Investment Pulse Fourth Quarter

While the end of the year is busy with processing RMD’s, charitable gifting and loss harvesting we still find time to dedicate to research.  In the last few months of the year we heard from a wide variety of money managers and got their take on the markets.

Kathleen Gaffney, Portfolio Manager for Eaton Vance

• Kathleen feels like they have reached an inflection point in the bond market, even though fundamentals for the economy are still positive, high yield is selling off and investors seem to be bracing for higher rates to come.

• She feels the risk worth taking at this time is found in the equity markets in companies with good fundamentals.

• There is so much cash on the sidelines now that every time there is a selloff in bonds causing rates to rise there are many buyers swooping in to buy up the bonds bringing the rates right back down.

Joe Zidle of Richard Bernstein advisors

Often seen on CNBC, Joe came to Detroit to share some of his company’s views of the markets in general.  They have many interesting and often differing viewpoints from the consensus. 

• He describes the market now as a secular equity bull.  “Bull markets don't end with skepticism, they end with euphoria.  Markets can't be overvalued if people are uncertain.”

• There is still a lack of capital spending by U.S. companies to invest in the future of their businesses.  94% of S&P 500 companies are putting money into share buybacks and dividends rather than in capital spending. 

• He says we are still early in the business cycle.  Business cycles start here in the U.S., go to Europe and then finally the emerging markets.  They see the emerging markets and China as still “in a bubble” while Europe is still correcting.

Jeff Rosenburg CIO of Fixed Income for Blackrock

Jeff is another expert who is often seen on CNBC.  Jeff stopped worrying about bonds and learned to love them in 2014.

• According to Jeff, where you hold your duration (by maturity) matters as much to returns as how much duration you own.  Active management can help a portfolio by managing this.

• He says high-yield bonds will take on more interest rate sensitivity.   They tend to be shorter maturity bonds as these companies aren’t trusted enough to loan to them for longer periods of time. This will subject them to more interest rate sensitivity than normal when short rates start to rise.

Angela Palacios, CFP®is the Portfolio Manager at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor to Money Centered as well asinvestment updates at The Center.

The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Angela Palacios and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Why I Disliked my Diversified Portfolio in 2014

Let’s face it; we live in a headline kind of world these days. One of the fastest growing media outlets, Twitter, only allows 140 characters. They might as well rename it “Headwitter”! I was reminded of the power of headlines recently as I was reviewing my personal financial planning; reflecting on the progress I have made toward goals such as retirement, estate, tax, life insurance, and investments. And, after reviewing my personal 401k plan, and witnessing single digit growth, my immediate reaction was probably similar to many other investors that utilize a prudent asset allocation strategy (40% fixed income and 60% equities). I’d be less than candid if I didn’t share that my immediate thought was, “I dislike my diversified portfolio”.

The headlines suggest it should have been a better year. However, knowing that the substance is below the headlines, and 140 characters can’t convey the whole story, my diversified portfolio performed just as it is supposed to in 2014.

The Financial Headlines

The financial news -- whether it be radio, print, or social media -- almost entirely focuses on three major market indexes; the DJIA, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ. All three are barometers for Large Stocks in the United States; they are meaningless for additional assets found in a diversified portfolio such as international stocks, small and medium size stocks, and bonds of all varieties. It is true that large US stock indexes were at or near all-time highs throughout 2014.  It is also true that many other major asset classes gained no ground or were even negative for the year including: high yield junk bonds, small cap stocks, commodities, metals, energy, international stocks and emerging markets. Moreover, even within US large stocks there was vast disparity as large cap value stocks lagged large growth stocks by almost 50%!

How to Dig Deeper into Strategy & Outlook

Our firm utilizes a variety of resources in developing our economic outlook and asset allocation strategies including research from well-respected firms such as Russell Investments and Raymond James. Review the “Russell Balanced Portfolio Returns” graphic that provides a useful visual on how a variety of asset classes have performed since 2005. (Click below image to enlarge.)

