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How to use your Year End Bonus

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Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP® Matt Trujillo

It’s that time of year. The weather is getting cooler, family is in for the holidays, and yearend bonuses are about to be paid! For some the bonus might already be spent before it is paid, but for those of you that are still looking for something to do with that money consider the following:

Here are 5 things to consider in allocating your year-end bonus:

  1. Review your financial plan. Are there any changes since you last updated your financial goals? 

  2. Have you accumulated any additional revolving debt throughout the year? If so consider paying off some or all of it with your bonus.

  3. Are your emergency cash reserves at the appropriate level to provide for your comfort?  If not consider beefing them back up.

  4. Are your insurance coverages where they need to be to cover anything unexpected?  If not, consider re-evaluating these plans.

  5. Review your tax situation for the year.  Make an additional deposit to the IRS if you have income that has not yet been taxed so you don’t have to make that payment and potential penalties next April.   

If you can go through the list and don’t need to put your bonus to any of those purposes, here are some other ideas:

  • If you’re lucky enough to save your bonus consider maximizing your retirement plan at work ($18,000 for 2015), including the catch-up provision if you’re over 50 ($6,000 for 2015). 

  • Also, consider maximizing a ROTH IRA ($5,500 for 2015) if eligible or investing in a stock purchase program at work if one is offered. 

  • Another idea is a creating/or adding to an existing 529 plan, which is a good vehicle for savings for educational goals. 

  • If all of these are maximized, then consider saving in your after tax (non-retirement accounts) with diversified investments.

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.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. 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 opinions are those of Matt Trujillo and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

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Social Security: Earliest Age to File & the Benefit of Waiting

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Contributed by: James Smiertka James Smiertka

According to a recent Gallup poll, 36% of unretired individuals in the U.S. expect to rely on social security as a major source of income. Many of these people don’t completely understand all of the rules of the complex social security system. Fortunately, it’s our job at The Center to know and to educate our clients.

Why Wait to File for Benefits?       

When it comes to your social security benefit, you should know a couple basic things:

  1. You reduce your benefit by receiving benefits earlier than your full retirement age.

  2. You can increase your benefit by waiting until age 70 to collect.

There are certain circumstances in your financial plan that may affect when you file, but you can obtain an 8% increase in your benefit for each year past your full retirement age that you delay receiving your benefit. These “delayed retirement credits” end at age 70. But how much will you lose by filing early? The earliest filing age in a normal situation is 62, and by filing at this age your benefit will be reduced at least 20%. Depending on your full retirement age, your benefit can be reduced up to 30% by filing at age 62 (those born in 1960 or later). Here’s a chart that breaks it down by birth year and filing date:

Source: Social Secuirty.org

Source: Social Secuirty.org

Special Benefits for Widows and Widowers

It gets even more complicated with widow/widower benefits. A widow/widower can receive reduced benefits as early as age 60 or benefits as early as age 50 if he/she is disabled and their disability started before or within 7 years of their spouse’s death. If the widow/widower remarries after they reach age 60, the remarriage does not affect their survivors benefits eligibility. In addition, a widow/widower who has not remarried can receive survivors benefits at any age if he/she is taking care of their deceased spouse’s child who is under the age of 16 or is disabled and receives benefits on their deceased spouse’s record.

In conclusion, you will receive a reduced benefit if you claim before your full retirement age, and waiting until age 70 to collect is a great way to maximize your own benefit and/or the benefit you leave to your surviving spouse. If anything is certain, it is that the social security rules can definitely be enough to make your head spin, so remember to consult your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional here at The Center for Financial Planning if you have any questions.

James Smiertka is a Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

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 Jim Smiertka 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. Prior to making a financial decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

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Year End Planning Opportunities – How to Prepare for 2016

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

Last week, Melissa Joy and I had the pleasure of hosting a webinar to discuss Year-End Planning Opportunities for clients to consider. In the webinar we outlined certain action items that you may want to keep on your radar going into 2016. As our largest attended webinar for the year, we were eager to review some important, timely planning items to consider before 2015 comes to a close and also touch on some of the more common items we see clients miss throughout the year that we’d like to see avoided if possible. 

