Author Archives: John Kvale CFA, CFP

DALL – E – 2 from Open AI (Artificial Intelligence) – Copyright Free Art/Pictures/Images Created by You or Me! … Examples …

We have spoken about this before, but in brevity….and the popularity of this is rising so fast, we can hardly keep up ….

ChatGPT is all the rage at the moment, and we spoke of it here, again in brevity….

This is making its’ way into our coming Newsletter in greater detail…. But let’s start from the beginnings of our experience and show you just a few of our creations…

Dall-E-2 – the Image portion from Open AI

With Copyright issues abounding, we happily stumbled into DALL-E-2 named somewhat from the Pixar Movie WALL-E and Salvador Dali the artist… The whole family has accounts and all enjoy creating images… in fact, here are just a few images we have been using here…. once again all created by us ….

Oh, and those unfamiliar with the process … you type a literal sentence or phrase of what you want it to create and BOOM you get an AI created picture…

“Uncle Sam Beach Bum” created this and was used in a post where we spoke of Tax time not here yet….

Here are a few more…again all used here in our blog…VERY HAPPILY

We will dive deeper into CHATGPT next…but hope this helps give you a 10000 foot overview and will let you know what people are talking about when this terminology is mentioned!

Have a Great “DALL-E-2” Informed 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

Tax Forms Update – They are all Completed – Yay – Let the Corrected Clock Tick … Personal Fun Longevity Experience while Walking into the Building … Friday … Back Yard Punxsutawney Phil Tree Update …

Tax Forms Update

Ya ya… lot’s about Tax “Stuff” this time of the year year, but tis the season…. So some good news here!

This week all forms dropped for everyone… a lot had already been completed, but there were still a fair amount that had not been completed…..

If you have not received your form and need it, let us know as we have quick electronic access and can email it to you…. Most importantly, now the Corrected clock starts ticking… We will be in touch!

Personal Longevity Experience

Early this week while entering my building a nice elderly couple, led by the husband with a stroller mentioned they were moving slowly …. as I held the door with absolute pleasure to do so, I said not to worry, my father is happily 95 years old …. and we all move a bit slower as we luckily make those notches in our belts…

Surprisingly, the nice lady just behind the couple bellows… “My mom just turned 100 ..So I am in no hurry, just take your time!”

Still holding the door … the gentleman behind her yells “My dad is 87, you take your time sir … and enjoy the day and no problem!”

Couple of things to take from this experience….

  • What a great way to start the day …
  • Many are living longer …
  • Break the silence when you can … I think all parties involved also had a super start to their day!

Punxsutawney Phil Backyard Tree Update

Can you tell we are ready for spring to arrive? HA

Break In: Wow did we have a bad storm come through last night… 90 mph winds in some places … hope all close are ok!

By the way, Spring Break is two weeks out AND the time changes next week… a favorite day!

So how is our Punxsutawney Phil Tree doing? This picture is literally hours hold from the time you received the update…..

Notice the change? Here we go… with two weeks away, the next update should be interesting!

Have a Great Friday and a super weekend, next week is a one day early shortened “Work” week due to kids free day due to weather day make up Friday and the following is a tethered technology Spring Break week…but that is two weeks away.. enjoy your weekend and talk next week!

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

February 2023 – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – Tax Preparation(s) and Reminders – ODTE’S (What?) – Advanced Analysis Series – When Good Economic News is Bad – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our February 2023 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 audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

February 2023 Video –


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

All About Taxes or the Getting Ready for the Processing of Personal 1040’s

Corrected 1099 Reminder

Just last Friday we reminded of the Corrected 1099 time frames …. and NOT to rush your taxes if you have after tax accounts that generate the all encompassing 1099 Misc and Int Tax Forms ….

With originals due on or around the end of February …. aka NOW – hah The good ole Corrected’s are a few weeks out yet… not to worry we will let you know who those lucky ones are that get a Corrected and a headcount that let’s us know if those early planners/filers may be safe to go forward !

IRS Pointer and J.K. Financial, Inc. Important Reminder too

Also, early in the month here, which may seem like and eternity ago (or not) we highlighted an IRS heads up email about prepping for Taxes AND we added our most important thought, which has come into play multiple times already this season…hence the happy repeat and acknowledgment :

” … We would add, just because you did not receive a tax notice, DOES NOT mean the IRS did not and is looking for the appropriate notation on your tax return (Huge amount of time this occurs with cashing Series EE bonds) … a missing item is an easy automated paper letter audit….and as mentioned here absolutely requires a response …”

Capital Market Comments – Advanced Analysis Series Begins

ODTE’S — Zero Dated to Expire Options – Part Two of our Advanced Analysis Series

Here in this Post we talk about a VERY heavy topic …. ODTE (Zero Dated to Expire Options) their unusual quantities, as well as their possible Capital Market manipulation …. not only that, but this post also is Part 2 of our Multiple part series that we intend to do this year… in addition, here is a screencast video during market hours to help explain our point too…

When “Good” News can be Bad – Fast Economic Reminders

In another reminder like post, here we speak of when “Good” News can be seen as bad due to the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) attempt to slow the economy…

The good news is from this report lots of jobs and more than expected…. Bad News… Fed may continue to be aggressive in slowing the economy… aka Higher short term rates…

Two year at the time was 4.41% now 4.81% a LARGE move for such a short term of 2 years!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of March!

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

Price Changes 2020 – 2022 – Consumer Related (CPI – Consumer Price Index) – Visual Capitalist

Over the weekend, with rain and overcast for the better part of 4 days… the wheels were working on the February review as well as the Newsletter….

Another nice chart popped into the email box from our Buddies at Visual Capitalist concerning Consumer Costs ….

While you may have seen some similar charts, the layout of this is terrific, as usual ….

Health and Education have run off to the races over the years….

Have a Great “Cost Increase Review” 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

Income Tax Return/Information Reminders … Capital Market Comments … Spring Update (New fun back yard tracker) … Friday …

Personal Income Tax Reminder

Just a Friday reminder that we have a Green light to START our Tax returns but the first “Corrected” 1099’s have not hit the electronic airways YET ….

Those corrected rascals should show up the first full week of March…

If you only have a 1099 R – (Distributions from Qualified/Pension or the like assets) you are clear to move forward as they are rarely corrected due to their simplicity…

Capital Market Comments

After bludgeoning everyone with heavies early in the month … Economic review and the Zero Dated Options (ODTE’S) … we veered too far in an effort to keep from getting deep in the woods…. and said nothing of late…. ok… couple of quickie updates…

  • Contra (upward bounce) move likely over
  • More hot Economic numbers- Hot = Faster Economy
  • Federal Reserve Minutes saying more cowbell (rate increases) are needed for longer to slow the economy

All these mostly “Hot” (faster economic) data have led to weaker markets, higher interest rates, especially on the short end and expectations of no lowering of rates for a longer period of time…. Ahhh… all caught up now… Watch for more details in the End of the Month video next week….

oh I said it…. February is almost gone!

Today is a Friday heading into the last weekend of February…. March starts Tax stuff in full force, the beginning of the Newsletter and, how about Spring?

Our own back yard Punxsutawney Phil tree

Exactly seven days ago it looked like this…

Today we get this….

Not a lot of change, but more than the picture picks up as we have a sunless day today…hang tight …. soon I bet we have a different view!

Have a Great Friday, weekend – Talk Next Week!

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

Proxy Season is Here … Why We Vote For You and What to Do if You are Receiving Proxy Information

Almost all public financial institutions of all shape and form have what is called a Proxy Vote.

The Proxy is an at least Annual Vote for various items such as approval for management salaries, mergers, company stock repurchases and just an annual approval to continue current services.

Break In – The pending fall merger has led to an increase in Schwab related deliveries mostly via email … see below for our easy corrective measures made by use!

Why We Vote Your Proxy

As a regular practice we vote Proxies for all clients. This accomplishes multiple items:

  • Much Greener – We get one statement for literally 100’s of client votes
  • We actually vote – always for management – if we disagreed we would not own the respective asset
  • We keep a permanent record of the vote
  • By voting for you, your mailbox is not stuffed full this time of the year

We try to receive electronic information as much as possible – this is once again green but much of this information is still delivered the old fashion way by snail mail

What to Do If You are Receiving Proxy Information .. Help is Here!

Occasionally Proxy directives for us to vote … for you, falls off the system …

When this occurs your mailbox will begin getting full…

No worry, just reach out and we can easily refresh your directives back to us and stop the pelting of mail.

