Webinar in Review: 2018 Investment Update

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

Late January, investor sentiment shifted from investors worried about missing out on the bull market to concerns that markets were overbought.  Volatility came stampeding back, bond yields continued rising and we even got a peek at some inflation creeping it’s way back into the economy.  This created a flurry of investor concerns and a basis for much of our discussion in our investment webinar to start the year off.

What are we watching out for in 2018?

A number of topics could be of concern this year.  A potential trade war, geopolitical concerns, inflation and bond yield spikes have the eye of our investment committee. 

While U.S. markets were looking a bit expensive at the beginning of the year, international markets were telling us a different story of opportunity.  Other themes we touched on included ESG and cost compression in the investment industry.

Regardless of what may come, it is important to keep a few points in mind.  Plan, don’t panic.  Planning is the cornerstone to everything we do for you.  Remember your financial plan is built with market volatility in mind.  It is expected within the plan.  It is important to keep this in perspective when headlines are doing everything they can to pull your attention away.  What we can control is maintaining appropriate levels of cash for your needs, managing as tax efficiently as possible so more dollars stay in your pocket and rebalancing to maintain a proper risk profile that is appropriate for you. 

What actions are we taking?

With the extended positive returns we have seen in U.S. markets prior to this year, we discussed strategies we are utilizing to rebalance.  A question we commonly received from you is “What prompts us to make a change in your portfolios?”  We took an in depth look at how we make changes in your portfolio and what triggers us to make these changes. 

If you would like to learn more about any of the topics touched on here, feel free to watch the webinar above!

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

This information has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Opinions expressed are those of Angela Palacios and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk, investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy or strategies employed. International investing involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic volatility. Investing in emerging markets can be riskier than investing in well-established foreign markets. Rebalancing a non-retirement account could be a taxable event that may increase your tax liability. You should discussion specific tax matters with the appropriate professional.

Why it’s Time to Start Asking More Questions

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

I recently took a week-long family trip with my husband and son (a senior in high school).  This was a rare occasion for the three of us to spend some time together and communicate — away from the TVs, devices and to actually get my son out of his room and away from his Xbox. Getting information out of teenagers — especially boys — about what is going on in their lives is like “getting blood out of a turnip” as they say. 

As with many of our family members, friends and co-workers that we may have difficulty communicating with, rather than become frustrated that we are not getting the information we are looking for, or find that we are “stuck” trying to help or plan for someone that is not helping in the process, we took a different path on our trip.  We decided that I would try to open the door by asking some open ended questions...and then try being quiet.  We just listened and gave space.  It took several days into our trip for our son to start opening up, but once he started, the results were amazing — he talked to us about things that he had never spoken about, asked our advice about some things that were going on at school, and began taking part in “adult” conversations right before our eyes.

Such conversations can and need to take place in many circumstances in our lives.  Whether it be our aging parents that we are beginning to assist, and we aren’t sure of their future desires for their own aging futures; our children as they transition into adulthood; or conversations with ourselves as we determine our next steps in life (transitioning into retirement, transitioning into a new career, figuring out what life looks like after divorce or the death of a spouse).  All of these conversations start with asking the right questions...and then listening...to others or ourselves.  Spending time on this process is important and does not happen overnight, but the results can be life changing.

Start the New Year by committing to start asking questions of those people you want to communicate more clearly with, or about those situations you want to move forward on.  If you are not sure what questions you need to be asking or how to start this process, please feel free to reach out for our help!

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.

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Any opinions are those of Sandra Adams, CFP®, and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Helping Older Relatives? How to Help Without Jeopardizing Your Own Finances

Contributed by: Matthew E. Chope, CFP®

Helping elderly family members with financial issues can be tricky.  In many cases, you may feel an obligation to assist, especially if the older adult is on a fixed budget and has limited financial resources. In fact, a recent MetLife study found that 68% of American caregivers have been found to spend their own money to support the needs of their older adult relatives, which drained funds that they had planned to use for their own financial independence. If you sense that an elder you care about is on a trajectory for financial ruin, what can you do to help? 

How do you step in and assist without putting your own financial security in jeopardy? 