Below you will find the links to handouts that we referenced throughout the presentation that contain some key dates and financial planning ideas to consider. 

  • 2015 Year-End Planning Opportunities: These important tax and financial planning moves can help prepare you for the upcoming tax season and better align your portfolio with your short- and long-term goals.

  • Year-End Tax Planning Worksheet: This worksheet is designed to make organizing your year-end tax planning a little easier. While not intended to be comprehensive, it can help you get ready to discuss your tax situation with your financial advisor and tax professional.

As we stressed several times throughout the webinar – we encourage you to keep us in the loop when things change in your life during the year.  Job changes, large bonuses, early retirement, job loss, moving, starting Social Security, etc. are all examples of events we want you to reach out to us about for guidance and to see if there are opportunities we can help you take advantage of.  Sometimes it will be as simple as us letting you know you’re doing everything you should be doing but other times, there might be items we can help you uncover that otherwise would have been missed.  We are your financial teammate and are here to help you whenever you need us!   

Below is a link to the recording of the webinar that we’d encourage you to share with any friends or family members who you feel could benefit from the information as well.

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 blogs.

This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. 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. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. 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.

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Use Your FSA Dollars Before you Lose Them!

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

With less than a month left in 2015, now is a good time to evaluate your Flex Savings Account (FSA) balance to see if there are any funds remaining from the year.  An FSA is an account that you, as an employee, contribute to on a pre-tax basis – like a traditional 401k. You can then use the contributions for medical or dependent care expenses, allowing you and your family to pay for these inevitable expenses in a tax-efficient manner.  The catch however, is that funds contributed to the FSA typically must be used by the end of the year or the money is forfeited.

Flex Plans Get More Flexible

As mentioned, FSAs are "use it or lose it plans" but in recent years, the rules have become slightly more flexible - no pun intended.  Employers now have the option to either:

  1. Provide a “grace period” of up to 2 ½ extra months to use the remaining funds in the FSA or…

  2. Allow you to carry over up to $500 to use in the following year

It’s important to note that your employer is NOT required to offer these options, but if they do, they are only permitted to choose one of the above options – not both.  This recent change to how the unused balances for FSAs are treated helps you and makes FSAs far more attractive than years past.    

How to Make the Most of Your Flex Spending Account

The most you can contribute to an FSA for 2016 is the same as 2015 - $2,550 or $5,000 as a family.  A medical FSA can be used for qualified medical expenses such as prescription drugs, co-pays, teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc.  Typically items such as over-the-counter drugs and elective medical procedures are not eligible to be paid from your FSA.  The dependent care FSAs are great for working parents who pay for childcare, but just like the health care FSAs, you should check out IRS.gov for a list of “approved” expenses.

This is a crazy busy time of year for all of us, but if you have an FSA through work, make it a priority over the next few weeks to check the balance and see what options you have for the unused balance (if there is one).  If you only have until 12/31/15 to use the money, now might be a good time to schedule that teeth cleaning or annual physical you’ve been putting off all year.  Chances are you’ve already gone through open enrollment at work but if you’ve yet to choose to participate in the FSA through your employer, take a look at potentially utilizing it.  When used properly, an FSA is a great tool to help pay for the expenses most of us cringe at in – all while lowering your year-end tax bill. 

If you have questions on how much you think you should contribute or if an FSA makes sense for you and your family – give us a call, we’d be happy to give you some guidance!

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 blogs.

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 Nick Defenthaler 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. You should discuss tax matters with the appropriate professional.

You Can't Predict / You Can Prepare

There’s a fine line between worrying about the future and obsessing. When it comes to your money and volatile markets, that line can blur. So how do you keep calm when the going gets tough on Wall Street? What helps you stay at ease? We believe it is careful preparation. While you can never predict which way the market is going, you always have control. Control over your own decisions. Control over how you react. But most importantly, control over what you do BEFORE the volatility. To that end, our CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ here at The Center each offer a personal take on how to prepare. Whether it’s learning to ignore the media hype or understanding your own emotional triggers to investing, our tips have one common thread. Prepare now. Don’t wait. Here’s how:

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. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. 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 opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or a loss. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

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Technology Supports an Aging Population

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Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP® Sandy Adams

I was recently given the opportunity to visit one of the nation’s top research university’s that has a research institute dedicated to  aging – quite a treat for a geek like me interested in the study of gerontology!  The trip attracted my attention to current studies that focus on topics such as how technology can impact the lives of older adults, and how different generations interpret and understand financial concepts and financial advice – both interesting concepts to our work with clients here at the The Center.

