Understanding capital gains in light of new tax laws
The U.S. stock market this year has given total returns so far of close to 10 percent, which is a good thing for investors. But with the exception of savings in retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Uncle Sam will probably take a cut of your newfound wealth in capital gains tax. […]
People debating Nike’s Kaepernick ads are missing an opportunity: Using shareholder activism to make their voices heard.
Sportswear company Nike has received both praise and condemnation for its decision to make former NFL quarterback and racial justice advocate Colin Kaepernick the face of its 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign. Many astute commentators have already noted that Nike, as a giant, publicly traded corporation, is laser-focused on making profits and maximizing value […]
Fatima Iqbal: Reflecting on 10 years with Azzad
Ten years ago, Fatima Iqbal joined Azzad as a financial advisor and the company’s first CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. She joined while the Global Financial Crisis was unfolding, just a few weeks before Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and a couple of months before President Bush signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which […]
Living wills and trusts: Here’s what you need to know
Estate planning isn’t the most exciting thing to do, but it’s one of the most important–both for yourself and your family. If you have minor children and some assets, you probably need an estate plan regardless of your tax situation. Why you need a will or living trust If you die without a will (intestate), […]
Too much of a good thing is a good thing. Why eight portfolio managers are better than one.
Are you concerned about the risks associated with keeping all your money in one place? We hope this will help put you at ease. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. This simple piece of commonsense wisdom has helped generations of people minimize their chances of losing everything. The idea of not concentrating all […]
U.S. fiscal issues loom: How larger deficits can hurt the economy
According to the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projection, the federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2018 (which ends on September 30) will reach $793 billion, or 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP). This figure is $230 billion more than the CBO had previously estimated in June 2017, largely because legislation enacted since then […]
Whether you’re Muslim or not, annuities are a bad idea
We talk with a lot of people who come to us seeking advice about using annuities. We get why annuities can be attractive: they’re usually presented as being low-risk, reliable sources of retirement income. In the not-too-distant past, people had pensions through their employers — monthly income they knew they could count on when they […]
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Roth IRA conversions, but were afraid to ask
With the lure of tax-free distributions, Roth IRAs have become popular retirement savings vehicles. According to the 2017 Investment Company Fact Book, about 17.4% of U.S. households owned Roth IRAs in 2016. One way to fund a Roth IRA is to convert some or all of your traditional IRA or other retirement plan money to […]
Turkish markets in turmoil: Anything but a delight for investors
Joshua Brockwell is Investment Communications Director at Azzad Asset Management. He can be reached at joshua@azzadfunds.com A selloff in Turkish markets over the last few days has reverberated around the globe, prompting investor flight to safe havens like U.S. Treasuries, the Swiss franc, and the Japanese yen. Turkey’s inability to prop up its tumbling lira, […]
Understand your net worth
Do you know how much you’re worth financially? Knowing your net worth can help you to better plan for your future and set savings goals. To calculate your net worth, add up the value of everything you own and subtract from that amount everything you owe. In other words, your assets minus your debt equals your […]