This chart shows the historical performance of different asset classes, as well as an asset allocation portfolio (35% fixed & 65% diversified equities). The asset allocation portfolio incorporates the various asset classes shown in the chart and highlights how balance and diversification can help reduce volatility (risk) and enhance returns.Risk adjusted returns are always a worthy goal and, as I have written in the past, risk is always present and matters.

Do you recall 2008-2009 or how about the lost decade of 2000-2010? If you “see” a pattern in asset class returns over time, please look again. There is no determinable pattern. Asset class returns are cyclical and it’s difficult to predict which asset class will outperform in any given year. A portfolio with a mix of asset classes, on average, should smooth the ride by lowering risk over a full market cycle. I’d suggest if there is any pattern to see, it would be that a diversified portfolio should provide aless volatile investment experience than any single asset class. A diversified portfolio is unlikely to be worse than the lowest performing asset class in any given year, and on the flip side it is unlikely to be better than the best performing asset class. Just what you would expect!

Staying Focused & Disciplined

The current environment reminds me of the strong US stock market experienced in the late 1990’s.  During that time, unfortunately some folks were willing to abandon discipline because of increased greed or conversely, increased fear. Currently I sense an interesting phenomenon, an increase in fear. Not of markets going down, but rather a fear of being left behind in such a strong US stock market. As important as it is not to panic out of an asset class after a large decline, it remains equally important not to panic into an asset class. I believe maintaining discipline in both environments is critical to investment success.

Like the late 1990’s, many folks have taken note of the S&P 500’s outperformance of many other asset classes over the last five years and wonder why they should invest in anything else. The question is understandable. If you find yourself asking the same question, you might consider the following:

• The S&P 500 Index has had tremendous performance over the last five years, but it’s difficult to predict which asset class will outperform from year to year. A portfolio with a mix of asset classes, on average, should smooth the ride by lowering risk over a full market cycle.

• Fundamentally, prices of U.S. companies are hovering around the long-term average. International equities, particularly the emerging markets, are still well below their normal estimates and may have con­siderable room for improvement.

• U.S. large caps, as defined by the S&P 500 Index, have outperformed international equities (MSCI EAFE) four of the last five years. The last time the S&P outperformed for a significant time 1996-2001, the MSCI outperformed in the subsequent six years.

Managing Risk

Benjamin Graham, known as the “father of value investing”, dedicated much of his book, The Intelligent Investor, to risk.  In one of his many timeless quotes he says, “The essence of investment management is the management of risks, not the management of returns.”  This statement can be counterintuitive to many investors.  As I have shared before, risk does not have to be an alarm; rather a healthy dose of reality in all investment environments. That’s how we meet life’s financial goals. Diversification is about avoiding the big setbacks along the way – it doesn’t protect against losses – it is used to manage risk.

So, if you are feeling like I did initially about your portfolio, hopefully after review and reflection you might also change your perspective like I did from “I dislike my diversified portfolio” to “My diversified portfolio - just what I would expect”. As always, if you’d like to schedule some time to review anything contained in this writing or your personal circumstances, please let me know. Lastly, our investment committee has been hard at work for several weeks and will be sharing 2015 comments in the near future. Make it a great 2015!

Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD is the Managing Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and is a frequent contributor to national media including appearances on Good Morning America Weekend Edition and WDIV Channel 4 News and published articles including Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. A leader in his profession, Tim served on the National Board of Directors for the 28,000 member Financial Planning Association™ (FPA®), trained and mentored hundreds of CFP® practitioners and is a frequent speaker to organizations and businesses on various financial planning topics.

Required Disclaimer: This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Tim Wyman and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), commonly known as “The Dow” is an index representing 30 stock of companies maintained and reviewed by the editors of the Wall Street Journal. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged index of securities traded on the NASDAQ system. MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, and Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the United States & Canada. The EAFE consists of the country indices of 22 developed nations. Inclusion of these indexes is for illustrative purposes only. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Raymond James is not affiliated with Benjamin Graham.

