Latest & Popular Blogs
Upcoming Office Closures & Holiday Hours
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, kindly note that in alignment with domestic market hours, our office will be closed on Thursday, November 27th, 2025. Please be aware of the following schedule changes and deadlines: All U.S. equity and bond markets will be...
Medicare Reminders 2025
Several updates are coming next year as part of ongoing healthcare reforms. Medicare premiums and deductibles are expected to rise modestly, while prescription drug coverage will see meaningful improvements – such as new out-of-pocket cost caps and expanded access to...
Upcoming Office Closures & Holiday Hours
As we plan for the last long holiday weekend of the quarter, kindly note that in alignment with domestic market hours, we will be closed on Monday, September 1st, 2025. Please be aware of the following schedule changes and deadlines: All U.S. equity and bond markets...
2nd Quarter Commentary and 2025 Outlook
The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be sharing a summary of the recent quarter and thoughts for the year...
Charity Profile: Learning about Change is Simple with Janelle Rolke
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Janelle Rolke of Change is Simple as we continue to learn more through our 2025 charitable initiative to support the organization. Change is Simple (CiS) is an environmental education nonprofit that brings dynamic,...
Upcoming Office Closures & Holiday Hours
As we approach the holiday week, please take note of our adjusted office schedule: Friday, June 27th – Closing at 1:00 PM due to scheduled internal event Thursday, July 3rd – Closing at 1:00 PM in alignment with market’s early close Friday, July 4th – Closed in...
Juneteenth Holiday Hours
As we honor Juneteenth National Independence Day on Thursday, June 19, 2025, please be aware of the following schedule changes and deadlines: All U.S. equity and bond markets will be closed. Fidelity Investments will be closed. Most banks, the U.S. Postal Service, and...
Learning to Save Lives: Our Team’s CPR/AED Training Experience
At Centerpoint Advisors, we believe that personal growth doesn’t just happen behind a desk—it happens when we step out of our comfort zones, learn something new, and come together as a team. That’s exactly what we did recently when our entire team participated in CPR...
Spring Cleaning Your Finances: Five Steps to a Fresh Start
Spring is a time of renewal. Many of us are clearing the clutter in our homes and looking for a fresh start. While you may be organizing your closet or deep cleaning your kitchen, don’t forget to dedicate a little time to another area that deserves your attention:...
Do Kids Really Need to Know About the Economy?
Imagine you wake up one day, and though you are surrounded by all the people you love at home, everyone is speaking a completely different language. You don’t understand any of the words except for a few key phrases: “not in front of them” … “they do not need to hear...
G2 Graduates: Building Leadership in Wealth Management
G2 Graduates: Building Leadership in Wealth Management March 20, 2025 Congratulations to Our Graduates! We are thrilled to announce that two of our esteemed team members, Olga Okaty and Mark Barry, have successfully graduated from the G2 Leadership Institute program....
Market Note: Comments on Recent Volatility
Equity Market Note: Comments on Recent VolatilityMarch 12, 2025 RECENT EQUITY MARKET PERFORMANCE Equity markets came into 2025 after posting back-to-back strong years of gains with the S&P 500 returning +26.29% in 2023 and +25.02% in 2024. Recent bouts of...
2024 Tax Season Updates – March 2025
2024 Tax Season Updates – March 2025March 4, 2025 Tax Season Update – March 2025As tax season progresses, we want to remind our clients that we are here to assist with a smooth and efficient tax preparation process. Our goal is to ensure you receive your tax documents...
Social Security Fairness Act: Key Updates for Public Pension Holders
Social Security Fairness Act: Key Updates for Public Pension HoldersJanuary 22nd, 2025 Dear Clients, On January 5, 2025, President Biden enacted the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), repealing the following two provisions that previously reduced Social...
National Day of Mourning: January 9, 2025 – Key Updates
National Day of Mourning: January 9, 2025 – Key UpdatesClient Notice: National Day of Mourning on Thursday, January 9th, 2025. On December 29, 2024, President Biden declared a National Day of Mourning and ordered the U.S. Federal Government to close on Thursday,...
Wrapping Up 2024: Year-End Deadlines and Holiday Hours
Wrapping Up 2024: Year-End Deadlines and Holiday HoursDecember 20th, 2024 As the holiday season approaches, we want to make sure you have everything you need to close out the year with confidence. Below are some dates and deadlines to keep in mind: Year-End Deadlines...
Festive Finances and Holiday Hours
Festive Finances and Holiday Hours November 25th, 2024 With the holidays around the corner, many of us are looking forward to coming together with friends and family to enjoy the thrill of cherished traditions, whether it be ice skating, building snow men,...
Stay Vigilant: Protect Yourself from AI-Driven Scams This Holiday Season
Stay Vigilant: Protect Yourself from AI-Driven Scams This Holiday SeasonNovember 11th, 2024 Reminder: Be Wary of Modern Scams Busier than usual schedules and inboxes make the last quarter of the year a prime time for fraudsters to target individuals and families....
September Jobs Report Triggers Shift in Interest Rate Outlook
September Jobs Report Triggers Shift in Interest Rate OutlookOctober 7th, 2024 BACKDROP OF SEPTEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE MEETING After consecutive months of weaker jobs data, the Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark interest rate for the first time this interest rate...
Gen Z Debt Trap
Director Ashley Agnew featured on WSJ Podcast October 7, 2024 Many of those identifying as Generation Z (“Gen Z”) are staring down a mountain of debt. Despite headlines, the primary issues may not be just rising living costs and interest rates, but instead the fact...
Guest Blog: CDFA Impact on Mediated Divorces
Guest Blog: CDFA Impact on Mediated Divorces June 26, 2024 Jennifer Wolfsberg and Olga Okaty of Centerpoint Advisors each hold the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (or "CDFA®") designation. They have helped guide several clients through post-marital planning both...
Estate Planning Steps and Reminders
Estate planning is easy to overlook but incredibly important when designing your wealth and legacy strategy. While an estate attorney should be your primary resource on this topic, our team sees first-hand how these oversights financially impact clients, thus wanted...
Basic Financial Considerations for College Applicants
If you or someone in your network is a parent of one of the over 18 million students headed off to begin or continue their undergraduate studies this fall, you may have a heightened interest in an important aspect that often arises during this time of year: financial...
4th Quarter Market Commentary and 2024 Outlook
4th Quarter Commentary and 2024 OutlookFebruary 1, 2024: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be sharing a...
Client Notice: Tax Document Delivery and Reminders
Client Notice: Tax Document Delivery and RemindersWe wish all our readers a very Happy New Year. As we start 2024, we look forward to helping our clients in simplifying their upcoming tax season. Our reporting team will begin saving the investment account documents...
CNN Speaks with Ashley on 2024 Financial Resolutions
CNN Interviews Ashley on Financial Resolutions for 2024December 29, 2023: With the 2024 right around the corner, a common conversation among friends and family involves which New Year's resolutions will be topping the lists. Many popular annual goals involve savings...
Ashley Agnew Interviewed for Everyday Health Article on Financial Wellness
Financial Wellness: Health and Tactics November 29, 2023: Christine Byrne recently released an article for Everyday Health about financial wellness, and just in time for the season where financial stress tends to peak. "Financial Wellness: How it Affects Your Health,...
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Hours
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday HoursNovember 21, 2023: We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and perhaps you are looking for ways to mix up the day that is so heavily based in tradition for 2023. Some favorites traditions and memories among the Centerpoint team...
Rising Interest Rate Environment: Opportunities and Consequences
Bond Market Update: Consequences and Opportunities November 7, 2023 by J.D. Wolfsberg: As the Federal Reserve has moved forward with its plan to lower inflation, interest rates have risen across the board. When the Fed began its rate-hiking campaign, bond markets...
When You’re Feeling “Stuck”: Anatomy of a Breakthrough
When You're Feeling "Stuck"October 25, 2023. By Lori Patterson: Feeling chronically ‘stuck’? I recently listened to author Adam Alter discuss his book Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most where he mentioned the many possible reasons we...
What You Need to Know from the MA Tax Relief Bill
What Residents Need to Know about the MA Tax Relief BillOctober 13, 2023 The Massachusetts Tax Relief Bill has left many residents with questions surrounding what the true impact will be on their income and filing status. We asked Jonathan Hitter, CPA, MST, CGMA of...
Rising Home Insurance Rates Sweep the Country, Especially Florida and Coastal Regions
Homeowners in Florida may be experiencing an insurance frenzy as a perfect storm of lagging policy and increasing home values are causing their home coverage policies to skyrocket, and in some cases, be cancelled more suddenly than expected. While Americans everywhere...
Back to School During Life Changes and Challenges
“August is like the Sunday of Summer…” This meme has been popping up across social media and traded in text messages as adults feel the approaching close of summer and tug towards transitions into the fall. Kids have also felt changes approaching as they gradually...
Changes for 2023 from the FAFSA Simplification Act
With college application season right around the corner, we wanted to provide important updates and changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), that have occurred as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act. As you may know, FAFSA is the form that...
Second Quarter Market Commentary with Mark Barry CFA
Second Quarter Commentary and Outlook with Mark BarryJuly 27, 2023: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be...
Active Retirement Communities
As the number of senior citizens in the United States continues to grow, senior housing has become a pertinent issue for more people than ever. While many people over age 55 desire to downsize to an easily maintainable, more adult community when their kids finally...
Happy Independence Day and Holiday Hours
We hope you have a wonderful holiday week planned and with the 4th of July landing on a Tuesday, we wanted to share that in line with market hours and in observance of Independence Day, our office will be closing at 1pm on July 3rd and for the day on the 4th, resuming...
Key Points of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Amidst debt ceiling crisis fears, President Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (“FRA”) on Saturday, June 3rd. The main function of the Act was to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt obligations. The Bill was passed following tough...
Financial Wellness Checkup
Graduations are here, weather is warming, and invitations to fun events are arriving daily from all arms of your social groups. The final weeks of spring and beginning of summer present endless spending opportunities. As such, we thought it might be helpful to take a...
General Insurance Claim Settlement Ratio of General Insurance
Slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary. There are many...
How to Save before Bike Insurance Prices Increase in April
Slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary. There are many...
Annual Premiums Over ₹5 Lakh on Life Insurance Policies
Slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary. There are many...
Investor Considerations: Interest Rates and Money Markets
March 10, 2023: Inflation and interest rate movements continue to be the primary focus for investors as they keep a close eye on both the equity and fixed income markets. In fact, the headlines have remained relatively focused on these two pieces of data since the end...
Reflect and Plan to Save on Travel
Plan Ahead, and Reflect, to Save on TravelFebruary 28, 2023: In our discussions with family, friends, clients, and colleagues, there is an ongoing theme that while still young in the year, many individuals and families have already found 2023 to be very busy and very...
Market Hours and February Break Boredom Busters in Boston
Market Hours and February Boredom Busters in BostonFebruary 16, 2023: With winter break next week for most students, and a long weekend for many workers, including the Centerpoint Office, for the President's Day holiday on Monday, many families are left wondering what...
Mark Barry Shares 4th Quarter Commentary, 2023 Outlook
Q4 Commentary and 2023 Outlook with Mark Barry February 9, 2023: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be...
Client Notice: 2022 Tax Document Delivery
Friendly Reminder: Online Safety During Tax SeasonMarch 24, 2023 We hope that this post finds our readers and their families well, and are excited as we are about the onset of spring. With the spring season also being tax season, we wanted to share a brief reminder to...
Exciting News from Centerpoint Advisors
Charity Spotlight: Science Club for GirlsApril 6, 2023: We are so fortunate to learn about many wonderful local organizations through discussions with our clients and colleagues. Sometimes we learn about these by assisting clients with grants through their foundations...
