Simple Habits, Wise InvestorsYou’re investing for your ideal retirement and a lifestyle that will allow you to live life to the fullest while achieving your philanthropic and personal goals. It sounds wonderful, but what can you do to be sure you’ll get where you want to go? Certainly, no one can control the future, but there are certain habits that effective investors share, and no matter what twists and turns the markets take, they recognize what they can actually control and act on those possibilities, giving themselves the best chance of success. Controlling Factors Contribution ceilings on the various kinds of retirement accounts vary, but you can make sure you stay abreast of them and annually contribute the maximum. That may seem like a no-brainer, but some recent studies have found that large numbers of retirement savers are under contributing because they haven’t stayed up to date on contribution limits. Successful investors contribute up to this year’s limits, not last year’s. Another habit of savvy investors is simply keeping their investment knowledge current and at a relatively high level. That applies to retirement investing as well as your other investments. Being aware of what’s going on in the financial world doesn’t necessarily mean panting along with the market as it runs up and down the chart week in and week out, but it does mean maintaining a level of knowledge that allows you to make intelligent choices. Your Portfolio Beyond that, check that the assets in your portfolio are wisely diversified among, say, index, actively managed mutual funds and perhaps separately managed accounts. Of course, diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Emotional Control Successful investors inevitably display the kind of emotional control that allows them to take a long-term view of the market and avoid reacting irrationally if volatility throws the direction of their portfolios off course for a time. It may be easier when you’re younger to take big market risks and be unconcerned as prices race up and down daily, but it takes more control if you are in or nearing retirement. In addition to the factors mentioned earlier, investors who successfully achieve financial freedom invariably display a commitment to make it all work – a commitment to devote the time and energy necessary to achieve their goals. If you have questions about your portfolio or any market or retirement matter, please don’t hesitate to call me. Material prepared by Raymond James for use by its financial advisors. Choosing the Right 401(k) PlanUntil recently, most employees didn’t have a choice in 401(k) plans. They were all equivalent to traditional IRA plans – you invest pretax money, which your employer deducts before you see your paycheck. Your investment grows tax-free, but when you withdraw funds in retirement under the required minimum withdrawal schedule set by the IRS, applicable once you reach 70½ , you pay taxes as you would on regular income. The Roth version of the 401(k) has been authorized since January 1, 2006, but few employers offered it at first. That’s changing. The Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, but your investment grows tax-free. Unlike the traditional IRA, however, you are not required to take distributions from your Roth. If you do, they are tax-free (in most cases, if you are at least 59½ and have held the plan for five years). Nonprofits can offer a Roth 403(b) plan with similar attributes. Growing Availability It may pay you to examine whether you want to participate. If you have a high income level, the choice may be clear. The Roth 401(k) imposes no income limits, so highly paid individuals can make the full $15,500 annual contribution (plus a $5,000 “catch-up” contribution if you’re 50 or older). If income level isn’t a factor, the choice may not be so clear. It can generally be demonstrated that if you expect to be in the same or higher tax bracket when you retire as when you’re making the contribution, the Roth version is better. If you believe your tax bracket may be lower after retirement, then the traditional 401(k) may be better. If you’re younger and likely to move into higher tax brackets later on, Roth may have an edge. If you’re close to retirement, you may not have so much to gain from a Roth. There is no such thing as accuracy in making income predictions, however, because your income will depend on the dividends and capital gains generated from your taxable investments, income you may generate, your taxable traditional IRA distributions – and the unknown future tax rates as determined by Congress. Split the Difference? If your company offers both, perhaps it is to your advantage to split your annual contribution – gaining a tax break on the traditional 401(k) amount while building up the Roth 401(k), thus diversifying your tax exposure. The $15,500 (or $20,500 if you’re 50 or over) cap remains, but you can split it any way you choose. Any employer matching funds go into a traditional 401(k) account, even if you contribute only to the Roth. If you’ve been contributing to a regular 401(k) plan, you may want to consider diversifying by contributing to a Roth version. It’s an individual decision, but if you would like to discuss which version of the 401(k) would be best for you, please don’t hesitate to call me. Material prepared by Raymond James for use by its financial advisors. Cash Management May Sometimes Require Balancing ActThe ability to manage cash wisely is important