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Now that we’re in the second half of tax season, we’re observing that the rumors were indeed correct. While many taxpayers may have benefited from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they unfortunately don’t feel the benefits...
Read MoreThe Bureau of Economic Analysis posted its first estimate of US economic growth in February following a one month delay due to the government shutdown in January. The report shows that the US economy grew 2.6% in the fourth quarter,...
Read MoreThe US trade deficit has been a hot topic in recent years as the US has imposed or increased tariffs on a variety of foreign sourced goods in an effort to reduce the US trade deficit. Yet the result has been the opposite of what many...
Read MoreThis tax season there has been a misconception that the mortgage interest deduction is capped or was eliminated. In fact, following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers can deduct home mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of home...
Read MoreConsumer spending makes up approximately two-thirds of US economic output. Therefore, the attitudes of US consumers and their pace of spending is an important indicator of the overall health of the US economy. One of the data points...
Read MoreOne of the primary objectives of tax planning is to reduce an individual’s tax liability. This is often done by finding tax deduct-ions that can be used to offset income that would otherwise be taxable. In some cases an...
Read MoreConsumer spending is an important driver of US economic growth. Consumer spending represents approximately two-thirds of all US economic output making it a very important determinate of the health of the US economy. Recently, economic...
Read MoreThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expanded the definition of “qualified higher education expenses.” In the past this definition required enrollment in a qualified post-secondary educational program that qualifies for...
Read MoreThis time of year millions of Americans prepare their income taxes, sign the E-file forms, and then transmit their financial information to the IRS. Where does the information go? What does the IRS do with it? How does this impact the...
Read MoreThe IRS recently announced that it will reduce the underpayment penalty threshold from 90% of the tax owed to 85%. Historically, taxpayers who paid in at least 90% of their total tax liability during the year would not be subject to a...
Read MoreThe IRS expects a significant increase in the number of taxpayers using the new Standard Deduction for tax year 2018. The new Standard Deduction increases to $12,000 for Single Filers and $24,000 for Married Filers, which is nearly...
Read MoreAs many financial analysts expected, part way through the fourth quarter 2018 earnings season the reports have reflected mixed results. Some industries, such as financials, have reported fairly solid earnings compared to...
Read MoreTax season is approaching, which means for some taxpayers they will finally receive their tax refunds to replenish their savings or tackle the home improvement project they’ve been saving for. For others, their refunds may be the...
Read MoreIt has only been a couple of weeks since the calendar turned over to 2019. Yet a clear theme has already emerged as the key risk that threatens to define the year when it comes to the economic data and the markets: Political risk in...
Read MoreConsumer spending represents approximately two-thirds of US economic output. Therefore, economists track consumer activity and sentiment indicators closely when creating economic forecasts. However, in the fourth quarter the consumer...
Read MoreThe trade war between the US and China has drawn on for six months with little progress toward a resolution. The US placed tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods in June. China responded in-kind by increasing tariffs on US exports,...
Read MoreTaxpayers have just a few weeks left to make their charitable contributions for the 2018 tax year. In order to qualify for the tax deduction, the deduction must be made by the end of the year and must be made to a qualified...
Read MoreInterest rates have made headlines this year as the Federal Reserve continued to push short-term rates higher. Longer-term interest rates also increased although by less than short-term rates and the yield curve (graphical depiction of...
Read MoreMarket sentiment appears to have shifted abruptly in 2018. For the first part of the year Wall Street seemed quite optimistic following the corporate tax cuts in late 2018 which translated into strong earnings reports and solid...
Read MoreTax Loss Harvesting is a strategy that involves selling certain investment positions (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, etc.) at a tax loss to offset realized capital gains or other taxable income up to the $3,000 limit. A capital...
Read MoreOne of Warren Buffett’s many notable quotes seems particularly timely at the moment. Buffet once said: “The less prudence with which others conduct their affairs, the more prudence with which we should conduct our own...