My favorite take-a-way from my trip was a new awareness of the new technology service resources that are now available. So many of my conversations with clients center around the independence and the desire to remain in their family owned homes for as long as possible.  What I learned on my recent trip was how new technology and sharing economic services can make it possible for older adults to fulfill their wants and needs, and potentially make it possible for them to remain active and independent for far longer than they ever thought possible. 

How can you or an older adult in your life make this work in your favor?

  • Start by becoming aware of new technology and the sharing service economy.  What am I talking about here?  Services like Uber for transportation, Pillboxie for medication reminders, Heartwise and Care Beacon for health monitoring and assistance, Washio for laundry services, Blue Apron for easy meal preparation, Task Rabbit for locating help with tasks around the house, and so many more.

  • Begin to think about your long life planning and what options and preferences you have in mind for your housing, care, etc.

  • Work with your financial planner and other professionals to put real plans in place to make sure your preferences can come true, and to make sure that you have access to all of the best and, if it makes sense, most technologically advanced, resources available to assist you.

Technology isn’t just for your kids and grandkids!  The tools and services now available can be used to make the aging process a more convenient, active and independent one for the ages – if we allow ourselves to explore it!

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 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.

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 opinions are those of Sandy Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the services of the above mentioned companies in this material.

Putting Meaning into Action – Crafting a Personal Values Statement

Have you ever wondered what giving back to the community could look like for you and your family? Or how you could participate in philanthropic endeavors in a meaningful and impactful way? Melissa Joy, CFP®, hosted a webinar with guest speaker Shelley Strickland, PhD, the Vice President for Development and Donor Services at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, in order to answer those questions.

Strickland began the webinar by unpacking the history and significance behind the term philanthropy in the United States. “Philanthropy,” she explained, “has a Greek root meaning love of human kind. It is voluntary actions for the public good.” This term is inherently loaded with the sorted history of the founders of American philanthropy, Rockefeller and Carnegie, as well as with European roots that tie philanthropy to charity. Rockefeller and Carnegie started a trend that was unique to American giving, which positioned philanthropy as a partner to charity. For example, in addition to providing food in a soup kitchen, Rockefeller and Carnegie felt it was important to figure out why the soup kitchen is needed in the first place and then give to causes that help fix the initial problem. 

Shelley explained that it's OK if people are confused by what philanthropy means in general or more specifically, what it means to you and your family. She explained multiple reasons why people give, including:  

  • Giving back to the community of which you are a part of

  • Giving to show devotion

  • Giving as an investment and or tax break

  • Giving for the social aspects that surround giving

  • And paying it forward as a debt for having good fortune

"Less than 10% of giving is done out of altruism and that's not a bad thing." She assured webinar listeners that whatever your reasons for giving, it's best to take the time to sort through those motivations to give your giving a better strategic plan.

Philanthropy is inherently tied to our values and our values give us motive to start that giving process, so it is imperative for those who want to give, to create a Values Statement that guides your giving with intention to create the most meaningful impact. Too often philanthropic giving is reactive—someone asked you to donate to this charity, so you do—versus strategic. That's why having a plan can give your giving meaning and help you know when to say "no."

So how do you start sorting out your own values and making a strategic giving plan? Easy! Here’s a link to the handout that will take you step-by-step through what you should be thinking about when crafting you and your family's philanthropic values statement. While completing the handout, make sure to ask yourself, "What is the meaning behind that thought? Why is that important to me?" As you go through the questions, you'll start to identify themes in your values and causes that will help narrow the focus of your giving. If you’re unsure of how to properly answer the handout’s questions, take a look at this example of how someone who is passionate about arts education might fill out their own values statement.