SECURE 2.0 and Retirement Planning Updates
SECURE 2.0 and Retirement Planning UpdatesJanuary 9, 2023. By Olga Okaty: President Biden recently signed into law the SECURE 2.0 spending bill, which includes many new provisions affecting retirement plans. With the bill covering a broad array of planning topics, we...
7 Things to Ask Your New Trainer in 2023
7 Things to Ask Your New Trainer in 2023January 4, 2023: January is often a time of rejuvenated attention to our bodies, minds, health, and fitness. For some, reaching physical fitness goals is a compliment to overall wellbeing, yet can be difficult to reach without...
Increased Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2023
Retirement Saving on Your List of Resolutions? Good News for 2023. December 30, 2022: The season of resolutions is upon us. For investors with the goal of boosting retirement account balances on their list, the IRS’s announcement on October 21, 2022 brings good news....
Season’s Greetings and Holiday Hours
Season's Greetings and Holiday HoursDecember 23, 2022 Season's Greetings. 2022 provided us another year of being able to say that this has certainly been like no other. Yet again citizens around the globe were faced with uncertainty and unknowns, testing the...
Does Focusing on the Long-Term Payoff in Investing? Seeing is Believing.
Does Focusing on the Long-Term Payoff in Investing? Seeing is Believing. December 7, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: From the time we are young we are asked to believe in that which we cannot see during the holiday season. During childhood happy hints support the ask, like...
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Hours
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday HoursNovember 21, 2022: We wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving, and perhaps a return to some of the traditions that may have been missing from the past few years. One of the favorites here at the office is the tradition...
IRS Announces 2023 401(k) and IRA Limit Increases
IRS Announces 2023 401(k) and IRA Limit IncreasesNovember 15, 2022: When enrolling participating in employer sponsored retirement plans and individual retirement accounts, it is important to consider how the annual contribution limits set by the IRS are calculated....
Guest Blog: SBP Plans with Daniel Kopp
Guest Blog: SBP Plans with Daniel Kopp November 8, 2022. Ashley Agnew: As we approach Veteran’s Day, we are reminded to be thankful for all those who have contributed their time to our military. As a member of a military family myself, I’m personally thankful to my...
Year End Planning and Tax Loss Harvesting
Year End Planning and Tax Loss HarvestingNovember 2, 2022. By Anthony Norris: While no one wants to see red on their investment statements, and the markets have certainly provided plenty of the unfavorable hue in 2022, the ownership of down holdings can also provide...
Slowing Down During Busy Months
Slowing Down During Busy Months October 27, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: I recently read a parenting blog that said October is a great month because it allows some time to relax before the busyness of the holiday season in the months to follow. I’m not sure about you, but...
Q3 Commentary with J.D. Wolfsberg
Q3 Commentary with J.D. WolfsbergOctober 21, 2022: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Portfolio Manager, J.D. Wolfsberg CFA, CFP®, will be sharing his commentary...
Student Loan Forgiveness Update and Reminders
Student Loan Forgiveness Update and Reminders October 17, 2022: By Ashley Agnew: In August, President Biden announced $10,000 of debt relief per federal student loan borrower for those who did not attend college on Pell Grants and $20,000 for those who did. While we...
Hotline Provides Mental Health Resources to New Mothers
Hotline Provides Mental Health Resources to New Mothers: 1-833-9-HELP4MOMSOctober 10, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: With mental health and the importance of self-care often overlooked, busy families can find it hard to make time to physically go to the resources that will...
The Federal Reserve and Market Volatility
The Federal Reserve and Market VolatilityWritten September 30, 2022. By JD Wolfsberg: Background By the end of 2021 the Federal Reserve began to realize that inflation was no longer “transitory” and they were in fact falling behind in curbing price increases. As we...
Olga Okaty Presenting on Medicare for USA500 Group
Olga Okaty Presenting On Medicare On November 1, 2022 September 30, 2022: We are excited to share the information for the USA500 Club's November Carpe Diem Class – The A, B, C’s and D’s of Medicare with Lori Howell & Olga Okaty. This virtual event will...
How to Keep A Healthy Routine While Traveling for Work
How to Keep a Healthy Routine While Traveling for WorkSeptember 14, 2022: While summer travel is often for leisure and relaxation, the autumn oftentimes bring with it the need for work-related travel during the popular season for professional conferences. Traveling...
Loan Forgiveness, Refund, and Repayment Changes. Answers to FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about the recent student loan forgiveness announcement and it’s impact on millions of borrowers.
Ashley Agnew Discusses Retirement Timing with MarketWatch
Ashley Discusses Retirement Timing with MarketWatch August 24, 2022: Amid the pandemic a rising share of U.S. adults over the age of 55 entered retirement. Environmental stressors paired with professional pressures increased burnout rates, and made many...
Remembering Gratitude in the Final Weeks of Summer
Remembering Gratitude in the Final Weeks of Summer August 10, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: While summer technically lasts well through September according to our calendars, mentally the end of August seems to signify the end of the season. In reason conversations I have...
Will I Ever See an Increase in my Savings Account Rate?
Will I Ever See an Increase In My Savings Account Rate?August 3,2022. By J.D. Wolfsberg: Money market yields have inched up given the recent interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve Bank. Using a hypothetical example and current average numbers, the yield on a...
What are I Bonds, and Why Are They Everywhere Lately?
What are I Bonds?July 29, 2022. By J.D. Wolfsberg: With inflation being one of the top issues on investors minds, Series I Savings Bonds have recently garnered more attention than in the previous decade when inflation was dormant. As with any investment, there are...
Second Quarter Market Commentary, July 2022
2nd Quarter Market Commentary with Mark BarryJuly 20, 2022: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse, especially as headlines heat up and election season approaches. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available,...
Cutting Down on College Costs Without Student Loans
Cutting College Costs Without Student Loans July 11, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: College tuition, next to a home purchase, continues to be the greatest expense many families incur in a lifetime. With tuition rates only increasing, it can seem like no amount of planning...
Local Tradition Helps Support Local Charity the Oliva Fund
Kevin Donohue Helps Organize the Barefoot World Cup for Local CharityJuly 5, 2022. By Kevin Donohue: The summer season in New England always feels way too short, with weekends filled to the brim with obligations. It can be hard to make time for fun with those we are...
Measuring Inflation: CPI vs. the PCE Price Index
Measuring Inflation: CPI vs. the PCE Price IndexJune 23, 2022. By Matthew Okaty: Understanding all the inflation data presented in the news can be confusing at times, especially since there are different ways of measuring inflation, and it is not always clear which...
Top of Mind: Five Charts for Investors
Top of Mind: 5 Charts for InvestorsJune 20, 2022. Mark Barry, CFA: The first half of 2022 has proved challenging for investors, as a combination of appreciable headwinds has weighed on financial markets and pressured asset prices. These headwinds – inflation, rising...
Guardianship and Alternatives for Adult Children with Disabilities or Impairments
Guest Blog: Guardianship Options for Adult Children June 13, 2022: In working with clients with many levels of complexity, planning for adult children with disabilities and impairments is a very real consideration for many families. We recently had the pleasure of...
Key Questions to Reflect on Your Money Style
Questions to Help Find Your Money ArchetypeJune 6, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: There are many resources discussing how mental health and financial health collide. While we love to see an awareness to the emotional side of money gaining traction, like so many other...
Market Update: Current Market Environment and Addressing Volatility
Market Update: Current Market Environment and Addressing VolatilityMay 25, 2022 | by John D. Wolfsberg, CFA, CFP® In light of the recent volatility in equity and fixed income markets, we wanted to reach out to provide some insight into the bond market and provide some...
Holiday Hours – Memorial Day 2022
Happy Memorial Day and Holiday Hours May 25, 2022: We wish you and your families a very happy and reflective Memorial Day weekend. In line with the market and holiday hours, we will be closed at 4:00pm on Friday, May 27th and for the full day on Monday, 30th 2022....
Cryptocurrency Update: Terra and Stablecoins
Cryptocurrency Update: Terra and Stablecoins May 13, 2022. By Kevin Donohue: With the recent news about the stablecoin TerraUST selling off, there is a potential for further losses in Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market as a whole. While it is difficult to...
Widows, Grief, and Finance: Ashley Contributes to Award Winning Paper
Ashley Contributes to Award Winning Paper on Widows, Grief, and MoneyMay 4, 2022. By Ashley Agnew: Widows represent one of the fastest-growing demographics due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Since statistically it is typically the husband that controls household...
JD Wolfsberg shares 1st Quarter Market Commentary, 2022
Q1 Commentary with J.D. WolfsbergApril 19, 2022: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Portfolio Manager, J.D. Wolfsberg CFA, CFP®, will be sharing his commentary and...
Office and Market Hours for Good Friday, 2022
Office and Market Hours for Good Friday 2022April 13, 2022: We wish you and your families a very happy holiday weekend for those celebrating and if you are not gathering for the Good Friday or Easter holidays, we hope you find yourself with a restful long weekend...
Bonds in a Rising Interest Rate Environment
Bonds in a Rising Interest Rate EnvironmentApril 8, 2022. By J.D. Wolfsberg: Background Interest rates have been near record lows since the onset of the pandemic when the Federal Reserve introduced unprecedented stimulus to support the economy during a period of...
Centerpoint Team Completes Dementia Live Training
Centerpoint Team Completes Dementia Live TrainingApril 6, 2022: We have written in the past about the toll living with dementia can have on both the diagnosed individual and the caretaker. Luckily, as the health care industry continues to learn more about the...
Trainer Shares 6 Lifestyle Changes for a Higher Quality of Life
6 Lifestyle Changes for a Higher Quality of LifeApril 1, 2022: Our friends at PEX Health and Fitness and trainer Rafi Rivera share six easy practices to improve your quality of life this spring as we shake off the doldrums of winter: 1) Practice Gratitude Often, our...
Taxes and Money Stress: Ashley Agnew Interviewed on NPR
Tax and Money Stress? Financial Therapy can Help. March 25, 2022 The IRS Tax Season Begins officially in February, but for many filers, the stress begins long before this as soon as documents start arriving in the mail. Between balancing budgets and being confronted...
Navigating Elder Care and Building a Health Care Team
Navigating Elder Care and Building a Health Care TeamAging is inevitable; a fact we are all aware of for ourselves as well as those we love. When the time comes to help our loved ones find comfort in the challenges of advanced age and end of life planning, it can be...
Russia/Ukraine: Geopolitical Events, Stocks, and Commentary
We hope you enjoy this commentary and with a quickly shifting geopolitical landscape, kindly note the time of the writing was prior to posting, with comments made based on events leading up to February 26, 2022. By Mark Barry, CFA: Following weeks of speculation, on...
Student Loan Payment Pause Extended
Student Loan Payment Pause Extension February 8, 2022: For those with outstanding student loan obligations, the weight of debt is heavy, even if placed on a backburner slightly due to the option of payment pauses made available by the government. Inflation, Omicron,...
Performance and Benchmark Considerations
Performance Considerations: Diversification and BenchmarksJanuary 31, 2022. By J.D. Wolfsberg: In covering the financial markets, the media often focuses on three prominent market indices; ‘The Dow’ ‘The S&P 500’ and the ‘Nasdaq’. These popular indices represent...
4th Quarter Market Commentary and Outlook
Fourth Quarter Market CommentaryJanuary 13, 2022: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. With headlines always at their height in the last quarter of the year, our investment team has compiled their market commentary to cut...
What Is a Tax Credit, and Which Apply to Me?