Read MoreThe stock market has become increasingly focused on Federal Reserve policy and the future path for interest rates. So much so that the comments from various Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (the committee tasked with setting...
Read MoreThe IRS recently announced an increase in retirement plan contribution limits for 2019. These limits are tied to the rate of inflation and typically have a minimum adjustment amount of $500. The contribution limits for 401k type plans...
Read MoreThe US federal government ran a deficit of over $100 billion in the month of October. This is a 59% increase from October 2017 and puts the deficit on pace total $1 trillion for the year. The combination of the tax cuts passed in late...
Read MoreThe home construction industry has been reeling recently as a combination of factors has caused builders to become more cautious. The National Association of Home Builders added the most recent bad news when they announced that...
Read MoreTechnology stocks led the way for the first seven months of 2018. The relative strength of technology stocks for the first part of the year shows a strong upward trend indicating that technology outperformed the broad market by a large...
Read MoreThe days of sales people fighting for a larger expense account has been changing over the past year. Instead of working out how to leverage an expense account to find new customers and keep existing customers happy, many companies have...
Read MoreThe Social Security Administration recently announced the 2019 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). Starting January 2019 Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% increase in benefits, which is 0.8% higher than the 2018 increase...
Read MoreIn the past cash management was a big part of financial planning. The goal was to allocate cash holdings, whether it be money set aside for future expenses, an emergency fund, money to which a goal has not yet been assigned, to an...
Read MoreIRA owners are required to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions by April 1st the year after they turn 70½ at the latest. The RMD is calculated using the IRA balance as of the end of the prior year and an age factor that...
Read MoreLonger-term US interest rates may have finally given in to the upward pressure from short-term interest rates. This month the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield moved through its long-term trading range to levels that have not been...
Read MoreThe amount of student loan debt outstanding increased substantially following the Great Recession. Student loan debt now represents over $1.5 trillion and continues to increase, partly because borrowers are not aware of their options...
Read MoreA recent survey of investment managers by Bank of America Merrill Lynch shows that they are becoming more pessimistic. In fact, according to the most recent survey, pessimism is at its highest level since late 2011 with nearly a...
Read MoreRevocable Living Trusts provide the grantor(s) of the trust (the individuals who create the trust and provide the assets that fund the trust) the flexibility to make changes throughout their lifetime. The assets of a Revocable Living...
Read MoreUS interest rates have increased this year as the Federal Reserve continues to hike short-term rates and investors demand higher returns on longer-term lending. This has pushed the yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond, a key interest...
Read MoreThe US Conference Board announced that consumer confidence reached a cyclical high in August of 133.4. This is the highest reading since October 2000 following the boom years of the late 1990s. This is a strong sign that consumers are...
Read MoreA Revocable Living Trust is an estate planning document used to transfer one’s property effectively and efficiently upon one’s passing. Many families and individuals establish a Revocable Living Trust to avoid the probate...
Read MoreIt is important to avoid making investment decisions purely on the basis of fees. It is more important to make sure the investment fits the investment objectives, long-term goals, and diversification target for the investment portfolio.
Read MoreThe House Ways and Means committee has released the details of a second tax bill that is largely designed to help Americans save for their future. Naturally, the bill is just a draft and will likely go through a number of changes and...
Read MoreMany people do not realize that Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are means tested until it is too late.
Read MoreThe US stock market recently set yet another milestone -according to the methodology used by some financial analysts the current bull market is the longest recorded. It has now been 9.5 years since the stock market bottom in March of 2009.
Read MoreWe are often asked how long an individual should keep their income tax records.
Read MoreUnder the new tax law, many taxpayers will not benefit, or benefit very little, form the mortgage interest tax deduction.
