The coronavirus is here. It’s impacted every corner of American life and is likely to continue to do so. Colleges have closed. States are closing schools and banning large gatherings. Businesses are closing or cutting hours. Consider some of the stunning developments from the past week:
Worldwide, as of Friday, March 13, there are more than 139,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. More than 1,800 of those cases are in the United States, with 135 new cases in the prior 24 hours.5 The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and the stock market. On Friday, February 21, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed at 28,992. On Thursday, March 12, the DJIA closed at 21,200. That’s a decline of 7,792 points, or 26.87%, officially putting the stock market in bear market territory. What can you do to protect your nest egg from the coronavirus? There’s no way to predict the movement of the stock market, especially in the short-term. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize your exposure to risk. Don’t panic. It may be tempting to sell all your investments and look for safety. However, take some time to explore your options before you make an impulsive decision. Bear markets happen, but they’re temporary. The average bear market lasts 13 months and is followed by a 22-month recovery.7 However, not all bear markets last that long. The 1987 bear market that contained the famous “Black Monday” crash lasted only 3.3 months and was followed by a 30-month bull market. The 1990 bear market that was triggered by the Gulf War lasted 2.9 months and was followed by a 113-month bull market that saw the S&P 500 rise by 417%.8 Of course, there are longer bear markets as well. The 2007-2008 bear market that was triggered by the financial crisis lasted 17 months. It was followed by the bull market that just ended, which lasted nearly 11 years and saw a 400% increase in the S&P 500.8 It’s impossible to know how long this bear market will last or how far the markets will fall. However, if history is any guide, the bear market will end at some point and the markets will recover. If you pull completely out of your investments, you may miss the recovery and the beginning of the next bull market. Review your allocation. When’s the last time you adjusted your allocation? Many people become more risk averse as they become older, even without the threat of the coronavirus. You don’t have to sell all your investments to reduce your risk. You may be able to achieve that goal by making slight changes to your allocation. If you haven’t adjusted your allocation in years, now may be the time to do so. You may want to slightly adjust to assets that are historically less volatile. A financial professional can help you find the right allocation for your risk tolerance. Consider risk protection tools. There are some financial vehicles out there that are immune to the coronavirus, and all other forms of market risk for that matter. For example, there some types of fixed annuities that allow you to earn interest based on a stock market index’s performance. If the index performs well, you may earn more interest. If it performs poorly, you don’t lose money. Again, a financial professional can help you determine if these tools are right for you. Ready to protect your nest egg from the coronavirus? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Financial Solutions Group. We can help you analyze your investments and implement a strategy. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation. 1https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&tbm=fin&sxsrf=ALeKk000JGptVKZkoj4o7x5-9JnJ9uG0oQ:1582753229486&q=INDEXDJX:+.DJI&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecRozC3w8sc9YSmtSWtOXmNU4eIKzsgvd80rySypFBLjYoOyeKS4uDj0c_UNkgsry3kWsfJ5-rm4Rrh4RVgp6Ll4eQIAqJT5uUkAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzzIagl_DnAhVHaM0KHR-vA0YQlq4CMAB6BAgAEAE&biw=1366&bih=641&dpr=1#scso=_6OVWXrG8OdeqtQad9q_wAg1:0 2https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-reportedly-furious-about-stock-market-plunging-on-coronavirus-fears/ar-BB10o1pg 3https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-a-supply-shock-is-biggest-stock-market-worry-as-viral-outbreak-continues-2020-02-25 Annuities contain limitations including withdrawal charges, fees and a market value adjustment which may affect contract values. Annuities are products of the insurance industry; guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Guaranteed lifetime income available through annuitization or the purchase of an optional lifetime income rider, a benefit for which an annual premium is changed. Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. 19868 - 2020/3/2 Do you use a 401(k) or IRA to save for retirement? You’re not alone. These types of accounts are popular for many reasons, but one of the biggest is their tax treatment. As you may know, these accounts are tax-deferred. That means you don’t pay taxes on growth as long as the funds stay inside the account.
