Author: Marisa Mullis

Spring can be a fantastic time to refresh your retirement plan and savings habits. With 2023 bringing increased limits for 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and other tax-advantaged accounts, it’s worth taking a closer look at your retirement savings. Below, we discuss three ways to refresh your retirement plan this spring.

Maintain Consistent Savings

With inflation taking a bite out of just about everyone’s paychecks, it can sometimes be tempting to decrease the amount you’re contributing to retirement just to gain a bit of breathing room. However, maintaining a consistent rate of savings even through lean times can go a long way toward securing your financial future. When it comes to saving for retirement, time is on your side—and the more you can contribute at a younger age, the more time this money will have to grow.

If your savings rate has been at the same level for more than a few years, it may be time to revisit this contribution. You may discover that you can afford to set aside a little more; in other cases, it may make sense to switch from a tax-deferred account to a post-tax account like a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA.

Review Your Asset Allocation

When it comes to investing for retirement through an employer plan, the options available to you may sometimes seem overwhelming. Far beyond mere “stocks vs. bonds,” employees are asked to choose from accounts ranging from growth to stability, domestic to international, and tech to blue chips. For some plans, the default option is to put contributions into a money market account rather than investing them in the stock market.

Does your asset allocation appropriately reflect your risk tolerance and investment timeline? It can be tough to know.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. A financial professional can work with you on your strategies and goals, making adjustments where necessary to keep you on the right path. Don’t wait until you get closer to retirement to realize you haven’t been investing as efficiently as you would have liked.

Check Your Beneficiaries

One last thing that is important to keep an eye on involves the disposition of your assets once you’ve passed away.

Many financial accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and even some bank accounts may require you to name a beneficiary. And for life insurance policies, the beneficiary is key—this is the person to whom the benefits pass, regardless what a marriage decree or executed will may say to the contrary.

If you’ve gotten married or divorced, had children recently, or if it’s been more than a year since you evaluated your beneficiary designations, it’s important to revisit each of your financial accounts to ensure your beneficiary designations continue to reflect your wishes. In many cases, a surviving family member has discovered too late that their loved one named an ex-spouse or estranged family member as their beneficiary, leaving those who depend on them in the lurch.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.

Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.

The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change.

An investment in the Money Market Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking # 1-05355828.

With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and strategies. What to know about the Secure Act 2.0 that may impact you and your financial and retirement goals? Read below for a helpful overview of important information to know about the SECURE Act 2.0.

Key Points

• Catch-up contribution changes
• Enhancement of tax credits for small business
• Changes to required minimum distributions (RMDs)
• Student loan payment matching
• Expansion of auto-enrollment
• Emergency plan modifications through a 401(k) plan
• Distribution of excess 529 assets to Roth IRAs
• Employer contributions to be offered to employees on a Roth basis
• SIMPLE and SEP contributions to be made on a Roth basis
• Self-correction and IRA violations without submission to the IRS
• Benefits for part-time and low to middle-income workers

Catch-up contribution increase and changes for earners over $145,000

Catch-up contributions allow you to put more money in your retirement savings accounts than the amount usually permitted for the year. This may enable people who have delayed saving or, for those who haven’t start yet, to “catch up” in pursuit of their retirement goals. There are two significant changes to the catch-up contributions. First, effective in 2024, all catch-up contributions for individuals earning more than $145,000 per year (indexed) must be made on a Roth, or after tax basis. This does not apply to SIMPLE plans.

