Author Archives: John Kvale CFA, CFP

We are happy to Announce the firm is Growing – Meet Nathan Elliot Capone!

Posted on October 22, 2018 | Leave a comment

On October 11, 2018 a new member of the Capone Family was born …

Nathan Elliot Capone

Nathan Capone

Congratulations to Randi and Donald —

Great Parents, Great Family, Great sibling relationships – as you can tell from the picture.

Told ya it was BIGGER NEWS – doesn’t get any bigger …

We hope to get a glimpse at the Holiday Party – no promises, baby stuff happens and that is a quick public showing —

Very happy to announce, Randi and Donald (spoken to The Brain several times) seem great, well rested, home from the hospital,  and of course super parents….

Have a Great “New Family Member” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

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Posted in Clients/Clients Only, Donald Capone, Personal

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Happily honored as Dallas Magazine Best of Wealth Managers and Best Financial Planners – Holiday Reminder – Even BIGGER news next week – Friday*

Posted on October 19, 2018 | Leave a comment

We are very happy to announce our nomination to D Magazines Best Of Again !

D Magazine Best of Dallas

For those fellow Dallas Sites – be sure to check out the current Issue of D Magazine, hitting the stands first thing this am – which will have the follow awesome picture:

2018 Best Wealth Managers -

Jen and Donald picked the photo – we had tons to choose from …. from our fantastic photographer Bret – who by the way will be shooting pictures at the Holiday Party!

Can you believe they chose the picture showing the most Grey? Grrrr

When commenting on this fact, an assurance of “SEASONING” was mentioned – Ok … so you guys are still sore about the Black Eye incident – look close, Donald “The Brain” has a huge shiner, saved by Jen’s cover up …. as mentioned earlier here!

Twelfth Consecutive Financial Planner Award

Luckily, yours truly was also awarded Best Financial Planner award for the TWELFTH consecutive time … given the gray in the picture above, maybe silence is better?

It is an honor, to be named in both portions of the D Magazine Best Of Series  – Most proud to be named as a firm, to recognize those that REALLY make is possible — The Gang at J.K. Financial, Inc!!

Well done Guys !

This is also the un-official introduction of Jen Hill our new Operations Manager — more on this soon ! New York native … Deep Wall Street Background ….. Spouse Former Major League Pitcher ? All True.

Holiday Party Reminder

The following invitation is headed your way today ….  Please save the date and plan on coming, as mentioned earlier, Bret our fantastic photographer will be there – snapping possibly… Holiday Card Photos for all in attendance!

10-9-18 - Holiday Party Invitation

Friday Before Even Bigger Announcements

Today is a Friday … enjoy your day and your weekend….

In an unbelievable Announcement day – next week we have even a BIGGER Announcement – Yep, not kidding – BIGGER !!!!

Stay tuned… hold that breath … Next week will be here shortly

Have a Great “Big Announcements” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

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Posted in Clients/Clients Only, Donald Capone, Jen Hill, John Kvale, Personal

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YEAA – Social Security Benefit Increase 2.8% – Most other Pensions to Follow too

Posted on October 17, 2018 | Leave a comment

Each year our federal government accesses the inflationary environment and makes a determination for those on Social Security as to how much, if any, of an inflationary adjustment is needed…. AKA Cola adjustment-

COLA Adjustment – Cost of Living Adjustment

Looking into 2019, those on fixed incomes with COLA or Cost of Living Adjustments, in MOST cases will see a 2.8% increase per the Social Security Administration and their flagship marker, the CPI or consumer price index…

This includes in most cases pension, and other fixed income types, as they usually (we have just run across a disconnect, but are not to the bottom of it yet) follow the same index – good for all.

Here is the last decade of adjustments from the Social Security Administration

2019 Cola SS

Social Security Tax Maximum

Ok – so the good news for those receiving fixed income could be looked at as a minor detractor for those paying the new higher Social Security Tax amount – but hey, we are all in this together –

Here is the new Social Security Tax Maximum amount with a little historical perspective for your perusal:

2019 SS Tax max and 10 year history

In 2019, the new tax maximum (said another way- the amount of money you need to earn to max your Social Security Benefit) is $132,900!

Have a great “Social Security COLA” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

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Posted in Investing/Financial Planning, Social Security, Tax Related

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RMD Season is here – Is your DOB between 7-1-47 to 6-30-48 ? You have a decision!

Posted on October 15, 2018 | Leave a comment

RMD – AKA Required Minimum Distributions – the Governments’ mandate of distribution from our IRA (Pre-Tax) funds in order to finally occur taxes is upon us…..

RMD Season Uncle Sam

In the coming weeks we will begin transferring mandated funds from our IRA/Qualified/Pre-Tax accounts to their directed destinations….

As a reminder this is so the US Government gets to take the taxes due …

IMPORTANT (Neat) Facts –

  1. RMD $$ mandated amounts are determined by the value of applicable accounts on the last day of the prior year
  2. Current year age is a necessary factor included in calculating the RMD – see below next, first time exception – each year of seasoning (getting older) we are forced to take more out of the applicable accounts – hey the IRS has never taxed us on these in many cases – it’s their time!
  3. After tax contributions to a qualified account MUST be accounted for in order to avoid taxes – here are greater details and our taxpayer obligations on this –  don’t overpay – the IRS is not tracking this and will not come to the rescue and lower your taxes
  4. All of an individual’s accounts must be included/totaled/value (certain exceptions are made to those continuing to work) to ascertain the needed distribution
  5. Any one account can be used to satisfy the needed distribution (you do not have to take a little from each account, making it easier from an organization standpoint) BUT you must take at least the minimum distribution
  6. Failure to take the mandated distribution amount COULD result in a 100% tax – Break in – our experience has been the IRS is nice about this, but let’s not test them

Here is a neat three part series from a while back that is worth a review!

