Hello and Welcome to our April 2019 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!
If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast format as well as Video!
Newbies – We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets and current events!
April – 2019 Video
Financial Planning Tip (s) –
Source of Funds Entrance Into Capital Markets
Here in this post we discussed the possible ways to most comfortably enter new capital into the Capital Markets.
Super Safe sources of capital may be best suited for an entrance over time, while funds coming from the Capital Markets, may go directly back into the Capital Markets, especially if risk reduction is also part of the allocation.
Over a 5 – 10 year time frame it does not matter, but why twist an ankle in the short term!
Social Security Event – Questions
Wow – all of these great questions were sent to us for our Event this month…. all were answered, if not directly, indirectly. We look forward to sharing actual audio (Tom speaks very fast and covered a lot of ground) from the event in a multi-part post series over the summer months! 
- Last time we spoke you were VERY certain Social Security would be there for all of us upon retirement – With all of the changes, do you still feel this way?
- Can you explain the divorced verses divorced and remarried benefits?
- Have you ever heard of someone being offered a lump sum of retroactive Social Security benefits?
- November of 2015 ushered in new laws and changes, are there any neat techniques that survived?
- Can you explain non US citizen spousal benefits?
- We have been told many of the benefit statements are not always accurate, understating the actual eventual benefit, has this been your experience?
- How much can I earn and not receive penalties if I retire before my full retirement age?
- The Full Retirement Age keeps being pushed out, will this continue? Is there a schedule?
- How long do I have to report my Social Security earnings if they were not reported by an employer?
- For many years I did not draw on an ex-spouses earnings by accident – using only my earnings benefit, can I request some sort of look back to get my full benefits?
- If want to change my Social Security election decision after I made it and have been drawing benefits, Can I do that?
- Do I have to take Social Security Benefits ? What if I do not want to?
- Is it better to sign up in person or use the website, or does it matter?
- My wife is not a US citizen, does that affect her spousal benefits?
- Will Social Security always be there in your opinion?
- What percent of people take benefits early, at full retirement age and as late as possible?
- I am 65 and working with a good healthcare plan. I wasn’t going to sign up for Medicare until after I retire. However I am told a Medicare Part F; a supplemental plan eliminating deductibles, will not be available after 2019; Should I enroll and sign up for Part F?
- I was married for more than 10 years to a high income earner, if I get remarried to my new spouse who is not a high income earner, will I give up benefits?
- Have you seen any of the on-line Social Security Optimization Programs? If so, any you like better than others? (From JK)
- What are your thoughts about an income based phase out of Social Security in the future? Much like the penalty for W-2 income and having started early Social Benefits ? (From JK)
Capital Market Comments –
Happy Again
After throwing a Hissy Fit near the end of 2018, “Everybody Is Happy” again !
This is a total index chart, note that it has not reached new highs yet, however many other indexes have.
Let’s not forget that we DID have an inverted yield curve which is a great predictor of a pending recession …. only the Shadow knows when! We have our eyes peeled!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of May!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP