Investor's Capital Management

Rich Chambers, CFP^®Julie Schatz, CFP^®

Jennifer Cray, CFP^®

Investor's Capital
Management, LLC
866-966-9291

Office Location:
Menlo Park, CA

Financial Planning and Investment Management for:
Menlo Park, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos, Woodside, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Cupertino, Foster City, Burlingame, Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, Santa Cruz, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Aptos, Morgan Hill, Gilroy

Investor's Capital Management, LLC

Articles

Articles of Significant Importance:

Watch Your Wallet (Variable Annuities) 11-05

You Bought A What?! (Variable Annuities) 9-05

Can You Afford to Retire? 9-05

Brokers in Sheep's Clothing 9-05

Does Your Stockbroker Place Your Best Interests First? 9-05

Charitable Giving

Benefits of Planning Charitable Giving 7-02

Charitable Trusts You Should Know 12-03

Donor-Advised Funds Allow Personal Control Yet Provide Tax Breaks 5-02

IRA Owners Over Age 70 1/2 Can Contribute Directly to a Charity 11-06

Review Charitable Giving in Light of New Tax Act 9-03

College and Private School Funding

Tax-Free College Saving with Section 529 Plans 1-07

CBSMarketWatch Education IRAs vs. 529s 11-01

CBSMarketWatch - College Saving 529 Plans Get Huge Tax Break in 2002 3-02

Can you transfer a custodial account to a section 529 plan? 1-01

Choosing a 529 College-Savings Plan-When It Makes Sense to Go Out of State 1-06

College Saving - Getting the Kids Involved 4-07

College Planning in the Wake of New Tax Laws 8-06

Figuring Out the Financial Aid Formula 2-06

Graduating With a Diploma ... and Debt 2-02
Handling the Cost of Higher Education 8-02
How Grandparents Can Help Pay for College Education 5-04
Investment Options for Funding College Education 9-04
Myths Deter Students From Applying For Financial Aid 11-04
Pre-Paid Tuition Plans Deserve a Second Look 8-02
Private Colleges Now Offer Prepaid Tuition Plan 9-03

Section 529 Plans a Rip-off? 8-02
Thinking About Private School for Your Kids? The Earlier You Start the Better 6-07
Should You Rethink College Savings in Light of the 2003 Tax Act? 10-03
What to do With Leftover 529 Plan Funds 6-03