State of The Center: 2014

Since 1985, The Center has been a passionate advocate for the clients we serve. We take great pride in the success of our clients and are equally proud that so many clients take an interest in our firm.  In that spirit, we are excited to share some of our happenings & successes in 2014.

Growing The Center

As in the past, providing world-class service to our existing clients is priority number one.  We now serve roughly 820 individuals and families representing assets under our management of $897M as of December 31, 2014.

Moving The Center

To better serve clients and team members, we moved into larger and more collaborative space in July 2014.  Many of you have had the opportunity to visit and the feedback has been positive.  Thanks to changes in the commercial real estate market, we were able to make substantial changes to our space in a cost effective manner.  Technology has been enhanced to improve client annual review meetings and the new Center Café provides a generous space for team collaboration.

Changes at The Center

As shared last year, 2013 was a year of goodbyes as three long term team members began their retirement (fortunately we see them all….just now as clients of the firm). Our new team members stepped in, up and then some.  Associate Financial Planners Nick Defenthaler and Matt Trujillo have added a level of planning capability for clients. Office Manager Nancy Sechrist hit the ground running in a variety of areas – not the least of which was with our office move.  Additionally, several team members increased their knowledge and training to serve clients by completing the Certified Financial Planner™ program, completing securities licensing, as well as specialized training through the Sudden Money Institute. In 2014 we were fortunate to attract three valuable interns, and one of them, Nick Boguth, will be joining us midyear after graduating from the University of Michigan.

Making our Mark

The Center and our team members continue to be leaders in our communities and profession.

• Center recognized in Crain’s 2014 Cool Places to Work Award Program! To see what helped us make the cut, watch this cool video.

• Our co-founder Marilyn Gunther received the Raymond James 2014 Women of Distinction Award. The award is given to women advisors who are exceptional in both their professional and personal contributions.

• Daniel Boyce received an Honorable Mention Lifetime Achievement Award from Investment News. He was recognized for his ongoing contributions to the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings.

• We’re not just focused on financial health at The Center. Our core value of leading healthy, balanced lives was recognized with three different awards. We were named a finalist for the 2014 Governor's Fitness Awards, the American Heart Association picked us as a Fit-Friendly Worksite for the 7th year running, and Corp! Magazine chose us as one of Michigan's Best & Brightest in Wellness.

• For the second consecutive year, The Center was recognized as one of the Detroit area’s largest money managers by Crain's list.

See a full listing of our Awards & Recognition by clicking here.

Educating our Clients

We continued our efforts to provide meaningful education in a variety of areas impacting our clients’ lives. In addition to our ongoing commitment to provide relevant, timely blogs and videos, we held sessions on Medicare & Investment Planning.

Unforgettable 2014 Moments

Many of our Center team members attended the Raymond James National Conference in Washington DC to improve their skills, engage in team building, and witness the First Annual (?) bull riding contest between Kali Hassinger & Matt Trujillo. Watch our video to see more about the best things we learned at the conference.

Melissa Cyrus became Melissa Parkins after her wedding to Kevin Parkins in October (the photos are wonderful!).

And lastly, 2014 will be remembered as the year it snowed a lot in Michigan! Perhaps that’s why we now serve clients living in 37 different states?

From all of us at Center for Financial Planning, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your loved ones.  We appreciate your continued confidence and trust and will work diligently each day in 2015 to provide world-class service.  Congratulations to all on a successful 2014 and here’s to 2015!

Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed web sites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any web site or the collection or use of information regarding any web site’s users and/or members.

Smart Moves to Make the Year You Retire

So you’ve decided to hang ‘em up? Congratulations!  Retirement is an extremely personal decision and is made for a multitude of reasons.  Many of our clients have had the ability to retire for several years, however, they have now reached a point where the weekly grind isn’t as enjoyable as it once was.  There are probably thousands of things running through your head.  What will life look like without work?  How will I spend my days?  Where do I/we want to travel?  Do I want to work part-time or volunteer?  With so many emotions and thoughts, it can be easy to miss good opportunities to really maximize your final year of full-time work. How do you get the most “bang for your buck” in your final year of working full-time?