What are Tax Credits, and Which Apply to Me?January 6, 2022: Throughout tax season we will be posting key tax-terms to assist with your preparation conversations for your 2021 filing. Oftentimes it is easy to overlook basic terms without understanding, so we will take...
PPP Forgiveness and Tax Planning
PPP Loan Forgiveness and Tax Planning December 27, 2021: The approaching New Year will don a new tax season, and it’s time to consider what that means for any Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans you may have taken during the pandemic in order to keep your business...
Merry Christmas and Holiday Hours
Merry Christmas and Holiday HoursDecember 20, 2022: We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. It has been an absolute pleasure helping our client families throughout 2021and in their year-end planning over the past several weeks....
Good Grief: Adjusting to the Short Winter Days
Good Grief: Adjusting to Short Winter DaysDecember 14, 2021, By Ashley Agnew: This is a great season for togetherness, celebration, and heart-warming holiday movies. One of our favorites is the classic ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ where the lead character tries to...
Season’s Greetings From Centerpoint Advisors
Happy Holidays and 2022 Charitable InitiativeDecember 12/8/21, By Ashley Agnew: Season's Greetings! As 2021 arrives at its final weeks, we reflect on the uncertainty we navigated throughout the year. Like an echo from the year before, it was like none-other....
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Hours
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday HoursNovember 23, 2021: We wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving, and hope you are able to celebrate safely, perhaps in larger gatherings this year as opposed to 2020. At the same time, we know that many are spending the...
Repost: Cybersecurity While Traveling
Repost: Cybersecurity While Traveling After a rather secluded holiday season for many in 2020, traveling is anticipated to increase in comparison for 2021. In effort to keep gatherings safe, some are forgoing staying in family guest rooms and opting instead for hotels...
Shop Early and Get Creative This Season
Shop Early and Get Creative this SeasonNovember 4, 2021: Halloween is now behind us, and while we are sad to see it go (it is one of our favorite holidays at the Centerpoint), we are looking forward to the bright lights and togetherness of the next season. You may...
3rd Quarter Commentary from Mark Barry CFA
Q3 Commentary with Mark BarryOctober 27, 2021: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be sharing his commentary...
Changes to FAFSA: Good News for Grandparent 529s
FAFSA Changes: Good News for Grandparent 529 Plans October 8, 2021: By Matthew Okaty: If you have ever filled out a federal student financial aid application (FAFSA) before, whether as the parent or the student applicant, then you know how cumbersome and daunting the...
Skin Safety Doesn’t End With Summer
Skin Safety Does Not End With SummerSeptember 30, 2021. By Ashley Agnew: As you may recall our charitable initiative for 2021 was supporting and raising awareness for the American Cancer Society. We have learned so much as a team, and have been touched by the stories...
Guest Blog: Is Being a Renter Really a Bad Choice?
Guest Blog: Is Long-term Renting a Bad Choice? September 15, 2021. By Ashley Agnew: A frequent question we receive from young professionals and those looking to downsize alike is simply this: is it worth it to buy a home? While there is no concrete answer and many...
Market Update: Back from the Beach, Investors Refocus on Risks
Market Update: Back from the Beach, Investors Refocus on RisksSeptember 8, 2021. By Mark Barry: As the summer of 2021 draws to a close, we have noticed an uptick in investor unease about the outlook for the economy and financial markets moving forward. Global equity...
Small Business Spotlight: Sea Nuts
Small Business Spotlight: Sea Nuts Our team has a habit of sharing our favorite new small businesses in our conversations around the office. Together we have discovered some great products and companies. For this week’s blog, we’ve decided to share a new business...
Preparing a Rising Freshman in 2021
Preparing a Rising Freshman in 2021 August 19, 2021: By Ashley Agnew: In a few short weeks high schools will be welcoming a class of freshman like none other: hundreds of students with the hormones of 14 year-olds and the social skills of a 7th grader thanks to the...
What to do When Pet Ownership is Overwhemling
When Pet Ownership is OverwhelmingMay 6, 2021. By Ryan McLaughlin: Along with the rest of the Centerpoint Team, I love dogs. I have always been around these lovable pets, and they are, in my humble opinion, this planet’s most precious beings; just spend ten minutes...
What’s The Deal with Meme Stocks?
What's The Deal with Meme Stocks?July 28, 2021. By Ryan McLaughlin: “Meme stocks” are back in the news in the past month, so as Centerpoint’s resident Gen-Z translator, I am here to talk about the latest surge in such securities. Morningstar describes meme stocks...
2nd Quarter Commentary with Mark Barry
Q2 Commentary with Mark BarryJuly 15, 2021: The ease of access to information and media are both a blessing and a curse. To summarize and explain the surplus of market news available, Director of Investment Management, Mark Barry CFA, will be sharing his commentary...
Happy Independence Day and Holiday Hours
Happy 4th of July and Holiday Hours July 1, 2021: We wish you and your families a very Happy Independence Day, and while this is perhaps the first holiday where you are able to enjoy the company of large gatherings, we hope you will remain safe and respectful during...
Ways to Be Prepared For Hurricane Season
Be Prepared for Hurricane SeasonSummer is here and though the colder months were kind to us with less snow than previous years, the warmer weather is still a welcomed reprieve from the frigid temperatures in the northeast. Along with these rising temps, however, comes...
Guest Blog: Reconnecting Mindfully
Guest Blog: Reconnecting MindfullyJune 18, 2021: This week marks the end of the state of emergency in Massachusetts after roughly 16 months of global pandemic conditions. While there are still many communities suffering around the world, locally discussions are...
401k Reminders: Roth, Traditional, and Contribution Limits
401k Reminders: Roth, Traditional, Contribution Limits. June 7, 2021 The circumstances of the past year have resulted in many employees seeking new employment opportunities. In tandem we have seen an increase in the amount of questions we have been receiving...
NFTs and Art in the Digital Age
NFTs: The Art of the Digital AgeMay 6, 2021. By Ryan McLaughlin: NFT may sound like a semi-pro football league that Johnny Manziel would headline, but it is a new investment tool that is garnering a lot of attention, especially from young investors. NFT stands for...
An Introduction to DeFi (Decentralized Banking)
An Introduction to DeFi (Decentralized Banking)May 24, 2021. By Matthew Okaty: The rapidly expanding world of cryptocurrency is a challenge to keep up with. While most people are aware of Bitcoin and could maybe name a few others, there are literally thousands of...
Understanding Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations
Understanding Special Purpose Acquisition CorporationsMay 14, 2021. By Anthony Norris: Similar to crypto currencies, Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs) have been around for quite some time but have only recently become popular. With more than $100...
Bitcoin Basics and Thoughts on Digital Currency
Bitcoin Basics and Thoughts on Digital CurrencyMay 6, 2021. By JD Wolfsberg: There is no way to miss the attention-grabbing headlines shouting about the price action of the many emerging cryptocurrencies, with the majority tracking the well-known Bitcoin. This...
Repost: Spring Cleaning Your Finances
Repost: Spring Cleaning Your FinancesOriginally posted May 14, 2018. By Olga Okaty: With spring arriving at last and beautiful weather beckoning, it may seem daunting to undertake any spring cleaning initiatives, especially financial ones. Mid-year, however, is a...
Not a Morning Person, And That’s Okay.
Not a Morning Person, and That's Okay.April 21, 2021. By Ashley Agnew: “I feel like I’m wasting time if I’m not awake for every minute that the sun is up”. In perfect circadian rhythm, the sun is my father’s only alarm clock. He is the definition of a morning person....
IRS Issues Warning About Email Scam
IRA Issues Warning About Email ScamApril 6, 2021. By Matthew Okaty: As you may be aware, a wide scale impersonation email scam has been brought to the attention of the IRS. The scam is targeted toward the staff and students within academic systems; mainly those with...
Centerpoint Office Holiday Hours for Good Friday
Holiday Hours for Good FridayApril 1, 2021: We wish you and your families a very happy long weekend, and would like to inform our clients that our office will be closed on Friday, April 2nd in line with the market closing for the holiday, and will have limited access...
The Team at Centerpoint is Growing
Centerpoint Welcomes New Team MembersMarch 26, 2021, By Ashley Agnew: Centerpoint is happy to announce that our team is growing in more ways than one. We are excited to be bringing a new Client Operations associate onboard this month, and welcome Taylor Persechini to...
Tax Deadline Extended for Individuals
Tax Deadline Extended for IndividualsMarch 19, 2021: The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced on March 17th that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to...
Networking in a Virtual World
Networking in a Virtual World February 19, 2021. By Ashley Agnew: While there is hope ahead for gatherings larger than our respective predisposed or chosen “bubbles”, there is still likely quite a way to go before we see in-person conferences or networking events take...
Guest Blog: Millennials’ Home Shopping Fantasies
Guest Blog: Millennials’ Home Shopping Fantasies2/9/2021: Provided by Dirce Guerra, Porch Contributor Between learning homebuying jargon and figuring out debt-to-income ratios, shopping for a home in 2019 can be a challenge, especially for a first-time buyer. For...
Client Notice: Tax Document Update
Client Notice: Tax Document DistributionFebruary 1, 2021. By Kevin Donohue: In the coming weeks Fidelity will be issuing preliminary tax documents, and you may have already received email correspondence indicating this. Per usual, we will be gathering these documents...
Jennifer Wolfsberg Featured on XPX Panel
Featured Panel: When Advisors CollideJanuary 28, 2020. By Ashley Agnew: A business transition is an emotional time for a business owner and tensions can run high while they navigate the many layers and demands of the process. With multiple advisors necessary to ensure...
Discussing Personal Debt in a Relationship
Discussing Personal Debt in a RelationshipJanuary 15, 2021. By Ashley Agnew: The beginning stages of a relationship are exciting as the shooting stars of promised wishes decorate the pleasant exchanges of new love. The encapsulating feelings of warmth and security...
2nd Stimulus Bill Updates and Planning Opportunities
Second Stimulus Bill: Updates and Planning OpportunitiesJanuary 6, 2021. By Olga Okaty: The second stimulus bill recently passed by Congress and signed by the President enhances and expands a number of economic relief measures and tax provisions that will bring much...
Coming Together and Looking Ahead
Coming Together and Looking AheadDecember 22, 2020, By Ashley Agnew: It's official- it is the end of 2020. With just a days left, the grit of our communities has certainly been put to the test. As we look around at our clients, colleagues, and families, we could not...
Client Notice: 2020 Year End Reminders
Client Notice: Year-end RemindersDecember11, 2020: With additional responsibilities placed on so many right now, we wanted to share a concise list of considerations for year-end planning and an easy reference for frequently asked questions: IRA, SEP IRA, and...
Guest Blog: Reviewing Life Insurance
Guest Blog: Reviewing Life InsuranceDecember 4, 2020: Life insurance is an important element of wealth, estate, and family planning. In order to properly incorporate it into your planning, it is key to understand the level and type coverage that will best serve your...
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Hours
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday HoursNovember 25, 2020: We wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving, and while we know you may be spending it in smaller gatherings or perhaps alone, we hope you will be able to find time with peace and gratitude to reflect...
Politics and Your Portfolio: Navigating the 2020 Elections
Politics and Your Portfolio: Navigating the 2020 ElectionsOctober 28, 2020. By Mark Barry: Politics have dominated the national conversation in recent months, and with November 3rd being a week away emotions are running high. While many people may feel very strongly...
Behavioral Interviews and Graduate Challenges
Behavioral Interviews and Graduate Challenges October 20, 2020: By Ashley Agnew: The graduates of 2020 and even 2019 are facing a challenge reminiscent of those in 2008 and 2009 where recession-like conditions impair workplace opportunities. In the wake of Covid,...