Second, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, individuals ages 60-63 will be allowed to make catch-up contributions to their workplace plan of up to $10,000 or 150 percent of the standard catch-up contribution amount for 2024 or whichever is greater. The $10,000 amount will be indexed to inflation each year starting in 2026. For SIMPLE Plans, the contribution limit is $5,000 or 150 percent of the regular SIMPLE catch-up ($5,520 in 2023), whichever is greater. i

Currently, catch-up contributions to a 401(k) account for anyone 50 or older are $6,500 (2022), scheduled to rise to $7,500 in 2023. These amounts are in addition to regular 401(k) contribution limits: $20,500 (2022) and $22,500. ii

Enhancement of tax credits for small businesses starting and maintaining a retirement plan

Employers with up to 50 employees will be eligible for a credit equal to 100 percent of the amount contributed by the employer, up to $1,000 per employee. The employer receives a credit equal to 100 percent for years one and two (this phases down over five years), 75 percent for year three, 50 percent for year four, and 25 percent for year five.

Small businesses with 51 to 100 employees are eligible for this tax credit for those above 50 employees and those earning less than $100,000 per year.

For up to 50 employees, the current three-year start-up credit is equal to 50 percent of plan expenses, and up to $5,000 cap is increased to 100 percent.

Changes to the required distribution age

Currently, required minimum distributions amounts – that must be withdrawn annually according to the law – begin at age 72. However, with the clearing of the SECURE Act 2.0, this age is expected to rise to 73 in 2023 and then to age 75 in 2033. Along with a change in age, the penalty for failing to make a required minimum distribution is also subject to change beginning next year.

The penalty for failing to take an RMD will decrease to 25 percent of the RMD amount, from 50 percent currently, and 10 percent if corrected in a timely fashion. iii

Also, Roth accounts in 401(k) plans (different from Roth IRAs, which come with no RMDs during the owner’s lifetime) and other employer-sponsored plans will be exempt from RMDs starting in 2024. Additionally, beginning immediately, for in-plan annuity payments that exceed the participant’s RMD amount, the excess annuity payment can be applied to the following year’s RMD.

Matching contributions for student loan payments

For some students, it is difficult to get into the routine of making student loan payments. However, a new provision in the SECURE Act 2.0 is aimed at encouraging younger workers to begin saving for retirement. Effective in 2024, employers will be permitted to make matching contributions under a 401(k), 402(b) or SIMPLE IRA plan based on a participant’s student loan repayments. Government employers would also be allowed to make matching contributions in a section 457(b) plan or another plan with respect to such repayments.

Required auto-enrollment and auto-escalation for most new plans

Beginning in 2025, all new 401(k) and 403(b) plans will be required to include automatic enrollment for all eligible participants at a minimum of 3 percent and maximum of 10 percent of eligible compensation, and automatic escalation at one percentage point per year up to at least ten percent and a maximum of 15 percent.

Plans in existence before the date of enactment would be grandfathered and not subject to these requirements. There is also an exemption for government plans, church plans, and employers with 10 or fewer employees, and new businesses within the first three years of operation. Additionally, the bill does not require an employer to have a plan, but instead applies only to employers deciding to start a plan.

Building financial confidence through an emergency fund

In life, most individuals have had that unexpected expense occur, forcing them to revise their monthly budget. If they did not have an emergency fund available because they found it difficult to save money and simply do not have that kind of liquid cash on hand, they may be tempted to dip into their retirement savings to cover the bills. Two changes within the retirement legislation can make it easier for employees to set aside emergency funds. One modification would allow retirement plan sponsors to automatically enroll employees to set aside up to $2,500 of post-tax money in a separate emergency savings alongside their retirement accounts. With this, workers could defer money to the emergency savings accounts automatically through their payroll deduction.

The other change would permit retirement plan participants to withdraw up to $1,000 from their retirement savings per calendar year to cover emergency expenses without being subject to any penalties. iv

The establishment of an emergency savings option within the context of a retirement plan is a progressive concept that can help employees become aware of the importance of setting aside savings for both short-term (emergencies) and long-term (retirement) needs.

Distribution of excess 529 assets to Roth IRAs

Beginning in 2024, excess assets in a 529-qualified tuition program will be eligible for a tax-free distribution to a Roth IRA. Distribution is subject to the lesser of (a) the regular Roth IRA limits (without the income limits) or (b) the aggregate amount contributed to the 529 accounts over the previous five years (plus earnings). The beneficiary must be the same and maintained for at least 15 years. There is also a per-beneficiary lifetime limit of $35,000.

