Our least favorite topic to discuss is divorce. It’s fairly safe to say that no one gets married thinking that one day it will end. Even if it’s warranted, it hurts to see relationships go their separate ways because it wasn’t the plan. Once a year we discuss this topic so that you (or your family members) can be informed on how to approach the financial complexity of divorce with more confidence. It’s not just about who gets the house. Rather, it’s more about the retirement accounts and future Social Security benefits. Like any other plan, think about the long game and try your best not to react to the short-term.
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Have you heard this quote before? There aren’t truer words in the world of advising. Day after day, week after week, month after month and decade after decade, we’ve had the privilege of hearing our clients tell their personal stories. We’ve also had the privilege of helping them NOT become an “example” for others of “what not to do.” Luckily, Ed Slott has compiled a list of PRL (private letter rulings) of big mistakes made by others.
Join us today for an hour of storytelling to learn by example. If you can, always choose to learn ahead of time.
Last week, Ed Slott gave us some incredible perspective as we look at the impact COVID-19 has had on retirement planning. The federal government has always been able to change the rules in the ninth inning, as we witnessed with the SECURE Act in 2019, but we’ve never experienced anything quite like this! Today, we are going to have the same conversation with you that we are having with our clients – how to play offense when you feel so defensive.
As the federal government looks to fund the stimulus package, there are rumors of higher tax rates, inflation and long-term impacts on Social Security. Retirement is your responsibility and, honestly, why would you have it any other way, especially as we enter into a COVID culture?
“Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should!” said our special guest, Ed Slott, CPA and America’s IRA expert! On today’s show, he explains why there is an incredible opportunity for retirees and pre-retirees today. The tax brackets are still low and if you don’t use them, you lose them! So, what does that mean for you? If RMDs are canceled for the year, should you still take yours? What about Roth conversions? Is now a good time?
He answers all of these questions plus more because, “Nothing is for everybody,” which is why you need educated advisors in the financial Olympics.
Times of crisis are extremely stressful. They can either shut us down or spring us into action. If you’re struggling with springing into action, we have a show full of action steps. We hope that it gets you fired up about your financial health even as our reality changes weekly.
Here’s your financial inventory checklist:
o Compare your portfolio to the stock market. Did you do the same, better or worse? Now would be a good time to evaluate your risk tolerance for the future
o Have you reevaluated your will or trust with an attorney?
o Double check your beneficiaries on all your financial/investment accounts
o Reassess your emergency funds. If you need more than what you’ve saved, what other accounts can you draw from?
o Consider pushing back your retirement date – those who pivot plans easily tend to do better in the long run
In this episode Dennis Prout and Heidi Thompson follow up on the CARES Act updates with CPA Jon Sluis.
Earlier this week, our team spoke extensively with Jon Sluis, a local CPA who will join us via phone during today’s program. We took three pages of notes, not including the term sheets from which he relayed information. Over the weekend, Jon read the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act twice (it’s more than 800 pages long ) as well as U.S. Senate Committee Reports, Small Business Administration and Department of Labor summaries, and other summaries. Listen … it’s overwhelming out there, but there is GOOD news … and we are on it. Over the last year, we’ve mentioned many times that the markets were overvalued, and a correction was inevitable. And no one – absolutely no one – could have seen it coming from a virus that affected the global economy. For those of us who spend our days buried in the details trying to dig a way out into daylight, we can see it. There are silver linings all around us, and that is topic of today’s show.
Today, we are going to cover just the tip of the iceberg on what’s all packed into the CARES Act, but believe us – even that is a lot! This includes: the purpose of the stimulus package, how you’ll receive your recovery rebate, whether or not you should pull $100K from your 401(k), why RMDs being waived for 2020 is a benefit to you, and the list goes on.
Some of you have already been practicing social distancing for the past week. For those of you who have just started, welcome! These are wild times. We’ve never seen anything like it. Day to day, we are experiencing a wide range of emotions. It’s important to plan appropriately and not panic, especially when you’ve watched such a drastic decline in your investments. Believe it or not, there are opportunities during a crisis. In order to stay in the long game, it’s good to take advantage of them now.