Prenup Planning and Considerations
Prenup Planning and ConsiderationsOctober 14, 2020. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: In our divorce financial analysis services we often come across post-marital planning that could have been well served by a prenuptial agreement. With the divorce rate hovering around 50%, it...
Visualizing and Realizing Your Retirement Reality
Visualizing and Realizing Your Retirement RealityOctober 7, 2020. By Courtney Summa: One of the most powerful planning tools we have as individuals is the power of visualization. Visualization can help us define goals and stay motivated as we work toward them....
Dealing with Financial Survivor’s Guilt
Working hard to maintain secure employment in a successful
The Refinancing Landscape: What To Expect
With interest rates hovering at historic lows, mortgage brokers, lenders, and bankers are busier than ever as real estate owners rush to refinance and first time buyers flood the housing market to take advantage of the long-term cost savings associated with reduced...
Fed Anticipates Near-Zero Rates for 3+ Years
Bloomberg reported today that the Federal Reserve expects to hold rates steady through 2023 until inflation reaches 2% in effort to help the economy recover from the pandemic. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials have stated in recent weeks that a full...
Repost: 3 Financial Buckets to Fill
In the current conditions, some are fortunate to have an increased savings due to the lack of social opportunities, while other are experiencing a threat to their savings due to income loss. Be it financially, professionally, or emotionally, these are certainly...
Back to School Blues? Time to Talk About It.
Back to School looks very different this year, and for some this is a wild understatement. As my husband and I were recently driving home after bringing our daughter to college, we couldn’t help but chat about the changing landscape in education, and we are thankful...
Make My Money Work For Me
In our conversations with prospective clients, young professionals, and referring advisors, we often hear the statement “I want to make my money work for me”. What does this mean? Perhaps different things to different investors, however in its simplest form it can be...
LFH: Realities and Tips for Life From Home
After months of basically quarantining as a family with little ones and elderly parents, you can generally add FH to anything for us- work from home, school from home, workout from home, therapy from home, you name it. And we know that we are not alone with so many...
Planning for Home Improvements
With summer activities now limited and more time spent at home, it can be tempting to give in to daydreams of home renovations, revamping décor, and the completion of overdue projects. While the may be excess funds in the bank account from the slow moving summer,...
Repost: The Benefits of Kindness and Compassion
Given the challenges faced by so many in the current environment, we thought we would repost an article recapping one of our favorite in-house events featuring Dr. Tara Cousineau speaking about her book “The Kindness Cure”. If you did not have a chance to read when it...
Social Security Myths- Olga featured in U.S. News Article
Navigating Social Security benefits can be challenging. Numerous filing options, frequent regulation changes, and an abundance of fine print are just a few of the obstacles facing filers. Aside from these, there are also several myths and misconceptions facing...
Wealth Transfer: More than Just Assets
In dealing with families on a holistic planing level, we often provide guidance on wealth transfer. Given the uniqueness of family dynamics, these discussions can surround many topics. Assets aside, wealth transfer should also be accompanied by knowledge transfer in...
Holiday Hours and Market Schedule
Kindly note that we will be following the market schedule in observance of the holiday, and our office will be closed at 4:00pm on Thursday, July 2nd and for the full day on Friday, July 3rd. We will resume normal business hours on July 6th. We wish everyone a safe...
A Convenient Way to Get Away: Timeshare Basics
With days now longer and weather warmer, it is easy to slip into a daydream envisioning getaways and escaping the four walls of your home or office. While travelers are more frequently looking for a place that provides space and relaxation rather than nightlife and...
Business Re-entry: Risk and Insurance Considerations
While the past few months have been an extremely difficult and unprecedented time for everyone, things are starting to look a little more hopeful now as businesses start to reopen and people return to work. There are still a lot of challenges, however, that...
Resources for Hurricane Season along the Atlantic
With the official start of hurricane season along the Atlantic Ocean only recently behind us, it is a good time for homeowners in the area to revisit safety and risk concerns. The season runs from June 1st through November 30th, and an active year is anticipated:...
Details on Mortgage Forbearance Program
While there are many relief programs and packages being introduced to Americans as we navigate the pandemic crisis, it is important to understand those that do or do not apply to your personal situation. Not all offerings are favorable, with fine print presenting...
Jennifer Wolfsberg Featured on Radio Entrepreneurs
Managing Principal Jennifer Wolfsberg was recently featured on Radio Entrepreneurs, an internet radio show and podcast that shares the stories of entrepreneurs in the interest of giving more exposure to innovative and fast moving companies, while creating a knowledge...
My Trainer Thinks I’m a Superhero
My new trainer is fierce. She’s tough, needy, and when I tell you she has no filter, she has nooooo filter. Standing at just 3 feet tall, her expectations are a thousand times her size. There is no slouching or slacking allowed, not even for a second, and I can’t...
An Update on Recent Market Activity
With the current health and economic environments seemingly in a constant state of flux as of late, we thought we would share a helpful market update and excerpt from our recent client notice. Kindly note that the data in this commentary is as of April 30th and...
Finding Financial Harmony in Your Relationship
Despite best efforts, it can be difficult to talk about finances, and this can lead to friction in a relationship. In fact, 1/3 of those seeking marriage counseling site money as one of their top reasons for argument, and financial tensions are indeed a key indicator...
Finding Power in the Pivot: Resources for Change
Anyone who has played or is a fan of basketball knows the power of the pivot. I was recently watching a classic basketball game (I’m missing live sports these days, but admittedly loving the ESPN throwbacks) and thought of the how the analogy of this move relates to...
Fairway Provides Update on Mortgage Industry
Fairway Mortgage recently hosted a webinar regarding the current state of the mortgage industry and what their business is doing to maintain business operations during these trying times. The webinar was hosted by Senior Vice President Amy Slotnick, who has over 30...
Hofmann Shares Important Insurance Considerations
In speaking with the many professionals with whom we collaborate on behalf of clients, a common theme during this time of crisis and uncertainty is that of appropriate insurance coverage. We discussed this with Adam Hofmann of FB Insure and he provided a great video...
Working from home? So are your pets.
Sudden changes in your normal schedule and routine can be stressful, and even a bit annoying, especially for prolonged periods of time. With many of us required to work remotely in the current circumstances, some people are noticing odd behaviors from their pets....
Stimulus Payments and Retirement Plan Relief
As the current health and economic situations continues to evolve, we wanted to share two important planning updates resulting from recent legislation and policy developments: Stimulus Payment Timeline and Details The Treasury Department and the IRS announced this...
Client Notice re: Taxes, Commentary, and Continuity
With the recent health and market concerns, we wanted to reach out with a brief update on tax documents, our own business continuity plan and market commentary: Tax Document Delivery All tax documents related to your Centerpoint investment accounts have been...
Normal Hours of Operation to Continue
With the recent directive causing the closure of many educational, leisure, and professional establishments, and with the proactive closing of many other venues, we wanted to make you aware that we have taken steps to ensure the continuity of our business and services...
Putting Market Downturns Into Perspective
Since emerging from the 2008 financial crisis, markets can overall be considered cooperative. Stocks have continued to move higher, while falling bond yields saw fixed income investors enjoy bumper returns. Volatility remained low relative to history, and while we did...
Coronavirus Fears Drive Market Correction
After significant selling earlier in the week, global equity markets came under further pressure today as investors grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on economic growth. As of this writing, the S&P 500 Index is down -10.7% for the...
Choosing a Vacation Destination for All Ages
February 25, 2020. By Ashley Agnew: With a minimum ten-year age difference between all of our family’s children, even a family trip consisting of just the members of our household is multigenerational. Wishing for our next vacation to be enjoyable for all parties...
With These Rates, Should I Refinance My Mortgage?
February 18, 2020. By John Wolfsberg: Mortgage rates continue to be at all time lows as the yield on the 10yr US Treasury is driven lower. This is largely attributable to several factors including a lack of inflationary pressures, expectations of a slowing economy...
Market Implications of the Wuhan Coronavirus
February 11, 2020. By Mark Barry Written with information as available on January 31, 2020: Concern over the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus has continued to weigh on markets, with the S&P 500 Index and MSCI China Index down about -1.80% and -2.00% respectively on...
Owner Occupied Rental Properties
February 4, 2020. By Anthony Norris: Getting into real estate investing can be challenging, especially if you have limited experience and resources. A good starting point, however, may be to research the value of owner-occupied properties. This style of living...
Home Purchase in Boston? Use This Tax Exemption
January 31, 2020. By J.D. Wolfsberg: With it's large number of universities, historic beauty, and booming industry, the city of Boston has a built in growth engine for population. According to the Greater Boston Association of Realtors and as seen in their chart...
Client Notice: Important Tax Document Information
January 22, 2020. By Kevin Donohue: With the 2020 tax season upon us and return deadlines approaching, Centerpoint Advisors would like to make this-time as seamless and stress free as possible for our clients. We work closely with our custodian to consolidate and...
Addressing Compassionate Caregiving Burnout
January 17, 2020. By Jennifer Wolsfberg: At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves taking on the role of a caregiver for a loved one. This can take many forms, with most cases involving caring for a child, spouse, parent or friend. Whether the catalyst...
Strategies from the SECURE Act and TCDR Act
January 10, 2020. By Olga Okaty: In the final weeks of 2019, two important pieces of legislation – the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (the SECURE Act) and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (the TCDR Act) were passed by...
Happy New Year and Holiday Hours
December 31, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: We hope that all of our readers are closing out 2019 with a sense of peace, gratitude, and accomplishment as we enter the new year. A time for resolutions and forward thinking by nature, be sure to take a moment to realize all that...
Looking Forward to 2020 with Creative Little Leaders
December 23, 2019. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Year-end is always a reflective time, and our team has enjoyed looking back at our philanthropic experiences throughout the year. As you may recall, our charitable initiative for 2019 was to dedicate office hours each month to...
Equifax Class Action Settlement Deadline
December 19, 2019. By Matt Okaty: At last, the two-year saga stemming from Equifax’s massive data breach is nearing the final stages. If you have not already done so, January 22, 2020 is the deadline for filing a claim for benefits from the class action settlement...
Guide to Practicing Meditation in Sports and Life
December 11, 2019. By Lori Patterson: I recently took a six-week class to learn meditation for sports. As you may recall from my previous writings, I am an avid runner with many of my routines including long distances and marathon training. Meditation during athletic...
Charitable Giving Strategies: Many Options for Investors
December 6, 2019. By Courtney Summa: With the end of the year approaching, about a third of the year’s annual giving takes place. It’s wonderful to see so many people supporting worthy charitable organizations to help make a difference. Whether you support our...
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Hours
November 26, 2019. By Centerpoint Advisors: Centerpoint Advisors would like to wish all of our our friends, family, clients, and colleagues a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hope you will be able to spend this day with those who are closest to you. So that we may do the...
Commentary: A Closer Look at Q3 Earnings
November 19, 2019. By Mark Barry: The macro picture has become more supportive for US equity markets in recent weeks. Economic data is suggesting continued growth, monetary policy is becoming more accommodative, and rhetoric from the US and China indicates a possible...
Planning For Veterans and Service Members
November 7, 2019. By Anthony Norris: As Veteran's Day approaches we are reminded to reflect upon and thank those who have so bravely served our country. With past and present service members in our own firm and families, the holiday carries feelings of pride and...
Article Review: Fixed Income a Mystery to Many Investors
October 31, 2019. By John Wolfsberg: A recent Bloomberg article indicated many investors still do not have a clear understanding of the fixed income asset class. The behavior and characteristics of this asset class can certainly get complicated when digging through...
Prof. Alon Friedman PhD. Speaks at Centerpoint
October 21, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: We are so very lucky to have such extraordinary higher education and research facilities domestically, with many right here in the areas in and around Boston. With so much innovation coming out of our area, especially in healthcare,...