Permitting all employer contributions to be offered to employees on a Roth basis

Effective immediately, employers can allow employees to elect for some or all of their vested matching and non-elective contributions to be treated as Roth contributions under a 401(k), 403(b), or governmental 457(b) plan.

Allowing SIMPLE and SEP contributions to be made on a Roth basis

Effective for tax year 2024, SIMPLE and SEP contributions for employees and employers can be made on a Roth basis. The employee must elect for Roth treatment.

Self-Correction of Inadvertent Plan and IRA Violations without Submission to the IRS

Effective immediately, all inadvertent plan violations may be self-corrected under the IRS’ Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) without submission to the IRS. This does not apply if the IRS discovers the violation on an audit or if the self-correction is not completed within a reasonable period of time.

Benefits for part-time and low to middle-income workers

Today’s workplace consists of a significant amount of part-time workers. Starting in 2025, part-time employees are required to work two consecutive years and complete at least 500 hours of service each year to be eligible to defer to their 401(k) plans. They will now be eligible to contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This is a modification of the SECURE Act’s three-years-of-service rule.

Additionally, beginning in 2027, the SECURE Act 2.0 will revise the current Saver’s Credit. This credit provides millions of low and middle-income individuals with a “Saver’s Match,” which is a federal matching contribution deposited to a taxpayer’s IRA or retirement plan to encourage people to save for retirement. The change in the legislation alters the way you get the credit. Instead of having the credit applied against your tax liability when you file your tax return, the federal government will deposit a “matching contribution” directly into your retirement account. You get to pick which retirement account it goes into; however, a Roth account is not permitted, along with a few other stipulations. v

With so many new and modified provisions both immediately and soon-to-be available in the near future, it is encouraged that you consult a financial professional to help you navigate the legislation and see what may work for your retirement strategy and plans.

Important Disclosures:

This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by LPL Marketing Solutions

Footnotes: i Secure 2.0 Top 10 provisions (brandfolder.io) ii 401(k) limit increases to $22,500 for 2023, IRA limit rises to $6,500 | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) iii 5 RMD Changes Looming With Passage Of SECURE 2.0 Act (forbes.com) iv Emergency savings proposals in Secure 2.0 may boost financial security (cnbc.com) v Retirement Saver’s Tax Credit Converted to “Saver’s Match | Kiplinger LPL Tracking # 1-05354651

As the year begins, probably the last thing on your mind is filing your taxes in spring. But if you start assembling the necessary documents and information now, you’ll experience less stress and be in a far better position come April. Luckily, tax day is a few days later than usual in 2023—since April 15 falls on a weekend, and the following Monday is a holiday, the deadline for filing this year’s taxes is April 18. So even if you don’t get a refund, you’ll at least have a later deadline!

Gather your tax documents and information

Preparation is the key to keeping any tax-filing stressors at bay, so you’ll want to check your inbox and mailbox regularly in the coming weeks. As employers are obligated to issue W-2s by January 31, you may be receiving important tax documents within a few weeks. Also be on the lookout for other important documents you’ll need for filing your taxes, such as 1099 forms reporting any investment income and 5498 forms noting contributions and rollovers to individual retirement accounts. If you expect to be receiving multiple tax documents, consider having a large envelope or basket that you can keep the documents in as they arrive in the mail and creating a system for storing the ones you receive digitally. This way nothing will get misplaced before you file your taxes. You will also need the social security numbers for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents, so make sure you know these or have them noted in a safe place. If you plan to use a preparer for your 2022 taxes, be aware that some will ask you to provide them with the necessary documentation by a certain date so they can meet the April 18 filing deadline.

Document your credits and deductions

Deductions can lower your taxes since they reduce your taxable income, so claim as many as you legally can. Gather documentation for any donations, expenses for medical care, mortgage interest, retirement account contributions, and local and state taxes you paid in 2022. Store these documents with your other tax documents. You will also want to organize your documentation for any tax credits you plan to claim, such as the child tax credit, the child and dependent care tax credit, credits for tuition paid for education, the “savers credit” for contributions to a 401(k) or IRA, and credits for any energy-saving home improvements you made in 2022.

Review your estimated tax payments

If you are a freelancer or own your own business, you may have made quarterly estimated tax payments on your earnings to the IRS during the year, which you will have to note when you file your taxes. To help make the process smoother, make sure you know how much these payments were in advance. You can check by looking back over your bank or credit card statements from this year.

Look ahead

If you really want to be an overachiever, once you’ve gathered all the documentation necessary for filing your 2022 taxes, you can start getting organized for 2023! Put a system together now for saving next

year’s pertinent receipts and information so you’ll have them at the ready when you need to file your taxes in 2024.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

This article was prepared by ReminderMedia.

LPL Tracking #1-05352325

It does not matter how much money you have today; you still must know the details of what you are worth. Understanding your financial situation can help you develop a retirement plan, pay down debt, draft a comprehensive estate plan and live with financial independence.

To figure out your net worth, you should calculate the amount by which your assets (what you own) exceed your liabilities (what you owe). If your assets are greater than your liabilities, you have a positive net worth and vice versa.i

Doing this can provide you with valuable insight into what you can do to continue the plan toward financial confidence, or maybe it is an eye-opener to overspending. This knowledge may allow you to see where you can adjust toward more beneficial financial decision-making.

What are assets?

Assets include real estate, bank accounts, investment instruments, retirement funds, brokerage accounts, and personal items like your car, boat, airplane, jewelry, or other collectibles. Remember to include those intangible assets you might own, like patents, intellectual property, trademarks, etc.ii

What are liabilities?

Liabilities include mortgages, credit card debt, student loans, medical bills, personal loans, settlements against you in court, etc. This may also include money you might owe to someone or an organization.iii

Because we have so many different assets of varying values, assigning accurate values to your assets can become difficult. It is essential not to inflate your net worth, thus making it more challenging to prepare a strategy that you will be able to follow.

One way to determine the value of what you own is by comparing your assets to similar assets in your area that are for sale or that have been recently sold.

Over the years, your net worth will fluctuate. The immediate increases and decreases are less significant than the trend that develops over time. It is the trend that you want to learn how to expose and observe. As you grow older and earn more income from work and investments, build equity in your home, increase your assets and pay down your debt, your net worth can potentially grow, but it requires discipline, budgeting, and planning. It is never too early to get the guidance you need from an experienced financial professional.

The following tips may help you take your first steps toward addressing your financial goals and needs:

• Pay down debt
• Spend carefully
• Sell unused or unwanted assets
• Recover outstanding payments
• Save and invest wisely
• Work with a financial professional to develop a financial strategy.
• Monitor your progress regularly.iv

Part of knowing what you are worth today is being able to build a customized financial strategy that works for your goals at your level of risk. A financial professional can help you make smart decisions by thoroughly understanding your financial situation. Consult a financial professional today.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by LPL Financial Marketing Solutions.

LPL Tracking #1-05337832

i What Is Net Worth? – Forbes Advisor ii Assets vs. Liabilities: Examples of Assets and Liabilities – 2022 – MasterClass iii Assets vs Liabilities | Top 9 Differences (with Infographics) (wallstreetmojo.com) iv Get money smart. 25 tips to improve your financial well-being | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)

Whether you’re just starting your career or are planning to retire this year, it’s never too soon or too late to start preparing for your retirement. What this entails may be different from person to person, but there are a few essential tips everyone should keep in mind when saving up for their eventual retirement.