Qualified accounts may also offer upfront tax benefits for your contributions. Contributions to your 401(k) come out on a pre-tax basis. That reduces your taxable income, which in turn reduces your taxes. Contributions to an IRA.may also be tax-deductible, depending on your income level. Qualified accounts aren’t completely tax-free, however. While you may get a deduction upfront and taxes may be deferred over time, eventually, you do have to pay taxes on these assets. That time is usually when you take withdrawals in retirement. Most distributions from qualified accounts are taxed as income. That could be problematic if you plan on using your 401(k) or IRA to generate most of your retirement income. You could create high levels of taxable income that may create a significant tax liability, which could reduce your net income and your ability to live a comfortable lifestyle. Fortunately, you can minimize your tax burden by planning ahead. Every situation is unique, so there’s no universal strategy that is right for everyone. However, the following three-step process can help you project your tax liability in retirement and take steps to control it. List all your sources of retirement income. The first step in managing your retirement taxes is to project just exactly where your income will come from. In fact, this isn’t just useful for tax planning; it’s important for your entire retirement strategy. Make a list of all your potential income sources. The list could include things like:
Categorize them by tax treatment. Once you have your list, you can start to categorize your income sources according to how they are taxed. Some income sources will likely be taxable, like:
Other types of income may be tax-free, such as:
And finally, there could be some sources of income that simply require more research. They may be taxable, but also may not be. It could depend on your total taxable income or perhaps other factors. These types of income could include:
Meet with a professional and develop a tax strategy. The final step is to work with a professional to create a detailed projection of your potential income and tax liability in retirement. They can estimate your income and your possible taxes each year. They can then work with you to develop a strategy that minimizes tax payments. For example, they might recommend the use of tax-free income from municipal bonds or a Roth IRA. They could suggest the use of life insurance to create tax-free income. They may recommend that you delay Social Security or choose a different pension benefit to reduce your taxable income. A financial professional can help you find the strategy that is best for your needs. Ready to develop your retirement tax strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us at Financial Solutions Group. We can help you analyze your needs and develop a strategy. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation. Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. 19662 - 2020/1/16 For decades, some of the world’s largest institutional investors have used one tool to guide their decision-making. Mutual funds, educational endowments, defined benefit pensions, and more all use this document to focus on their long-term goals and select only the investments that meet their specific criteria. It’s an investment policy statement (IPS).
An IPS isn’t just for institutional investors though. Individuals are now often using their own IPS to set long-term strategy and develop a formal process for choosing investments. While the format of an IPS can vary, most involve the following elements:1
Do you need an IPS? It could be a valuable tool to help you maintain a long-term strategy and stick with a consistent investment approach. Below are a few ways in which you might benefit from an IPS: It helps you avoid emotional decisions. The average equity investor routinely underperforms the S&P 500 index. In fact, over the past 30 years, the average investor has had a 3.98% average annual return. The S&P 500 has averaged more than 10% annually over that same period.2 Why do investors underperform the market? There are many reasons but one of the biggest is that investors change their strategy based on emotional decisions and short-term impulses. For example, you may get out of the equity markets if they take a downward turn. However, by the time the market has improved, you’ve already missed much of the recovery. These kinds of decisions cost investors return over the long-term. An IPS helps you avoid short-term impulse decisions because all of your actions are guided by the document. If a change or adjustment isn’t specified in the IPS, you don’t make it. In many ways, an IPS protects you from yourself. It clarifies risk. What is your risk tolerance? Don’t know? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, many investors jump right into their strategy without considering their own tolerance for risk. That often leads to an allocation that isn’t right for their needs and goals. Risk tolerance is an important component in IPS. Before you can establish your long-term strategy, you have to define the specific levels of risk that are or are not acceptable to you. You then develop an allocation that aligns with your acceptable level of risk. Without an IPS, you might choose an allocation that has far more potential for risk than is right for you. Ready to create your own IPS? We can help. Contact us today Financial Solutions Group. We can help you document your goals, clarify your risk tolerance, and create a comprehensive policy that keeps you focused on the long-term. 1https://www.morningstar.com/articles/808692/how-to-create-an-investment-policy-statement 2https://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-are-still-terrible-at-investing-annual-study-once-again-shows-2017-10-19 Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. 19564 - 2019/12/16 There’s a growing trend among new retirees. With increasing frequency, Americans are choosing to leave their retirement savings. According to data from Fidelity, 55% of workers leave their retirement savings in their former employer’s 401(k) plan for a full year after retirement. That’s up from 45% just four years ago.1