The first thing to do is to gather some information to get a better sense of your loved one’s financial picture.  You’ll want to have an understanding of their assets and debts, and their budget:  their sources of income and their expenses. With the understanding of what income and what bills and expenses the older adult is dealing with, you can better connect with resources that may be able to assist them.

A client (let us call him John) told me a story recently about how he helped his older sister in-law (let us call her Bonnie) make some difficult decisions.  Bonnie was not a high-income earner in her working years. Although she was able to purchase her home and pay off her mortgage; she didn’t save much, and she had now depleted her savings.  At age 75, the reverse mortgage that Bonnie had put in place, in addition to her minimal Social Security income were not enough to keep up with her rising costs for health care (Medicare premiums and prescription drug co-pays), property taxes, insurances and utilities.

Here are the actions John took to help Bonnie with her situation:

1. John discovered that the county would allow her to apply for a reduced or total removal of real estate taxes through the property tax poverty exemption. As a result, Bonnie received a full exemption from her property taxes. Each county has a program for low-income folks - you need to complete an application and appear before a board of review annually. Here is a link with more information: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/Bulletin7of2010_322157_7.pdf

2. John contacted low-income home energy assistance (LIHEAP) and received a reduction in electricity and heating costs for Bonnie. https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1545

3. John contacted Human ARC Premium Assist about receiving a significant reduction in Medicare Part B premiums; as an added bonus, they also provided assistance with Bonnie’s prescription drug costs. https://screening.humanarc.com/PremiumAssist

4. While online at the premium assistance site, John found more information about special coverages for things like medical alert, ambulance/transportation assistance, and a 1.25% copay for prescriptions.

5. John contacted Social Services about food stamps and Bonnie is now receiving about $97 more a month through a program called SNAP. http://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food/

6. For Bonnie’s auto insurance, John pays the whole year upfront and Bonnie pays John back monthly so she can take advantage of the discount for paying the premium annually.

7. John pays Bonnie’s utility bills via automatic payments from his account to avoid late fees, which in the past were a wasteful and unnecessary expense. Bonnie also reimburses John monthly for this.

8. To save money on her cell phone bill, John added Bonnie’s phone line to his plan as an additional line.

9. Bonnie was willing to give up cable TV – John found that an inexpensive antenna works fine and they were able to rid Bonnie of her monthly cable bill.

With a little bit of creativity and resourcefulness, John was able to assist Bonnie while also preserving his own financial resources.  If you or someone you know is in the position of assisting an older adult and needs help putting together a strategy, please let us know.  We are here to help!

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.

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This information has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The case study provided is hypothetical and has been included for illustrative purposes only. Individuals cases will vary. Links are being provided for informational 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. Neither Raymond James Financial Services nor any Raymond James Financial Advisor renders advice on tax, legal, or mortgage issues, these matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional. 

Warming Haven's Hearts on Valentine's Day

Contributed by: Nancy Sechrist

The “season of giving” never really stops when the holidays are over.  There is a need for help and assistance throughout the year: winter, spring, summer and fall.  Over the last few weeks, The Center Team has come together to make 30 fleece blankets for the women and mothers at a women’s shelter called Haven in Oakland County. Haven offers a comprehensive program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and provides shelter, counseling, advocacy and educational programming.

The Center’s Creativity and Charitable Committee, along with other Center Team members spent time together cutting and tying knots of soft and colorful fleece material to make warm blankets.  We all know how good it feels when you receive something handmade - whether it’s a picture drawn by your grandchild or a knitted scarf – what makes it special is that somebody took the time to make something unique for you.  The blankets will be delivered to the women as a Valentine’s Day surprise, with the hope that these blankets will brighten and uplift the women at Haven to give them comfort, warmth, and knowing they are cared about.

As Author Leo Buscaglia wrote, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

With hopes that all are kept warm and safe during this cold winter season…

Nancy Sechrist is the Office Manager at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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Raymond James is not affiliated with Haven.

Sandy’s Spring Teaching at Schoolcraft College

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

I am excited to let you know that for a second semester am going to be teaching courses for Schoolcraft College as part of the Continuing Education and Professional Development Program.  As always, the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion in the areas of financial planning and gerontology is exciting for me. 

