Year-End Financial Planning

Presented by Tim Traub

With the end of the year quickly approaching, it is a wonderful time to begin organizing your finances for the New Year. We’ve put together a list of important financial planning topics that warrant consideration.

 Flexible spending accounts

Money that you’ve put away in your flexible spending accounts (FSAs) generally must be used by year-end or it will be forfeited. Recently, however, the IRS modified this rule to allow participants to carry over up to $500 of unused funds into the next year. Your employer plan must elect to participate in this option, so be sure to check your plan terms to see if you can take advantage of this new rule.

If your employer has not elected this carry-over option, now is the time to schedule those doctor’s appointments you’ve been meaning to attend to or to stock up on items that are eligible for flexible spending. Doing this as soon as possible may help relieve some last-minute headaches and ensure that you don’t lose your hard-earned dollars.

Additionally, open enrollment begins around this time of year for certain employee benefit plans. So if you’re not using an FSA, take stock of your average expenses that would qualify. This can help you determine whether setting up an FSA for 2014 makes sense for you. If you already use an FSA, assess how much extra you have left in the account or how much of a deficit you ran and use it to calculate your allotment for the New Year.

Medicare enrollment

Open enrollment for Medicare started in October and ends December 7, 2013. For many, this is the only chance to change health and prescription drug coverage for 2014. If you want to make any changes, act now.

Recharacterization of Roth IRA rollovers or conversions

If you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA during 2013 and paid tax on the conversion, mark your calendar now to allow plenty of time to meet the October 15, 2014, deadline for recharacterizing (i.e., undoing) the conversion.

Reporting losses on stock sales

Be aware of important deadlines regarding trading date closings. A trade to sell a long position must be executed by the close of the last trading date of the current year. Similarly, a trade to sell a short position must be executed so that it settles by the last trading date of the current year.

Retirement planning

Review your retirement plan allocation and contribution elections. If you’re not taking full advantage of any matching features or potential tax benefits for maximizing your contributions, now is the time to evaluate your ability to do that. Also, when it comes to qualified savings, assessing your allocation to ensure that it’s still in balance and pursuing your objectives will help you start the New Year off on the right foot.

Taking stock of savings

Did you set savings goals for the current year? Make a realistic assessment of how well you’ve met those goals and think about your goals for the upcoming year. There’s no reason why you can’t make some financial resolutions along with your other new year’s vows. If you determine that you are off track, let us help you develop and monitor a financial plan.

Taxes, taxes, taxes

RMDs and estimated taxes. If you’re turning 70½, you must devise the best strategy for taking required minimum distributions from your traditional IRA and 401(k) plans.

Be sure to take potentially large bonuses and a prosperous business year into account when considering your taxes for 2013. You may have to file estimated taxes or increase the upcoming January payment.

Managing marginal tax brackets. In 2013, the IRS added a 39.6-percent tax bracket, a 20-percent capital gain tax bracket, and a 3.8-percent Medicare tax on net investment income. Moreover, those in higher marginal tax brackets may be subject to an additional 0.90-percent withholding tax, as well as limits on and phase-outs of itemized deductions and personal exemptions.

If a taxpayer is on the edge of the new tax thresholds, he or she may be able to defer or accelerate income or deductions to help minimize taxes.

·         The 39.6-percent marginal tax bracket affects taxpayers with taxable incomes in excess of $400,000 (filing single), $450,000 (filing married), $425,000 (filing head of household), and $225,000(filing married but separately).

·         The 20-percent capital gain tax rate applies to those in the 39.6-percent marginal tax bracket.

·         Itemized deductions and personal exemption phase-outs affect those with adjusted gross incomes above $250,000 (filing single), $300,000 (filing married), $275,000 (filing head of household), and $150,000 (filing married but separately).

·         The 3.8-percent surtax is applied on the lesser of net investment income or the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $200,000 (individual) and $250,000 (married filing jointly).

Too little or too much withholding. Also of note is that workers with gross earned income of more than $200,000 may have had too little or too much tax withholding in 2013. Employers may have withheld an additional 0.90-percent tax on incomes over $200,000 without regard to the taxpayer’s withholding status, which would put these taxpayers at a higher threshold. Other taxpayers may have had too little withholding because of other income unknown to the employer due to second jobs. Employees should plan to take a credit on their returns or pay additional taxes.

Estate planning

To help ensure that your estate plan stays in tune with your goals and needs, you should be reviewing and updating it on an ongoing basis. If you haven’t done so during 2013, take time before the end of the year to:

·         Check trust funding

·         Account for any life changes

·         Update beneficiary designations

·         Review trustee and agent appointments

·         Review provisions of powers of attorney and health care directives

·         Prepare for the distribution of personal effects

·         Get a firm understanding of all of your documents

Consider seeking professional guidance

The above list of financial planning dates is not exhaustive. We are happy to go over deadlines that are most relevant to your personal situation, so you can better prepare for the coming year.