Topics of discussion today:
· Can I use the income tax deadline to my advantage?
· What are the new IRA contribution deadlines, and can they help me?
· Is now a good time to convert my Roth IRA?
· What if I had planned on retiring this year?
When fear is running rampant in the world, it is a normal reaction to retreat and hide. But as humans, we are designed to survive no matter what. It’s our most primitive calling … to live. Therefore, we work, support and thrive in an economy where our contributions matter and we are rewarded for that. As social distancing increases, it changes the economy, which is already at mercy of the market reactions. The goal of today’s show is to give you perspective. Anytime we face a global crisis, it hits close to home when our survival is threatened.
Join us today as we give you a personal and professional overview of what is currently happening in the market. Remember … this can also be a time of great opportunity. As such, we are going to stay the course. Investing is about the long game, not the short-term gains.
Dennis Prout and Heidi Thompson discuss Social Security and Medicare Taxes in this episode. Tune in to understand options to consider in this current economy.
By some miracle, we were able to get Jon Sluis out of his office during tax season! We aren’t going to waste his time or yours … so we’ve come up with a list of FRESH, relevant questions! So whether you’re planning solo or as a business owner, now is the time to take a closer look at the numbers and strategies available to you.
Today, we’ll ask Jon about the new tax laws and how they are affecting people right now. For business owners, we’ll discuss business income deductions and why they are important to owners. When it comes to saving, we want to know how CPAs and advisors think differently. And when it comes to spending, how do consumers think differently?
Are you working with the right tax professional? With the April deadline fast approaching, you may have already started reviewing your financial documents for your 2019 return. But do you have a qualified professional on your planning team? There are certain questions to ask and criteria to look for before hiring anyone. Tune in today and we’ll give you some questions that may help you!
Also, as promised, we are keeping you up-to-date with the SECURE Act and how it will affect your planning.
Finally … Heidi has some pertinent Health Savings Account information you definitely don’t want to miss!
In this episode Dennis Prout talks about the economy and current situations such as the Coronavirus that could have an impact globally. Also discussed is the Secure Act and and the Required Beginning Date (RBD), which is the date an individual is required to begin taking their Required Minimum Distributions (RMD).
Chances are you have heard about the 3.8% surtax that went into effect in 2013 under the Affordable Care Act – but do you know if and when you might need to pay it? Despite changes to the tax code in recent years, the Medicare tax and net investment income tax remain in effect. This surtax requires that an additional tax be paid by those with investment income, whether from interest, dividends, capital gains or rental properties when they are above the annual income threshold. Trusts and estates are hit especially hard; they reach the income threshold at only $12,950 in 2020. For those still earning wages or self-employment income, there might be an additional 0.9% Medicare tax to consider as well.
New Legislation called The Secure Act passed in 2019 that will be effective for 2020 tax year. Also discussed in this episode is the new IRS form W4.
Dennis, Heidi and the team are back from their annual TD Ameritrade Conference in Orlando, Florida. It’s always a mind-blowing experience to hear from global experts in the world of finance and beyond. So today, we’ll cover exciting topics from blockchain to bitcoin. The global market is getting close to home. In fact, it’s already in your backyard.
And speaking of your yard, if you expect to find a pot of gold buried there, think again. Most families plan on leaving their treasures to charities, which isn’t such a bad idea considering that Millennials are turning out to be the most generous generation yet.
Did you know that Heidi and I (Shea) have been working together for 11 years now? Over the last few years we have developed a workshop for women called “Flourish.” This event teaches women how to look at planning for their financial future from the bird’s-eye view. This broad perspective helps us decide where we want to land in retirement.
Turns out, men want to hear the information too!
You’re in luck! Heidi and I are taking over the studio to share portions of our workshop with you. This is also a great show for younger family members who are trying to understand how and why they should get started.
As 2019 rounds the bend and gets closer to the finish, so are some legislative acts that we’ve been talking about. Ed Slott, America’s IRA expert, warned us about the likely passage of the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act in 2020. As of last week, it passed both houses and President Trump signed the bill.