Maximizing your employer retirement contribution (401k, 403b, etc.)

If you aren’t doing so already, do your best to maximize your company retirement plan contribution.  If you are retiring mid-year, adjust your payroll deduction to make sure you are contributing the maximum ($24,000 for those over the age of 50 in 2015) by the time you retire.  If monthly cash flow won’t allow for it, consider using money in a checking/savings or taxable account to supplement your cash flow so you can put the max into the plan.  This will most likely be the final year you will be in the highest tax bracket of your life, you really want to take advantage of this and get the maximum tax benefit. 

“Front-load” your charitable contributions

If you are charitably inclined and plan on making charitable gifts, even into retirement, you might consider “front-loading” your donations.  Think of it this way – if you are currently in the 25% tax bracket and you will drop into the 15% bracket when retired, donating in which year will give you the most tax savings by making a donation?  The year you are in the higher bracket, of course!  So if you donate $5,000/year to charity, consider making a contribution for $25,000 while you are in the 25% bracket (ideally with appreciated securities).  This would satisfy five years worth of donations and save you more on your taxes.  As I always tell clients: When you save more money on your tax bill by gifting efficiently, you give less to the IRS’ and more to the organizations you care about!

Explore your health care options

This is typically a retiree’s largest expense.  How will you and your family go about obtaining medical coverage upon retirement?  Will you continue to receive benefits on your employer plan?  Will you go on COBRA?  Will you be age 65 soon and enroll in Medicare?  Are you retiring young and need to obtain an individual plan until Medicare kicks in?  No matter what your game plan, make sure you talk to the experts and have a firm grip on the cost and steps you need to take to ensure you don’t go without coverage and that it’s as affordable as possible.  With recent changes in health care, we are positioning more and more clients in a way to qualify for health care premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). For more information on how you might qualify, take a look at Matt Trujillo’s recent blog on this topic.

With so many moving parts, it really makes sense to have someone in your corner to help you navigate through these difficult and sometimes confusing retirement topics and decisions.  Ideally, seek out the help of a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) to give you the comprehensive guidance you need and deserve!

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s Money Centered and Center Connections blogs.

Any opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. C14-041996

Slightly Off-Center: What is your best achievement?

 There’s a lot you know about our team at The Center … but we’ve dug up answers to some questions you might have never thought to ask.

Earning a Master’s Degree in Humanities –Amanda Toia

A sustainable, growing business enterprise –Dan Boyce

Being a mom –Gerri Harmer

Carrying 2 babies in my belly for 8 months –Jennifer Hackmann

Becoming a mom –Jennie Bauder

Winning 4 MVP awards from peers in sand volleyball tournament play over the last 10 years around the world. –Matt Chope

Raising two wonderful daughters –Nancy Sechrist

Earning my CFP® designation – it was the hardest I’ve ever worked for something and certainly my most rewarding accomplishment! –Nick Defenthaler

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Checkout our current blog posts HERE. See you there!

Giving Back: Partnering with the South Oakland Shelter

 For many, getting involved in the community and giving back is as much a gift to yourself as it is a gift to others. Over the last 15 years, my partner (is this the best word?) Kim and I really enjoy giving back to those less fortunate by helping the South Oakland Shelter.  SOS is located in Lathrup Village, MI and is dedicated to helping individuals and families who have fallen on hard times. Many are temporarily homeless or out of work and need a safe place to fall and to lift themselves back up.  SOS is a revolving shelter with over 50 local churches and synagogues helping to provide shelter at night, rides to work in the morning and 3 hot meals a day.

