Category Archives: Vault

Q1 2021 J.K. Financial, Inc. Newsletter … Video Audio Podcast Review – Reminders, Updates, New Tax Rates, By John Kvale

Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q1 2021 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.

In this start to a new year, we update the pictures on the Video and also the entry and exit music. Our editor actually greatly adjusted the colors and fonts of the Newsletter this year, which we really liked as well.

Click the Download button below, for a 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 Newsletter is chocked full of reminders from events and experiences we had with you in the field last year the would be helpful looking forward into 2021!

J.K. Financial q 1 2021 newsletter

Let’s get going! We hope you enjoy!

Q 1 2021 Newsletter

(YouTube)

The Homestead Reminder

With a very large number of moves in 2020 …. much greater than we can ever recall, in this Article we remind of the Homestead.

In the year 2020 we have had more change of residences than we can ever recall over the past three decades. As a reminder, and using Texas as a template, if you live in your home on January 1 you can do what is called a homestead tax exemption. Once again through the lens of Texas, this is a particularly good tax savings exemption that everyone should do if you live in Texas. 

Q 1 2021 J.K. Financial, Inc. Newsletter Lead Financial Planning Article

And just a bit more description from the same Article …

From TexasLawhelp.org – a fantastic non-profit resource we use frequently – again only for Texas residences, those living in other states may want to check for a similar organization. 

What property qualifies as a “homestead?” 

A “homestead” is a house or other residential structure that you own, together with up to 20 acres where the structure sits if the land is used for residential purposes. A manufactured home on a rented lot qualifies as long as you own the home. Manufactured homes must meet additional requirements for a “Statement of Ownership and Location,” but if you did not receive the paperwork from the prior owner and cannot locate the seller after making a good faith effort, you can submit the affidavit in Form 114-A. 

Estate Planning Tops Our Minds

It was literally a race for the greatest increase over normal years, for folks moving to a new residence (per above) or reviewing and updating their Estate Plans.

Has Anything Changed Since My Documents Were Written? 

Just because five, seven or even ten years have transpired does not mean that you automatically need to update your documents.  If everything looks right, and things have not changed then those documents are likely just fine. 

On the other side of the equation if things have changed in the past twelve months (or even less) that would make your documents incorrect, you likely need to do an update so your directives are appropriate. 

Q 1 2021 J.K. Financial, Inc. Newsletter Second Lead Financial Planning Article

If we are not in possession of a copy, please send to us or upload to your Vault as we keep things safe and most importantly FOREVER!

Q 4 2020 ES Reminder – The Safe Harbor

Mid-month, January 15, 2022 to be exact is the final due date for Quarterly Tax Payments ( Q 4 2020 ES Tax Payments.) With a pushed out ordinary filing date due, it seems like to many we just filed last year’s taxes (2019), and here we are already rushed to complete 2020. Hence the reminder. 

Here is what is looks like

Table

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Here is the link to Publication 505 for 2020 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p505.pdf) which gives you full instructions on how to file. Here is the link to Form 1040 ES Publication for 2020 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf) which contains the final voucher. 

The Safe Harbor

Lastly, if you are in a situation where you tax bill may be dramatically different from the prior year, in this case 2019, consider trueing up your 2020 taxes to at least 110% of year 2019 total Federal tax withholding.  To help avert any penalties or interest.

Retirement Contribution Levels and Medicare IRMA Amounts

While we have posted these levels earlier here, and we know the formatting was a bit wonky, we wanted to review them again directly from the Newsletter.

Here are last years most common levels along with whats up for 2021 – mostly unchanged

IRMA – Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Medicare Part B Surcharge 

 If your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain amount, you may pay an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Medicare uses the modified adjusted gross income reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago. This is the most recent tax return information provided to Social Security by the IRS. “ 

Here are the 2021 limits and adjustments: 

We hope you enjoy … talk to you Next Quarter – Happy 2021 !!!

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

New Pre-View Feature of Documents In New Total Vault – Cool Update

In true form of … if we are not moving forward, we are moving backwards … as standing still is still losing ground…. (Thanks for those that commented on the New Light in our intro to our November Video summary – advancing our productions, hopefully!) … the Vault has a handy new feature!

New Total Vault Feature

A cool new, and super handy feature was just added to our New Total Vault!

The first page of Documents saved in your Vault can be previewed without downloading the complete document to your device.

You may scroll to the next document by hitting the right/left arrow – again only the first page, but many times that is all that is needed.

Just checked it on the cell (see screen shot below)  it works almost identically to a laptop or tablet, but smaller of course…. I found the cell preview feature extremely helpful for viewing copies of Credit Cards/Health Insurance/Identification as it is faster and easier than downloading and only the front side is needed!

img_5577

 

I had no document types that were not supported, but certainly some may find that something is not supported, if so, you will need to download, just as before.