Employee Benefits

Getting the Most From Your Employee Stock Options 7-02

How to Avoid Overloading Retirement Plan in Company Stock 2-02

How to Diversify Your Employer's Stock 10-00

Ten Things You Should Know to Get the Most From Your Employee Stock Options 7-01

Time to Get Flexible with Flexible Spending Accounts 12-03

Estate Planning & Gifting

13 Estate Planning Terms You Should Know 5-03

Are Charitable Gift Accounts Right for You 6-07

Creating an Ethical Will 2-07

Eight Estate Planning Strategies You Should Know 4-02

Estate Tax Changes Require Careful Planning 7-01

How to Handle the Challenges of Being an Estate Executor 1-04

It's Time to Start Thinking About the Estate Tax Again 1-08

Investment Policy Statements for Trusts 8-05

Keeping the Peace Among Your Heirs 2-01

Keys to a Comprehensive Will 2-02

Letters of Instruction Benefits Heirs ... and You 11-04

Losing Your Inheritance to Uncle Sam - Or Others 4-07

Navigating the Federal and State Estate Tax Maze 1-06

Prepare Now for 'New' 2010 Tax on Inherited Property 4-01

Preplanning Your Funeral Saves Loved Ones Stress and Money 10-04

Using Universal Life Insurance with Secondary Guarantees for Estate Taxes 2-07

Financial Planning

A New Approach to Selecting a Financial Planner 4-06

Financial Education for Minorities 5-06

Financial Planning for Life 12-05

Financial Planning for Life's Surprises 10-03

Financial Planning for Foreign Residents is Tricky 3-02

Getting Fiscally Fit 1-07

The Importance of an Annual Financial Checkup 5-06

Six Ways to Avoid the Financial Potholes of Life 6-04

Time for a Midyear Financial Checkup 6-05

When Recession Fears Surface, Check Your Plan - Or Make One.htm 2-08

Why Do You Need a Financial Planner? 2-02

Year-End Personal Finance Checklist 11-06

Fixed Income

Are Your Old Savings Bonds Still Earning Interest? 4-05

Bank Funds a Hedge Amid Rising Interest Rates 9-04

Climb a Bond Ladder as Interest Rates Rise 5-05

Fannie and Ginnie Maes Offer Alternatives to Treasury Securities 11-00

Immediate Fixed Annuities in Troubled Times 12-01

The Return of Uncle Sam's 30-Year Bond 3-06

Treasury Bonds for Inflationary Times 5-04

Using Ladder Bonds to Prop Up Sagging Interest Income 12-01

Insurance

A Primer on Living Benefits (Deferred Annuities) 9-05

An Annual Insurance checkup Can Save You Money Without Hurting Coverage 6-07

At What Age Should You Buy Long-Term Care Insurance? 11-00

Should You Consider an HSA? 8-07

Do You Know Where Your Universal Life Insurance Premiums Are? 7-03

Don't Overlook These Lesser-Known Features for Long-Term Care Insurance Policies 8-03

Equity-Indexed Annuities Demystfied 12-05

Evaluating the Need for Insurance in Retirement 1-06

Five Key Cost Factors to Consider When Buying a Long-Term Care
Insurance Policy 7-04

How Much Disability Insurance Do You Need? 2-03

How to Cut Your Insurance Costs 9-04

How to Minimize the Increasing Cost of Homeowner's Insurance 7-02

Insurance for Early Retirees 2-05

Insurance for Young Adults 10-04

Insuring a New Marriage 11-03

Investing Smart in a Health Savings Account 2-08

Is Your Insurance Company Financially Secure? 12-02

IRS Again Splits on Split-Dollar Arrangements 7-02

New Rules Affect Executives' Use of Split-Dollar Arrangements 9-01

Now is the Time to Pick Up Low-cost Life Insurance 3-07

Preparing for the new Medicare Drug Benefit 10-05

Pros and Cons of Combination Long-term Care Policies 4-05

Pros and Cons of Employer-Sponsored Long-Term Care Insurance 7-03

Should You Consider a Health Savings Account? 7-05

Small Business Owners Should Be Cautious About Putting Life Insurance into Retirement Plans 6-04

Tax Issues to Consider When Buying a Long-Term Care Policy 10-02

Term Life Insurance That May Pay Back Your Premiums 12-04

A Time and Place for Life Settlements 10-06

Tips on Filing Homeowner's Insurance Claims 10-05

Why You Should Consider Buying Long-Term Care Insurance 9-02

Long-term Care and Insuring for Long-term Care

At What Age Should You Buy Long-Term Care Insurance? 11-00

Don't Overlook These Lesser-Known Features for Long-Term Care Insurance Policies 8-03

Five Key Cost Factors to Consider When Buying a Long-Term Care
Insurance Policy 7-04