After analyzing over 225 million hours of working time in 2017, RescueTime found the average digital user switches between tasks more than 300 times per day during working hours. Daily we are making decisions about work while simultaneously managing our families, health and finances. Our digital lives, which was intended to make management easier, have made us accessible 24/7.
As a nation, I wonder if we are experiencing decision fatigue. How does one get ahead with their financial goals when the path to get there is crowded with so many immediate demands.
Tune in today and we talk about the psychology of money while giving you tangible ways to systemize your investment plans. If you want to learn more about how to manage decision fatigue, check out this Fast Company article.
It’s hard to believe that it’s 2020. As a kid I (Shea) would try to imagine what the year would look like. I hoped for flying cars, robot butlers and world peace. I never imagined working full time, paying a mortgage and living what would still be considered “real life.” I certainly didn’t predict that AM radio would still be alive and well and that I’d be on it! Lucky me!
What are you predicting this year? We’ve been hearing from quite a lot of entrepreneurs that they would like to sell their businesses. It feels like a good time to cut ties, but where does one land in this transaction? I have Tim Cartwright (Heidi's brother), advisor and partner at Fifth Avenue Family Office® in Naples, Florida. He’s been in the mergers and acquisitions business long enough to offer sound advice. Hindsight is 20/20, and he’s going to share it with you today.
There’s high drama in Washington, D.C. We’ve been glued to the news. These are wild times and yet, as Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” How does one move forward with a plan for 2020 when it appears that everything around us is unpredictable? Especially during an election year?
Our suggestion … go back to the numbers. Today, Dennis and Heidi will cover the stats of 2019 with strategic ways to approach the New Year. Tune in, call in and weigh in with your plans.
How did you fare under the Trump tax plan? If you’re not sure, now would be the time to look instead of waiting until April 15, 2020, which is why we have special guest, Jon Sluis, CPA President of Intrust CPAs on the air with us today. He will share why there is a certain level of urgency for the self-employed and small business to consider your tax position before year-end.
If you’re retired, you’ll need to look at RMDs and qualified charitable distributions, and how those affect your tax bracket. For those of you still working, you’ll want to know how contributing to your retirement account, HSAs, and other tax saving strategies can help your tax game.
Can you believe that 2020 is less than a month away? It seems like yesterday that we were worried about Y2K! Time flies when you’re having a good time, so what happens when you’re not? Maybe you’ve put in the time, paid your dues and now it’s time to retire. You’ve even endured a “few extra years” to build up the nest egg, and now it’s time to fly solo … this is the YEAR!
We want to help you take the leap into the highly anticipated and great unknown.
Today, we’re going to give you a checklist of “to-do’s” before you mark your career “to-done.” There’s never been more retirement responsibility on YOU than today. Relax, it’s what we like “to-do.”
Retired lawyer Doug Godbe has a few things to share after his nearly 42-year career as a probate and estate planning attorney. In fact, he might surprise you with some of his thoughts about estate planning. Doug never practiced law in Michigan, his legal career was in California only. Accordingly, his statements today are merely observations of general probate and estate law. You should always consult with a licensed lawyer in your state for legal advice. For the last 31 years of his practice, Doug was a sole practitioner in Orange County, California. He has also authored five books on estate planning, probate and financial powers of attorneys.
Tune in, and you might be pleasantly surprised by some of his ideas like: “Don’t leave NOTHING to your least favorite relative. Leave them SOMETHING with a ‘no contest’ clause. It will be more painful for them to lose the money they’ve inherited contesting it than it will be for them to lose nothing contesting what they didn’t receive.”
Do you want to retire but you’re not sure if you can afford health care once you do? You’re not alone! A 65-year-old couple retiring in 2019 will spend approximately $390,000 out-of-pocket on medical expenses during their retirement years. And this does not include dental care, which Medicare does not cover. If you’re concerned about retiring for these reasons, your fear is not unfounded. Local health insurance expert, Laverna Witkop, is joining us this week to give us updates on Medicare and open enrollment for individual health plans. She’ll also explain how COBRA and HSA plans work.
This is a show you can’t afford to miss. Plus, we will explain why including your health insurance professional in your retirement planning is as imperative as including your CPA and attorney.