Read MoreOne of the tax deductions that can be the most difficult to track is the Vehicle License Fee paid to a state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
Read MoreMany taxpayers who engage in a Roth conversion (transferring money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA) are unaware of the option to undo the conversion if needed. The process of undoing a Roth IRA conversion is called a Roth IRA recharact
Read MoreUS stocks have outperformed foreign stocks by a wide margin over the past several years. This has led to reduced returns for well-diversified portfolios which typically hold 30-40% of their stock allocation in foreign stocks. However, this
Read MoreThe Trump administration appears to be shifting gears away from health care reform and immigration issues to focus on tax reform. Trump recently announced that his admin-istration will be announcing the broad outline for tax reform this wee
Read MoreTaxpayers who are not eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA may still be able to invest in a Roth IRA. The process, called a Roth Conversion, involves transferring money from a Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. However, it is important to not
Read MoreThe first round of the French Presidential election occurred on Sunday. The election narrowed the field to just two candidates, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. Macron, who represents the pro-globalization and pro-Euro view, received the
Read MoreThe March Federal Reserve minutes contained several statements expressing concern about the high level of stock prices compared to valuation factors, such as company earnings. This could be a sign that the Fed is becoming concerned about th
Read MoreThe Roth IRA is a valuable tax and retirement planning tool. Contributions to a Roth IRA do not give an income tax deduction but the distributions are tax-free in retirement. In some cases taxpayers can contribute to a Roth IRA directly, wh
Read MoreThe Federal Reserve faces a difficult task in normalizing its interest rate policy. Not only will the Fed need to increase short-term rates at a pace that will not tip the economy into recession, but it will also have to shrink its holdings
Read MoreThe high level of household debts in the US is showing up on the financial statements of deceased individuals. According to a recent study, 73% of Americans carry some form of debt when they pass away. The average amount of debt is $61,554
Read MoreIt is an unfortunate fact that the US tax withholding system is not very effective. This can lead to large refunds or large amounts owed depending on an individual’s situation. In addition, when income changes from year to year, the a
Read MoreThe stock market has posted strong returns since the presidential election. Much of this has been fueled by investor optimism over the prospects for corporate tax reform and reduced regulation on certain industries. However, given the failu
Read MoreThe January inflation date exceeded 2% for the first time in many years. One of the major contributing factors was the year-over-year increase in oil prices from January 2016 to January 2017. However, oil prices have declined by 13% in the
Read MoreIndividual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) are personal investment accounts that allow individuals to save for retirement in a tax-advantaged manor. There are two types of IRAs, traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Each comes with a different set
Read MoreIt is tax time again. This makes it a great time to review where the federal government actually spends our tax dollars. The largest spending categories are Social Security (33%), Medicare (27%), and military (16%). The next in line is inte
Read MoreWe are often asked how long an individual should keep their income tax records. The general answer is that the IRS has three years from the due date of a tax return to review or audit the return. After the three year statute of limitations,
Read MoreUS household debt is once again near its 2008 peak. A rebound in auto debt and student loan debt has led the increase in household debt. Meanwhile, the increase in mortgage debt, the largest segment of household debt, has increased slowly a
Read MoreOfficial US data shows a strong increase in both retail sales and inflation in January. This contributed to a year-over-year increase of 5.6% for retail sales and 2.5% for consumer prices. Energy prices were a large contributor to both reta
Read MoreHousing prices continued to increase in 2016. Prices continued their upward trend despite an increase in interest rates over the past six months of the year. While rising interest rates can be a negative for housing prices, there are others
Read MoreThe average cost of a wedding increased nearly 10% to $35,329 in 2016. When the average cost of the honeymoon of $3,400 is added, the total cost of getting hitched is now nearly $40,000. In addition, the couple (or their parents) are increa
Read MoreAs a reminder, our biweekly newsletter is available via a podcast hosted by Planned Solutions. The podcast is available on the Apple podcast App and on Andriod devices via Google Play. Search Planned Solutions on your podcast ap