Given the large number of collective votes, we do not know if you have fallen off the directives list, so please do not hesitate to ask us for a refresh.

Have a Great “Proxy Vote Update” 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

Presidents Day Weekend … Spring Here Yet? What did Punxsutawney Phil see? … Friday

Today is a Friday, heading into a Presidents day Holiday Weekend… Monday Holiday that is..

We will be out early today, once again keeping the streets safe for innocent fellow pedestrians.

Spring Yet?

According to Punxsutawney Phil who did see his shadow, we have six more weeks of lower than expected temps…

With an almost daily walk with the dogs…. the are some signs in our neck of the woods that Spring is in the Air!

Our own back yard Punxsutawney Phil tree agrees… nothing here YET!

When the blooms come, they happen fast with this one!

And …by the way. AM Temps this morning! No spring YET!

Have a Good Early Spring Friday and a Happy Presidents day weekend! Talk next week!

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

Fun Travel Helper for the Skies …. Best of all it is FREE … Flight Tracker …

No we are not going to review the TSA Throughput data…. although it is very hard not to… but we know we have beaten you over the head with it a few times… ya ya..

We are Nerds, but is is super interesting to us….

Ok, here is the last time we spoke of the latest TSA Throughputs and here is a list of the last….ahhhh …. TEN posts we have completed…told you we have hit you over the head a few… digressing…

Fun Neat Travel App – Flight Tracker

Here is the actual application – this is from Apple store

Here is where it gets neat:

Relative picking you up at the airport?

Late, On Time, Gate Change ?

Monitoring your flight ….Delayed?

Here it is!

Coming from a cold climate? Good to know, dress appropriately !

Tons and tons of other interesting, helpful stuff…. but think you get the point…

Have a Great “Handy Free Travel App” 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

IRS Pointers to filing 2022 Return… A Few Good Reminders !

Well… the headline of the story was more grabbing than the actual content….but heck it worked on us, and grabbed our attention….

Here are the key points from the IRS article:

1. Gather tax paperwork and records for accuracy to avoid missing a deduction or credit.

Some information taxpayers need before they begin includes:

  • Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return,
  • Bank account and routing numbers,
  • Various tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s and other income documents or records of digital asset transactions,
  • Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement,
  • Any IRS letters citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.

We are good with this… a little obvious, but ok… Measure twice cut once and be safe! Onward ….

​​​​​​​2. Remember to report all types of income on the tax return. (We would add, reported or not!)

This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS. Don’t forget to include income from:

  • Goods created and sold on online platforms,
  • Investment income,
  • Part-time or seasonal work,
  • Self-employment or other business activities,
  • Services provided through mobile apps.

We would add, just because you did not receive a tax notice, DOES NOT mean the IRS did not and is looking for the appropriate notation on your tax return (Huge amount of time this occurs with cashing Series EE bonds) … a missing item is an easy automated paper letter audit….and as mentioned here absolutely requires a response

From the afore mentioned post :

Amazingly nearly 2/3 of audits, which are almost all done by paper due to the cost of a field audit are not answered, resulting in a claim on the taxpayer. Bottom line, make sure you show the IRS that you’re answering their questions in a timely fashion and expect a paper computer driven notice.

3. File electronically with direct deposit to avoid delays in receiving a refund.

We are really good with this one, and have been encouraging ES payments electronically for some time now.

Ok… that is about the end of what we like in the article and what applies to everyone that is reading this post….

We find the IRS reasonably fair… sometimes they lead with you are the bad guy trying to cheat…but this is usually diffused with a nice appropriate timely answer….

Have a Great “Basic IRS Tips Review” 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

Sports weekend …. No Axe … Tax Preview … More AI … Friday

This weekend marks the final NFL Football game of the season aka the Super Bowl…..

With no Axe to grind, the commercials will be of interest… likely no Crypto domination like last year… wonder who will take the reins?

Taxes

The IRS sent an interesting note out in the last week… “Key Points to keep in mind when filing your 2022 return!” Not kidding, can’t make this up…. will review and let you know the high points… just to be safe!

AI – Artificial Intelligence

Post Microsoft interest, suddenly the air waves are full of AI talk … we will have more on this shortly, but are surprised at mainstream interest… our fear was for the educators…but looks like everyone is interested!

Have a Great Friday and weekend, next week leads into a Monday Holiday, which always makes the prior week fly… enjoy – Talk next week!

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