The classes I will be teaching again, in April are:

Serving as a Financial Fiduciary: 
April 2nd, 2018, from 6-9pm

Being responsible for someone else’s finances can be a huge weight to carry. Learn what it means to serve in the role of a financial fiduciary — persons required to always act in the best financial interest of those they are serving.  Learn where to find guidance and resources, avoid scams, and how to establish sound, long-term planning.

Long Life Planning:
Mondays for three weeks starting April 9th, 2018, from 6-8pm

Go beyond traditional retirement planning and tackle topics such as long-term care planning, difficult conversations with family, aging, and end-of-life planning.  Discuss resources, downsizing, housing and care options, legal and financial guidance and more.  Plan now for your later long life.

If you or someone you know might be interested in attending one of these or other courses offered by the Schoolcraft Continuing Education and Professional Development program, find more information here:  www.schoolcraft.edu/cepd

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.

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Raymond James is not affiliated with Schoolcraft College. 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.

Market Pull Backs: Painful in the Short Term, Normal in the Long Run

Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®

As I’m sure you’ve noticed as of late, global markets have not been very cooperative with investors. It almost seems like a broken record from past market declines when you turn on the television or read the paper and the majority of headlines you see and hear about are market driven – many with a “doom and gloom” sentiment. While market declines are rarely a fun thing to experience, they are normal, virtually unavoidable and come with the territory if you want to be invested long-term with the goal of growing your portfolio. To be honest, I think we’d be more nervous if they didn’t occur! Pullbacks like we’re experiencing right now tend to bring things back to reality a bit and keep markets in check. Although some pain can be felt short-term, typically investors are rewarded for going through such rollercoasters when things eventually improve. 

Check out the graph below provided by JP Morgan which tells an intriguing and comforting story over the last three and a half decades. Since 1980, every single year experienced a market pull back at some point which averaged -14.2%. However, over the course of those 35 years, 27 of them ended the year in positive territory! I really think this helps to put things in perspective when the markets get rocky, like we’re currently experiencing.    

This chart is for illustration purposes only. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Future investment performance cannot be guaranteed, investment yields will fluctuate with market conditions.

Also keep in mind that the chart above is for a 100% stock index. When you utilize a more diversified, balanced portfolio strategy, like the majority of our clients, the effect typically means less volatility which in turn translates into less potential upside required to get back to where we were before the selloff. To use a baseball analogy, we’re focused on hitting singles and doubles because those are what usually lead to actually scoring runs. Those who swing for the fences and hit occasional home runs or grand slams are usually the ones who have the most strike outs and worst batting averages. 

The bottom line is this – while market pullbacks can make us nervous and uneasy, they’re a completely normal part of the market cycle. As an investor, staying true to a disciplined investment process and keeping your long-term goals in mind should help get you through the difficult times and put you in a strong position when things recover.

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick works closely with Center clients and is also the Director of The Center’s Financial Planning Department. He is also a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs and educational webinars.

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The information contained in this blog 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 opinions are those of Nick Defenthaler and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. 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. Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

Annuity Basics

Contributed by: Kali Hassinger, CFP®

An annuity is a contract between you, the purchaser or owner, and an insurance company, the annuity issuer.  In its purest form, you pay money to an annuity issuer, and the issuer eventually pays the principal and earnings back to you or a named beneficiary.  Life insurance companies first developed annuities to provide income streams to individuals during retirement, but these contracts have since become a highly criticized investment vehicle.  The surrender periods, fees, and endless annuity products on the market make it difficult for retail investors to understand contracts, let alone feel confident that it's the best option available for their situation.  There are of course pros and cons to consider when entering into an annuity contract, and it's especially important to understand the basics of what an annuity offers. 

Annuities are categorized as either qualified or non-qualified. 

Qualified annuities are used similarly to tax-advantaged retirement plans, such a 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs.  Qualified annuities are subject to the same contribution, withdrawal, and tax rules that apply to these retirement plans.  That may make you question why someone would use a qualified annuity at all!  If you are merely looking for tax-deferral, a qualified annuity probably doesn't make sense in connection with your retirement account.  However, depending on your goals, there are aspects of a qualified annuity that are not available with traditional retirement plans, such as a living income benefit guaranteed by the insurance company and an additional death benefit. 