Regardless of the size of your gift, it is helpful to identify what values lead your actions, what causes you're passionate about, and what stories define you. Write this for yourself and share with your family. Not only will crafting a values statement guide your philanthropic giving with intention, but it will clarify your actions and give meaning to them so your impact can be even greater.

Center for Financial Planning would like to thank Shelley Strickland, PhD, for taking the time to speak at the webinar for our attendees. This was the first of three webinars we’re offering regarding philanthropy. In this session, Shelly talked about the "why" of giving. Still ahead, she’ll discuss the "how" and the "to whom," so stay tuned!

Raymond James is not affiliated with Shelley Strickland, PhD or the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. 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.

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The Center Gives Back to our Community

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Contributed by: Clare Lilek Clare Lilek

The end of the year is a busy time as we prepare for holidays, family time, and New Year resolutions. Here at The Center, we decided not to get caught up in the rush of the end of the year and instead carve out time to give back to the community around us and those less fortunate. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our charitable giving. Each month during the fourth quarter our team members have chosen a different cause to support monetarily. In October we donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, for November we supported Prostate Cancer Research, and for the month of December, we are donating money to Toys for Tots.

Not only do our team members give their money, but they give their time as well. On November 23rd we volunteered at Focus: Hope, packaging food in their warehouse that was delivered to homebound seniors. And on December 2nd we are volunteering at an organization in Detroit called Arts & Scraps. (UPDATE: The Center Team volunteered December 2nd as planned. Arts & Scraps measures success through smiles. We helped foster 3,000-4,000 future smiles! THAT’S A LOT OF CHILD HAPPINESS!)  The organization’s goal is to take recycled industrial materials and create art packages to give to students and communities to encourage learning through art. 

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Though our individual team members have a range of diverse interests, we unite in our desire to give back to the community around us. During these group volunteer days, we have the chance to learn about different organizations around the Detroit area while participating in a Center value of philanthropy.

At The Center, we also like to donate specific items to charities. Most recently staff members donated hundreds of books to RX For Reading Detroit to help combat the "book desert" in the city. John Mio brought the book drive and organization to our attention and in conjunction with our donations collected over 700 books for the organization!

This power of collective has been seen daily in the office since we partnered with Toys for Tots. Our clients, team members, friends, and family have donated toys to our ever-growing collection. We have already filled one box to the brim and are looking to fill another with new, unused, and unwrapped toys. If you would like to donate toys, feel free to either stop by or send them directly to our office in Southfield by December 16th!

This time of year is filled with love and joy spread by family time in conjunction with so many beloved holidays. The Center is thankful for our good fortune and for the hard work of our dedicated team. We are even more grateful that these kindhearted people contribute to the community in positive and meaningful ways, both individually and collectively. The Center is happy to be part of this communal giving and we’re dedicated to continuing this good will and spirit into the New Year.

Clare Lilek is a Challenge Detroit Fellow / Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

Raymond James is not affiliated with any of the charities mentioned. 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.

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How Much is my Medicare Part B Premium Going Up in 2016?

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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Nick Defenthaler

Several months ago we heard the news that Medicare part B premiums were increasing by a whopping 52% for many Americans currently enrolled and those who were set to begin benefits in 2016 (Click here to read Matt Trujillo’s blog describing the proposed increase in greater detail).  Obviously this created quite an uproar, which has since caused a significant scaling back of the increase. 

On November 2nd, when President Obama signed the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015” into law, most of the “press” was focused on the new Social Security changes that will occur in 2016 (Click here to see how the changes could impact your filing strategy).  However, the deal also included a revision to the increase in Medicare part B premiums many would face. The change effectively trimmed the hike to approximately 14% (from 52%) and included a $3 per month surcharge to premiums.  The majority of those impacted by the increase are those who are single with income over $85,000 and those who are married with income over $170,000 (approximately 30% of part B participants). 

Although no one is happy when a monthly expense goes up by 14%, I must say that it’s extremely refreshing to see both political parties come together and compromise on an issue that was set to have a dramatic impact on millions of Americans. 

If you or anyone you know has questions or concerns on how these changes could impact your personal situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for guidance. We’d be happy to help!

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 blogs.

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 Nick Defenthaler 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.

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