Start early

Saving for retirement isn’t something that most of us can do overnight. It takes time to build up the necessary funds, so it’s best to start saving sooner rather than later. While you don’t necessarily have to start saving in your twenties, you should seriously start investing into your retirement funds in your thirties and forties. This will give you time to add to and subsequently grow your 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, or other high-yield savings accounts. With that being said, it’s also never too late to start saving for retirement. You might just have to be more aggressive with your savings to build up a fund that can prepare you for your next steps into retirement.

Save, save, save

While there’s no one right number for how much you’ll need to save for retirement, it’s generally estimated that retirees need between 70 and 90 percent of their preretirement annual income, which will be a combination of savings and social security. To help you reach this goal, you’ll want to save around 15 percent of your gross annual income every year. There’s always some flexibility to this number, but there’s also no such thing as saving too much. If you work for a business that offers a 401(k) company match, try meeting at least the minimum requirements of that match. This is additional money that you’ll be able to use when it does come time to retire. If you’re company doesn’t offer this benefit or if you’re self-employed, you can always open your own 401(k) or IRA retirement account that you can add to every month.

Know what to expect from retirement

It may not be easy to picture, but it can help in your quest to save for retirement if you have an idea of the kind of lifestyle you’ll want to live when you hit retirement age. Are you going to be moving states, traveling, or taking a part-time job? You’ll also have the expenses associated with the cost of living, such as housing, food, and healthcare, as well as taxes on Social Security and withdrawals from your retirement accounts. All this can impact the amount you’ll spend each month while in retirement, thus impacting the amount you’ll need to save before retiring. Even if you don’t yet know what retirement will look like for you, keep it in the back of your mind so you can adjust your savings and investments the closer you get to retirement age.

Account for inflation

No matter what general suggestions you follow, it’s always a good idea to save more than you think you may need. The cost of living tends to increase by at least 2 percent each year, though that can vary

greatly depending on the state of the economy. By saving more, you’ll help to protect your future self and ensure your financial security so you can enjoy all that comes with retirement.

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.

Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax.

The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

This article was prepared by ReminderMedia.

LPL Tracking #1-05351612

When you own a business, you get to deduct business expenses from your business income. This general rule applies, subject to certain limitations, whether you are a sole proprietor with employees or a self-employed freelancer working in the gig economy. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows you to claim tax deductions for expenses that are necessary and ordinary for your business.

While many of these tax deductions are obvious, others are more obscure. Here are five commonly overlooked tax deductions.

1. Health Insurance Premiums

When you are self-employed, you may claim a tax deduction for health and long-term care insurance premiums. A current or former employer must not pay these insurance premiums. You may write off Medicare Part B premiums as a business expense. You may claim a full health insurance expense deduction for yourself, your spouse and your children’s premiums.1

2. Interest

You may deduct interest as a business expense as long as the expense is for your business. For instance, if you buy a building for your business, the interest on that mortgage is deductible. If you use your personal vehicle half the time as a business vehicle, you may write off half of the interest on your car loan as a business expense, as long as you choose to itemize auto expenses (not take the standard mileage deduction). Similarly, if you charge business purchases on a credit card, you may also deduct the interest you incurred on that card.

This business interest deduction is subject to the IRS section 163(j) limitations of a business having less than $25 million in annual gross receipts and not being a tax shelter. The limitations do not apply to excluded businesses, such as self-employed service providers and certain businesses that request exceptions, such as farms.2

3. Education Expenses

Education expenses are deductible if they directly relate to your business. You cannot get a four-year college degree and write it off as a business expense. However, costs for seminars, workshops, and classes related to your business are generally deductible. If you buy a book or subscribe to a magazine to learn more about your industry that may be deductible too.3

4. Cell Phone Bills

If you are self-employed, once you use your cellphone for business, it may become a deductible business expense.

As a self-employed person, here is how to figure out how much of your cellphone bill is deductible. First, estimate how much of the time you use the phone for personal use versus business use. Then, multiply the business use percentage by your cellphone bill to calculate your deduction. For example, if your cell phone costs $1,200 per year and you use it 25% of the time for work, your deduction might be $300.

