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Thomas R. Kestler, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CMFC We hear it all the time. Somebody will say, “The average return in the stock market is XX%” or “The Super Equity mutual fund had an average return of XX%.” My first reaction to any comment using averages is skepticism. Averages can be very misleading. For example, “cherry picking” a timeframe in order to show a high return is commonplace. On the other hand, the march of time itself can have a significant effect on averages. Consider you

Did you know you can give to charity and lower your taxes at the same time? 💡 Learn how a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA can make a big impact—for you and your favorite cause.

By Thomas R. Kestler, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CMFC As we enter the holiday season, many of us consider making charitable donations to a favorite cause or institution. According to the Giving USA report, Americans gave $592 billion to charity in 2024. Many of the donations were significant gifts as opposed to a few dollars here or there. If you are considering making a significant gift, here are three strategies that could help both you and the charity. Donate Appreciated Assets We ma