September 2025 Planning Tip Tax Payments Are Going Paperless: Steps to Get Ahead of the Change Starting September 30, 2025, paper checks will no longer be accepted for federal tax payments, nor will they be issued for refunds. This is part of a broader government push to modernize the tax system, improve efficiency, and reduce fraud. For individuals and families, this means that the familiar process of mailing in a check with a tax return or waiting for a paper refund check to arrive in the...
10 days ago • 2 min read
ARK ROYAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Three Charts That Have Our Attention If you are curious about what’s going on in the market or economy, we’d like to share some charts / graphics that we think are insightful. Large Cap Market Concentration. Nvidia now has the largest weight in the S&P 500 of any individual stock in history. Expanding to some of the other largest market caps there is an extreme AI concentration. Buying at Highs. Many people think buying after the market hits an all-time high is...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
August 2025 Planning Tip Ratings vs. Returns: The Investor’s Dilemma Everyone wants better investment results, but few realize how often their decisions are shaped by outside forces with entirely different priorities. If your market outlook is based on what you see on financial news networks, you’re being guided by incentives that often run in direct opposition to your own. The business model isn’t built to make you a better investor, it’s built to keep you watching. Sensationalism is a...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
ARK ROYAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Three Charts That Have Our Attention If you are curious about what’s going on in the market or economy, we’d like to share some charts / graphics that we think are insightful. Household Leverage. The U.S. household debt-to-asset ratio is at a 50-year low. On the surface, that sounds like a good thing but this can happen for two reasons: either people are paying down debt and building real wealth, or asset values (like homes and stocks) have risen so much that the...
2 months ago • 1 min read
ARK ROYAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Three Charts That Have Our Attention If you are curious about what’s going on in the market or economy, we’d like to share some charts / graphics that we think are insightful. Buyer's Market. The U.S. housing market has shifted dramatically into a buyer’s market, with sellers now outnumbering buyers by nearly 490,000, the largest gap since 2013, potentially leading to a 1% drop in home prices by the end of 2025 if trends continue. Redfin expects buyers may gain...
3 months ago • 1 min read
June 2025 Planning Tip Surprised by your 2024 tax bill? You're not alone- and it's often not just about how much you earned, but how effectively you planned throughout the year. Many people assume taxes are a once-a-year consideration, but the truth is that small decisions made throughout the year can lead to big surprises come April. That’s why tax planning is a key part of our ongoing client reviews. Here are some common mistakes and missteps we see: Improper Withholdings Withholding too...
3 months ago • 1 min read
ARK ROYAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Three Charts That Have Our Attention If you are curious about what’s going on in the market or economy, we’d like to share some charts / graphics that we think are insightful. Bouncing Back. Market corrections (declines of 10% to 20%) are a regular part of investing history. On average, the market drops 14% during these periods. Despite the sharp downturns, the average recovery takes just four months, highlighting how quickly markets can rebound once they bottom...
4 months ago • 1 min read
May 2025 Planning Tip Turning Market Volatility into a Tax Planning Opportunity Market volatility is uncomfortable — but it can also open the door to valuable planning strategies. While most investors see a pullback as a time to retreat, it can actually present a powerful opportunity to reposition assets for long-term advantage. A 10% market decline doesn’t just mean lower portfolio values — it could also mean paying income tax on 10% less money when executing a Roth conversion. Here’s why...
4 months ago • 1 min read
ARK ROYAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Three Charts That Have Our Attention If you are curious about what’s going on in the market or economy, we’d like to share some charts / graphics that we think are insightful. State to Country GDP. Ever wondered what country your state’s economy stacks up against? From California rivaling India to Texas flexing like Italy, this map shows just how mighty each U.S. state’s GDP really is. Who knew our home state of North Carolina was basically Taiwan? 60/40 Portfolio...
5 months ago • 1 min read