Healthy Habits for a Working Professional
October 15, 2019. By Kevin Donohue: Throughout the week we are often so focused on our daily grind and furthering ourselves professionally that we sometimes do not think about taking care of our bodies. As a result of this busy lifestyle, health takes a back seat....
Article Review: Self-Defense Against Scams
October 3, 2019. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Just when you think you have heard them all, opted out of every list, and blocked every unknown address, your junk mailbox erupts or you pick up the phone only to hear an AI operator promising to forgive your student loan, make...
HSAs: An Option Worth Considering
September 25, 2019. By Matt Okaty: If you believe that the majority of your healthcare costs in retirement will be paid for by Medicare, then you may be in for a wakeup call. According to an annual study by Fidelity, a 65-year old couple retiring this year will...
The True Investment of Higher Education
September 13, 2019 By J.D. Wolfsberg: It was in a macroeconomics course in college that my professor asked a question that I had not previously heard a professor ask, which made me wonder if the topic was taboo. He looked around the classroom and simply asked: “So,...
Book Review: Atomic Habits by James Clear
September 5, 2019. By Lori Patterson: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Building good habits and breaking bad habits…it sounds easy in theory but it’s surprisingly hard in practice for most of us. In this...
The Benefits of Student Led Investment Funds
August 28, 2019. By Anthony Norris: With rising competition among higher education institutions, universities are under constant pressure to innovate and offer a unique experience for their students. Aesthetic enhancements are on the rise for many campuses, but at the...
How to Semi-Retire Successfully
August 22, 2019. By Olga Okaty: Every day roughly 10,000 people retire in the United States, and this number is steadily increasing year after year. Average census projections predict that by 2030 this number will increase to around 12,000 people daily, as the boomer...
Behind the Scenes: Investment Management
August 14, 2019. By Mark Barry: At Centerpoint Advisors, investment management is a core component of our business, and is the primary focus for myself and my colleague JD Wolfsberg. While it encompasses a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, there are four...
Ashley Agnew Moderates Crisis Communication Panel
August 1, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: As a firm we constantly search for new learning opportunities. This includes not only formal continuing education, but also learning from our peers in our own and related industries. Several Centerpoint employees are...
Behind the Scenes: Client Service and Reporting
July 25, 2019. By Courtney Summa: When someone asks me what my role entails at Centerpoint Advisors, my general response is that I work primarily on the reporting side of investment management, even though my responsibilities include much more than report preparation....
The Psychology of Planning Avoidance, Part 1
July 17, 2019. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: It’s human nature to avoid that which makes us uncomfortable. It’s also human nature to avoid topics we may not enjoy or have little to no interest in. And how about topics we are scared to discuss? These too get...
Behind the Scenes: Compliance Management
July 8. 2019. By Matthew Okaty: My role at Centerpoint encompasses several different areas, including compliance, client portal management, charitable account assistance, as well as business continuity and cybersecurity. Each day usually involves getting pulled...
Holiday Hours and Market Closing Schedule
July 3, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: Kindly note that we will be following the market schedule in observance of the holiday and our office will be closed at 1:00pm on Wednesday, July 3rd and for the full day on Thursday July 4th. We will resume normal business hours on July...
Exploring Grief Support With The Children’s Room
July 2, 2019. By John Wolfsberg. On June 18th we had the pleasure of hosting representatives from The Children’s Room to learn more about living through loss. The Children’s Room is a grief center in Arlington, MA offering free services to children, teens, and...
Making the Most of Your Summer in the City
June 27, 2019. By Centerpoint Advisors: Working a summer internship has several benefits to college students including career exploration, increasing personal marketability, networking, and tailoring professional skills for future employment. These career-building...
Olga Featured in Scholarship America Article
June 20, 2019. By Ashley Agnew. As our work increasingly involves engaging with the next generation as they prepare for, enter, experience, and exit college, we have conducted extensive research into ways to help these young adults build sound financial habits. Our...
5 Reasons to Get Your Pilot’s License
June 14, 2019. By Anthony Norris: The summer season is in full swing, and with it brings warmer weather and ideal conditions to hop in an airplane and take to the skies. Experiencing the thrill and freedom of piloting an airplane is second to none. To the general...
Global Spotlight: US-China Trade Recap
June 4, 2019. By Mark Barry: For over a year the United States and China have been engaged in a contentious trade dispute, as the United States has taken a more assertive approach in an attempt to address what it views as unfair Chinese trade practices. Namely these...
Shred Day: The Disposal of Sensitive Documents
May 21, 2019 by Ashley Agnew: With tax season behind us and Spring upon us, the urge to tidy up is ever present. To assist in the process, we recently hosted a Secure Shred day on May 10th at the Centerpoint office. At the event, clients were able to properly dispose...
Olga Okaty Named Principal at Centerpoint Advisors
May 15, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: We are pleased to announce that Olga Okaty CFP ®, has been elevated to the rank of Principal at Centerpoint Advisors. An experienced member of the team, Olga has been instrumental in building out the financial planning division of the...
Market Update: May 10th, 2019
May 10, 2019. By J.D. Wolfsberg: We have seen generally upward trending markets thus far year-to-date following the sell-off in the last quarter of 2018, with the S&P 500 (including dividends) up 15.31% so far this year. The Federal Reserve has observed that the...
Behind the Scenes: Client Operations
May 2, 2019. By Lori Patterson: A look into the daily events of your operations team… Every day is different…there’s not a lot of monotony here! We begin our day verifying money transfers and any service items that may have been requested off hours. We review for...
Short-Term Rentals: New Regulations in MA
April 18, 2019. By Matt Okaty: Regulations often lag behind innovation, and this is certainly true of the short-term rental market which has exploded over the past ten years. AirBnB and HomeAway, the two biggest companies in this space, have transformed the lodging...
Introducing an Additional Dog to Your Home
April 11, 2019. By J.D. Wolfsberg: As dog owners, we do our best to keep our dogs active and to give them the attention that they deserve. We hire walkers, go to the dog park, and include them on road trips to make sure that they never feel neglected. With life’s...
Pre and Post-Sale Wealth Planning Strategies
April 4, 2019. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: In the past five years, Centerpoint has become increasingly involved with helping clients through the processes involved with business sales and like transactions. In our relationships with these entrepreneurial spirited clients,...
5 Tips to Prepare for Your Move
March 28, 2019. By Olga Okaty: Roughly 40 million Americans move relocate each year. It comes as no surprise that 80% choose to move between April and September to capitalize on the favorable weather conditions, and element of significant consideration...
Federal Reserve Leaves Rates Unchanged
March 21, 2019. By Mark Barry: Following the conclusion of its two-day March meeting, the FOMC announced its interest rate decision which was to maintain the Fed Funds rate at 2.25%-2.50% (no change). This was largely expected by investors. However, in both his...
Ashley Agnew Volunteers at Gifts to Give
March 14, 2019. By Ashley Agnew: With Spring just around the corner (or at least it seems to be with my begging for its appearance), spring cleaning has begun at the Agnew household. In our home this includes the all-to-familiar task of emptying out the closets and...
Elder Financial Abuse: A Real Crisis
March 7, 2019. By Matt Okaty: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the year 2030 will mark a pivotal demographic turning point, as seniors are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. As the fastest growing segment of the population,...
Client Notice: Tax Documents and Trusted Contacts
February 27, 2019. By Courtney Summa: With tax season upon us and accountants quickly filling their schedules, we wanted to provide an update regarding the delivery of your tax documents and the recent request for trusted contact designations: Tax Document Delivery...
Keeping Brain Fog at Bay with Simple Changes
February 21, 2019. By Lori Patterson: I recently read “The Brain Fog Fix: Reclaim Your Focus, Memory and Joy in Just Three Weeks” by Dr. Mike Dow which discussed the reasons your thinking feels “foggy” or bogged down at times. Though we all feel this way at some...
Guest Blog: Why Choose Personal Training
February 13, 2019. By John Wolfsberg: With the time of resolutions starting to fade and sweater weather in full force, it can be difficult to justify going to the gym not only for motivational, but also for monetary reasons. With many chain facilities boasting low...
Anthony Norris Volunteers at Bryant University
February 6, 2019. By Anthony Norris: To start off 2019’s year of giving, I elected to volunteer as a judge at Bryant University’s IDEA (Innovation and Design Experience for All) competition at the recommendation of my colleague and Bryant Alumna, Ashley Agnew. The...
Comments on Interest Rates and the Yield Curve
February 1, 2019. By J.D. Wolfsberg: With a volatile interest rate environment, the yield curve is often the topic of discussion in the business media. However, this topic and its implications are not always fully understood by the general public. In short, the yield...
Guest Blog: Millennials Are Struggling
January 24, 2019. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: As a firm, we always stress that heath is wealth, however oftentimes the importance of maintaining mental health can escape the message. In our volunteer work with Advocates, we have come to appreciate the work that they do for...
4 Tips for Achieving Your Financial Resolutions in 2019
January 18, 2019. By Olga Okaty: As a financial planner, January is always an exciting and inspiring time for me as so many of my conversations with clients center around setting financial resolutions for the year ahead to bring them closer to achieving their...
Market Commentary: Outlook and Review
January 9, 2019. By Mark Barry: Despite strong US economic growth and a favorable environment for corporate America, the majority of asset classes struggled to deliver positive total returns for investors in 2018. While the year started off on the right foot, bearish...
Repost: Handling your 401(k) Between Jobs
January 3, 2019. By Centerpoint Advisors: During this time of reflection and resolutions, perhaps one of your goals for the New Year includes new employment. According to Monster.com, January is among the best months for both job seeking and hiring. If you find...
Year of Giving and Happy Holidays
December 24, 2018. By Centerpoint Advisors: It's been a wonderful year for Centerpoint Advisors. Out of all of the great projects we've worked on so diligently in 2018, we would like to take a moment to highlight our personal favorite and perhaps the most impactful:...
Safe Practices for Online Shopping
December 20, 2018. By Anthony Norris: This holiday season marked a new record for online shopping. At a nearly 17% increase from 2017, online holiday sales are projected to reach $123 billion. With the ability to choose from multiple vendors, compare prices, and have...
The Many Benefits of Kindness and Compassion
December 13, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: Wrapping up our Year of Giving, our team met at the end of November and shared how rewarding it was to give back to organizations which help those in need. So much so, in fact, that some team members actually feel guilty about how...
Saving 6 Million Minds: Dr. Paul Solomon at Centerpoint
December 3, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: Alzheimer’s Disease is a condition that unfortunately has been making its way into many of our conversations, with more families finding comfort in discussing their roles as caretakers, family members, and patients touched by the...
Courtney Summa Volunteers with Lovin’ Spoonfuls
November 26, 2018. By Courtney Summa: Did you know that over 96 billion pounds of food are wasted each year in the United States? Or that one in five Bostonians is classified as food insecure? As part of our Year of Giving, the Sunday before Thanksgiving I had the...
Beat the Stress! Tips For a Great Commute
November 13, 2018. By Lori Patterson: Living or working in the Boston area certainly has its advantages, but rush hour traffic certainly isn’t one of them. Traffic hang-ups have gotten worse over the past decade and have even outpaced the road construction and freeway...
Olga Okaty Featured in Senior Living Blog
November 9, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: Our Director of Financial Planning, Olga Okaty CFP® was recently interviewed and featured in the Senior Living Blog for A Place for Mom, a site connecting families to senior care resources. The article, "What you need to Know Before...
Three Financial Buckets to Fill
October 30, 2018. By John Wolfsberg: We meet often with individuals and couples at varying stages of their careers. While the range of economic profiles differ significantly from one client to the next, many clients face similar challenges. Often times we hear a...