If you are an employee, unreimbursed business expenses, such as personal cell phone use for business, are not deductible.4

5. Meals

You may deduct a portion of the cost of certain meals. Suppose you take your accountant out for coffee; that is deductible as long as you talk about business. Or if you have a business partnership and you go out with your business partner for dinner to discuss your marketing plan, your meal’s cost is deductible.

The expenses must be reasonable, not extravagant and may be subject to limitations. If you purchase the meal from a restaurant, it is 100% deductible. If not, the cost is 50% deductible.5

Unfortunately, eating alone is not a deductible expense for the self-employed, even if you work while eating. However, you may deduct a portion of the meal expenses when you travel, subject to limitations. The limitations are 50% of the actual cost or 50% of the IRS standard meal allowance.6

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking # 1-05345916.

Footnotes

1 The Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction: A Valuable Personal Deduction https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/the-self-employed-health-insurance-deduction-a-valuable-personal-deduction.html

2 Basic questions and answers about the limitation on the deduction for business interest expense https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/basic-questions-and-answers-about-the-limitation-on-the-deduction-for-business-interest-expense

3 Topic No. 513 Work-Related Education Expenses https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513

4 Can Cellphone Expenses Be Tax Deductible with a Business? https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/small-business-taxes/can-cellphone-expenses-be-tax-deductible-with-a-business/L6NQvycMO

5 How to Deduct Meals and Entertainment in 2022 https://bench.co/blog/tax-tips/deduct-meals-entertainment/

6 Tax Deductions for Business Travelers https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/jobs-and-career/tax-deductions-for-business-travelers/

If you hope to retire soon and are concerned about what the future may hold for your investments, you are not alone. Inflation has many retirees and soon-to-be retirees worried about outliving their savings and investments.1

What might you do to survive and even thrive during volatile markets? A financial plan may help you feel more confident and help you consider a few additional ways to manage your financial worries in retirement.

Benefits of a Financial Plan

Having a financial plan—and sticking to it—may help ease your mind during market downturns. There are many reasons for this. A financial plan may:

• Help you focus on long-term patterns instead of short-term disruptions.
• Give you the flexibility to adapt to market changes.
• Guide your asset allocations to be appropriate for your risk tolerance, age, and other factors.
• Prevent you from making any costly actions with your investments.

The temptation to do something—anything—when your investments decline is strong. A financial plan may ground you and help ensure that your actions align with your strategies and goals.

Financially Thriving in Volatile Markets

Along with having a financial plan, here are a couple of strategies you may consider during a down market.

Reduce Your Debt

Paying back expensive debt or anything with a variable or adjustable rate may help you withstand economic uncertainty. Higher interest rates mean a higher cost of borrowing, so the more debt you have, the more it costs you.

By prioritizing debt paydown, you may put yourself in a position of financial flexibility, allowing you to balance your household expenses to match your income or investment gains.

Have Adequate Cash Reserves

Although reducing debt is a worthy goal, it should not happen at the expense of all of your cash. You want to strike a balance between putting away money and lowering your overall debt load.

For retirees, having between 12 and 24 months of living expenses in cash may help you avoid having to withdraw from retirement funds during a market downturn.2 By keeping your funds invested, they may be poised to recover once the downturn ends.

Consider Tax Loss Harvesting

Suppose you are holding some taxable investments that are worth less than you paid for them. In that case, you may be able to take advantage of tax-loss harvesting to offset some capital gains tax liability for other investments. By selling these investments (or “harvesting” your loss), waiting one month, and then repurchasing the same assets, you may generate a paper loss (a loss in value that appears in your accounts, but does not involve a real cash loss) that you could use for your tax liability on the winning investments.

