Blog

You may have read in the news about the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act that went into effect on January 1, 2020 and wondered if it will affect your retirement accounts.

Did you spend more over the recent holidays than you expected? If so, you’re far from alone. According to CBS News, Americans spent more than $34 billion on last-minute shopping alone during the 2019 holiday season¹—that’s $2.5 billion more than on Black Friday—and means the average American added about $1,000 to their credit card debt.²

As we look back on the year, THANK YOU for making 2019 a successful year for Balanced Financial Concepts. Every year we strive to earn your trust in new and different ways by adapting to the ever-changing world and being proactive for you, our clients. 

Did you know there’s a National Toy Hall of Fame?  And since 1998, it’s been inducting our most cherished playthings into the history books (https://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/year).

30 is a divisive number. To the young, it’s the time when you’re thrust into full blown adulthood, whether you’re ready or not. To the young at heart, 30 may be considered the early years before your true confidence shines, in your career, in your relationships, or even in yourself.

How to Avoid Retirement Woes

According to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the top concern of retirees is running out of money. While it’s a known fact that many of us don’t begin to save for retirement when we should, it appears that nearly half of all current retirees are concerned about outliving their retirement funds.

October is here, bringing with it changing leaves, shorter days and stronger winds. Last week, like a dog that’s been pushed just a little too far, we saw that the stock market’s bite can sometimes be worse than its bark.

Friends,

Thanks again for those of you who took the time out of your schedule to participate in our Savvy Cybersecurity program, either in person or online. We hope that you found the workshop informative and helpful. As was shared at the conclusion of our workshop, there are two “homework assignments” that we’d strongly encourage you complete.

With the recent passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it can be hard to remember which of the following federal income tax rates, personal exemptions, gift tax exclusions, long-term capital gains, and qualified dividend rates were affected or changed and which were not addressed in the new tax bill.

It is once again the time of year to begin preparing for tax filings. Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, provides tax reporting on our behalf (see more about Pershing following the chart). The mailing date of your Form 1099 depends on the types of holdings in your account.

The following schedule will apply, although dates are subject to change: