Cass Chappell 
Member since: January 26, 2009
Total live articles: 17
As co-founder of Chappell, Mayfield & Associates, Cass offers expertise in financial planning, wealth accumulation, retirement planning, insurance planning, business continuation planning, and employee benefits. Cass launched his financial planning career as an agent for Prudential Financial in 1996, and later, a manager in the company's financial services division. Since then, Cass has earned the CFP®, CLU, and ChFC designations, reflecting his commitment to excellence in investment decision-making and financial planning. He also holds a B.S. in Management from Georgia Tech. Cass has lived in Atlanta since 1992 and is married to Alison.
I have spent the last two weeks searching for a top notch computer program or application. All I want to do is be able to easily analyze whether a Roth conversion makes sense for any client, in any scenario, with any set of assumptions. In this day and age, you would expect to be able to find such a tool in seconds...
Investors have a huge aversion to accepting losses in the stock market. A 1979 study showed that investors will risk a much larger loss than accept a smaller certain loss. This may be one reason investors hold on to losing positions instead of selling them and replacing them with a more promising security.
This article, written by Cass Chappell and titled "Max Out" your 401(k)...just don't do it too quickly, is meant to inform investors that they should not be hasty in how fast they maximize their retirement plan contributions. It points out that by spreading your contributions throughout the year that you collect all the matching contributions that you are entitled to.
Arriving on the scene several years ago, 529 savings plans shoulda, coulda, woulda been the greatest thing since sliced bread. There is one characteristic, unique to 529 plans, that JUST DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT. Each individual state sponsors their own 529 plan. This makes the 529 landscape muddied at best, and outright confusing at worst. To “shop the country” would require someone to look at almost 50 different plans! It’s time to fix this. A 529 plan should be just like an IRA, where you...
Why is there some much venom in the healthcare debate? If we use our energy to work towards constructive dialogue instead of anger and intimidation, then we may actually be able to fix our healthcare system. Issues with Georgia's healthcare system in particular are explored in this short but informative article.
Why is there some much venom in the healthcare debate? If we use our energy to work towards constructive dialogue instead of anger and intimidation, then we may actually be able to fix our healthcare system. Issues with Georgia's healthcare system in particular are explored in this short but informative article.
This aritcle takes a look at recent changes to the Uninsured Motorist Coverage law in Georgia and explores the hidden reasons for a possible premium increase. It also discusses alternatives to this increase and weighs the pro and cons.
When is the best time to best time to buy long term care insurance? Despite the snap answers you may get, there is no answer that is right for everyone. It depends on your financial situation, your age, your health status, and appetite for risk. Should you self insure? Read on for answers...
This article was written before the Kentucky Derby, and provides insights into the author's prediction of the winner, and also his checkered history in trying to predict the winner of the Run for the Roses.
Between March 9th and April 7th, the stock market rose 19%, which should not take investors by surprise. History has shown that when markets “trough”; those bottoms are followed by a sharp rise in equity markets. Long Term investors need to stay the course.
Arriving on the scene several years ago, 529 savings plans shoulda, coulda, woulda been the greatest thing since sliced bread. There is one characteristic, unique to 529 plans, that JUST DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT. Each individual state sponsors their own 529 plan. This makes the 529 landscape muddied at best, and outright confusing at worst. To “shop the country” would require someone to look at almost 50 different plans! It’s time to fix this. A 529 plan should be just like an IRA, where you...
Between March 9th and April 7th, the stock market rose 19%, which should not take investors by surprise. History has shown that when markets “trough”; those bottoms are followed by a sharp rise in equity markets. Long Term investors need to stay the course.
This article, written by Cass Chappell and titled "Max Out" your 401(k)...just don't do it too quickly, is meant to inform investors that they should not be hasty in how fast they maximize their retirement plan contributions. It points out that by spreading your contributions throughout the year that you collect all the matching contributions that you are entitled to.
This aritcle takes a look at recent changes to the Uninsured Motorist Coverage law in Georgia and explores the hidden reasons for a possible premium increase. It also discusses alternatives to this increase and weighs the pro and cons.
An analysis of the pros and cons of owning a second home.
This article, originally written on October 10, 2008, aims to put the popular investing term into plain English. What is means and how it may affect investors.
This article is a basic description of the withdrawal system we use at Chappell, Mayfield and Associates. As 2008 comes to an end reflection and observations seemed to be in order.
Why is there some much venom in the healthcare debate? If we use our energy to work towards constructive dialogue instead of anger and intimidation, then we may actually be able to fix our healthcare system. Issues with Georgia's healthcare system in particular are explored in this short but informative article.
Interesting quote and insight into the mind of one of America's greatest investors. Quote is from September 2008.
Special tax rules (that few have noticed) allow for converting IRAs to Roth IRAs with 2 years to pay the tax on the coversion. In 2010 taxpayers can convert an IRA, 401(k) Rollover, & virtually any type of retirement plan to a Roth IRA (allowing for tax-free withdrawals in retirement) regardless of income. Tax rules allow you to spread the tax on the coversion over the following 2 years. And with the stock market so low, now is a great time to be saving and investing for retirement.
Between March 9th and April 7th, the stock market rose 19%, which should not take investors by surprise. History has shown that when markets “trough”; those bottoms are followed by a sharp rise in equity markets. Long Term investors need to stay the course.
This article was written before the Kentucky Derby, and provides insights into the author's prediction of the winner, and also his checkered history in trying to predict the winner of the Run for the Roses.
When is the best time to best time to buy long term care insurance? Despite the snap answers you may get, there is no answer that is right for everyone. It depends on your financial situation, your age, your health status, and appetite for risk. Should you self insure? Read on for answers...
This aritcle takes a look at recent changes to the Uninsured Motorist Coverage law in Georgia and explores the hidden reasons for a possible premium increase. It also discusses alternatives to this increase and weighs the pro and cons.
Why is there some much venom in the healthcare debate? If we use our energy to work towards constructive dialogue instead of anger and intimidation, then we may actually be able to fix our healthcare system. Issues with Georgia's healthcare system in particular are explored in this short but informative article.
Why is there some much venom in the healthcare debate? If we use our energy to work towards constructive dialogue instead of anger and intimidation, then we may actually be able to fix our healthcare system. Issues with Georgia's healthcare system in particular are explored in this short but informative article.
Arriving on the scene several years ago, 529 savings plans shoulda, coulda, woulda been the greatest thing since sliced bread. There is one characteristic, unique to 529 plans, that JUST DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT. Each individual state sponsors their own 529 plan. This makes the 529 landscape muddied at best, and outright confusing at worst. To “shop the country” would require someone to look at almost 50 different plans! It’s time to fix this. A 529 plan should be just like an IRA, where you...
This article, written by Cass Chappell and titled "Max Out" your 401(k)...just don't do it too quickly, is meant to inform investors that they should not be hasty in how fast they maximize their retirement plan contributions. It points out that by spreading your contributions throughout the year that you collect all the matching contributions that you are entitled to.
Investors have a huge aversion to accepting losses in the stock market. A 1979 study showed that investors will risk a much larger loss than accept a smaller certain loss. This may be one reason investors hold on to losing positions instead of selling them and replacing them with a more promising security.
This article is a basic description of the withdrawal system we use at Chappell, Mayfield and Associates. As 2008 comes to an end reflection and observations seemed to be in order.