Read MorePeople tend to think in terms of extremes. As our environment changes, our outlook for the future changes, causing us to alter our behavior in response. We tend to ignore the benefits from moderation, which requires a longer-term view and a
Read MoreOne important income tax deduction for many taxpayers is the personal income tax exemption. In 2016 taxpayers can claim a deduction of $4,050 for each taxpayer or dependent listed on their return. However, it is important to make sure that
Read MoreFederal Reserve Governor John Williams was the keynote speaker at the Sacramento Business Review this year. During his presentation he made a case for the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, of which he is a voting member, to increase in
Read MoreThe Dow Jones Industrial Average finally broke through the 20,000 level in late January. In anticipation of the event many news outlets have published stories about what large round numbers on major market indices mean. In reality, the 20,0
Read MoreIndividuals who have an IRA and are over age 70 ½ or who inherit an IRA may be subject to Required Minimum Dist-ributions (RMDs). This is a minimum amount that must be withdrawn which is based on the value of the account and an age fac
Read MoreChase recently participated in the Sacramento Business Review (SBR) economic forecasting event. The SBR focuses on the factors that are driving the economy of the Sacramento Region including labor market growth, residential and commercial r
Read MoreIn preparation for the upcoming tax season, we mailed out tax organizers to all of our tax preparation clients last week. If you did not receive a tax organizer but are interested in having Planned Solutions prepare your income
Read MoreAccording to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child from birth to age 17 increased 3% last year to over $233,000. The increase was largely driven by an increase in housing costs, which can account for nearly one-third
Read MoreLast year the stock market started the year out on a sour note after the Federal Reserve increased interest rates in December 2015. This year many expected the same reaction following the Fed’s December 2016 rate increase. However, th
Read MoreThe holidays are often a time when people are more motivated to give to charity. In addition to the good feeling that charitable donations can bring, they may also qualify for a tax deduction. However, the IRS rules are complicated. So if a
Read MoreMortgage rates are on the rise. Mortgage brokers are now changing their tactics away from emphasizing lower rates to focusing on shortening the term of the mortgage. Often the message is that refinancing to a 15 year mortgage will result in
Read MoreThe IRS recently released the retirement and Social Security contribution limits for 2017. Many of these limits are adjusted for inflation, subject to certain minimum adjustment amounts. Therefore, some of the limits increased this year whi
Read MoreAs a reminder, our biweekly newsletter is available via a podcast hosted by Planned Solutions. The podcast is available on the Apple podcast App, on Andriod devices via Google Play, and on a desktop computer through SoundCloud.com. Just sea
Read MoreA recent poll by BankRate.com shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans report that they are pulling back on spending. Given that approximately 70% of US economic growth is personal consumption spending, this may be an indication of slow ec
Read MoreLittle about the current economic cycle has conformed to historical norms. The employment recovery proved to be sluggish compared to past cycles. Interest rates have been held at low levels for most of a decade. And many historical economic
Read MoreThe Affordable Care Act, with its broad and diverse set of new regulations, has been a challenge for individuals and business leaders. It has also been a challenge for the IRS, the agency tasked with enforcing the law. This has led to confu
Read MoreSeveral central banks around the world have pushed interest rates into negative territory. If they continue to decrease rates, it may cause savers to hoard cash which offers zero return rather than negative returns. This could put a limit o
Read MoreFixed Indexed Annuities have gained popularity following the financial crisis. Clients are often drawn to these products for principal protection. Financial advisors often sell them because they pay high commissions. However, many clients w
Read MoreS&P 500 earnings rebounded slightly in the second quarter. This ended a six quarter (18 month) streak in which the trailing 12 month earnings for the S&P 500 declined. However, despite the small rebound, S&P 500 earning are now
Read MoreThe Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bipartisan financial research arm of the US Congress, recently announced that the US budget deficit is projected to increase in 2016. This will be the first year since 2009 in which the budget defi