One of the attractive aspects of a non-qualified annuity (which means the money deposited has already been taxed), on the other hand, is that its earnings are tax-deferred until you begin to receive payments or make withdrawals. During the period before withdrawing funds, the non-qualified annuity is treated similarly to your typical retirement plan.  The same age requirement is enforced, which means that if you access this account before age 59 ½ there is still a 10% tax penalty on a portion of the withdrawals.  The difference between a qualified and non-qualified annuity becomes apparent, however, when the withdrawal or annuitization payments begin.  Only the part of these payments that represents investment or account growth is taxed at ordinary income tax rates.  When annuitizing a contract, there is an "exclusion ratio" that means each payment represents both a portion of your initial investment and a portion of your investment returns.  This means that the entire payment received isn't taxable to you – only the percentage that represents an investment gain. 

Beyond the categories of qualified and non-qualified annuities, you can then classify annuities into fixed and variable contract options.

A fixed annuity functions similarly to a bank CD.  You make a deposit, and the insurer will pay a specific interest rate over a specified period.  A variable annuity, on the other hand, allows a contract holder to invest the funds in annuity subaccounts or mutual funds.  Insurance companies can offer income riders as an additional benefit to their annuities.  These riders typically have a guaranteed income growth rate, and they will increase the overall cost of the contract. 

It is important to understand that annuities, although they can be an effective savings tool, are not right for everyone.  Most deferred annuity contracts are designed to be long-term investment vehicles and can penalize the contract holder for making early withdrawals.  If an annuity seems like it would fit within your overall financial picture, it is essential to consider which annuity products are appropriate and how to utilize them within your investment portfolio. 

Kali Hassinger, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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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 opinions are those of Kali Hassinger, CFP® and not necessarily those of 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. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors.

With variable annuities, any withdrawals may be subject to income taxes and, prior to age 59 1/2, a 10% federal penalty tax may apply. Withdrawals from annuities will affect both the account value and the death benefit. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. An annual contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) may apply.

A fixed annuity is a long-term, tax-deferred insurance contract designed for retirement. It allows you to create a fixed stream of income through a process called annuitization and also provides a fixed rate of return based on the terms of the contract. Fixed annuities have limitations. If you decide to take your money out early, you may face fees called surrender charges. Plus, if you're not yet 59½, you may also have to pay an additional 10% tax penalty on top of ordinary income taxes. You should also know that a fixed annuity contains guarantees and protections that are subject to the issuing insurance company's ability to pay for them. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Webinar in Review: Protect Your Data

Contributed by: James Brown

It is not just Personal Information Identifiers such as a social security number that the bad guys are after. Personal information like your email address, mailing address and preferred store is a sample of some of the information that can be used for identity theft. More devices are connecting to the Internet; more companies are experiencing data breaches; more cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and we all have a larger cyber footprint. The Center for Financial Planning, Inc. and Raymond James protects the information we have about you and offer some best practices on how to protect your data.

Some of the ways the Center for Financial Planning, Inc. protects:

• Encrypted drives

• Secure access

• Encrypted messaging

Some of the ways Raymond James Financial protects:

• 24/7 Real-time Monitoring

• Dedicated Analysts employing 74 security solutions to provide protective services

• Enhanced authentication and encryption for Raymond James Financial services transactions

Take a holistic approach. Make sure that your computer is receiving the latest updates from manufacturers. Many of the software and hardware vendors will release fixes to security holes that are found in the products as soon as they are discovered. Also, use a personal firewall to prevent unwanted traffic from entering or leaving your computer. Backup your data because sometimes, things just go wrong.

Consider two-factor authentication. Many web sites offer two-factor authentication. It usually takes the form of entering a password and a one-time code that is sent to your phone. It is a little extra work to log in to the site but adds a significant layer of protection.

Use strong passwords and change them often. Hackers are smart and they use tools that can easily break through an account that uses a word that is in the Dictionary. Consider using a phrase rather than a word and substitute some of the letters for characters (such as @ for the letter a). Never use the same password across sites. If you use a lot of different web sites, consider using a password manager.

James Brown is an IT Manager at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.

