Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 1 2020 Newsletter. For those on the road or just unable to grab the time to read, our podcast type review gives you the behind the scenes insight to our thoughts, observations and deep views of the entire Newsletter.
Click Here for direct link to an electronic version (an early peek-good ole fashion paper versions are on their way to you shortly) and here for our Newsletter page
This, our lead financial planning article for the newsletter-  With the subject of inheritance and the taxability of it occurring multiple times in the most recent quarter, the idea for this article spawned.
After completing the initial article, a continuation article idea also occurred which made the second part of the inheritance subject matter about being separate property.
We hope you enjoyed both articles and this was our lead financial planning articles.
All about the Car
In another fun personal financial planning two – part article, long desired, but fearful of writing …this article discusses the car, should you buy or lease and how to do so. Again, a second article occurred at a chance meeting in an airplane with a former law officer watching me finish the first article on the airplane!
In doing the research for these articles we ran across a really cool car research site, and mentioned some great buying resources as well.
Recession Thwarted – Capital Market Thoughts
To ignore new evidence in our minds is silly even if it goes against the grain of what you may have been saying!
In this article we review a CFA speaker’s slide about lowering rates during a recession and his conclusion. Bottom line, we’ve not been a big fan of lowering rates during economic growth, but an inverted yield curve which is highly predictive of a coming recession, along with lowering of rates, according to the speaker and the enclosed chart leads to a thwarting of the recession.
We hope we are wrong on this one and the speaker is correct!

Reach back to last year’s taxes in savings you can do now
In this article we discuss the remaining tax savings ideas that we can do this year, that will help last year’s taxes-
The SEP – Simplified Employee Pension
HSA – for the Health Savings Account
IRA – An oldie but a Goodie if it’s available to you
Roth – While not a tax saver you can do it now for last year’s taxes
Itemized itemize itemize – With today’s high standard deductions you may not be able to itemize but we remind that it’s a good idea to stay in shape as it’s likely these itemize deductions may come back in the future
SECURE Act is Signed at the Finish Line of the Year
As mentioned here in our preview post, with a stroke of a pen on the Saturday before the Christmas week, the SECURE ACT (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) – Wow that is a mouthful!
The Biggies:
Age 72 RMD, up from the confusing 70.5
Non-Spouse 10 Year Mandatory distributions of Inherited IRA – Mandating taxes by beneficiary
Tons of planning techniques and lots more to the law, but these again are the biggies!
Capital Market Comments –
FED Pauses and Markets Yawn… Finally
The FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) led by Jerome Powell and company, FINALLY were able to not lower rates and market participants accepted it… Shhh, lets keep it our secret..haha
Happy 2020!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of January!
Email is the New Physical Address – Harder to Change
With email replacing our home address in importance, its not a surprise and only a mild inconvenience (due to the safety) to have to get a signed form in order to change our address.
In our descriptive post on the subject, we also predict eventually we will all likely be forced to transact most of our business in a paperless way…. Uncomfortable for many, but much better for our environment in the long term!
Why an Inheritance is Usually NOT Taxable
After running into this question numerous times we did a post here, and will also have an expanded article coming in our Q1 2020 Newsletter.
For the most part, inheritances are not taxable and in our post we go over the reasons why, and discuss techniques for being most tax efficient.
Just after this post a good follow on subject directly related to this post occurred that will go well in our “Why” Series Collection – Watch for another Inheritance Related Post and likely Newsletter Article !
Capital Market Comments –
When FED lowers, Recession Averted? Hmmmm
Near the end of the Quarter, as mentioned in our Fire Hydrant CEO post here, we ran into a most interesting chart (below)….
A first ever to see, the speaker points out that recessions are averted when the FED (Federal Open Market Committee – Jerome Powell the leader currently) lowers rates during an inverted yield curve… hmmmm
Not to worry, doing more research on this … oddly the speaker did not think much of Powell’s economic prowess, but spoke firmly that due to his LACK of horsepower on the Economy he may have a better chance of soft landing this slowdown…
Always learning!!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of December!
Hello and Welcome to our October 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 audio format as well as Video!
BREAK IN
D Magazines Best Wealth Managers
D Magazine Best Financial Planner – 13th Consecutive – Wow
Sirius Satellite Radio Co-Host
Newbies –
We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets and current events!
October – 2019 Video
Financial Planning Tip (s) –
Why we want ANY seeming Important Document
In this post, due to recent fantastic $$ savings just by having access to very old documents… some almost two decades, we were reminded of how important it is for us to safely keep ANY seeming important document…. forever
Only thing is, if we do not have a soft copy… we cannot save it!
Capital Market Comments –
FED Lowers Once Again, another .25% – Likely Pause Expected
Jerome Powell Chief of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) lowered rates by .25% to the 1.50% to 1.75% range, which will directly effect our overnight money, such as checking accounts and money markets… We think in part, to answer expectations… the good news is they have set future pause expectations… which we like!
Longer term rates have followed a bit, for now.
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of November!
Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 4 2019 Newsletter. For those on the road or just unable to grab the time to read, our podcast type review gives you the behind the scenes insight to our thoughts, observations and deep views of the entire Newsletter.