Long-term Care Insurance Polices Cover More Than Nursing Home

Taking-Care-of-Tomorrow 6-05

Tax Issues to Consider When Buying a Long-Term Care Policy 10-02

Why You Should Consider Buying Long-Term Care Insurance 9-02

Investing

Alternatives to Traditional Investing 4-06

Are Your Dividends Really Eligible for Lower Tax Rates? 12-03

Behavioral Finance Can Teach Investors How To Avoid Mistakes 12-01

Can a Professional Help You Invest More Successfully? 12-01

Choosing the Right Investment Benchmarks 4-02

Comments from Great Investors 9-02

Convertible Securities: Investing for the Wary 2-02

Correct Way to Use Lifecycle Mutual Funds 8-06

Diversification & Chasing Performance 8-03

Diving for Dividends 2-02

Do You Have Realistic Market Expectations? 5-02

Exchange Traded Funds - What Are They? 4-07

Getting Started with ETFs 6-06

Going Your Separate Way with Separate Accounts 3-01

Have You Learned Your Investing Lessons? 1-04

How the Falling Dollar May Fall on Your Finances 2-04

How to Make the Most of Your 401(k) Plan 3-04

Insights from Forty Years on Wall Street 9-02

Is the Bear as Bad as He Appears? 7-01

Is Your 401(k) Plan a Failure? 9-02

Is Your Broker Leaving You Out in the Cold? 2-02

Is Your Investment Portfolio Off Balance? 2-04

Investment Policy Statement Steers Portfolio Through Volatile Times 5-03

Investing Should Remain Focused on the Long Term 10-01

Making and Keeping Investment Portfolio and Financial Planning Resolutions 12-05

Market Timing Systems are Unlikely to Give You an Edge 4-02

Market Volatility Shouldn't Rattle a Good Financial Plan 5-07

Navigating Interest Rates Inflation and the Economy 8-06

New Breed of Hedge Funds Open to More Investors 8-03

New SEC Insider Trading Rules Ease Portfolio Diversification 6-01

Nobel Prize Winner Unearths 5 Common Investing Mistakes 11-02

Primer on Hedge Funds 12-06

Private Equity Increasingly Popular Alternative to Mutual Funds and Stocks 2-02

Should You Abandon the Stock Market? 9-02

Should You be Investing Overseas? 4-04

Should You be Preparing a 'War' Portfolio? 6-02

Should You Consider Investing in Commodities? 8-04

Should You Rush Into Gold? 11-03

Smart Actions to take in a Bear Market 7-01

Successful Investor - Mastering Investor Behavior for Building Long-Term Wealth 1-03

Tap Your HELOC for an Investment? Get Some Advice First 8-07

Trials and Tribulations of Measuring and Comparing Investment Performance 3-06

Use Caution If Exchanging Variable Annuities 5-04

What is the Real Reason You Should Invest? 1-05

You May Love Each Other, But Should You Invest Together? 2-08

Market Timing

Stock Market Extremes and Portfolio Performance 7-04

Taking the Long View - Market Timing Can Be Risky 1-04

Investment Risk

Ignorance is Bliss - It is, none-the-less, ignorant 3-02

Concentration Crisis - Risk Without Reward 7-01

Was That Risk I Just Saw? 4-01

Living Life on the Flip of a Coin - Will Americans Achieve Their Financial Goals? 1-01

Rethinking Risk - Risk versus Early Retirement 6-01

Modern Portfolio Reality 12-00

Asset Allocation Myth 8-99

Asset Allocation - Math Methods & Mistakes 6-01

Learning to Value Volatility ... and profit by doing so! 10-00

IRAs - See "Retirement Plans and IRAs"
MoneyMinute

Our Complimentary monthly email covering important investing and personal finance issues

Mutual Funds

Five Important Characteristics of Mutual Funds 6-01
Mutual Fund Labels: What's in a Name? 8-01
Why We Invest in Mutual Funds Rather than Individual Stocks 6-02

Personal

A Family Mission Statement Can Keep Money Squabbles at Bay 11-07
Add Prenuptial Agreements to Your Wedding Plans 7-05
Adopting a Child Requires a Specific Financial Plan 5-07
The Best Time for a Disaster Plan? Before the Disaster Happens 7-07
Budgeting for the Wealthy 5-01
Business Not So Good? How to Protect Against Job Loss in a Financial Plan 11-07
Caring for Elderly Loved Ones From Afar 1-06
Children Not Prepared for the Financial World 7-03
Couplepreneurs: Starting a Business with Your Better Half Can Reap Huge Rewards – And Unique Problems 10-07
Do You Know What Your CPI Is? 3-05
Divorce Can sink Your Health Coverage - What to do First 7-07
Exploring Identity Theft 9-05
Family Meetings Can Help Pass On Family Assets 5-05
Financial Mistakes to Avoid in a Divorce Settlement 6-05
FLPs With Business Purpose More Likely to Pass IRS Muster 12-04
Financial Planning Tools for Disabled Adults 7-01
Go Easy on Home-Equity Loans 3-05
Going Back to College? Make a Plan First 8-07
How Your Personality Affects Your Financial Decision-making 9-07
How to Avoid a Medical Disaster 3-05
Is Franchising a Good Investment for You? 3-04
Is Pet Insurance Worth It? 9-07
Key Factors to Look For When Leasing a Vehicle 4-04
Knowing Net Worth is Key to Managing Your Money
Make Sure Your Travel Insurance Actually Covers Your Trip 8-07
Making A Home Senior Friendly 9-06
Making Your Employer a Partner in Your Financial Planning 5-07
Making Your Own Health Care Decisions When You Can't 1-04
Most Americans Need to Prepare for the Financial Impact of Disability 3-07
Planning for Financial Hard Times 6-01
Planning Surgery in a Foreign Country? Make Sure Your Finances Are Safe Too 2-08
Preparing Financially for Disaster 8-05
A Primer on the National Savings Rate 10-05
Pros & Cons of Prepaying Your Funeral 8-05
Should You Loan Money to Family Members? 6-02
Should You Buy or Lease a Vehicle? 6-03
Successfully Managing Money in a Relationship During Tough Times 11-01
Thinking About Borrowing from Family or Friends - Do It The Right Way 10-07
Unmarried Couples Should Consider Living-Together Documents 4-03
Tips for Financially Helping Your Adult Children 4-05
Vacation Home Dream - is it for You? 6-06
Why You Need a Durable Power of Attorney 3-04
Winning the Lottery or a Pension: One Lump or Many? 8-04

