April 17,2018 is the deadline for your $5,500 2017 contribution.
Although as of 1/1/2018 you can make your 2018 IRA contribution any time during the year
The earlier you place $5,500 into your IRA the more time your money can grow & compound

3) Contribute to each spouses account
Married couples can contribute $11,000- $13,000(+50)– if only one spouse is working, the
working spouse can contribute to their account and into a separate IRA account for the
non-working spouse

4) How should I invest my IRA savings?
You can invest in individual stocks, mutual funds, bonds or ETF’s -exchange traded funds
You have many more choices than you do in your 401(k)

5) Even if you do not qualify for a tax deduction –
Your IRA is a great way to save for your retirement
You must have earned income from your job
You must be younger than than 79 ½
Single filers: you must make less than $62,000-$72,000 to take a tax deduction
Married filers: You must make less than $99,000-$119,000 to take a tax deduction

6) Consider the fantastic advantages of an IRA
Money grows without paying capital gains tax – a tax on the gain on your investments
Money grows without paying tax on the income generated by income or stock dividends

7) Minimize Fees
Choose Large & small company, US, European, Real Estate and a mix of bonds for your IRA
Choose no load or inexpensive mutual funds for your IRA Account
Choose an account with inexpensive stock trading fees
Choose an account such as a Schwab account, which does not have annual account fees

8) Consider a ROTH IRA – as the ROTH has more flexible rules
You do pay the tax up front for the ROTH IRA account
You do not receive a tax deduction
You do not have to pay any taxes when you take the funds out at the time of your retirement
You can take out funds after 5 years with out paying a 10% penalty, such as a 1st time home
buyer

Rush to make your IRA contribution this year and in every consecutive year. An IRA
account is one of the most powerful investment vehicles because of the tax-free
nature of this account; and the fact that your money compounds and grows over
time. We at Schenley Capital are available to guide you through the IRA process or
assist you with your IRA investments. There are many ways to invest your IRA to
maximize the value of your IRA for your future!

European Large Cap

November 21, 2017     

European Large Cap companies are European companies that are valued at 10 billion and above. To learn about how that valuation is calculated, visit our blog on large cap. The next question may be, what qualifies as a European company? Is it developed companies in the European region? Does that include Switzerland and the UK or is it just the “Eurozone”? Each mutual fund groups companies together differently, while some may include 300 large companies from 17 European countries, others may hold 50 big European companies focused only in countries using the euro. The developed market European large-cap funds are drastically different from each other and vary in more measures than how US large cap companies are chosen. Some examples of European Large Cap stocks are Nestle (NSRGY) the largest and well-known food and beverage company in the world, France Telecom (FTE) the leading telecommunications service provider in France and neighboring countries, Royal Dutch Schell (RDS.A) one of the largest energy companies in the world, and Covidien (COV) a Dublin, Ireland-based company that develops, manufactures, and distributes medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and other health-care products worldwide.

Investing in high quality European companies diversifies and spreads out the risk in your portfolio. It is wise to invest in strong large global companies with solid balance sheets outside of the U.S. Do you have a good portion of non-U.S. investments in your portfolio? As global markets shift, it could be a good idea to keep diversification in your portfolio through a balance of emerging markets or European based investments.

 

written by: ||lauren pearce, associate||