Whatever your planning may entail, we wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014!

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This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor, or lawyer.

IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE:

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Tips and Tricks for Smart Holiday Shopping

Tips and Tricks for Smart Holiday Shopping

Presented by Tim Traub

As the end of the year approaches, shopping malls and online stores will soon be bustling with bargain hunters on a mission to check items off their gift lists. Yes, the holidays are just around the corner, and, according to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend about $740 on presents, decorations, and the like this year. Although the thought of crowded parking lots, long lines, and sold-out items may be daunting, these smart shopping strategies can help you ease the stress of gift-buying.

Plan ahead

It may seem obvious, but planning ahead is key to efficient holiday shopping. Knowing what you want from different stores and how much you can spend will help you make quick work of your list. Here are a few ideas for getting organized before the rush starts:

·         Make a detailed list. There’s nothing worse than forgetting someone and having to make a last-minute trip to the mall. In addition to friends and family members, think of any coworkers, teachers, or neighbors you’d like to acknowledge this year.

·         Set a budget. Before you spend a dime, ask yourself how much you want to shell out overall. (Be sure your total is realistic.) Then, break out costs for each individual on your list.

·         Do your research. It’s helpful to compare products and prices online before heading to the mall. Making a game plan for what you want to buy and where can help you avoid rushing from store to store looking for the items on your list.

·         Get there early. Some retailers program their registers the night before a sale, so shopping after 6:00 p.m. the night prior can be a great way to take advantage of advertised discounts before the crowds descend.  

Try shopping online

Visiting brick-and-mortar stores during the holiday season often means waiting in traffic and searching for scarce parking spaces, all to get inside and wait in another line at the register. Although some of the best deals may be found in-store, buying gifts online has its advantages. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

·         Consider the time value of money. It’s safe to say that browsing products online is much less time-consuming than wading through crowds at the mall, especially if you’re not sure what you want. Staying home and hopping on the Internet can save you time (and gas money), at least until you’ve figured out what you’re buying and where.

·         Weigh your shipping options. Many online retailers can ship your purchase to a different location than the billing address. This can be a useful feature if you’re traveling and want to send gifts directly to your destination. Some merchants also let you buy online and pick up the item at the store.

·         Check return policies. Stores’ policies vary significantly, so before you buy anything online, get the details on returning and exchanging items. For instance, who pays for return shipping? Can you return an item you order online to your local retail store?

·         Stick with trusted retailers. It’s best to do business with merchants you know and to avoid any too-good-to-be-true online promotions. If you’re interested in an item on an unfamiliar website, look for the site’s security and privacy seals or check out other customers’ experiences at www.bizrate.com.

Find creative ways to save money (and time)

Whether you plan to shop online or at the mall, saving a little money here and there can really help stretch your holiday budget. For example:

·         Compare prices on the go. If you need to check prices while you’re out and about, consider using a smartphone app like Red Laser, which lets you scan a product to see if it’s available anywhere else for less.

·         Use cash. Shoppers who pay with credit cards are likely to spend more than those with cash in hand. It’s all too easy to buy on impulse this time of year, and making cash purchases may help deter you from blowing your budget.

·         Outsource gift wrapping. Many charity groups offer gift-wrapping services in malls and stores. For a small donation, you’ll save yourself some time, not to mention the cost of supplies like ribbon and tape.

·         Don’t overlook coupons. During the holidays, coupon specials abound. Browse your local newspaper supplements, and look online for deals from retail stores you plan to visit. Apps like Coupon Sherpa can even deliver discount offers to your phone.

Make a post-shopping to-do list

After you’ve finished your shopping, there are still a few things you can do to avoid last-minute hassles:

·         Keep track of purchases. Save your store receipts and print out confirmations for online purchases. This can come in handy when checking your credit card or bank statements, and also if you need to return or exchange items.

·         Include gift receipts. As you wrap your packages, enclose a gift receipt so recipients can easily return the item, if necessary.

·         Get to the post office ASAP. If you plan to mail any packages, it’s best to do so as soon as your shopping is done. The U.S. Postal Service and other shipping companies only get busier and busier as the holidays draw near.

Here’s to a more peaceful season!

The holidays shouldn’t be stressful, but they certainly can be if you wait until the last minute to finish your shopping. We hope these tips will help make your preparations a bit more pleasant—and give you more time to celebrate with your loved ones!