Real Estate

An All-Weather Strategy to Real Estate Investing 7-07
Choosing the Right Type of Real Estate Agent 1-01
Diversifying Your Portfolio with Real Estate 12-01
Getting Today's Best Returns from a Home Renovation 1-08
Homeowners in Trouble Need to be Proactive 12-07

Investing in Real Estate Through REITs 2-01

Mortgages and Refinancing 12-06

New Real Estate Exchange Vehicle for Small Investors 2-04

Should You Prepay Mortgage in a Down Market? 11-01

Use Reverse Mortgages With Caution 9-01

When Real Estate's in Trouble, Spruce up Your Home and Finances 9-07

Retirement

A Brave New Financial World for Baby Boomers 4-06

Are You Psychologically Ready To Retire Early? 1-03

College Saving Strategies for Retirees 3-03

Conserving Client Portfolios 9-06

Countdown to Retirement 8-02

Deciding Whether to Accept an Early-Retirement Offer 7-01

Do Income Replacement Funds Make More Sense Than Annuities? 1-08

Don't Depend on Inheritance to Fund Retirement 4-01

A Guide to Withdrawing Retirement Assets 10-06

One Lump or Many? Consider Pension Payout Options Carefully 12-02

New Pension Protection Act of 2006 9-06

Pay Close Attention to So-Called "Default" Investments 1-08

Planning for a 'Retirement Paycheck' 4-03

Planning for the Extra Long Retirement 5-01

Retirement Decisions for Those Reaching 70 1/2 9-00

Reverse Mortgages Require a Close Look 7-07

Roth Conversions Become More Attractive for Retirees 12-04

Should You Change Your Retirement Planning in Light of the New Tax Act? 11-03

Should You Consider Equity-Indexed Annuities? 4-03

Should You Go Private With an Annuity? 6-04

Taking Responsibility for Retirement - Scary Headlines Can Help 6-06

Those Nearing Retirement Still Have Time To 'Catch' Up 1-03

Using Charitable Gift Annuities for Retirement Income 3-01

What to do if a Declining Market has Altered Your Retirement Plan 6-01

What to do if the Bear has Impacted Your Retirement Plan 10-02

What to do if Your Medicare HMO Drops Your Coverage 9-00

What to do if Your Pension Plan is in Trouble 9-03

What to do With Your Employer Nest Egg 11-00

Will You be 'Shocked' by the Cost of Retirement? 3-02

Working at Retirement 1-02

Retirement Plans, IRAs, 401(K)s, & 403(B)s

403(B) Plans Wave of Future for Many Workers 2-05

8 Ways to Protect Your IRA Plans 4-04

Avoid These Stupid IRA Mistakes 12-07

Do You Know Where Your IRA Beneficiary Forms Are? 5-05

Early Roth IRA Owners Can Start Taking Tax-free Earning Withdrawals Soon 12-02

Going Solo With a 401(k) 10-02

Important to Read IRA Custodial Agreement 11-04

IRS Dramatically Simplifies Minimum Distribution Rules 3-01

IRS Eases Retirement Account Rollover Nightmares 2-05

Large IRAs Not Fully Protected From Bankruptcy or Lawsuit Seizure 6-05

New 401(k) Blackout Rules Not Entire Answer to 401(k) Investing Problems 1-03

New IRS Rulings May Put More Money in the Hands of IRA Beneficiaries 12-00

New Bankruptcy Law Protects IRAs 7-05

New Minimum Distribution Rules Benefit Beneficiaries 4-01

Roth IRA Conversions - Ins and Outs 12-06

SERPS Boost Executive Retirement Income 2-02

Should You Name a Trust as Beneficiary of Your Retirement Plan? 7-03

Should You Stay In Your Old 401(k) Or Roll It Over Into an IRA? 10-04

Tax Ruling May Help Early Retirees Preserve Battered Retirement Accounts 11-02

Understanding the New Roth 401(k) 9-05

Social Secuity, Medicare, Medicaid

Changes in Store for Medicare and Medicaid 2-06
Finding the Right Medigap Policy 10-01
Medicare Provides Preventative Services 1-07