Why are retirees leaving their assets in their old 401(k) rather than rolling those funds to an IRA? There could be a variety of reasons. Workers may be happy with the plan’s investment options and administration. They may feel comfortable with the plan’s online access and other management tools. They might not need the money immediately, so they don’t have urgency to do anything with it. It’s also possible that some retirees may not be aware that they can roll their funds into an IRA tax-free. While there are certainly benefits to keeping your assets in your employer’s 401(k), there are also good reasons to roll the assets into an IRA. If you’re approaching retirement, now is the time to consider your options for your 401(k), which may be your largest retirement asset. Below are a few factors to consider: Investment Options If you’ve been in your 401(k) plan for a significant amount of time, you are likely familiar with the plan’s investment options. You may feel comfortable with your allocation and perhaps you even like the plan’s fee structure and performance. However, your goals and risk tolerance won’t always be the same as they are today. Just as your investment strategy has evolved through your career, it will likely continue to evolve through retirement. What you’re comfortable with today may not be something you’re comfortable with in the future. Generally, IRAs offer significantly more investment options than most 401(k) plans. That’s not necessarily true with every IRA and 401(k), but it is often the case. While a 401(k) plan may offer dozens of options from select providers, an IRA will often allow you to choose from a wide universe of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, annuities, and more. That greater diversity of options can help you develop an allocation that is just right for your goals and risk tolerance, no matter how it changes in the future. Management and Administration You also may be comfortable with your 401(k) plan’s management and administration tools. Perhaps the website is easy to use. Maybe you have a dedicated support person within the plan administrator’s office. You know how to make changes and review your account, and you may not want to make changes at this time. Again, though, consider whether it will still be convenient in the future to keep your assets in your old 401(k). If you’re like many retirees, you may have multiple 401(k) plans from old employers. You also might have IRAs and other investment accounts. It’s difficult to manage and adjust your strategy when you have accounts spread across multiple custodians and institutions. You could simplify the process by consolidating your qualified retirement assets into one IRA. Also, when you reach 72, you’ll have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your 401(k) and IRA. Again, that process may be inconvenient if you have to pull distributions from multiple accounts. If you consolidate your qualified assets into one IRA, you simply have to make withdrawals from one account to satisfy your RMD each year. Income Protection While you may not need to tap into your 401(k) assets today, it’s possible that at some point in the future you will need to take withdrawals from your retirement savings. Of course, it’s difficult to know how much you can safely take in a withdrawal each year. What if you live longer than you anticipate? What if the market takes a downward turn? How can you be sure your assets and income will last for life? In most IRAs, you can use financial vehicles like annuities to convert a portion of your savings into guaranteed* income. You receive a regular consistent check that is guaranteed* for life, no matter how long you live or how the markets perform. Historically, annuities with guaranteed income benefits have been more available in IRAs than in 401(k) plans. However, the passage of a new law, called the SECURE Act, creates the possibility for 401(k) plans to start offering these vehicles. Whether it’s through your IRA or 401(k), guaranteed income could give you a base level of financial stability confidence in retirement. Ready to implement a plan for your 401(k) assets? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Financial Solutions Group. We can help you analyze your needs and develop a strategy. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation. 1https://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-americans-are-leaving-their-money-in-401k-plans-after-retirement-should-you-2019-10-31 *Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values. Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. 19563 - 2019/12/16 |
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