Jennifer Wolfsberg in Authority Magazine
October 18, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Authority Magazine to discuss personal lessons learned in leadership throughout the course of my career and, perhaps more importantly, throughout the growth of our firm. The...
Self-Reliance in the Modern Age
October 22, 2018. By Matthew Okaty: When it comes to technology and keeping up with its relentless pace, it’s pretty clear that millennials and the younger generation have the advantage. Not only are children generally able to learn new skills more quickly than...
Anthony Norris Volunteers with Save The Bay
October 4, 2018. By Anthony Norris: In recognition of Centerpoint’s Year of Giving, and being an avid sailor who loves spending time on the water, I chose to volunteer with Save the Bay in September. Save the Bay is an organization comprised of volunteers and staff...
Managing the Lost and Found Box for Your Family
September 27, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Each year there are millions of dollars lost or abandoned as families have undiscovered assets, have lost track of gifted or inherited assets, or have given up on the idea that they can redeem such assets for cash value due...
Overcoming the Obstacle of Credit Card Debt
September 21, 2018. By Courtney Summa: It’s always a good feeling when you are in a strong financial position, however despite best efforts it is possible to end up in a bind. With the access to your credit card sometimes feeling like a “get out of jail free” card...
Freshman v. Senior Year College Budgeting
September 12, 2018. By Anthony Norris: Attending college is a transformative time period for a young individual. College allows students to expand social circles, learn the importance of responsibility, gain independence and finally, develop healthy financial habits....
Review: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
September 7, 2018. By Lori Patterson: For many, the act of tidying is a dreaded chore and unpleasant experience. It may bring to mind the daunting tasks of spring cleaning, decluttering and trips to the local donation bin. Since we expect to tidy in this manner on a...
Olga Okaty Volunteers at Free Fun Friday in Concord
August 31, 2018. By Olga Okaty: As part of our Year of Giving charitable initiative, I had the pleasure of joining a collaboration between two fantastic organizations, the Highland Street Foundation and The Trustees of Reservations, and volunteering at their Free Fun...
Exchange Traded Funds or Mutual Funds?
August 23, 2018. By J.D. Wolfsberg: No one can accuse the financial world of being predictable. As the landscape continuously changes, so do the investment vehicles and products offered. Many investors feel they are better off purchasing a fund or ‘basket’ of...
Repost: Is it Time to Schedule Your RMD
Original Post: August 23, 2016. By Lori Patterson: Lori originally posted this article in 2016 but yet again here we find ourselves in the tail-end of summer 2018 in need of a good reminder about Required Minimum Distributions. Read more for what you need to know...
Guest Blog: “Prepare for Landing” by Ashley Niemiec
August 7, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: In our conversations with clients, colleagues, and professional acquaintances the topic often emerges of moving abroad. The exciting undertaking can also be daunting, with many obstacles getting from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ amidst...
Matt Okaty Volunteers at Memory Cafe in Cambridge
July 31, 2018. By Matthew Okaty: "Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it." ― L.M. Montgomery Everyone ages – it’s a fact of life. Many of us will lose our hair, our teeth, our hearing and eyesight. A good sense of humor can help us face the...
Portfolio Commentary: Performance Benchmarking
July 25, 2018. By Mark Barry: After a year in which almost all asset classes exhibited solid positive returns, 2018 has been mixed thus far with respect to performance across the financial markets. In the United States stocks are up, with small caps handily outpacing...
Yields on Money Market Funds are Moving Up-Finally
July 17, 2018. By John Wolfsberg: It wasn’t too long ago that yields on most money market funds were essentially zero. In fact, had most mutual funds levied their full management fee on these types of funds the yield would have been negative! When the financial crisis...
Tips for Flying with Babies and Toddlers
July 13, 2018. By Lori Patterson: Whether getting away for a few weeks or just a few days, vacations are a much-needed reprieve for any family. Flying with babies and infants, however, can make the process of getting to-and-from paradise a bit daunting. Luckily with...
Smooth Sailing and Boat Purchasing Tips
July 2, 2018. By Anthony Norris: Summer is in full swing and with fireworks lighting up the sky it is time to hit the water and enjoy the pleasures of boating. If you are an experienced boater you know how rewarding and costly boat ownership can be. For those wanting...
Jennifer Wolfsberg Featured on Leadership Panel
June 26, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: On Tuesday, June 19th Jennifer participated in a panel sponsored by XPX New England at McLane Middleton in Woburn titled “Follow the Money: The Profitable Female Perspective”. She was chosen to participate in the panel due to her...
Best Practices for Starting an Emergency Savings Fund
June 21, 2018. By Courtney Summa: Life is full of adventure and surprises. Unfortunately, not all the surprises are good and can often result in significant financial distress. When those inevitably pop up it’s always nice to have a safety net to fall into, which is...
Marijuana: Open for Business in Massachusetts
June 15, 2018. By Matt Okaty: The recreational marijuana industry in Massachusetts is finally getting rolling, as June 1st marked the date that the Cannabis Control Commission began accepting general applications for Marijuana Retailer and Marijuana Product...
Fresh Starts and Winding Roads: Advice to Graduates
June 5, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: We have finally reached June and the mid-year mark. Graduation ceremonies are fresh memories for college grads, and commencements are just around the corner for high school seniors breeding a new class of rising collegiate freshmen....
Jennifer Wolfsberg Volunteers at the NAMI Mass Walk
May 29, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Struggles with behavioral health and mental illness take many forms and exist on a vast spectrum of severity. One thing that remains constant, however, is how challenging it is for those dealing with these struggles, either...
The Average Investor and Behavioral Finance
May 23, 2018. By J.D. Wolfsberg: Traditional Finance Theory is based on the presumption that investors are risk averse, collect all relevant information, weigh each piece of information appropriately, and arrive at the sound indisputable answer to maximize their...
5 Quick Ways to ‘Spring Clean’ Your Finances
May 14, 2018. By Olga Okaty: With spring arriving at last and beautiful weather beckoning, it may seem daunting to undertake any spring cleaning initiatives, especially financial ones. Mid-year, however, is a perfect time to check in and self-evaluate and chip away...
5 Key Terms You Need to Know for College Prep
May 1, 2018. By John Wolfsberg: Navigating through a sea of acronyms, preparing for college can be a daunting and sometimes difficult task. As with most undertakings, early preparation can ease the process, but whether your student is in their later years of high...
Small Spaces, Big Savings: The Tiny House Trend
April 27, 2018. By Courtney Summa: With the average American home about 2,200 square feet, why are people choosing to live in a house between 250 and 500 square feet? Tiny houses are the new buzz amidst the real estate arena and what they lack in size they gain in...
Marathon Monday ’18: A Windy, Soggy, Mess of Awe
April 19, 2018. By Lori Patterson: Each year my running club volunteers at mile 12 of the Boston Marathon, the half-way point and a huge benchmark for most race participants. As you can imagine, this year was one of the more interesting experiences in my many years...
The Importance of a Power of Attorney
April 13, 2018. By Matt Okaty: A Power of Attorney (POA) is an important planning item that will generally be included in any comprehensive estate plan. While a Last Will and Testament directs how your assets will be distributed after you die and assigns an executor...
The Rising Popularity of Peer-to-Peer Lending
April 5, 2018. By R. Anthony Norris: Peer-to-peer lending (“P2P”) is a method for borrowing and lending money without a traditional financial institution. P2P lending platforms match borrowers with investors using modern technology and big data oftentimes reducing...
Centerpoint Sponsors “Finding the Right Advisors”
March 28, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: On Tuesday, March 27th Centerpoint sponsored an event alongside XPX New England and the Northeastern University Center for Family Business called “Finding the Right Advisors”. The panel addressed the concern that many private...
Jennifer Wolfsberg Volunteers at Winslow Farm
March 22, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Without a doubt it is well known that we are a family of animal lovers. Our own furry friend, a Shih Tzu named Darby, melts our hearts every day and brings us such joy. In support of Centerpoint’s Year of Giving charitable...
Book Review: “The Perfect Mix” by Helen Rothberg
March 15, 2018. By Lori Patterson: “Leadership is more than management”. This theme is repeated time and again in: The Perfect Mix: Everything I Know About Leadership I Learned as a Bartender. In this book by Helen Rothberg, PhD she describes how interacting with...
Centerpoint Working Remotely on 3/13/18
March 11, 2018: In preparation for the coming storm, kindly note that the Centerpoint Advisors office in Needham will be closed on Tuesday, March 13th. Our team will be working remotely and able to assist on all client matters via telephone and e-mail, however some...
Understanding Target Date Funds
March 6, 2018. By Mark Barry: A target-date fund (also known as a life cycle fund) is a mutual fund in the hybrid category that automatically resets the asset mix of stocks, bonds and other investments according to a specific time frame. Typically, this time frame is...
Choosing the Right 529 Plan for Education Savings
March 1, 2018. By Olga Okaty: With higher education costs continuing to rise dramatically and over forty-five plan options to choose from, it is essential for families to be thoughtful and strategic in selecting the 529 plan that best aligns with their particular...
Using Home Inspection as a Proactive Tool
February 20, 2018. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: We often connect the thought of hiring of a home inspector only to the context of a new home purchase to ensure the offer we are making on a home does not come with unforeseen surprises. In hiring a good inspector, we learn...
JD Wolfsberg Volunteers at A Night to Shine
February 15, 2018. By JD Wolfsberg: The Night to Shine is a banquet-style event put on by the Tim Tebow Foundation to celebrate those with special needs. On February 9th, 537 churches around the world participated in the event by putting on a dance for individuals...
Market Note: Global Equity Markets
February 6, 2018. By John Wolfsberg: The global equity markets came under renewed pressure on Monday, with the S&P 500 Index down over 4% for the day in a continuation of last week’s selloff. The decline in equities did not appear to be driven by any specific...
Client Notice: Tax Document Delivery Update
January 29, 2018. By Courtney Summa: As tax season is now upon us and with some deadlines mere months away, we understand the importance of delivering the tax documents related to your Centerpoint accounts and portfolios in a timely manner. Additionally, we are happy...
Ashley Agnew Volunteers at Bryant’s IDEA Program
January 25, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: As part of our Year of Giving charitable initiative, I chose to spend volunteer hours at my MBA Alma Mater, Bryant University, helping with their IDEA program. The IDEA program, which stands for Innovation and Design Experience for...
New Year’s Resolution: Check Your Credit Report
January 16, 2018. By Matthew Okaty: It’s been approximately four months since we all learned of the Equifax hack, and hopefully everyone has taken some kind of action to help safeguard their identity and credit. While the incident may have faded from the headlines,...
Guest Blog: Trust & Estates Alert- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
January 9, 2018. By Ashley Agnew: As part of our services, we often quarterback the coordination of tax and estate planning professionals on behalf of our client's needs. This includes but is not limited to: retitling of accounts, annual gifting execution and...
Centerpoint Working Remotely on January 4th
January 3, 2018. By R. Anthony Norris: Due to inclement weather and for the safety of our team and clients, we will be working remotely tomorrow, Thursday, January 4th. Although we will not be present in our office, you may still reach us by calling our regular...
Inheriting Individual Retirement Accounts
January 3, 2018. By Lori Patterson: IRA (Individual Retirement Account) owners have the option of listing one or more beneficiaries and the percentage of the assets they will leave to each heir. Depending on the relationship of the owner and the beneficiary of the...
Happy New Year and Holiday Hours
December 29, 2017. By John Wolfsberg: As we close out 2017, we want to thank our clients, colleagues, and friends of the firm for a wonderful year. With the help of so many we continue to grow our valued relationships and expand our services with the goal of providing...