This year, for our part, we cooked meals and helped people get to work.  But we also helped with the annual conversion of our church, (Birmingham Unitarian Church), into living quarters for 30 guests for a week. At the end of the week, I received a card signed by all the guests, thanking us for an outstanding effort on their behalf. In my years working with SOS, I have never received a note with personal messages like this:

We truly felt at home”
“I am so grateful to have you on this portion of my journey”
“I love you BUC”
“Thanks for your precious time, I am truly grateful”
“You all were great”

We’re looking forward to partnering with SOS again in 2015. 

Matthew E. Chope, CFP ® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Matt has been quoted in various investment professional newspapers and magazines. He is active in the community and his profession and helps local corporations and nonprofits in the areas of strategic planning and money and business management decisions. In 2012 and 2013, Matt was named to the Five Star Wealth Managers list in Detroit Hour magazine.

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Five Star Award is based on advisor being credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR), a FINRA registered representative, a CPA or a licensed attorney, including education and professional designations, actively employed in the industry for five years, favorable regulatory and complaint history review, fulfillment of firm review based on internal firm standards, accepting new clients, one- and five-year client retention rates, non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered, number of client households served.

Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed web sites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any web site or the collection or use of information regarding any web site’s users and/or members.

Three Keys to Successful Aging

 Most clients look forward to retirement as a time of freedom -- a time of fulfilling lifelong dreams of travel, pursuing passions, and spending quality time with family and friends. They work with professional advisors to make sure that they have the financial resources available to fund their retirement goals. Retirement income planning, Social Security planning, and investment planning are all part of the mix. Early in retirement, many of our clients don't pay as much consideration to the aging process.  What can be done to insure that with successful retirement comes successful aging?

At The Center, we work with hundreds of clients at various stages of retirement and aging.

Observing the success stories, we’ve observed these three keys to successful aging.

1. Positive Mindset/Attitude: Those that age successfully don't see themselves as "old" or "elderly". They don't dwell on the fact that they may begin to slow down or develop health issues. They focus on what they can do, not on what they might not be able to do.
2. Plan Ahead: Those that age successfully plan ahead for their future retirement and aging. They make sure that legal and financial plans are in place in the case aging slows them down. They think about alternatives for housing, health care and long term care and they talk to their families about their preferences so when/if the time arises, plans are in place. This allows these clients to live in the now, knowing that they have things covered when/if needed.
3. Take Action: Having a positive attitude and putting together a plan get you a large part of the way towards successful aging. The critical third step is to take action. Clients who age successfully take their positive attitude and use it to stay active, stay healthy and stay engaged. They make plans and put the important pieces in place so that they are ready to go as soon as the need arises -- they work with their financial planner to put together a team (including financial, legal and health care) for their successful aging. AND they make sure that the professional team is engaged with the family members and friends.

While we have often heard from clients that "getting older is no walk in the park," with a positive attitude, proper planning and appropriate actions, aging successfully is possible. Talk to your financial planner about what additional planning you can do to make sure you are one of the success stories.

Sandra Adams, CFP® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In 2012-2014 Sandy has been named to the Five Star Wealth Managers list in Detroit Hour magazine. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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Five Star Award is based on advisor being credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR), a FINRA registered representative, a CPA or a licensed attorney, including education and professional designations, actively employed in the industry for five years, favorable regulatory and complaint history review, fulfillment of firm review based on internal firm standards, accepting new clients, one- and five-year client retention rates, non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered, number of client households served.

Any opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. C14-043035

Slightly Off-Center: What is your favorite food?

 There’s a lot you know about our team at The Center … but we’ve dug up answers to some questions you might have never thought to ask.