Oh… and for those wondering about the new merger, our Total Vault will seamlessly make the transition, just as it links to our bank, mortgage and other outside accounts!

PS – Did you notice my vault document? Literally as soon as possible a copy of auto repairs/maintenance are uploaded, keeping that glove box skinny!  ya ya Nerd…

Have  a Great “New Total Vault 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

Q 4 2019 Newsletter Video Audio Podcast Review By John Kvale

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

Let’s get going!

Q 4 2019 Newsletter

Click for PDF/printable version of Newsletter

 

And here is your review!

Is it Time to Refinance?

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.

 

30 Year US Avg Mortgage Rate

 

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!

 

us-trade-wars-history Cropped

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 !!!

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

Q 3 2019 Newsletter Video Audio Podcast Review By John Kvale

Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 3 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

Let’s get going!

Q 3 2019 Newsletter

Click for PDF/printable version of Newsletter

And here is your review!

Why We Write!

Here we are again:20190630_133340742_iOS

We had planned on leaving this out due to repeated appearances here in our blog and in the Newsletter – but in true “Break In” like format, as this post is completed and the video – hopefully the local wifi is strong enough for uploading … the time is spent in Austin Texas at this moment in another rain delay- the same exact place the original article was written!

Tax Talk/Review

Change Likely the New Normal

After two decades of only minor changes in the Tax Law… it was overhauled and many changes were made that were reflected in our 2018 tax returns.

This neat chart is a nice reminder of the current brackets and can be helpful in income distribution tax bracket management.
Tax Bracket Graph

Inverted Yield Curve Update

This chart featured in our Newsletter is a slightly different term comparison of the 2 year (we like the 90 day) versus the 10 year, but a wonderful historical view of inversions and recessions. We have fully inverted for over a month now and if we use this historic guide as our yardstick a recession would be in the cards mid year 2020!

JPMorgan Inverted Yield Curve History

Social Security Update3-20-19 - Invitatation to SS Info Event with Tom Clark_Page_2

We have begun a detailed review of the late spring event and it is going great. Weekly we dissect a section of Social Security Expert, Tom Clark’s presentation and give handy links to greater details and explain in bullet fashion the main points. Here is a link to the Audio on a special page here at our blog and you can also click here for a link that will pull up each complete post!

There are tons of nuances regarding Social Security, Disability, Death Benefit and Medicare decisions…we look forward to discussing many more with you as the summer weeks occur!

We hope you enjoy … talk to you near the end of Summer!

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

Password Safe Keeping Idea, Confidential Portion of Your Personal Vault

Digital Assets, AKA your Passwords have become a challenging item for many. We find that in most cases, one party is controller of them and those single folks may not have an easy back-up.

Did you know your Personal Vault has a confidential folder area?

1 Minute Video –

Confidential File Area of Your Personal Vault

We know many of you may have a notebook with a special area that has all of your Passwords –

Our favorite –

An Excel file, NOT named “Passwords” – that has a very strong Excel password to open the file. You can even have the respective websites linked in the Excel file so when you go to your password file, you just click on the link for the website and boom your browser opens to that page ….

Share that Excel file password carefully, update the file whenever you have to do the eventual mandated password update for your selective sites!

Upload that file to your Confidential Area of your Vault, and you are set.

Have a Great “Safe Password” 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

Q 2 2019 Newsletter Video Audio Podcast Review By John Kvale

Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 2 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

Let’s get going!

 Q 2 2019 Newsletter

And here is your review!

Capital Market Talk

Recession and the Inverted Yield Curve

Ask any long distant runner what happens when they start out too fast and they will tell you it is not good new – The saying goes for every minute you go out too fast, you come back two minutes slower than normal…

In our main capital market article we discuss the reasons why we may have a recession by definition, but why it may not be a big deal (hopefully).

The Inverted Yield Curve (Short term interest rates higher than long term rates) and infrequent event, did occur for five days – so far – just after our Newsletter went to the publisher. The Inversion has been a good signal of recession, EVENTUALLY – some times as long as two years in advance.

They Don’t Want Your old 401k

A recent Cerulli study finds that once you leave the company, most really do not want your funds anymore. We have long suspected this.

  1. Frequently a short wait time turns into a long wait time with a different and much more general help line.
  2. Forms may be much more difficult to acquire.
  3. Paper work received, saying take it or we will distribute it and you will have taxes and penalties.
  4. Rolling over into an account that is TERRIBLY hard to get out and has hurdles to jump through, high monthly service charges as well as limited investments, if any.
  5. A general feel of everything is hard to do, once again explaining the Cerulli study results.