Read MorePeer-to-Peer money transfer services in which individuals transfer money to each other without using a traditional bank intermediary are becoming more popular. These services can be a good way to transfer money quickly without incurring hig
Read MoreThe Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reports for both the services and manufacturing sectors of the U.S. economy declined sharply from July to August. The reports showed declines in several sub-indexes including new orders, business ac
Read MoreOne of the themes to watch this earnings season is the reduction in stock buyback announce-ments. So far, stock buyback announcement have totaled just $1.6 billion dollars. This is a four year low and well below the average of $50 billion p
Read MoreIndividuals who utilize a high deductible health insurance plan may be able to make tax deductible contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA). Health Savings Accounts can be used to fund medical expenses that are not covered by insuran
Read MoreMany people believe that they are not saving enough to fund their retirement income needs. Of those surveyed, a large portion said they will plan to work into their retirement years to subsidize their income should their savings prove insuf
Read MoreSome people choose to forgo signing up for Medicare part D when they become eligible for Medicare. Part D covers prescription drugs which may not be a large concern for a healthy 65 year old. However, those who do not sign up for part D whe
Read MoreDespite expectations that Federal Reserve money creation would lead to hyperinflation, official inflation rates have been below the historical average since the Great Recession. This is partly due to the deflationary pressure that dec
Read MoreThe Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, which sets short-term interest rates in the US, voted to maintain its target of between 0.25% and 0.50% in July. The committee’s official statement referenced stronger economic data in the US
Read MoreHousing data has continued to be strong. Home prices as well as new home sales, starts, and permits have all been strong. This is likely the result of a housing shortage which has created a supply-demand imbalance. Even at current rates, th
Read MoreLow interest rates and below average stock returns have created a challenge for the nation’s pension systems. Many pension systems, including CalPERS, the nation’s largest pension system, are now underfunded by a wide margin. Th
Read MoreCharles Dow, the creator of the Dow Jones Industrial and Transportation averages is also known for Dow Theory. Dow Theory states that transportation companies often foreshadow changes in the overall economy and therefore should be watched c
Read MoreMortgage rates have declined significantly following the Brexit vote. US Treasury bonds rates or are now at a historic low. This decline is evident in mortgage rates, which are now at levels not seen since 2013. If you still have a mortgage
Read MoreA recent study shows the average IRA account balance by age. It highlights the fact that the average American has not saved enough to maintain their standard of living in retirement. There are a variety of reasons for this shortfall, only o
Read MoreThe ninth key to financial happiness is to have a sufficient emergency fund. Financial emergencies can lead to stress. Not having an emergency fund can lead to feelings of financial instability. Building up and maintaining an emergency fund
Read MoreThe UK is scheduled to vote on Thursday, June 23rd as to whether the UK should leave the European Union (EU). While the vote was primarily triggered due to concerns about EU migration policies, it could have short-term and long-term implica
Read MoreThe eighth key to financial happiness is to save more and avoid using debt for purchases that will not offset future expenses or increase future income. This may require deferring personal consumption expenditures until after saving the mon
Read MoreAccording to official data the US economy added just 38,000 jobs in May, well below economist estimates. In addition, the March and April job numbers were revised downward potentially signaling weakness in the labor market. While one month
Read MoreThere has been a lot of talk in the media about the possibility of another Federal Reserve interest rate hike in June. Interest rates are a popular topic in the financial press because they have a large and diverse impact on the economy and
Read MoreThe seventh key to financial happiness is to make sure that you have a plan to fund your financial needs, both now and in retirement, before spending a significant amount of your financial resources on wants. Failing to fund your needs will
Read MoreInterest rates in Europe and Japan are negative, with bank depositors and bonds investors actually paying institutions to hold their money. In the US, real interest rates (interest rates less the rate of inflation) also turned negative rece
Read MoreThe sixth key to financial happiness is to avoid spending more than you can afford. This may seem simple in theory but can be difficult to do in practice. The key is to calculate the amount that you can afford to spend after funding other f
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