Many items but Hummus must win as I am sad if I miss eating this daily! – Angela Palacios

Homemade Chicken Soup –Amanda Toia

Peanuts (And peanut butter and lettuce sandwiches) –Dan Boyce

Chocolate chip cookies –Jaclyn Jackson

Nachos from Comerica Park –Jennifer Hackmann

Lasagna! –Jennie Bauder

Mrs. T’s Pierogies –Kali Hassinger

A Ginger Gold apple picked right from the tree –Laurie Renchik

Lasagna! –Matt Trujillo

Salads with everything, multiple types of lettuce, tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, cheese, apples, nuts, dressings –Matt Chope

Risotto is warm and comfy and always good –Melissa Joy

Mexican – love El Charros’ soft puffy tacos and enchiladas –Nancy Sechrist

Mexican, hands down!  Nothing beats a huge burrito with nachos –Nick Defenthaler

Chicago style pizza from a restaurant called Roma’s in Owosso, MI –Sandy Adams

I love most all foods and really enjoy trying new things. But my favorite will always have to be my mom’s homemade chicken enchiladas. –Melissa Parkins

Practical ways to qualify for an Obamacare subsidy

For any “early” retirees between the ages of 55-64, one of the biggest burdens on cash flow will probably be medical expenses. More specifically health insurance premiums. Although enrolling for Obamacare won’t make you healthier per se, if you structure your income correctly, there are ways to qualify for significant subsidies to help ease the burden of your monthly health insurance premiums.

The Threshold to Qualify

In order to qualify for a subsidy, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be between 100-400% of the federal poverty level. For 2014 those levels were $15,739-$62,920 for a family of 2, and $23,850- $95,400 for a family of 4. The lower you are in these thresholds, the higher the subsidy amount will be. Also, the older you are, the higher the subsidy will be. For example a 62-year-old couple with a MAGI of $50,000 will be eligible for a larger subsidy then a 55-year-old couple with the same MAGI.

You might be thinking your income is too high and this article doesn’t pertain to you. Not so fast.  There are ways to structure your retirement income so that you will fall well within these thresholds. Here’s an example:

Let’s take a 62-year-old married couple (family of 2) with these assets:

                                                $1,500,000 of IRA money,

                                                $250,000 in checking & savings

                                                $250,000 in a taxable brokerage account

Their annual income need is $100,000 gross (before-tax). Their taxable portfolio kicks off $12,500 of interest and dividends and the husband has a $30,000 pension. Both must be reported as income on your taxes. So far, we have $42,500 of taxable income, and the threshold before you are completely ineligible for a subsidy for a family of 2 is $62,920.  That means we have $20,420 left of taxable income left to recognize before they are completely phased out.

How to Plan for a Subsidy

As mentioned previously, the couple’s annual income need is $100,000 and they have $42,500 of taxable income (so far) to go towards satisfying that need. This means they still need $57,500 to fulfill their need for the year.  This is where the planning comes into place.  By taking $57,500 from their savings account, their need for the year would be met, and they wouldn’t need to report any more taxable income as a result of this withdrawal from checking & savings (because taxes were already paid on these dollars). Also, by having a MAGI of $42,500 they would qualify for a significant Obamacare subsidy … probably $6,000-$10,000 based on the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s Obamacare calculator I used here.

Things that will affect your taxable income (and possibly disqualify you):

• Social Security:  if you decide to collect early at age 62, up to 85% of your benefit could be taxable and could push you out of the thresholds for a subsidy.

• Taxable dividends & interest:  Dividends and interest are good, but you should try to estimate what they will be for the year to make sure they won’t push you out of the parameters for a subsidy.

• Capital Gains:  You bought shares of Apple when it was at $5 and decided to sell it all in 2014. Great you made a lot of money!  But you can probably forget about an Obamacare subsidy because that gain is going to push your MAGI up too high.

• Part Time Work: Obviously earned income is going to be reported on your tax return, and have an impact on your eligibility.  Also, if your employer offers “affordable” health care to you, you don’t qualify for a subsidy.

Please keep in mind that this planning must be done very carefully, and you should almost certainly work with a professional to make sure it is done properly.  The thresholds are a “cliff” so if you go one dollar over, you will need to pay back the subsidy in its entirety. Don’t let this deter you or your family from considering a similar strategy!  We have helped many clients navigate through similar situations and would love to be a resource if you have questions or would like us to look at your personal scenario. 

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. This is a hypothetical example for illustration purposes only. Actual results will vary. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website’s users and/or members. C14-041066