• Services
    • Wealth Management
    • 401(k) Plans
  • Process
    • Behavioral Finance
    • Investment Objectives
    • Types of Investments
  • Archives
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
  • About us

Call us 612 810 2230

ryan@emeraldspark.com
EmeraldSparkEmeraldSpark
  • Services
    • Wealth Management
    • 401(k) Plans
  • Process
    • Behavioral Finance
    • Investment Objectives
    • Types of Investments
  • Archives
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
  • About us
The Best Retirement Account May Not Actually Be a Retirement Account

The Best Retirement Account May Not Actually Be a Retirement Account

Aug 15, 2018

There are two basic types or retirement accounts. The first is the tax-deferred type. This is your traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA. Money that goes in is pre-tax or tax-deductible, the funds grow tax-deferred, and then you pay income taxes on the distributions in retirement (after age 591/2). The second...

Why You Shouldn’t Invest in Your Employer’s Stock

Why You Shouldn’t Invest in Your Employer’s Stock

May 9, 2018

Now I am Become GE, the Destroyer of Wealth There was an article in the Wall Street Journal last month about a gentleman by the name of Gary Zabroski. Mr. Zabroski was a lifer at GE, putting in 40 years at the company and retiring as a punch press operator in...

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Crash

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Crash

Feb 11, 2016

We human beings are a myopic bunch when it comes to investing. It’s not our fault; we’re wired to run to safety in times of trouble. Unfortunately it causes us to worry about the day-to-day movements of the market when they have virtually no impact on things over the long-term....

The 13% Myth

The 13% Myth

Jul 16, 2015

Recently, a client asked me what I thought about a video that was making its way around Facebook a few weeks ago demonstrating the power of investing early. I can’t find it anymore, but the basic premise was something along the lines of if you invested just $2,000 each year in...

Retirement Account Decision Tree

Retirement Account Decision Tree

May 7, 2015

Choosing what type of accounts to use to save for retirement and how to prioritize their funding can be confusing. Below is a basic decision tree to hopefully make the process a little easier. Self-employed people and certain others have situations that are more complex, but this is an appropriate guide for...

Six Ways to Reduce Taxes When Investing

Six Ways to Reduce Taxes When Investing

Apr 17, 2015

“I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is — I could be just as proud for half the money” -Arthur Godfrey Tax evasion — the act of deliberately misrepresenting your income, overstating deductions, hiding money and investment gains offshore, and in general lying to...

It’s Still 2014 For the Roth IRA

It’s Still 2014 For the Roth IRA

Mar 30, 2015

Remember back when gas was $3.70, Jeremy Clarkson was still on Top Gear, and One Direction was a crappy five-member boy band instead of a crappy four-member boy band? 2014 seems so long ago for most of us, but for contributions to your IRA account that year is still alive....

Beer and Robo-Advisors

Beer and Robo-Advisors

Jan 9, 2015

Recently the financial advisory business has seen the launch of many “robo-advisors”; websites that leverage technology to provide portfolio management services to clients without anxiety-inducing human interaction. These sites, such as Wealthfront and Betterment, typically ask the user a few simple questions and spit out a recommended portfolio based on...

A Career Break as a Tax Planning Strategy

A Career Break as a Tax Planning Strategy

Dec 26, 2014

Please note that I am not qualified to give tax advice and none of the information below should be used without the guidance of a professional tax adviser who is familiar with all the relevant facts. It’s time for  the often fruitless social convention of making New Year resolutions. Twelve months...

This website is operated and maintained by EmeraldSpark Investments, LLC. This website is for informational purposes only and EmeraldSpark reserves the right to modify its contents at any time. The content provided is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to our services as well as general investment-related information. It does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to sell securities.

Contact Us

For more information about our services please fill out the form below

Send Message
Sign up for EmeraldSpark's free monthly investment newsletter Subscribe

This website is operated and maintained by EmeraldSpark Investments, LLC. This website is for informational purposes only and EmeraldSpark reserves the right to modify its contents at any time. The content provided is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to our services as well as general investment-related information. It does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to sell securities.

EmeraldSpark is registered as an investment advisor in Illinois and Minnesota. EmeraldSpark and its representatives are in compliance with the current registration requirements applicable in those states in which the firm maintains clients. EmeraldSpark may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Before entering into an investment advisory agreement with EmeraldSpark, pursuant to regulatory requirements potential investors will be provided our Form ADV Part 2 Brochure, Part 2B Supplement, and a copy of the Firm’s Privacy Policy.

© 2025 · EmeraldSpark Investments, LLC.