What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or getting to know the team at Varra Financial, you can read about it here. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
One you reach age 70 ½, you must begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from your qualified retirement account or other tax-deferred retirement savings plans. Did you know that you can use your RMD (or a portion of...
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Trade tensions have interrupted an unusually calm year in U.S. stocks. In May, the S&P 500 Index fell from an April 30 record high as the United States and China failed to reach a trade deal and escalated tariff tensions. The United...
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In this Q1 recap: the Federal Reserve alters its outlook, the truce in the trade dispute holds, the real estate market strengthens, and stocks make an impressive comeback from Q4, even as growth concerns mount. THE QUARTER IN BRIEFThe...
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The S&P 500 Index has staged an impressive rally after nearly entering a bear market December 24, with U.S. stocks notching their best start to a year since 1991. Stocks have climbed the “wall of worry” once again, but...
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Tuesday, February 26, 2019
We are still growing and we are so happy to announce the newest member of the Varra Financial Team, James Johnson. James Johnson has been serving and advising clients for over 10 years and joins the Varra Financial team with a...
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Most of the country might still be in the throes of the winter, but after extreme cold throughout many parts of the United States, thankfully the weather has warmed up. Stocks followed a similar path, warming up in January after a...
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Monday, January 14, 2019
It’s a new year and resolutions are in place, but investors in the financial markets may be struggling to find their optimism. The past several weeks have been very difficult, as the stock market sell-off resulted in the worst...
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After a mixed first half of the year and a solid third quarter, stock markets weakened considerably in the closing weeks of 2018. Turmoil in the financial markets is never a pleasant experience for investors, and that’s why we...
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Are you contemplating a venture into the real estate market? If so, can you comfortably say that you are fully equipped to succeed in such a volatile industry? It’s true that the property market is one of the biggest and most...
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Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The potential outcomes of the midterm elections have been dominating the news cycle lately, and we know from history that the markets typically do not like uncertainty. With the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives...
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Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Some alterations to the Internal Revenue Code were less publicized than others. Late last year, federal tax laws underwent sweeping changes. Nearly a year later, you can be forgiven for not keeping up with them all. Here is a look at...
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We tracked down some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the process of obtaining a loan for your home purchase. What is the difference between working with a commercial bank or credit union and working...
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Thursday, August 23, 2018
Much to the chagrin of children, we are at that time of year when students go back to school. In the spirit of this occasion I thought I would write my own version of a book report on an industry classic The Millionaire Next Door. I...
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Sunday, August 12, 2018
Can a child inherit an IRA? The answer is yes, though they cannot legally own the IRA and its invested assets. Until the child turns 18 (or 21, in some states), the inherited IRA is a custodial account, managed by an adult on behalf of ....
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018
We do financial planning… yeah but what does that mean? Shortly after making the decision to join Varra Financial Associates I found myself having conversations with friends and family about the services we provide. I would...
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Tuesday, June 26, 2018
This vital investment account question should be answered sooner rather than later. Investment firms have a new client service requirement. You should provide the name and information of a trusted contact
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Monday, May 21, 2018
Have you ever heard of Questival? Melodie Scalf, one of our financial advisors participated in this 24 hour event that is a cross between an adventure race and a treasure hunt. The challenge? To check as many things off a list of 200...
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Wednesday, May 9, 2018
A wise man once said “A fool and his money are soon separated…. the rest of us wait until we file our taxes”. For most of us taxes make up a considerable amount of our expenses and can for many be the largest expense...
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Friday, April 27, 2018
The Saver's Credit is a special tax break for part-time, low-income, and moderate-income workers. Do you work part-time, or earn less than $65,000 a year? If so, you might be eligible to fully or partly claim the Saver’s Credit...
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018
A couple weeks ago we had a major milestone come and go without much fanfare or attention. In an article published by CNN Money on March 9th 2018 they claimed “The most devastating bear market since the Great Depression ended...
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
Announcement! We are happy to introduce the newest member of the Varra Financial Team, Cameron Dunford. Cameron has come on board as another advisor with Varra Financial. He comes to us with a comprehensive background in insurance,...
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Money. It's hard to get and easy to lose. It doesn't take long for the wealth you've accumulated to disappear if you don't manage your money well or have a plan to protect your assets from sudden calamity. Snares like the ones...
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How can you protect yourself against ransomware, phishing, and other tactics? Imagine finding out that your computer has been hacked. The hackers leave you a message: if you want your data back, you must pay them $300 in bitcoin. This...
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We are pleased to share some exciting news about the future of our business. Effective December 1, the financial professionals of Varra Financial Associates will be part of LPL Financial’s national network of independent...
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Melodie Scalf has been providing top-notch service for our clients since 2014. She is currently in the process of obtaining additional securities and insurance licensing to become a Financial Advisor. What gets you up and going every...
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Quite often, caregivers are not able to live near the loved ones who they are supporting. Most often these caregivers are adult children, but they come in many forms. Regardless, those who live a great distance from their elderly loved ....
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Have you been affected? If so, how can you try to protect yourself? On September 7, credit reporting agency Equifax dropped a consumer bombshell. It revealed that cybercriminals had gained access to the personal information of as many...
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Today’s investing landscape is making history in many ways. In the beginning of the year, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ all had record highs. In 2017, the Fed finally started to raise interest rates after going almost a...
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I get asked all the time, “Is refinancing really a good idea?” If you have been wondering this yourself, it’s time for a “Mortgage Check Up" For some this may seem overwhelming as you remember back to the loan...
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When you see online ads or TV commercials about retirement planning, do they ever show baby boomer couples arguing? No.
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Long term care planning is absolutely necessary for Americans today. Because of recent developments and challenges thrown their way, so many individuals are at a high risk of facing long term care costs without the proper resources....
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Do you really want to risk facing these potential outcomes? Saving for retirement may seem a thankless task. But you may be thanking yourself later. Putting away a percentage of one’s income, money that could be used for any...
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Sometimes when I’m at a social event, and the person I’m talking to discovers I’m an estate planning attorney, I get this question: “When my grandma (or mom, father, uncle) died my sister (or brother, cousin,...
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Tax season is in full swing… and tax scams are everywhere. How can you can tell if a crook is claiming to be the I.R.S. in an effort to steal your money or personal information? Watch for these giveaways.
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Wednesday, March 1, 2017
When Gina Varra started her career, she didn’t necessarily imagine a future in financial services. However, after transitioning into her father-in-law’s practice, she was pleasantly surprised by how much she loved working...
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In Part One of “What we do at Varra Financial”, we shared how we are comprehensive Financial Planners who look at goals, strategies, and actions to provide advice to you. Our process is personal, guided by high level...
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We at Varra Financial are part of a profession generally known as Financial Services. To distinguish us from banks, mortgage lenders, and check cashing firms, we are Financial Advisors...
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