Tax planning for the self-employed
Self-employment is the opportunity to be your own boss, to come and go as you please, and oh yes, to establish a lifelong bond with your accountant. If you’re self-employed, you’ll need to pay your own FICA taxes and take charge of your own retirement plan, among other things. Here are some planning tips. Understand […]
Shareholders tell Google to rethink China search product
Shareholders tell Google to rethink China search product and prioritize human rights (Falls Church, Va., Feb. 27, 2019) — A coalition of Google shareholders has filed a resolution asking the company to publish a human rights impact assessment for a controversial censored search product — called “Dragonfly” — that Google is reportedly developing for use […]
Azzad Portfolios Achieve ‘Top Guns’ Status from Informa Investment Solutions
Small cap growth, small cap value strategies excel across multiple categories Falls Church, Va., 2/21/19 – Azzad Asset Management today announced that two of its investment portfolios have been recognized as “Top Guns” for time periods ending December 31, 2018. The firm’s small cap growth and small cap value strategies received the distinction from Informa […]
Are you a risk taker? If you invest, the answer is yes.
For each individual, the word “risk” evokes a different image or experience. A person’s perception of risk can be shaped by past experiences, recent stories in the media, the latest investment-related study, and incidents recounted by friends and associates. Too often, it’s these factors and not actual probabilities that shape an individual’s expectations for the […]
What to do if you miss taking an RMD
People don’t often think of the IRS as their friend. But there is at least one taxpayer-friendly thing the IRS is known for: its process for people who miss taking their required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from a retirement account. If you don’t go about it the right way, though, it can cost you 50% […]
Halal investing 101: A refresher to remind yourself of the basics
We all need a reminder every now and then about how halal investing works. In a nutshell, halal investing touches on the following four issue areas: Refraining from the giving and taking of riba Avoiding speculation (gharar) and uncertainty (maysir) Not transacting in the buying and selling of debt Abstaining from investing in companies with […]
Five things that make Azzad unique
At Azzad, we believe that an investment has moral as well as financial implications. “Do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order; but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts) for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who good.” (Surah Al-A’raf, Ayah 56) To […]
Riba explained: Understanding ‘interest’ in Islamic finance
What do we really mean when we use the Arabic term riba? The literal translation of the word is “increase, addition or growth,” though it is often translated as “usury.” English speakers typically understand usury as the charging of an exploitative interest rate. But riba refers to any excess value in transactions that our Sacred […]
2019 Investment Outlook
Wow, last year was a real kick in the gut for investors. Things were looking great until October when the wheels fell off and several indices entered bear market territory. Should we expect more of the same in 2019? Here’s our conversation with Azzad Ethical Fund portfolio manager Christian Greiner, CFA® on January 15, 2019. […]
Have you heard of a Roth 401(k)?
You’re probably familiar with traditional 401(k) plans, and we hope you know about Roth IRAs as well. (If not, check out these 5 things you should know about Roth IRAs). But did you know there’s also a Roth 401(k)? Basically, a Roth 401(k) is a 401(k) account to which you can contribute either pre-tax dollars, […]