If tax losses exceed annual gains for that tax year, the taxpayer may use the rest of the losses to offset up to $3,000 in ordinary income from federal taxes.3 Tax losses may also be carried forward to continue to offset investment gains in the future.

Footnotes

1 Inflation has many retirees worried about outliving their savings, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081875948/inflation-has-many-retirees-worried-about-outliving-their-savings

2 ·Navigating retirement savings during volatile markets, BlackRock https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/education/retirement-volatility-strategies

3 Can Tax Loss Harvesting Improve Your Investing Returns?, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/tax-loss-harvesting/

Important Disclosures

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #1-05335330

Whether you’re hoping to retire soon or are just beginning to explore the idea of stepping back from your job, you’re probably wondering how to make it happen. Will you have enough money? How will you spend your time? What will you do for health insurance? Here, you’ll find a useful countdown of the five biggest steps to developing a solid retirement plan.

5. Assess Your Retirement Goals

What does retirement look like for you? Do you plan to or want to continue working part-time? Will you travel? Do you want to sell your home and hit the road in an RV? At what age will you claim Social Security? When will you qualify for Medicare?

Everyone’s retirement goals are different, which means your financial plan for retirement will also be different.

4. Decide How to Draw Down Savings

Depending on whether your assets are held in a pre-tax account, a post-tax account, or a taxable account, your savings drawdown strategy can vary widely. Your age can also dictate when, how, and how much you withdraw from your retirement accounts. For example, if you plan to retire before age 59.5, you may want to first begin withdrawing funds from a taxable account to provide flexibility until you’re able to take penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) or a traditional IRA.

3. Enlist a Financial Professional

If you don’t yet have a dedicated financial professional, now may be the time to assess your retirement readiness and work to optimize your income and assets as you enter retirement. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where your retirement needs exceed your income or assets and you’re forced to scale down—or even go back to work—after you’ve already been enjoying retirement for a few years.

2. Survey Potential Large Expenses

Beginning your retirement with multiple large, unexpected expenses can send even the most carefully planned budgets off track. Before you retire, consider some of the biggest expenses that are likely to come your way.

• Will your home need new windows or a new roof soon?
• Are your major appliances—washer and dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, HVAC—getting older?
• How much longer do you expect your vehicle to last?
• Is your health plan switching to a high-deductible one?

By planning for large expenses before you retire, you can work to ensure these costs won’t catch you by surprise.

1. Begin Planning Your Estate

Whenever you’re making a big financial shift or embarking on a new phase of your life, it’s important to revisit and assess your estate plan. If you pass away without a valid will or other estate plan, your heirs could find themselves embroiled in a messy, expensive court battle to reclaim and divide your assets.

In some cases, you may only need a will to dispose of your assets in the way you’d like. Other situations may call for an irrevocable trust or some other multifaceted approach to managing your estate. Talking to an attorney and your financial professional can give you a better idea of the options available to you and where each different path may lead.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) and options may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing or withdrawing.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking # 1-05337697.

For many investors, this year has been a wild ride—with interest rate increases, a crypto implosion, and whipsawing values in the major market indices. It might be tough to catch one’s breath and look ahead to next year. But the end of the year is the perfect time to take stock of your investments, evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and what you might do better next year. Here are four key opportunities to consider that may recharge and reset your finances as you enter the new year.

Review and Refresh Your Financial Plan

If you set goals for the past year, evaluate your progress. Did you spend more than expected? Save less than expected? Or did you manage your goals easily—suggesting a bigger challenge may be appropriate for next year?

While setting financial goals for next year, you might also consider the long-term. When do you plan to retire? What do you need to see before getting there—a specific number in your 401(k), a paid-off balance sheet, or something else? Should you stay in your home or downsize? The answers to these questions may help you formulate a more solid plan.

Assess Your Retirement Readiness

Are you on schedule to retire? Are you contributing enough to your 401(k) or IRA?

