Secure Act Passes Into Law – Now What?
Secure Act Passes Into Law Now What? This tax act has many implications we will highlight a few from a high level. We recommend 2020 as a time to review the personal and business plans you currently have in place. The first, and in my opinion, biggest impact is the elimination of the Stretch IRA for anyone except for beneficiaries that are current spouses, disabled, chronically ill, minor children, and individuals not more than 10 years younger than the decedent. This does include Roth IRA’s, so essentially we have a new wealth tax. Required minimum distribution age was raised from 70 ½...
Read MoreGlobal Asset Allocation Views – Q1 2020
Global Asset Allocation Views – Q1 2020 The S&P 500 closed 2019 at a record high and trending in the opposite direction from 2018’s December low. Below I provide the returns of the S&P 500 over the past three years and the largest intra-year declines for context. 2017 – Closed up 19% / intra-year decline -3% 2018 – Closed down -6% / intra-year decline -20% 2019 – Closed up 29% / intra-year decline -7% 2018 and 2019 were also opposites in other areas 2018 2019 Global Manufacturing steady contracting Trade Tensions minimal escalated Monetary Policy tight easy Profit Margins strong...
Read MoreDon’t Rock the Boat!
Don’t rock the boat! Just as a boat sails through the open seas when all four corners of the boat are balanced equally in the water, your overall health allows you to sail through the journey of life when all four pillars are properly balanced. 4 pillars of health: Physical/Mental Work/Activities Family/Friends Finances Suppose I said to you that… Balancing the 4 pillars in the lives of each of your employees allows your company’s boat to sail through the open seas. This keeps individuals fresh, focused, and also creates an overall improvement in their well-being. When employees are feeling...
Read More401k Plans
401k Plans 8, 18, 107, 56, 51 “From 8 lawsuits filed against employers in 2006, the numbers surged to 18 in 2007 and 107 in 2008, before declining for the next five years, according to the Boston College report authored by George Mellman and Geoffrey Sanzenbacher… …But since bottoming at just 2 lawsuits in 2013, litigation against retirement plans has risen again, with 56 suits in 2016 and 51 in 2017, the two most recent years tracked.” You See… The Department of Labor keeps an eye focused on retirement plans with the same intensity as a parent observing their child during swim lessons....
Read MoreThe Future of Fiduciary Standards
The Future of Fiduciary Standards Fiduciary standards are alive and well, although they are in a state of transition and confusion. Do we look to the DOL (Department of Labor), SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), or Individual State Regulators. Let’s first take a look at the DOL. The Fiduciary rule which was introduced in April 2016 elevated financial professionals who work with retirement plans to act as a Fiduciary. Which is a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or persons to manage assets. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the [1]...
Read MoreGlobal Asset Allocation Views – Q4 2019
Global Asset Allocation Views – Q4 2019 Markets – The S&P 500 eked out a 1.19% gain for the quarter. Europe, Emerging Markets, and Small Caps ended the quarter lower, unable to continue the momentum from the first half of the year. Defensive sectors continue to lead the way as Real Estate, Utilities, and Consumer Staples continue to trade at elevated levels. Interest Rates – The 10-year closed at 1.675%, levels not seen since mid-2017. The fed cut rates another 25 bps at their September meeting. US treasuries continue to look attractive as a safe haven, and one of the only positive...
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