2017 Year In Review Letter

Contributed by: Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD

Dear Clients & Friends of The Center:

I hope that this letter finds you enjoying the start of a New Year. Major tax reform, Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions and geopolitical uncertainty already consume headlines and should present opportunities for planning in 2018. 

Our team is always analyzing. Today we are discussing the income and estate tax changes, how they might affect the economy and financial markets, as well as the planning opportunities that you may want to consider in your personal planning.  We look forward to sharing our insights in the coming weeks and throughout the year. However, before fully turning the page to the New Year, we would like to share The Center’s 2017 Review with you, our stakeholders.

Team – Your Team

For a professional services practice like The Center, success starts and ends with people.  The people we serve; our clients, and team members. Once again, we have added talented new team members to serve our growing clientele. These folks understand that success is earned each and every day – sometimes through major breakthroughs but mostly from doing the right thing minute after minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, year by year by always putting our clients’ needs first. Client service is deeply woven into our culture as we work tirelessly to help you accomplish your life goals and achieve confidence and peace of mind regarding your financial affairs. 

Please visit our website at www.CenterFinPlan.com for additional information on our entire team.  Below is a brief summary of our new team members:

• Experienced and talented financial planners Peggy Hall Davenport, CFP®, Bob Ingram and Jacki Roessler, CDFA® joined our Financial Planning Team.

• The Client Service Team welcomed Andrew O’Laughlin, Abigail Fischer, and Sarah McDonell.

• James Brown joined us as our new Information Technology Manager.

• Internships, under the direction of Jaclyn Jackson, continue to be an important ingredient of The Center. Military veteran and then Oakland University student Kevin Kelley joined as an intern and moved to full time status after graduation. University of Michigan student DewRina Lee spent the summer with us and we just welcomed Butler University student Luke Renchik over winter break.

• We said good-bye to a few team members including Clare Lilek who moved to Chicago to attend law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

• Most recently we just welcomed a new receptionist, Andrea Tomaszewski.

These folks understand and appreciate that great service is viewed as an opportunity, and it happens everywhere at The Center regardless of title or function. We hope that you have a chance to get to know our new team members in the coming year.

Keeping You Informed:

In addition to diligently monitoring investments, we continue to keep in touch in between calls and annual review meetings via a multitude of mediums. In 2017, we shared our knowledge and technical excellence with you, our clients, as well as other professionals and the communities in which we live and serve.  Our team hosted webinars (14) on a variety of financial planning and investment topics throughout the year. We once again held live events on Investment Market Outlook and Medicare planning. Our entire team continues to be avid writers so as to keep you informed on timely and timeless topics via our blog posts (look for our Tax series rolling out as I write). Lastly, some of you were able to join us for some fun at our sponsored Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings concerts, Detroit Bus Tour, and networking events with other professional firms.

In 2017, our team were sought out speakers and community leaders. Matt Trujillo, CFP®, Nick Defenthaler, CFP® and Gerri Harmer presented at the Michigan Association of CPA’s annual CE day sharing their knowledge on Solo 401k and defined benefit cash balance plans.  Sandy Adams, CFP® continues to be a leader in the Elder Care Community and Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology in addition to teaching at Schoolcraft College. Melissa Joy, CFP®, CDFA® was a presenter at the Raymond James National Conference. Matt Chope, CFP® was a moderator at a national wealth management conference. Matt Trujillo, CFP® and Sandy Adams, CFP® presented to employees at DTE Energy. Nick Defenthaler, CFP® spoke on Social Security strategies at the Wixom, Brighton, and South Lyon libraries. And, Tim Wyman, CFP®, JD shared his knowledge on financial transitions at Right Management.

Record Numbers Once Again

In 1985, our founders wanted to build and create a specialized team who could serve clients in a different, better way.  The concept of financial planning was novel. Starting with a team of three, our growth has been continuous and measured over the years.  Growth for us is more of an outcome than a stated goal. Our clients and professional partners continue to be our biggest advocates, a status we do not take for granted. The Center currently has 29 team members serving roughly 960 clients.

Our client assets under management continues to grow, now exceeding $1.18 billion (that’s US Dollars not Bitcoin). The Center is in a solid financial position with adequate reserves. This strong financial position allows us to reinvest in our current team and consider strategic investments in technology and human capital for the benefit of you, our clients. Perhaps most importantly, a strong financial position allows us the freedom to think long term as we have just embarked on our Vision 2030 that we expect to finalize in 2018.

