Posts by Catherine Buck
Defined-Outcome ETFs: Clarity in Uncertain Times
Written by: Paolo LaPietra, CFP® Sometimes the market just wants to keep us on our toes. April was a perfect reminder of that—when the S&P 500 dropped over 15% seemingly overnight on tariff fears and recession whispers. And yet, here we are, not even into June, and the index has already clawed…
Read MoreUnderstanding Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rates — and Why It Matters
Written by: Vincenzo G. Testa, CPA, CFP®, ECA When most people talk about how much they “pay in taxes,” they’re usually thinking of one number. But there are actually two tax rates that matter—and they tell very different stories: your marginal tax rate and your effective tax rate. Understanding the difference can help…
Read MoreRemoving the Emotions from Investing
Written by: Martin Shields, CFP®, AIF® When we meet with a prospective client in an initial meeting, we discuss the value we provide for our clients which can be broken down into the following categories: Personal CFO – We provide guidance regarding any finance related question. Tactical Investment Management – We manage ETF…
Read MoreCDPHP Workforce Team Challenge 2025
The 2025 Workforce Team Challenge is the largest running event in the Capital District and organized by Hudson-Mohawk Club HMRRC. It is a major fundraising event and this year Girl’s on the Run Capital Region and Unity House were the honored event charities. Scott, John, Katie, Shelley, Marty, Ed (not pictured), and Vinnie (not pictured) ran…
Read MoreNavigating Uncertainty: Key Tariff and Market Updates
Watch our latest market update webinar where we present a market update focused on the effects of tariff policy and current economic data. The discussion will be led by Chief Investment Officer Ryan Bouchey and Portfolio Strategist Paolo LaPietra. Topics Include: Market Update Soft Data vs. Hard Data – What to focus on Tariff…
Read MoreCash In or Hold Tight? How to Decide When to Exercise Your Non-Qualified Stock Options
Written by: Harmony Wagner, CFP®, CPWA® Executives who receive non-qualified stock options (NSOs) as part of their equity compensation package may not understand how to optimize this powerful compensation type. When designing a stock option exercise strategy, several different metrics can be useful to determine the value of each option and establish trigger points.…
Read MoreHow Does the Social Security Fairness Act Impact Me?
How Does the Social Security Fairness Act Impact Me? Written by: Samantha Masey, CFP® The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5, 2025, as an effort to increase social security benefits for certain types of workers that were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension…
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