Though the answers to those questions depend on each person’s circumstances, some patterns are emerging in savings habits among those in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. Check these numbers to see whether you are on track.1

Age 20 to 29

Average 401(k) balance of $10,500 while contributing 7% of income

Age 30 to 39

Average 401(k) balance of $38,400 while contributing 8% of income

Age 40 to 49

Average 401(k) balance of $93,400 while contributing 8% of income

Age 50 to 59

Average 401(k) balance of $160,000 while contributing 10% of income

Age 60 to 69

Average 401(k) balance of $182,100 while contributing 11% of income

Age 70 to 79

Average 401(k) balance of $171,400 while contributing 12% of income

These numbers are simply averages—they do not account for income, sector, or cost of living. They also do not include assets in individual retirement accounts (IRAs), taxable accounts, or other savings accounts. But knowing what those in your general age bracket save, on average, might give you a better idea of your progress toward retirement savings.

You should notice that as workers grow older, they tend to contribute a greater percentage of their total income to retirement.

Pay Down High-Interest Debts

With interest rates continuing to rise, credit cards, home equity lines of credit, and other variable-rate loans are likely to grow more expensive.2 If you have any adjustable-rate loans, now is a good time to begin paying them off more aggressively.

Calculate Your Cash Reserves

It is a good idea to have some cash held for emergencies during turbulent times. From an unexpected medical bill to a new appliance, having cash on hand may help avoid the stress of paying for sudden expenses. Assessing your cash reserves at the beginning of the new year may give you a good baseline for setting cash accumulation goals.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking # 1-05337697.

Footnotes:

1 The Average 401(k) Balance by Age, Investopedia, https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/010616/whats-average-401k-balance-age.asp

2 What Rising Interest Rates Mean For You, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/success/what-rising-interest-rates-mean-credit-mortgage/index.html

If you struggle to find a gift for the person who has everything—or want to do your holiday shopping without having to leave the house—consider giving stock as a gift. Doing so is easier than you think, and it may offer a few benefits for you as well. Here is some information on giving stock as gifts and the benefits of doing so.

What Are the Benefits of Gifting Stock?

When it comes to giving stock as gifts, there is one key benefit for both the giver and the recipient.

1. Stepped-Up Cost Basis

If you held a stock until it increased in value, selling it could mean paying capital gains taxes. But giving the stock to someone else means transferring these gains to the recipient, allowing them to take possession of the stock at its appreciated price.1

For example, if you purchased 100 shares of a stock and each share is now trading for more than the purchase price, cashing the stock might mean paying capital gains taxes on the amount the investment increased. If you give this stock to someone else, this person begins with a stepped-up-per-share cost basis. If they later sell the stock once it goes up more, they may only owe taxes on the profits-per-share difference.

2. Transfer of Wealth

Giving stock as gifts may also be a good way to begin passing down wealth to the next generation while minimizing your tax obligation. Cashing out stock and passing along the cash may mean paying capital gains taxes. The proceeds may also be subject to income taxes. This tax may depend on the type of account holding the stock and how long the investment was in the account.

Transferring stock to your children, grandchildren, or other loved ones may help them learn about investing in the stock market while reducing the assets you may eventually want to pass down through the inheritance process.

How To Get Started Gifting Stock

There are a few different ways to give stock as gifts, but the simplest ones involve setting up a brokerage account.

If you plan to give stock as gifts to your children, a custodial brokerage account allows you to transfer shares and buy and sell stock on your child’s behalf. Your child may take control of the account once they are a certain age, usually 18 or 21.

If you want to give stock to an adult with no strings attached, you may transfer them to that person’s existing brokerage account—or open and fund a brokerage account for them yourself. Talk to your financial professional for more information on giving stock as gifts this holiday season.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.

Stock investing includes risks, including fluctuating prices and loss of principal.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #1-05337702.

Footnote

1 How to Give Stock as a Gift (And Why Tax Pros Like the Idea), Nerdwallet, https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/gifting-stock#