Technology

Technology continues to play an increased role in our ability to provide world-class service. We also understand and appreciate that technology alone does not replace the human touch. Last year, I shared a significant change in that we began implementing a new Client Relationship Management system. While this is behind-the-scenes technology, workflows and dialogues have helped us…well, help you.  We continued to commit significant time and resources on training for our team to know and provide the best service experience possible for both clients and team members.  

In 2017, we have made another major technology commitment with expectations to roll out mid-2018.  Tamarac’s Advisor View will provide greater reporting capabilities as well as online dashboards and vaults. The goal is to more effectively communicate with you about your investments and financial picture. For those in the tech industry – I trust that you can appreciate it when I say more to come. :)

Awards & Recognition

In 2017, we were fortunate to receive a variety of Awards & Recognition. Once again, we received the Crain’s Detroit Cool Places to Work recognition – showing up at #7 this year.  Awards such as this allow us to recruit, and even be recruited by, extremely talented new team members that increase our capabilities to serve you.  The practice also received recognition on the Financial Times FT 300 List* as a top national Registered Investment Advisor as well as the Best and Brightest Health & Wellness award, among others.

Two of our financial planners received special recognition in 2017. Nick Defenthaler received mention in the Forbes – Top NexGen Advisors list** and planner/partner Melissa Joy was selected as a Top Wealth Adviser Mom Award recipient***.

Lastly, Director of Investment, Angela Palacios accepted a team award from Investment News as part of their Practice Management/Technology Award in recognition of our commitment to time proven systems and processes.

Summary

It is an exciting time to be a part of The Center. We thank you, our clients, professional partners and friends, for your continued confidence and trust. It is something we work hard at everyday – it’s what we love to do.  As we enter our 33rd year, The Center is on solid footing. We continue to operate in a disciplined manner striving to provide outstanding client service and managing a growing company. To that end, we look forward to working with you in the year to come.

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year.

Timothy Wyman, CF®, JD
Managing Partner

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

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*Financial Times Top 300 Registered Investment Advisors - 2017

The Financial Times FT 300 Registered Investment Advisors 2017 award had about 41.1% of the 730 advisor applicants being recognized as a Registered Investment Advisor. The FT used the database of RIAs who are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and selected those practices reporting to the SEC that had $300 million or more in assets under management, and no more than 75% of the AUM with institutional clients. Additionally, the firm must be independent (not the RIA arm of a broker dealer for example). Qualifying RIA firms filled out an online application and questionnaire that gave more information about their practices. That information was augmented with their own research on the candidates, including data from regulatory filings. The FT generated an internal score for each applicant based on six broad factors: advisor assets under management, AUM growth rate, the firm's years in operation, advisors' industry certifications (CFA, etc.), compliance record, and online accessibility. AUM and asset growth comprise roughly 80 percent to 90 percent of each RIA's score. Additionally, to provide a diversity of advisors, the FT placed a cap on the number of RIA's from any one state that's roughly correlated to the distribution of millionaires across the U.S. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. The FT is not affiliated with Raymond James.

**Forbes list of "America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors / Top Millennial Advisors “Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLCD ata as of 3/31/17.

SHOOK Research considered advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years relevant experience. Advisors have built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criteria because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience.

***Working Mother and Shook Research's 2017 Top Wealth Adviser Moms

Data provided by SHOOKTM Research, LLC as of July 2017. The Working Mother and SHOOK research ranking is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data. SHOOK Research considered wealth advisers who are mothers with at least one child living at home and under the age of 18 with a minimum 5 years of industry experience. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisers rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Working Mother receives compensation from the advisers or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Raymond James is not affiliated with Working Mother or Shook Research, LLC. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. For more information see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

Tax Reform Series: Business & Corporate Tax, and Pass-Through Entities

Contributed by: Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is now officially law. We at The Center have written a series of blogs addressing some of the most notable changes resulting from this new legislation. Our goal is to be a resource to help you understand these changes and interpret how they may affect your own financial and tax planning efforts.

