Category: Ask Garden State Trust

Dear Garden State Trust: My head is still spinning from the explosion in prices, and now I’ve been reading that many CEOs are expecting a recession, perhaps this year. Is a recession really very likely? —Nervous About the Economy Dear Nervous: As a wise man once said, it’s tough to make predictions, especially about the…

Dear Garden State Trust: I was planning on retiring later this year, but I’m having second thoughts. My 401(k) has gone down in value, just when the cost of living is going up at rates I haven’t seen since I entered the work force after college. What do you think? —Reconsidering the Retirement Date Dear…

Dear Garden State Trust: The recent record inflation is frightening. What stocks should I be buying to protect my portfolio? —Worried Investor Dear Worried: As it happens, a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder posed that exact question to Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger at this year’s shareholder meeting, held in Omaha on April 30. She observed that…

Dear Garden State Trust: Last year I bought ten Ethereum coins for $2,000 each.  I was planning to trade them for an NFT (a non-fungible token), an art investment that has become popular lately.  My coins are now worth about $3,500 each, and I’ve found the NFT that I want.  Do I have to worry…

Dear Garden State Trust: What portfolio management steps should I take on account of the new war in Europe? —Unsettled Investor Dear Unsettled: First, depending upon what you own, an impact will be made on your portfolio by the actions taken by multinational companies, many of whom already have cut their ties with Russia. So…

Dear Garden State Trust: Should I withdraw or borrow from my 401(k) plan to help pay for my child’s college expenses? —Puzzled on Funding Dear Puzzled: As a general rule, impairing your retirement savings to meet current spending needs is not a good idea, even for higher education expenses.  There are other sources of funds…

Dear Garden State Trust: My spouse died two years ago, leaving me an estate worth several million dollars. Because the estate was less than the federal exemption amount, I was told that no federal estate tax return was necessary. Was that advice correct? —Having Second Thoughts Dear Having: It’s complicated. Not filing the federal estate…