Charitable Initiative: A Year of Giving
December 20, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: At the end of each year, we coordinate a charitable initiative to support a cause that is important to us as a firm. Throughout the holiday season, we raise awareness and support for that singular charity via our communication...
Technology’s Effect on Sleep and Health
December 15, 2017. By Courtney Summa: Technology has become a huge part of our lives, making things in life a bit more convenient. With such easy and immediate access to communication, however, most of us are guilty of sending one last email or scrolling through...
Houseguests with Less Stress this Holiday Season
December 7, 2017. By John Wolfsberg: Thanksgiving launches the official kick-off to the holiday season as we enjoy crisp weather, the heart of the football season, warm apple pie, and…houseguests. Whether it is in your game plan to host or be hosted, here are a few...
Tax Reform Update, November 2017
November 30, 2017. By Mark Barry: As we near the end of 2017, Washington’s efforts to pass tax reform legislation have dominated headlines, with Congress working on the final iterations of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. A central piece of the Trump administration’s...
Helping Service Members Navigate Financial Planning
November 9, 2017. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Veterans Day is a reminder to reflect upon and thank those who have so bravely served our country. With past and present service members in our own firm and families, the holiday carries both feelings of pride and respect in...
Protecting Children Against Identity Theft
November 2, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: A new baby blesses her family with a newfound joy and love with each smile, coo, and cry. Just over three short months ago my own family was blessed with a new addition with the birth of my daughter. Accompanying the joy of a baby is...
The Executor and Personal Representative’s Checklist
October 27, 2017. By Olga Okaty: Being named the executor of a loved one’s Will is a role that entails tremendous trust and legal responsibility. The executor (also known as a personal representative in some states) is entrusted to carry out the decedent’s last...
The Important To-do’s after the “I Do’s”
October 20, 2017. By Courtney Summa: After months of planning each detail of your wedding, your big day finally came! It was beautiful and magical and went by far too fast. With the moment behind you, what tasks now require the commitment of your spare time? The...
No September Blues for Small Cap Stocks
October 12, 2017. By Mark Barry: Small cap stocks have been on a roll lately, with the Russell 2000 Index hitting several new all-time highs. For the month of September, the Russell 2000 Index (IWM) was up 6.2%, compared to a 2.1% gain for the S&P 500 Index (IVV)....
Traditional 401(k) Plan vs. Roth 401(k) Plan
October 3, 2017. By Lori Patterson: When people hear these words, anxiety can set in quickly. Unless you are employed in an industry where you work directly with these types of plans and have developed an understanding of them, it’s likely that you too have...
Guest Blog: Should You Establish a Florida Domicile?
September 28, 2017. Courtesy of Patricia E. Malley, Esq., Greif & Litwak, P.C. As summer winds down and winter draws near, many New England residents will soon travel to Florida to escape the unpredictable New England winter climate. Warm weather is not the only...
Be Proactive-Protect Yourself After the Equifax Breach
September 21, 2017. By Matthew Okaty: The recent Equifax cybersecurity breach should serve as a wake-up call for everyone. With approximately 143 million consumers’ personal information exposed, the consequences of the breach are sure to be significant and felt for...
The Ins and Outs of On-Campus Living
September 6, 2017. By John Wolfsberg: It is hard to believe that summer is quickly coming to an end and with this comes back-to-school planning. I know that many parents are relieved to move back to a set schedule and familiar routine for their households after a...
Repost: Building Sound Financial Habits in College
August 31, 2017. By Olga Okaty: Originally posted on September 8, 2016With college send-offs wrapping up and a new semester in full swing, parents and students are now settling into their fall routines. As we witnessed many families in the midst of exciting college...
The Stressors of the Home Purchasing Process
August 24, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: Taking the plunge from leasing or renting to purchasing a home is a defining time in one’s life. The experience has the full thrill of being on a rollercoaster, with climbs of excitement and dips of anxiety. The line is long just to...
How to Find, Apply to and Maximize Internships
August 10, 2017. By R. Anthony Norris: Imagine you are projected to graduate with all the ingredients to land the job you have always wanted. However, you are missing one critical component….work experience. In this competitive job market, experience is paramount. The...
Guest Blog: The Importance of Boat Insurance
August 1, 2017. Courtesy of Adam Hofmann, Reid-Hofmann Insurance Agency : It is definitely boating season. Whether you’re back and forth to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, parking on a sandbar, or even just staying at the dock (yeah, we know you’re out there), there...
Financial Planning for The New Furry Family Friend
July 25, 2017. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: The joy of adopting a pet whether that be a new puppy, kitten or adult rescue is an exciting time for any family. The search to find the right dog or cat that fits your family’s energy and household can take time and patience...
Guest Blog: 10 Exercises to Improve Your Golf Game
July 18, 2017. Courtesy of Dennis Borg, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention: With summer in full swing, so is your golf game. Speaking of swings, make sure yours isn't causing more harm than good leading to eventual injury. As part of our Health is Wealth...
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
July 14, 2017. By Matthew Okaty: If you are a small business owner, whether a sole proprietor or one with employees, it is important to understand your retirement plan options. Without such a plan, you could be missing out on tax-deferred growth that could impact...
Repost: Reclaim Your Time, Build your Board.
July 7, 2017. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Summer months often lead to increased obligations and overcommitted schedules with the rise of barbecues, graduation celebrations, and weekends away. Now more than ever it is important to have a sound advisory board on your side to...
Financial Considerations for Newlyweds
June 29, 2016. By Courtney Faria: Whether the wedding bells are around the corner or have just rung, one challenge many couples encounter includes discussing the management of money. This tends to be a sensitive topic, however is an important item to discuss early on,...
Financing Grad School: Key Planning Considerations
June 20, 2017. By Olga Okaty: In working with many of our next generation clients, a discussion topic we encounter often centers around graduate school planning, and whether financing graduate education with student loans is a worthwhile or feasible option. With...
How to Handle your 401(k) When Changing Jobs
June 15, 2017. By Lori Patterson: There are many emotions that accompany a job change. Excitement and anxiety tend to top the list as you mentally prepare for a new addition to your resume. When in the midst of a career move, you may be busy buttoning up old projects,...
Branding your Website: Centerpoint Hosts Jeff Wotton
June 8, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: In our discussions with clients and professional acquaintances, the topic of website design comes up frequently. Business owners often toggle between revamping their website and starting fresh with a new site, all the while...
5 Stocks Account for Bulk of 2017 Market Performance
June 1, 2016. By Mark Barry: The stock market has turned in solid performance year-to-date, with the S&P 500 Index up 7.9% as of last week. However, this market rally has been quite narrow, as gains in the S&P 500 are largely attributable to the performance...
Interest Rates Moving Higher? Not So Fast.
May 23, 2017. By John Wolfsberg: Expectations for higher interest rates increased almost immediately with the election of Donald Trump as our 45th U.S. President. Much of President Trump’s campaign platform focused on major growth initiatives that many felt would...
Thriving with Adult ADHD Featuring David Greenwood
May 18, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: "Guess what? Kids with ADHD grow up to be adults with ADHD. Stunning, I know. Maybe we learn to deal with it, but how do we thrive with ADHD?” -D. Greenwood This question was the genesis of David Greenwood’s book ‘Overcoming...
The Hidden Issue in Higher Education
May 11, 2017. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Graduation season brings wonderful memories to many of us. Memories of classmates that became lifelong friends, dynamic professors and mentors, and coursework that changed our outlook and laid the path for what would later become...
Centerpoint Advisors Attends the XPX 2017 Summit
May 5, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: Yesterday several members of our team attended the annual Exit Planning Exchange ("XPX") Summit in Waltham. XPX is a multi-disciplinary community of professional advisors, including Centerpoint, who work collaboratively to help owners...
The Case for Investing in Smaller Hedge Funds
April 26, 2017. By Mark Barry: The market environment over the past several years has proved difficult for many hedge funds, with several high profile managers making headlines amid declining performance and the resulting loss of assets as investors seek to deploy...
Helpful Tips: Preparing for Studying or Traveling Abroad
April 21, 2017. By Courtney Faria: In this day and age, it’s hard not to catch the travel bug. There are so many wonders to see in this world, from the Eiffel Tower to the Great Wall of China, from the Northern Lights to the Great Barrier Reef. The big question is...
DOL Fiduciary Rule – Delayed Until June 9, 2017
April 12, 2017. By Matthew Okaty: Last year we saw the release of a major new piece of financial industry regulation, commonly known as the DOL Fiduciary Rule, which was originally scheduled to take effect this week (April 10, 2017 specifically). If you recall from...
What’s Going On in the Energy Markets?
April 6, 2017. By Mark Barry: After hitting $26/barrel last February, the price of oil has recovered, with WTI Crude trading near $51/barrel as of this writing. However, energy markets have seen some volatility in 2017 thus far, and it seems appropriate to briefly...
Repost: Talking to Teens About Money
March 30, 2017: As summer vacation approaches and acceptance letters begin to appear in your mailbox, use these opportunities to discuss sound financial habits with your teen and young adult children before they are off "on their own". Here is a great post by John...
Tips, Tricks, and Helpful Hints for Buying Your Next Car
March 23, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: Spring has finally arrived and you may have the bug to replace your vehicle now that the threat of snow is (hopefully) behind us for the season. As with any large purchase, buying a car can be just as stressful as it is exciting. ...
When and Why Do I Need a CDFA?
March 16, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: The process of divorce can be described as emotional, exhausting, and even tumultuous. Couples who are fortunate to sustain an amicable experience throughout the entire process are a rarity. By the time the day comes to sign an...
Client Notice: Tax Document Distribution
March 9, 2017. By Courtney Faria: As we find ourselves yet again in the full-swing of tax season, we would like to post a friendly reminder regarding the distribution of your tax documents. Rest assured that we will deliver any applicable forms in a swift and...
Asset Retitling: The Missed Step in Estate Planning
March 2, 2017. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Over the last several years we as a firm have become more involved in our client’s financial organization as it pertains to family office services and wealth management. As part of this process, we actively speak with their CPAs,...
What to Shred: Disposing of Your Financial Records
February 23, 2017. By Matt Okaty: The beginning of the year is a great time to organize your financial records. With tax season ahead, having everything organized should make filing your return a lot easier. Plus, organizing your records now rather than later will...
Should You Buy or Lease a Vehicle?
February 16, 2017. By Olga Okaty: With car prices continually on the rise and integration of new features further boosting sticker prices, many drivers are wondering whether leasing a new vehicle is a better alternative to buying or financing one. While some prefer to...
Fixed Income Review, Fourth Quarter 2016
February 9, 2017. By John Wolfsberg: After bottoming in the first half of 2016, interest rates rose sharply in the fourth quarter following the surprise victory of Donald Trump in the U. S. presidential election. Rates had entered the quarter on a slow upward...
Health is Wealth: Winter Motivation
February 2, 2017. By Lori Patterson: It’s official: physical health affects financial health. With rates of health care consistently on the rise, our wallets are indeed directly impacted by your physical fitness and wellbeing, especially as we age. According to an...
Cyber-risk Breakfast Featuring Bill French
January 26, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: This past Tuesday we had the pleasure of hosting Bill French to discuss how individuals and businesses can protect themselves from identity theft and fraudulent activity. Bill is the Vice President of Fidelity's customer Protection...
Intelligent Index, Fourth Quarter 2016
January 17, 2016. By Richard Greene and Mark Barry: In what can best be described as the year of the improbable, equity markets ended the fourth quarter and 2016 in record high territories and registered strong returns across almost all equity sectors. The fact that...
