Few things are more difficult to watch than a loved one suffer from memory impairment and watch them slowly drift away. During this time emotions are raw, and it is imperative we show compassion to those that are dealing with memory impairment.
Things You Should Not Do:
Things You Should Do:
Some Good Examples:
Please do not try to do this alone and know that we are here for you and there are excellent resources out there. Be patient and kind at all times and do not be afraid to leave the room if you are afraid you will not handle the situation well. Ethical dilemmas may come up like them mentioning a dead family member being alive and it is ok to not remind them the person passed away as it will cause more emotional damage to them. Losing a loved one once is tough enough and it can be difficult for them to go through those emotions again.
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You are not responsible for your future spouse’s bad credit or debt, unless you choose to take it on by getting a loan together to pay off the debt. However, your future spouse’s credit problems can prevent you from getting credit as a couple after you’re married. Even if you’ve had spotless credit, you may be turned down for credit cards or loans that you apply for together if your spouse has had serious problems.
You’re smart to face this issue now rather than wait until after you’re married to discuss it. Attitudes toward spending money, along with credit and debt problems, often lead to arguments that can strain a marriage. Order copies of both of your credit reports from one or more major credit reporting bureaus by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Then, sit down and honestly discuss your past and future finances. Find out why your future spouse got into trouble with credit.
Next, if there is still outstanding debt, consider going through credit counseling together. Credit counseling may help your future spouse clean up his or her credit record and get back on track financially. One nonprofit organization, Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS), offers one-on-one credit and debt counseling that may help you learn how to better handle your joint finances. Visit credit.org to learn more.
Finally, seriously consider keeping your credit separate, at least until your spouse’s credit record improves. You don’t have to combine your credit when you marry. For instance, apply for credit by yourself instead of applying for joint credit after you’re married. You can have separate “associate” cards issued for your spouse to use. Even if your spouse has bad credit, your credit rating will remain unaffected. However, keeping separate credit can be complicated. For one thing, your spouse may resent that you control all of the credit in the household. It’s also possible that you’ll have a harder time qualifying for loans (e.g., a mortgage) alone than if your spouse’s income could also be counted.
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2021
As CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, we get to discuss everyone’s two favorite topics, death and taxes. The reality is that no one wants to discuss their death and this is the greatest hurdle to overcome and the reason so many people do not have an estate plan. Below are some other common roadblocks that can reduce the quality of your estate plan.
1. Not Discussing Finances with Your Heirs
Some interesting studies have shown inherited wealth typically does not make it past the first generation of heirs. The wealth that does make it and is passed to several generations have one common trait, the heirs were well prepared to handle the inheritance properly. The reason for this is the parents did a great job of communicating and teaching the proper values to their kids. This does not mean telling them everything they will receive but instead communicating your values and wishes for them to follow.
2. Thinking This Will Never Happen To Me
It is human nature to see something happen to a friend or on the news and think that could never happen to me. Many individuals do not want to consider their mortality and instead live with a feeling of invincibility. This trait is most common in men for sure but it can impact anyone. Delaying your estate plan is a recipe for disaster and this is a common reason why this occurs.
3. Deciding Who Gets What and How Much
Family dynamics are difficult to navigate, even for the closest of families. As you begin the process, uncomfortable truths will begin to emerge and are difficult to navigate. Who gets family heirlooms? Are there items that have strong emotional ties to you or heirs? The best way to get started is to make a list and start with the easiest assets and slowly work your way down.
4. Not Clearly Defining Your Goals or Objectives.
As you develop the estate plan, it is important to clearly define how you want to leave your legacy. Is there an alma mater or charity you want to leave money to? Do you have a child with substance abuse problems and how do you leave money to them in a way that doesn’t fuel their addiction? If you have a child that is well off and another that is struggling financially do you not split the assets evenly? How do you protect your kids from themselves, their potential ex-spouses, or creditors? It is important to have an estate plan that navigates difficult issues by clearly stating how your estate is to be handled in those circumstances.
5. Paying For and Working With An Attorney
People seem to have a fear of working with an attorney, just like many people have a fear of going to the doctor. Nobody sees an attorney for the fun of it and many people dread the topics discussed and also the seriousness of the topic typically begins to creep in. The other part of this is everyone knows working with an attorney is not cheap. While creating a good estate plan is not cheap, it will pay for itself tenfold by reducing hassles and costs for your estate when the documents are finally needed.
We also recommend you watch the replay of our Summer Webinar Series “Estate and Legacy Planning” which discusses estate planning basics, the documents you will need, and common estate plan designs.
Over the years there have been many studies on the wealthy to find what habits they share. This is important because the reality is our habits shape us and impact our health, wealth, and happiness. Let us explore just a few of the most common habits that have to lead many individuals to become self-made millionaires:
1. They do not follow the crowd – Often these individuals are independent, critical thinkers and do things that go against the grain.
2. They are constantly reading – While most individuals watch hours of tv each day, the rich typically read at least half an hour daily and focus more on education than being entertained.