for everyone’s financial health. The general tips are well known: spend judiciously, save as much as you can and invest wisely. It sounds simple enough, but in real life people face balancing acts. Most don’t have unlimited resources, so the question can come down to whether it is smarter to pay down debt or save and invest. Ideally, everyone should be doing both, but the choices may not always seem clear. If you’re faced with critical cash management decisions, it may help to have a plan. Try listing your priorities in life. Jot down your existing savings and debts, and begin creating a plan that can help you visualize a way through to a better financial future. If your credit card debt alone looks anything like that of the average American household – it stood at $10,679 at the end of 2008* – it may seem a daunting task. Weighing the Details Carrying that kind of debt works against anyone’s long-term financial health, but living without enough savings to carry you through three to six months’ expenses – or more, given these uncertain economic times – can be even more of a disadvantage. If you’re carrying the average household’s $10,679 credit card debt at an annual rate of 18%, it may take you a very long time to pay it off. At the rate of $200 a month, for example, you’ll eventually clear the debt, but it will take nine years and cost you more than $21,000 to do so. Paying it off more quickly could save you substantial cash. But doing that may be a wise choice only if you already have a cash reserve to fall back on should an emergency occur. Otherwise, you could find yourself having to dig deeper into a credit hole. In some cases, the wiser choice may be to build up savings, even as you pay down the debt. Source: creditcards.com Material prepared by Raymond James for use by its financial advisors. DO YOU NEED A FINANCIAL PLANNER? No matter how much money you make, it pays to keep on top of money coming in and going out. Even if you do a good job of that, there are important times in your life when talking with a professional adviser makes sense. Almost every major life event - finding or losing a job, getting married or divorced, having a baby, buying a home -- is likely to have a major impact on your finances. A new job may mean you are making more money -- no problem there as long as you know the best way to invest it. Getting married may mean you have a second income to count on, but now you have someone counting on yours as well. Buying a house means you have to come up with a hefty sum of cash for a down payment, get used to monthly mortgage payments and meet the expense of house repairs. Let's look at what happens if a baby comes into your financial picture. First, medical bills need to be paid, so having good medical insurance is important. Few insurance plans cover everything, so you'll need to have a cash reserve to cover deductibles and extras, not to mention the furniture, clothing and sundries you'll need when the newborn comes home. With a new addition to the family, you'll want to make sure that the entire family (baby, too) is protected if something should happened to you -- that means reviewing life and disability insurance to be sure it's adequate for your new responsibilities. There's the future to start thinking about, too. Will your child go to college? If so, the College Board estimates that secondary education costs are rising 7% to 8% annually, a rate much higher than the rate of inflation. To afford the average $7,000 total costs for a state university, you need to start saving $195 a month. Wait until your child is 7 years old and the monthly amount jumps to $240! So, it's smart to put away a little sum each month. What can you do to accommodate new strains on your paycheck? How can you meet all of your new responsibilities? With an important financial goal (such as educating a child) you'll want to work with a generalist -- a financial planner. A lot of professionals specialize in areas such as taxes or stocks, but a financial planner helps you understand the "big picture." A qualified financial planner can help you sort through your current financial situation, help you set short- and long-term goals and objectives, then present a "blueprint" designed to show you how you can meet your goals while staying within your means. There's nothing more certain than change. And just as you learn to adapt to the changes life throws your way, you can count on things changing with your finances as well. This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by Jim Woodruff, Financial Advisor of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. BENEFIT FROM GOOD ADVICE In this time of corporate downsizing and restructuring, many people find themselves pursuing a new career with a new employer. Embarking on a new career should inspire a revision of your existing retirement plan including your future income, eventual age of retirement, and standard of living. In addition to this revision of future retirement considerations, don't ignore your current employee benefits package. Employee benefits and "perks" can account for more than a third of the total compensation your new employer has to offer and should be an important consideration in a complete financial plan. It's important to understand how to get the most benefit from the options available in your new position. Of course, working with the employee benefits people to gain a full grasp of all that is available is your best option. Here are a few tips to get the most out of this relationship and maximize your benefits. 