The general rules of Social Security are to wait until as long as you can. In our post here, and the chart below, may give pause to that thinking.
Many situations are different, deeming great thought and analysis needed before commencing OR delaying your Social Security Benefits.
Favorite Pension Benefit Option
Joint Survivor – As mentioned above in our Social Security review, situations vary. While our favorite options for Pensions is the 100% joint survivor –
Less Changes in the future
Straight forward
Simple
As mentioned in greater detail, in our post here, consider all options before making your final decision as this one is irrevocable !
Capital Market Comments
Turns Out, Over the Long Term Earnings do Drive Markets
With earnings booming and Capital Markets treading water, this chart caught our eye and in this post we discussed in greater detail current earnings AND the fact that over the longer term (see chart below) markets do EVENTUALLY react to earnings.
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of August!
Ok, so there is nothing edgy or slanted, but there is a tone of great information on it… take a look as see for yourself!
Here is our most popular Video EVER, for obvious reasons (its a few years old and wrong season, but we can always use a laugh) …
Speaking of Videos ….
Vault and Financial Planning Video’s Coming Soon
Our Vault has undergone some updates – NICE – and we want to update a few of our current “How to Vault” videos (Six 1 minute Fun Video’s found here or on our Youtube Channel) as well as add to the details of several of our most popular posts.
The Vault Videos will stay at 1 … yes ONE minute – long time listeners and readers know that is really hard for me, but with such good feedback, we will keep it right there – if possible – haha!
Several of the more complicated items, such as Estate Planning Checklist and the Inverted Yield Curve series will make the cut as well.
Hope you enjoy in advance!
So it is a Friday … and that means you are headed into a Summer Weekend – Please enjoy and stay hydrated, which is what we will try to do with the 13 year old, as she play a tournament in a farther Southern Texas City, but it will still be HOT!
Don’t forget to spend time with those who are important in your life… it goes fast!
BREAK IN : Summer Project Update – Finding Your Lost Money
Wow, we have had fun with this — our biggest find so far is a little over $5k AND COUNTING – keep your eyes on your email for a summer present if we are fortunate enough to find lost funds in your name – also send us your relatives who may have fallen out of connection with … well their hard earned money!
Financial Planning Tip (s) –
To Itemize we must CLUMP
In our clumping post here, we discuss the need to clump – look no farther than the following hand written graph for the reasons- Standard deductions and limited itemizations make it hard to do every year!
Handy Travel App
This is one of the few apps that has paid for itself many times over in less than a year. Not to mention the convenience or quick, email forwarding logging of the trip. That is just the tip of the iceberg as mentioned in our article here.
Updated Tax Rates Compared to 2017 – Personal
This nice chart from the Tax Foundation shows pretty much across the board – see more details here and our coming Newsletter
Expect much more on this throughout the coming months as we dig DEEP into the actual rates and the planning techniques necessary to optimize our tax liability …. One Important five letter word…. CLUMP – more later on this in our Newsletter
Capital Market Comments
Stunning 50% Drop in Public Companies
Over the past several decades, there has been a greater than 50% – yes, 50% drop in publicly traded companies in the USA – same demand, less supply may make for higher prices moving forward- or at least the sustainability of higher than historical prices- read more here and our Newsletter!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of July!
Social Security Website and Items to check while you are perusing
In our Social Security related post here, we discuss the tons of new options for use as well as the fantastic updates the Social Security Administration has done with their website.
The most important item to check if you are not already drawing Social Security is your credits… which can be done on this site… recall there is a possible time sunset of loosing your benefits if you do not have the Social Security Office notified, leading to a possible lower benefit.
New Tax Table and Rates – Personal
Here are the new tax tables… if they look complicated, well it is because they ARE !
Expect much more on this throughout the coming months as we dig DEEP into the actual rates and the planning techniques necessary to optimize our tax liability …. One Important five letter word…. CLUMP – more later on this!
Bottom line, at its most basic level the yield curve should go upward and outward just as our home made chart below (the starting point for our discussion.)
When it does completely the opposite or inverts, as seen below… a recession is just around the corner for as long as the eye can see!
Expect a complete detailed video over the summer on this phenomenon … along with another review in the coming Newsletter… It can be boring info, not to worry … we will liven it up!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of June!