3. They exercise regularly. – The same habits that are needed for good health like consistency and discipline are also needed to grow wealth, so it is not a surprise to see that they exercise often.
4. They develop and pursue goals – To become a self-made millionaire does not happen by accident. These individuals often dream and set realistic goals to attain their dreams. They are often self-motivated because they are pursuing a passion.
5. They surround themselves with other successful people – As the old saying goes we are the company we keep. Often these individuals seek other like-minded individuals to spend their time with. This allows them to consistently learn from and motivate each other.
6. They get up early – For many people this is quite painful and again an example of how millionaires tend to not follow the crowd. Getting up early is a great life hack. It provides more opportunity to prioritize your day and allows you to accomplish important tasks (like reading and working out) without disruption.
The window of opportunity for many tax-saving moves closes on December 31, so it is important to evaluate your tax situation now, while there’s still time to affect your bottom line for the 2020 tax year.
Timing is Everything
Consider any opportunities you have to defer income to 2021. For example, you may be able to defer a year-end bonus or delay the collection of business debts, rents, and payments for services. Doing so may allow you to postpone paying tax on the income until next year. If there’s a chance that you’ll be in a lower income tax bracket next year, deferring income could mean paying less tax on the income as well.
Similarly, consider ways to accelerate deductions into 2020. If you itemize deductions, you might accelerate some deductible expenses like medical expenses, qualifying interest, or state and local taxes by making payments before year-end. Or you might consider making next year’s charitable contribution this year instead.
Sometimes, however, it may make sense to take the opposite approach — accelerating income into 2020 and postponing deductible expenses to 2021. That might be the case, for example, if you can project that you’ll be in a higher tax bracket in 2021; paying taxes this year instead of next might be outweighed by the fact that the income would be taxed at a higher rate next year.
Factor in the AMT
Make sure that you factor in the alternative minimum tax (AMT). If you’re subject to the AMT, traditional year-end maneuvers, like deferring income and accelerating deductions, can have a negative effect. That’s because the AMT — essentially a separate, parallel income tax with its own rates and rules — effectively disallows a number of itemized deductions. For example, if you’re subject to the AMT in 2020, prepaying 2021 state and local taxes won’t help your 2020 tax situation, but could hurt your 2021 bottom line.
Special Concerns for Higher-Income Individuals
The top marginal tax rate (37%) applies if your taxable income exceeds $518,400 in 2020 ($622,050 if married filing jointly, $311,025 if married filing separately). Your long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends could be taxed at a maximum 20% tax rate if your taxable income exceeds $441,450 in 2020 ($496,600 if married filing jointly, $248,300 if married filing separately, $469,050 if head of household).
Additionally, a 3.8% net investment income tax (unearned income Medicare contribution tax) may apply to some or all of your net investment income if your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 if married filing jointly, $125,000 if married filing separately).
High-income individuals are subject to an additional 0.9% Medicare (hospital insurance) payroll tax on wages exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married filing jointly or $125,000 if married filing separately).
IRAs and Retirement Plans
Take full advantage of tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicles. Traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k) plans allow you to contribute funds on a deductible (if you qualify) or pre-tax basis, reducing your 2020 taxable income. Contributions to a Roth IRA (assuming you meet the income requirements) or a Roth 401(k) aren’t deductible or made with pre-tax dollars, so there’s no tax benefit for 2020, but qualified Roth distributions are completely free from federal income tax, which can make these retirement savings vehicles appealing.
For 2020, you can contribute up to $19,500 to a 401(k) plan ($26,000 if you’re age 50 or older) and up to $6,000 to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA ($7,000 if you’re age 50 or older). The window to make 2020 contributions to an employer plan typically closes at the end of the year, while you generally have until the April tax return filing deadline to make 2020 IRA contributions.
Roth Conversions
Year-end is a good time to evaluate whether it makes sense to convert a tax-deferred savings vehicle like a traditional IRA or a 401(k) account to a Roth account. When you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, or a traditional 401(k) account to a Roth 401(k) account, the converted funds are generally subject to federal income tax in the year that you make the conversion (except to the extent that the funds represent nondeductible after-tax contributions).
If a Roth conversion does make sense, you’ll want to give some thought to the timing of the conversion. For example, if you believe that you’ll be in a better tax situation this year than next (e.g., you would pay tax on the converted funds at a lower rate this year), you might think about acting now rather than waiting. Whether a Roth conversion is appropriate for you depends on many factors, including your current and projected future income tax rates. We recommend you talk with your financial advisor and/or tax professional.
Changes to Note
Recent legislation has modified many provisions, generally for 2018 to 2025.
Extended Provisions
A number of provisions are extended periodically. The following provisions have been extended through 2020 and are not available for 2021 unless extended by Congress.
Talk to a Professional
When it comes to year-end tax planning, there’s always a lot to think about. A tax professional can help you evaluate your situation, keep you apprised of any legislative changes, and determine whether any year-end moves make sense for you.
In case you missed our Year-End Tax Planning webinar, check out the replay HERE. Many of these tax-saving moves are discussed in greater detail.
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2020