1. Coordinate health benefits with your existing health coverage. Avoid duplicating coverage or you'll end up paying for what you don't need. 2. Contribute as much as you can to your company's qualified retirement plan. If your employer offers matching funds, increase your saving enough to maximize that contribution. Tax-deferred buildup and matching contributions are two "perks" that are too good to pass up. 3. Review disability options. The chances of an employee becoming disabled for an extended period of time and prevented from working are far greater than those of dying before 65. Many benefit plans offer good coverage that is much cheaper than that available from insurance companies. 4. Determine how much life insurance you need. If you have dependents, you may need to have additional life insurance outside the coverage provided in your benefits package. 5. Consider private life and disability insurance if you change jobs often. These benefits are transferable, so your coverage will continue and you won't be exposed during career transition. 6. Find out about other benefit options your employer provides such as child care, paid vacations and holidays, extended leave policies, education reimbursement, and employee discount packages. 7. Review your benefits regularly and adjust your participation to changes in your family and life. Be sure they still meet your long-term concerns and goals. With the help of your financial planner, making well thought out choices about your employee benefits will make you enjoy your new career move and help you stay financially healthy. This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by Jim Woodruff, Financial Advisor of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN Women are no longer just a powerful force in today’s economy. It is estimated over 60% of the nation’s wealth is controlled by women. Some may have inherited wealth and may or may not be employed. Some are corporate executives, entrepreneurs or middle management. They may be single, married or divorced. They may or may not have children. A woman’s financial situation is often unique, and an individual approach to financial planning is essential. However, areas of common concern do exist. Many women work outside the home. If so, they may have income tax problems, especially if they face higher taxes because they are single and unable to file a joint return. To address these problems, women should consider the following areas: the role of tax-advantaged investments to reduce their tax burden; the taxation and treatment of executive perks from their employer; the effect of age-related tax and Social Security provisions; and the tax problems of a small business including choice of organization, the selection of a retirement plan and the taxes upon disposition of their business interest. Closely related to income tax planning for women is investment planning. Investment selection and asset allocation involve much more than tax considerations. There are various questions women should consider. Do investment objectives line up with financial resources and needs? Is the investment advice they are receiving objective, reliable and in line with their goals, time horizon and risk tolerance? Will a trust help with their investment planning? Women who are too busy or unable to oversee the day-to-day management of their investments should consider a trust. A trust may provide the comfort that comes with knowing that financial affairs will be properly handled in all eventualities. Estate planning, like tax and investment planning, depends on individual circumstances. Whether a woman has built her own estate through work investments, or a business, or whether a woman has inherited a husband’s estate is irrelevant. What matters is that she is aware of the estate planning options that are available. Unmarried or widowed, a single woman might use lifetime gifts to reduce her estate tax burden by using the gift tax annual exclusion and lifetime unified credit. Trusts may also be useful in a program of lifetime gifts, particularly where minor children or grandchildren are involved. Estate plan coordination, charitable contributions and life insurance can also be extremely important toward achieving estate planning goals. For those women working for a large employer or inheriting their spouse’s retirement plan, they will frequently be faced with decisions affecting retirement benefits. Those decisions may have a significant impact on their financial situation the remainder of their life. Critical questions may arise such as: which of the several distribution options provided by an employer’s qualified retirement plan is best; will their retirement nest egg be adequate to maintain their present lifestyle; and what benefits will they be entitled to from Social Security, Medicare, and employer-sponsored plans? No two women are alike nor are the financial predicaments in which women are likely to find themselves. As anyone can see, there are a variety of issues, problems and solutions to consider. Adopting a systematic and individualized approach with the aid of financial planning professionals can help to address and solve these problems while achieving a woman’s investment, retirement and estate planning goals. This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by Jim Woodruff, Financial Advisor of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.