Are a few items we have run into over the years!

Iron Clad Trustee

General order of Trustee or other important people to execute your wishes when you are incapacitated or deceased, generally go like this:

  • Spouse
  • Sibling
  • CLOSE friend
  • Similar Aged Relative
  • Grown Children

As we can all imagine, this list can easily be very short and insufficient.

In our deep dive of the Institutional Trustee Services, we discuss the handiness of having such a great service as well as the ability to offer these services ourselves.

Choose Your Beneficiaries Carefully

In this article that fit nicely with our Trustee article we mention different types of Beneficiaries and most importantly. Make sure you confirm that your beneficiaries are correct as this will over ride you other documents, including a Will or Trust.

We hope you enjoy … talk to you in the Summer!

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

Q 1 2019 Newsletter Video Audio Podcast Review By John Kvale

Welcome to our Video and Audio Podcast Review of our Q 4 2018 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!

 Q 1 2019 Newsletter 

And here is your review!

Capital Market Talk

The Grinch Came to Christmas

Just a few days into the final Quarter of 2018, market participants became grumpy and continued their coal ways all the way through the end of the year – a seasonally strong historic period of time.

In our main capital market article we discuss the reasons why – no one knows for certain, and discuss the speed of the decline along with what the future may hold..

Updated Personal Theft Story

After having three credit cards stolen which we spoke of here, an interview with a detective brought to light some amazing stories of theft

  1. Never give gift cards as a payment –
  2. Don’t fall for fake blackmail –
  3. Have a safe word for fake kidnappers or other similar scams

Meet Jennifer Hill “Jen” Our New Operations Manager

In a more in-depth article that expands on her background, Jennifer “Jen” Hill has our formal introduction along with several fun pictures including a Charlie’s Angels and a D Magazine Wealth Managers Picture from our honored award of D Magazine’s Best Wealth Managers.

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

Estate Planning – Total Document Summary – Part 1

This is another redo of an article/post of several years back. We reference this so much we thought it a good idea to present it again, especially to those who may not have seen it originally – As a reminder, we like all of your Estate Planning Documents to have a virtual home in your Vault for easy, safe continued access! Ok – Let’s get going – again!

The term “Estate Planning” gets thrown around frequently, sometimes by us. Recently we tossed the term out and upon finding we did not have an article with a total summary of “Estate Planning Docs” an article was born.

Break in – If you have not reviewed your documents in five + years, now is a good time… let us know, as we should have a soft copy of file … if not…send us one please!

Estate Planning Docs

Will – Document that directs non-beneficiary directed assets (Ex ..house, property, cash and regular investment assets) and may create trusts for minors, names a Custodian, Executor and may also create trusts and Trustees for estate tax minimization and other uses (see final statement in article below on Trusts.)

Power of Attorney– Financial document that appoints someone other than you to make most financial decisions in your absence. Generally this document immediately becomes effective upon authorization, as opposed to upon disability.

Healthcare Power of Attorney – Document that appoints someone to make important healthcare decisions if you are unable. Think un-conscience and need to approve some type of procedure.

HIPPA – Allows your appointed person to receive medical information on your behalf. This is the ant-privacy document to counter unintended consequences of many of the recently enacted privacy laws.

Living Will- Cease and Decease – DNR – These titles are one in the same and are frequently confusing. This document allows medical professionals to NOT mandate all possible care, should you become deceased mentally, but not in body function. DNR stands for do not resuscitate, and is probably the most explanative title.

We will dig more into Trusts in a specialized post (Part 2)  just dealing specifically with that area of Estate Planning!

Now you have a great all-in-one spot for just what the heck all those “Estate Planning” docs are… and us too !

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

JK Street Cents Logo

1 Minute Video Feedback – Thanks – Home Sweet Home – Friday

Thanks to all of you who reached out about our one minute video series. We appreciate you taking the time and any and ALL questions are great. Here is the link to all eight videos on our home web page – we hope you continue to enjoy and look forward to adding more in the future!

We expect more major improvements coming in the Fall. As they occur, we will happily let you know.

Home Sweet Homehome-sweet-home -home-1247153__340

The ten year old has a sudden interest in music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s – much to the delight of his parents!

In true Home Sweet Home like fashion, this weekend we make the journey back from the cool elevations to Sweet Dallas as the school year starts next week for the tennis player and following for the 5th grader!

Ahhhh….but today is a Friday – enjoy your day and your weekend!

Talk to you next week as we try  to keep the school goers eyes dry!

Have a Great Friday and Weekend!

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