Click Here for direct link to an electronic version (an early peek-good ole fashion paper versions are on their way to you shortly) and here for our Newsletter page
With Mortgage rates moving lower, we discuss the major items to think of when refinancing your Mortgage.
Our most clever point is we like to have an 18 month payback for the costs when refinancing… this serves as a good barometer on when to refinance, irrespective of the size of your Mortgage.
Tariff Talk
It’s been going on for a long time
Trade Wars AKA Tariff talks have been around for a long time. This is not our first rodeo… notice how trade has been more efficient over time!
End of Year Tax Reminders
While there are a lot of reach back tax items i.e. Things we can do next year for this years taxes… there are many that have a firm year end deadline-
RMD – Required Minimum Distributions
Company Related Retirement plans i.e. 401k
Charitable Donations
529 and other education programs
We hope you enjoy … talk to you in ….. 2020 WOOOW !!!
RMD Season is here – Is your DOB between 7-1-48 to 6-30-49 ?
In this post, we reminded all of those with the unique option of deferring that first RMD an extra year on the perils of the double income from that deferral decision…..
Defer at your own risk and make sure you will not jump a tax bracket by doing so!
Mortgage Rate Update – Time to Refinance?
Mortgage rates (the drop there of – in rates) caught our attention and in this post, we reminded of eleven (just counted them – was surprised so many) items to think of when/if you should refinance – its a big decision and there are many variables, if you didn’t catch the post and have been in your loan for a few years, be sure to take a look … another reminder will also make its way to you in the Q 4 2019 Newsletter –
Capital Market Comments –
Inverted Yield Curve Update
In this post, early in the month we reviewed the definitely inverted yield curve…. and spoke to this being one of the slowest recoveries on record…. just after our post, the yield curve did normalize on positive trade talks…. Look for more details in the coming Q 4 2019 Newsletter-
FED Lowers Again, but only by .25%
Jerome Powell Chief of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) lowered rates by .25% to the 1.75 to 2.00% range, which will directly effect our overnight money, such as checking accounts and money markets…
Their fear is the prior mentioned Tariff saber rattling causing an extended slowdown….
We prefer they save that gunpowder for a real fire, but just pouring a small bit of gasoline on the coals is ok for now!
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of October!
Click each link for the actual post…. each post has a couple of minute discussion from Social Security Expert Tom Clark — THESE ARE IMPORTANT AND COMPLICATED- so take your time!
Call Spam Protection Update
In this second follow up post due to demand, comments and questions we further discuss options for additional protection, depending on the major service provider….
Capital Market Comments –
Tariff Talk Jitters
Depending on the day and the headline, Capital Market Participants in true bipolar fashion seem to either cheer with reckless abandonment and buy buy buy or head for the exits and sell sell sell….
Just by chance it was nice to run across a wonderful historical chart, here in this post, showing this Tariff talk is far from the first time…. maybe for some of us, but in reality we have been dealing with this for decades….(Century)
Have a Great Day – Talk to you at the end of September!
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.
Q 1 2020 Extended (12 Page) Newsletter Video Audio Podcast Review By John Kvale
Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 1 2020 Newsletter. For those on the road or just unable to grab the time to read, our podcast type review gives you the behind the scenes insight to our thoughts, observations and deep views of the entire Newsletter.
Click Here for direct link to an electronic version (an early peek-good ole fashion paper versions are on their way to you shortly) and here for our Newsletter page
Let’s get going!
All New Pictures, Intro and Exit Music !
Q 1 2020 Newsletter
Click for PDF/Printable Version
Is Inheritance Taxable ?
This, our lead financial planning article for the newsletter-  With the subject of inheritance and the taxability of it occurring multiple times in the most recent quarter, the idea for this article spawned.
After completing the initial article, a continuation article idea also occurred which made the second part of the inheritance subject matter about being separate property.
We hope you enjoyed both articles and this was our lead financial planning articles.
All about the Car
In another fun personal financial planning two – part article, long desired, but fearful of writing …this article discusses the car, should you buy or lease and how to do so. Again, a second article occurred at a chance meeting in an airplane with a former law officer watching me finish the first article on the airplane!
In doing the research for these articles we ran across a really cool car research site, and mentioned some great buying resources as well.
Recession Thwarted – Capital Market Thoughts
To ignore new evidence in our minds is silly even if it goes against the grain of what you may have been saying!
In this article we review a CFA speaker’s slide about lowering rates during a recession and his conclusion. Bottom line, we’ve not been a big fan of lowering rates during economic growth, but an inverted yield curve which is highly predictive of a coming recession, along with lowering of rates, according to the speaker and the enclosed chart leads to a thwarting of the recession.
We hope we are wrong on this one and the speaker is correct!

Reach back to last year’s taxes in savings you can do now
In this article we discuss the remaining tax savings ideas that we can do this year, that will help last year’s taxes-
We hope you enjoy … talk to you in the Spring !!!
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 Audio, FOMC, General Financial Planning, Interest Rates, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Newsletters, Podcast, Political, Tax Related, Video
Tagged car, D Magazine, Inheritance, Inheritance Planning, Interest Rates, Kent Smetters, Reach Back Tax, Sirius Satellite, tax