With Tax season finally over, here we mentioned how it seemed to never end…but we digress…
It appears the Cyber Thieves are back at it again, and have a new technique involving Social Security. Here in our Social Cyber Post, we discuss just how they are doing this.
Bottom line, if you see something suspicious, be sure to notify the appropriate agency.
Capital Market Comments
Early Discussions of the Interest Rate Yield Curve – Rates
This is going to be fun …. In the first of a multi-part series here, we discuss the basics of the yield curve.
Bottom line, at its most basic level the yield curve should go upward and outward just as our home made chart below (the starting point for our discussion.)
Final of FIVE Tax Savings Ideas you can do NOW for LAST Year’s (2017) Taxes
We completed the five part series … Three were let out of the box last month …. Let’s quickly review them and then the two final parts from this month!
HSA or Health Savings Account
Our post here, speaks of the terrific opportunity to set aside Pre-Tax dollars to use now or later for medical expenses.
SEP – Simplified Employee Pension
As mentioned in our Post Here, there are very high limits of contribution, and the SEP can be done during mandated RMD’s, as well as in tangent with a 401k program, as long as the upper limits collectively of contribution are not violated.
Pre-Tax Deductible IRA
As the one of the original retirement vehicles and so vintage many forget (We Don’t!) we want to remind here in our post about the IRA – Individual Retirement Account.
Tax Savings reach back reminders from THIS month/March
Maximizing the Sales Tax Deduction
Here in our post this month, we remind everyone to be sure and maximize your Sales Tax Deduction.
From the post …
Here are a few items that may make your standard sales tax deduction drastically inaccurate and woefully low- thereby costing you tax dollars:
Bought a large Asset – Think Car or other similar item
Had more then normal personal taxed expenses – for whatever reason
Large Taxable Asset of any kind purchased
Major expense where you paid sales tax – Think Wedding, Large Party
Be sure to maximize this deduction as it looks like the new tax rules will greatly mitigate it’s use moving forward.
Medical Expense Deduction
We all some type of medical expenses each year. What is a challenge if determining what is and is not deductible.
The IRS does a terrific job with their Publication 502 of reminding and outlining what may be a deduction. In our post here, we remind of a few favorites that we find are frequently missed …
Capital Expenses for home improvements
Transportation Cost
Television
Telephone
Are possible (check to make sure) deductions we find interesting and easily forgotten.
Capital Market Comments
Finding our Footing After Getting Ahead of Ourselves
Another month and our thoughts are the exact same…so much we did not even have to change the title of this part of the review from last month… the chart is updated … looks about the same…
We think patience is needed as this will take time to digest and again find our footing.
Patience will be needed!
Here is where we are now —
For those wondering …. for now, it looks like the 200 Day Moving Average (line below our trend line) is the lower level of support … It may break, which is fine, but for now, looks like someone wants it to hold.
We will keep watch and keep you updated!
Have a Great Day! Talk to you at the end of April!
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, please consult your financial advisor prior to investing!
Background
The is the vocal portion of J.K. Financial, Inc. a Dallas Texas Based Fee Only Total Wealth Financial Planning Firm. Founded by John Kvale, a Dallas Texas Fee only Financial Planner and Total Wealth Manager.
July 2018 Podcast Video, Financial Planning and Capital Market Update – By John Kvale
Hello and Welcome to our July 2018 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.
July 2018 Video
Financial Planning Tip (s) –
Social Security – Taking Early
The general rules of Social Security are to wait until as long as you can. In our post here, and the chart below, may give pause to that thinking.
Many situations are different, deeming great thought and analysis needed before commencing OR delaying your Social Security Benefits.
Favorite Pension Benefit Option
Joint Survivor – As mentioned above in our Social Security review, situations vary. While our favorite options for Pensions is the 100% joint survivor –
As mentioned in greater detail, in our post here, consider all options before making your final decision as this one is irrevocable !
Capital Market Comments
Turns Out, Over the Long Term Earnings do Drive Markets
With earnings booming and Capital Markets treading water, this chart caught our eye and in this post we discussed in greater detail current earnings AND the fact that over the longer term (see chart below) markets do EVENTUALLY react to earnings.
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of August!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
www.jkfinancialinc.com
www.street-cents.com
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Posted in General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Monthly Review, Podcast, Retirement Planning, Social Security, Video
Tagged Found Money, Public Stocks, Summer Project, Tax Rates, Tax Table, Tripit