70.5 is the key starting age

The mandatory commencement date of RMD’s is the year AFTER you turn 70.5 years young, under current tax law…

If you accept this first year deferral, you will incur two RMD’s in the year you commence your first RMD…

Depending on the situation, it may be advisable to distribute your first year RMD a year early so as not to clump your taxable distribution….

Is your DOB between 7-1-47 to 6-30-48?

Then you turn 70.5 in 2018 and you CAN defer your RMD until 2019, however you will have two RMD’s next year — be careful, large distributions could toss you into an extra tax bracket.

Reach out if you have ANY questions, we have plenty of time, BUT the clock is ticking…

Have a great ‘RMD Efficient Distribution” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

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Posted in General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Related

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We are Surprised by NOT being Surprised … Company Surprise Announcement Next Week – Friday

Posted on October 12, 2018 | Leave a comment

Our comments below, just barely hit the airwaves ….

“It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of Times  

As we look forward, the best part of the year “historically” lies just in our view as we finish the year. Using history as our guide, oddly the first month of the coming quarter has been the most treacherous. Not the time to get to overzealous or glum! “

What is surprising about these comments are that … SO FAR, they have been spot on .. I.e. NO SURPRISES –

Bounce and Re-Test

Using history again as our guide, rarely do market suddenly just go back up – what they do is get their feet under them at some level – called a Test and if they hold then they may be on better footing … This is from earlier in the year, but there are tons of repeat tests like this ….

10-11-18 SP Test chart

We will be watching and give you more insights as they unfold…

Company Surprise – Honor

Shhhhh … coming to a newsstand near you (those in Dallas) is ….oh well we cannot say until NEXT FRIDAY- we will be yelling then…

Enough of the heavy stuff, its a Friday … have a good weekend.

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

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Posted in Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments

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Third Quarter 2018 Cover Letter

Posted on October 10, 2018 | Leave a comment

The third quarter of 2018 is behind us and the original theme from the first month of the year seems still most appropriate, patience. After rocketing to an unsustainable trajectory in January, the excuse was an over use of a dangerous product, the reality looks to be, we just got too far ahead of ourselves and corrected harshly to a more reasonable trajectory.
It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of Times
As we look forward, the best part of the year “historically” lies just in our view as we finish the year. Using history as our guide, oddly the first month of the coming quarter has been the most treacherous. Not the time to get to overzealous or glum!
Earnings Eventually Matter
In our Q4 2018 Capital Market Newsletter Article we discuss in detail the correlation of earnings and capital market movement. This obvious connection does not always hold true in the shorter term as aggressive emotions such as greed and fear overshoot constantly in both directions. Eventually the correlation re-connects and more normal heads prevail, making earnings growth and market growth work in tandem.
Interest Rates
The fear of, or at least watching for, an inverted yield curve has grown in popularity. We discussed this item last quarter in great detail. Oddly, when many are looking for an event, it loses it’s predictability. We are not ignoring, and will continue to monitor, but we are concerned at a possible loss of predictively with the crowds of followers swelling. Predictive or not, the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) has been slow and open to interest rate increases, so far, and capital markets, the economy and participants are very happy with the increases and have digested them nicely.
Bonds, most effected by interest rates, and one of the safest asset classes tend to feel the headwinds most of higher interest rates. Higher, and increasing rates are initially a headwind, but once the increases stabilize, they become a tailwind, and increased yields push more money into our pockets. This cycle is no different, other than the fact that interest rates we so unprecedented low to begin with, this temporary headwind seems stronger than in other cycles, but it is really not. Look for more details on this subject again in our coming Newsletter.
Have a good start to fall!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

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Posted in Clients/Clients Only, Earnings, General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Performance Report Cover Letter

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“Video Week” Friday … Columbus Day Monday Bank/Postal JK Holiday, Local Cross Border Rivalry and Fair Reminder

Posted on October 5, 2018 | Leave a comment

Happy Video Week Friday!

The way the calendar fell this week, we ended up with back to back videos of the September Review, and then the Q 4 Newsletter Audio Video review, with a cameo appearance of Chacca the dog as he interrupted the recording of the Newsletter Video!

Hope you enjoyed…

Columbus Day Reminderthree-masted-sailing-ship-1280890__480

This is a unique holiday in that Capital Markets will be open (light trading) but most banks and the post office, as well as our office will be closed.

Since banks are closed, money will not move Monday, even with the Capital Markets open…

Those in the Dallas Fort Worth Area – do not forget – Texas V Oklahoma University is this weekend and the Monday Columbus day marks Texas State Fair Day for most of the surrounding schools – Be Careful out there, it will be great fun over the long weekend but lots of traffic unfamiliar with the area!

Enjoy your weekend and talk to you next week!

Have a Great “Columbus Day Weekend” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents

 

 

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