Buying a Second Home: Key Considerations
January 11, 2016. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Winter is upon us in the northeast, and it is all-the-more attractive to move to a warmer climate during retirement for mental and physical well-being. One of the difficult considerations we see with clients when they make the...
Breathe in, Breathe out: 5 Tips for Mental Strength
January 3, 2017. By Ashley Agnew: Throughout the day, it may be the slightest annoyance rather than a major crisis that is the cause of your stress. Such an annoying instance makes it difficult to decompress and enjoy the few precious hours you have left until your...
Investing “Responsibly” with SRI and ESG Factors
December 27, 2016. By Mark Barry: For many years, there has been increasing interest in Socially Responsible Investing (sometimes referred to as ethical or impact investing) from the investing public as well as institutional investors, particularly endowment and...
Buying or Refinancing a Home Post-Divorce
December 22, 2016. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: Divorce in our country has doubled over the last 20 years among people over the age of 50. For these individuals, it can be a tough challenge to restart a new life under very different income and asset base circumstances. ...
Year-End Tax-Planning Reminders 2016
December 15, 2016. By Olga Okaty: One of the most prominent topics President-elect Donald Trump discussed on the campaign trail was his plan to cut taxes. Several Republican Congressmen have presented similar tax proposals over the last few years, and with Mr. Trump...
Questions to Ask When Choosing a CPA
December 9, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: Choosing a financial professional is an important process that requires careful thought and due diligence. One of the most important financial professionals in our clients’ lives is the Certified Public Accountant (CPA). As the tax...
Identity Theft: Survival Kit Essentials
December 1, 2016. By Matthew Okaty: Being the victim of identity theft can be an overwhelming experience. In addition to the possible financial loss, there is also the loss of time spent tending to the crisis and performing damage control. Familiarizing yourself in...
Why Millennials Aren’t Investing for Retirement
November 22, 2016. By Courtney Faria: Retirement seems a long way off for many millennials. Some have just entered college, or are just entering the workforce, like me. Others are getting married and starting a family. So many changes and adventures are ahead; some...
2016 Team Charitable Initiative: Advocates
Each year the Centerpoint Team "adopts" a cause for the holiday season. As you may recall, last year we volunteered at the Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary and held a drive at the office in collection of canned pet food to donate to the farm. We were humbled by the...
Bond Market Note: November 15, 2016
November 15, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: The bond market has witnessed a significant back up in yields as a result of the surprising win by Donald Trump in last week’s Presidential election. Going into Tuesday, the market had been positioned for a Clinton win, but as...
Election 2016: Don’t Lose Your Investment Discipline
November 9, 2016. By Richard Greene: Last night’s election validates our philosophy to avoid putting too much faith in what political “pundits” in the media say. We suggest that this caution be extended to the world of financial pundits as well. The uncertainty...
DIY+Robo+Behavioral Bias=Use an Advisor
November 8, 2016. By Richard Greene: Understanding the psyche of the American consumer can be one of the most challenging exercises marketers and service professionals can attempt. America has become very much a culture of "do it yourselfers" with an obsession with...
Intelligent Index Review, Third Quarter 2016
November 4, 2016. By Richard Greene: Despite the crazy election rhetoric, the third quarter was the best of the year so far for the market and while economic data was mixed, consumer confidence reached post-recession highs. While economic conditions were relatively...
Global Spotlight China: Rise of the Consumer
November 1, 2016. By Mark Barry: Our Global Spotlight series takes a dive into foreign economies and their big-picture impacts. This edition will include commentary and analysis covering the economic state of China, and has been posted in three issues: The Great...
Fixed Income Review, Third Quarter 2016
October 31, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: With the Brexit vote behind us and investor concern over repercussions of Britain’s vote to leave the EU diminishing, the bond market turned its focus to the underlying fundamentals of the US economy. Economic data for the quarter...
Global Spotlight China: Economic Transition and Reform
October 27, 2016. By Mark Barry: Our Global Spotlight series takes a dive into foreign economies and their big-picture impacts. This edition will include commentary and analysis covering the economic state of China, and will be posted in three issues: 1.The Great...
Global Spotlight China: The Great Rebalance
October 25, 2016. By Mark Barry: Our Global Spotlight series takes a dive into foreign economies and their big-picture impacts. This edition will include commentary and analysis covering the economic state of China, and will be posted in three issues: 1.The Great...
Warning: You Are Living in a Flood Zone
October 17, 2016. By Ashley Agnew: Over Columbus Day weekend, I visited my husband in North Carolina, where he is living while stationed at the Naval Base in Virginia Beach (NAS Oceana). Over the weekend, there were warnings of heavy rains as a result of Hurricane...
The Role of the Household ‘Refrigerator Manager’
October 4, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: It is a blessed feeling to have a wonderful spouse and great children. When you are in such a household, as are many of our clients and colleagues, there is seemingly nothing that one would not do to provide for their family,...
Murphy’s Divorce Law- Plan for the Worst
September 28, 2016. By Matt Okaty: Most people know at least one person that has gone through a divorce and so have probably heard that few things go as planned. We hear this often in speaking with clients and trusted business professionals. Regardless of all the...
Centerpoint Hosts Estate Attorney Kelly Gill
On September 20th, Centerpoint hosted estate attorney Kelly Gill to discuss estate planning for those caring for aging parents as well as children, often referred to as the "Sandwich Generation". She spoke about ways to protect assets, which estate documents should be...
Plan for the Next Chapter of Your Career
September 13, 2016. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: There comes a time in life when a shift of professional interest seems to occur. It is not an abrupt or obvious feeling, and for some it is a gradual redirection of career focus or personal interest. The self-awareness that...
Building Sound Financial Habits in College
September 8, 2016. By Olga Okaty: With college send-offs wrapping up and a new semester in full swing, parents and students are now settling into their fall routines. As we witnessed many families in the midst of exciting college preparations this summer, a topic we...
Financially Preparing for the Death of a Spouse
August 31, 2016. By Jennifer Wolfsberg: The thought of losing a spouse is overwhelming. The life you have envisioned is suddenly upended, and the dream of growing old together is no longer in your grasp. When such tragedies occur, the spouse left behind is not only...
Do You Need to Schedule Your RMD?
August 23, 2016. By Lori Patterson: It is hard to believe another summer will soon be behind us and the fall season is a mere weeks away. As it adds color to our landscape, the autumn also adds various tasks to our already busy schedules, hectic holiday planning, and...
Intelligent Index Review, Second Quarter 2016
August 18, 2016. By Richard Greene: The March rally continued into the second quarter, albeit at a slower pace, as equity markets rose steadily. This rise was disrupted in late June as the UK voted to leave the European Union, which saw global markets take a nosedive....
Talking to Teens and Young Adults About Money
August 9, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: The teenage years offer many opportunities to open up a discussion about financial responsibility, as children begin their first jobs and increase social activities. Financial coaching, however, extends through and beyond the college...
Centerpoint Hosts George Donnelly
On July 26th, Centerpoint hosted author, journalist, and professor George Donnelly to discuss growth opportunities in the Boston area. He also spoke about his course at Suffolk University, which educates college students about the Boston economy. Many interesting...
Fixed Income Review, Second Quarter 2016
August 2, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: The market seemed to have regained its appetite for risk assets as we entered the second quarter. Oil prices had recovered from the multiyear lows of the first quarter, and investors began to feel confident that the economy would...
Beyond the Away Message: Working After Parental Leave
July 28, 2016. By Ashley Agnew: A frequent theme in our discussions is how rushed the days seem. Tuesday suddenly becomes Friday, and Friday quickly turns into Monday, each day with a to-do list that, without fail, magically resurrects. Many parents encounter this...
Regulatory Update: The DOL Fiduciary Rule
July 21, 2016. By Matthew Okaty, J.D.: While perhaps not as widely publicized in the mainstream media, the Department of Labor’s new Fiduciary Rule (or Conflict of Interest Rule to be precise) has been in the headlines of every major financial news outlet for at least...
Cybersecurity While Traveling
July 12, 2016. By Ashley Agnew: Many times when thinking about secure traveling, we are most worried about things such as luggage theft, hotel security, and losses due to language barriers or exchange rates. We tend to ignore cybersecurity threats, despite the fact...
Jennifer Wolfsberg Earns CDFA Accreditation
July 7, 2016: Jennifer Wolfsberg has recently completed her coursework and examinations and has earned the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst ("CDFA") accreditation through the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. A CDFA works with clients and their attorneys...
Brexit: More Questions Than Answers
June 27, 2016. By John Wolfsberg: Last Friday, the United Kingdom (UK) electorate voted to exit the European Union (EU), surprising financial markets which had rallied risk assets in the week prior in anticipation of a win by the “Remain” camp. With the volume of...
Mortgage Rate Update: June 16, 2016
By Olga P. Okaty, CFP®: Following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision yesterday to keep interest rates steady, the Bank of Japan’s decision overnight not to add stimulus, and investors’ growing concerns regarding the impending Brexit vote next week, U.S. Treasury...
Trivia Night with Bob Ryan and Mike Reiss
June 14, 2016. By Ashley Agnew: On Wednesday, June 8th Centerpoint Advisors hosted a Trivia Night at the Social Restaurant and Bar in Newton to benefit The Children's Room, a non-profit grief counseling center located in Arlington. The Children's Room operates...
Fixed Income Review, First Quarter 2016
The first quarter of 2016 witnessed a wild start to the year with financial markets experiencing extreme levels of volatility. Investors exited risk assets early in the quarter to seek the safety of U.S. Treasuries as concerns over global growth (driven by weakness in...
Intelligent Index Review, First Quarter 2016
An unexpectedly strong March rally allowed the U.S. equity markets to recover from double digit losses earlier in the year and finish marginally positive. For the quarter, the benchmark S&P 500 gained 1.35% while the Intelligent Index Model Portfolio advanced...
Reclaim Your Time: Build Your Advisory Board
Do your thoughts seem to compile and reorganize during your drive home from work? And why is it that your To-Do list seems to triple the moment your head hits the pillow? Managing Principal Jennifer Wolfsberg addresses these daily troubles and provides the solution...
The $3 Billion Beer Bet
June 7, 2016. By Matthew Okaty, J.D.: At the beginning of 2016, there was a lot of excitement in financial news regarding mergers and acquisitions ("M&A"), as 2015 was a record breaking year for M&A transactions, with $3.8 trillion being spent across the...
Important Social Security Deadline is Quickly Approaching
April 13, 2016. By Olga P. Okaty, CFP®, Director of Financial Planning: As you may have read in our Financial Planning Update last December, a very popular Social Security claiming strategy known as “file-and-suspend” is expiring next month, and the filing deadline to...
Intelligent Index Review 4th Qtr 2015
Despite the long anticipated FOMC decision to raise interest rates and the increase in volatility that returned in earnest during the fourth quarter, the S&P 500 managed to gain 7% for the quarter and finish the year marginally positive. The Intelligent Index...
Fixed Income Review: Fourth Quarter 2015
The fourth quarter saw the Federal Reserve raise interest rates for the first time since 2006, signaling an end to the zero interest rate environment of the last several years. At the December FOMC meeting, Chairwoman Janet Yellen increased the federal funds rate by...
Outlook on the United States – Lazard Outlook
As we exit 2015, the United States continues to be arguably one of the brightest spots in the global economy. However, investor sentiment is understandably mixed as many sources of uncertainty that emerged in 2015 are poised to extend into the year ahead. We highlight...
Seasons Greetings and Year-End Reminders
It seems as if just yesterday we were preparing our mid-year update, yet with the blink of an eye we are once again immersed in the holiday season. In this newsletter we would like to provide clients and colleagues with not only firm updates, but also helpful...