The Perplexing World of Social Security and Earnings in Retirement 3-06
Will Your Future Social Security Payments be Smaller Than Expected? 1-05

Stock Options

Employee Stock Options - High Value Planning 2002
StockOpter software helps clients who hold options see the need for regular exercise 9-02
Using Put Options to Buy Stock at a Discount 3-01

Small Business and Self-Employed

Business Interruption Insurance Often a Must for Small Business 5-02
Choosing Best Small-Business Structure Tougher Choice These Days 7-04
Financing Alternatives for Small Business 1-05
Here's How to Prepare For Your Own Business 12-07
Nine Business Succession-Planning Mistakes to Avoid 10-03
New Tax Act Affects Planning for Small-Business Owners 8-01
New Tax Act Aids Small Businesses 8-03
Rules for Hiring Family Members 12-05
Starting a Business Not For the Faint of Heart 8-02
Subprime Debacle Is All About Housing? Hurts Small Businesspeople Too 10-07
The Truth About Small-Business Succession Planning 5-06

Taxes

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Issues:
- AMT Tax Guide - AMT 101 - always current
- AMT Tax Guide - Top 10 Things that Cause AMT - always current
- AMT Tax Guide - Dual Basis Assets - always current
- AMT Tax Guide - AMT and Long-Term Capital Gain - always current
- AMT Likely to Hit More Taxpayers Under the New Tax Act? 9-01
- Is the Alternative Minimum Tax In Your Future? 12-00

Afraid of the AMT? Now's the Time to Get Some Help 11-07
Bunching Can Preserve Your Itemized Deductions 3-07
Eight Year-End Tax-Saving Strategies 10-02
IRS Issues Home Sweet Home-Sale Rules 2-03
Lenders May Give You a Break on Debt, But Uncle Sam is Less Forgiving 6-07
More Tax Changes - Tax Act of 2006 1-07
Smart Year-End Tax Moves 12-07
Start Planning Now to Avoid the Dreaded Alternative Tax 7-04
Staying Awake During the Vacation Home Tax Nightmare 10-00
Taking Time to Understand the 2006 Tax Changes 2-06
Tax Planning Tips for 2007 2-07
Taxpayers Should Get a Head Start on Tax Planning for 2007 10-06
The Ins and Outs of Audits 9-07
What You Can Do Before the Kiddie Tax Loophole Closes 10-07
Year-End Tax Strategies for Estimated Payments 11-02
Year-End Tax Planning Tips 12-05

Trusts, Estates, Wills, Inheritances, Giving

A Primer on Charitable Donations 12-05
Inheriting IRAs a Tricky Process 8-04
New Tax Act Demands Careful Scrutiny of Wills 10-01
The Pros and Cons of Incentive Trusts 1-01
The Fact and Fiction of Trusts 2-01
What Not To Do When Inheriting Wealth 2-03
Will Your Kid's Inheritance Make Her a Monster? Not If You Plan Carefully 11-07

Women's Issues

Women Must Prepare Better for Retirement Years 6-03

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Disclosure:

The information in this web site is based on data gathered from sources which ICM believes to be reliable. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended as the primary basis for investment decisions. Additionally, it should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. All references made to investment or portfolio performance are based on historical data; one should not assume that this performance will continue in the future.

Links provided by ICM to other sites are for information only. There is no business relationship between ICM and any of the links provided and ICM makes no representations or warranties with respect to the information contained in any linked sites and takes no responsibility for supplementing, updating, or correcting any such information.