Have you ever received a really hot investment tip? How many times has it actually worked out? “Not-so-hot tips” can throw a kink in your long-term investment approach. Here are some sound tips for the long-term investor: 1. GET STARTED EARLY! -- It’s impossible to stress this point too much! Despite other financial pressures, this can often make the difference in reaching your goal. Historically, stock values appreciate in the long run so investing over longer periods can help your appreciation potential with managed risk. 2. ESTABLISH A REGULAR INVESTMENT PROGRAM -- Even experts cannot predict when prices are low and on the rise; therefore, the best strategy is to invest a set amount every month. Like any other investment, this approach cannot protect from loss or guarantee a profit, but it may help to lower the average cost of your investment purchases. 3. REINVEST RETURNS -- By reinvesting distributions from investments, you may be able to increase your account balance over the long term. Assuming a positive return on your investment, you will realize greater benefits from the power of compounding. This is the concept of earnings on earnings. 4. MAXIMIZE TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS -- If retirement is one of your objectives, be certain to invest in an employer-sponsored retirement plan if you are eligible. Most plans allow pre-tax contributions and tax-deferred account earnings. Don’t forget about IRAs either. 5. DON’T BE TOO “SAFE” DURING RETIREMENT -- When you retired, preservation of capital was a steadfast financial planning rule. However, because of inflation, you should be more concerned with preserving your spending power. To keep ahead of the game you must take inflation and taxes into account for the actual amount of your investment return. “Safe” investments could be a losing proposition if they offer no growth potential. 6. PREPARE FOR THE LONG HAUL -- Follow the plan. Don’t be tempted to over react to short-term market fluctuations. Chasing “hot” tips could damage your long-term plan. 7. SCHEDULE REGULAR PORTFOLIO CHECKUPS -- Your financial portfolio may need gradual adjustment as your lifestyle changes. You should review your holdings with your financial advisor at least once a year. If you have a major life change (e.g. marriage, baby, job change or early retirement), make an immediate appointment. This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by Jim Woodruff, Financial Advisor of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.
You And
Your Financial Advisor, The Perfect Team
Don’t Get
Scammed On The Net
The Rule Of 72 “How long will it take my investment to double?” This is a common question many may have concerning their investments and think a calculator is needed to provide an answer. But a calculator may not be needed, at all. The tool to use is called the Rule of 72 and, best of all; it is simple and free. This is how it works. If an individual has an investment they think will grow at an assumed rate of return per year, then simply dividing that rate of return into 72 will provide a rough estimate of the number of years it will take for the investment to double in size. For example, let’s assume an investment is assumed to grow at an average rate of return of six percent each year. Simply divide six into 72 will give a rough estimate that it will take 12 years for this investment to double (72 ¸ 6 = 12). This formula assumes a fixed annual rate of return and the reinvestment of all earnings. Keep in mind that very few investments offer a guaranteed rate of return and that an investment’s past performance does not guarantee future performance. The rule of 72 may also be used to show the negative power of inflation. This may be an especially handy tool to those individuals in their retirement’s years and, also, for those approaching the retirement decision. Using this tool an individual can estimate the number of years it will take for his or her cost of living to double. Or put another way, how long before an individual’s purchasing power is cut in half. For example, let’s assume an individual is retired and forecasts an inflation rate of five percent per year. An inflation rate, in general terms, is the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services individuals purchase over time. Forecasting an inflation rate of five percent means the individual is assuming the prices of the goods and services he or she will purchase in the future will increase at a rate of five percent per year. Using the rule of 72, simply dividing five into 72 will provide a rough estimate that the individual’s cost of living will double in 14 to 15 years (72 ¸ 5 = 14.4). Of course, this article is no substitute for a careful consideration of all of the advantages and disadvantages of an investment strategy to meet your goals. Before implementing a significant investment strategy consider consulting your financial advisor. This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by Jim Woodruff, AAMS, WMS, Financial Advisor of (Raymond James & Associates, Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC or Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC). Financial Planning:
|
|
|