The elimination of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) and a new single 21% tax rate provides significant tax savings for corporations. In general, this is viewed by most as a net positive, at least in the shorter term, for earnings that can influence stock prices and the overall economy.

The purpose of this blog post is to focus on how the TCJA provisions may affect our clients that own businesses and specifically Pass-Through Entities such as partnerships, LLCs, or S corporations.

At this early stage, we see a few potential opportunities and potential trends:

• Many business owners will want to review the appropriate legal structure of their company in 2018.

• Pass-Through entities may see significant tax reductions

• Due to the “Pass-Through entity” changes discussed below, some employees will likely consider becoming independent contractors

• Large service businesses may consider converting to C corporation status

Pass-Through Entities

Pass-Through entities general include partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations.  Essentially, the net income from the business flows through to the owners; meaning they pay federal income tax at their personal marginal rate, as high as 39.6% in the past.

The good news is that many of these entities, and therefore their owners, will experience meaningful reduction in income taxes. The quid pro quo is that the tax system in this area has become more complex.

How might Pass-Through Entities benefit?

The TCJA provides for a 20% deduction on what is termed Qualified Business Income (“QBI”).  In the end, those that would normally be taxed at the new highest marginal rate of 37% may pay at a top rate of 29.6% (80% of their rate). The chart below, from www.Kictes.com, illustrates the lower Pass-Through rate at different income levels.

As you might expect, the devil is always in the details. Do all Pass-Through entities receive said benefits? What exactly is considered Qualified Business Income? In addition, will the provisions truly be “permanent” to name a few. To further complicate the issue, the actual deduction will be claimed on the business owner’s personal tax return and not as an above the line deduction or itemized deduction.  Essentially, the affect is that it will not lower Adjusted Gross Income (which can have an effect on taxation of social security, Medicare premiums, and deductibility of some itemized deductions).  On the plus side, this method of reporting will not affect the ability to take the new increased standard deduction if that is of greater value than your itemized deductions.

Ok, what is the big deal? Paraphrasing commentator Michael Kitces, “for the first time ever, self-employed individuals (either as sole proprietors or as owners of partnerships, LLCs, or S corporations) will have a lower tax rate than employees doing substantively similar work, thanks to the 20% QBI deduction.” 

Switch to Independent Contractor status? Proceed with Caution

As you might imagine, the new rules contemplate and try to prevent owners from simply reclassifying their income or wages to benefit from the 20% deduction. Much like under current rules covering social security taxes, “reasonable compensation” to an S corporation owner does not qualify for the 20% deduction. Additionally, there are other limits that are beyond the scope of this article designed to reduce the 20% deduction that generally come into play once the owner’s taxable income exceeds $157,500 for individuals or $315,000 for married couples and become totally phased out at $207,500 and $415,000 respectively.

A special note to our Medical, Legal, Accounting, and Consulting Clients:

Your lobbying groups were not as effective as those representing engineers and architects! The TCJA defines your business as a “specific service trade or business” and special rules apply that essentially limit or eliminate a Qualified Business Income Deduction.  By the way, this also includes financial services practices such as ours. The law is designed to exclude “any other trade or business where the principal asset of the business is the reputation or skill of 1 or more of its employees.” As a result, some commentators have opined that large service business may consider converting to a C corporation as the top corporate rate is now 21%.

How are specific service trade or businesses affected? If you are a specified service business and your taxable income exceed the thresholds described above ($207,500 for individuals and $415,000 for married couples filing jointly), then you lose the deduction completely. This means you are subject to the old pass-through rules and therefore pay tax at your individual tax rate.

We hope that you enjoyed our early take on the changes that will likely affect businesses and specifically Pass-Through entities. While tax simplification it is not, many business owners should experience a net gain.   We will continue to monitor the tax landscape, including any Technical Corrections to the legislation and look forward to working with you in 2018.

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

Check out our other Tax Reform articles:

Changes to Federal Income Tax Brackets

Changes to Standard Deduction, Personal Exemption, Misc. Deductions, and the Child Credit

Changes to Investments and the Financial Market

Changes to State and Local Tax Deduction

Changes to Mortgage Interest Deduction (including Home Equity Loans and LOC Implications)

Changes to Estate Tax Planning in 2018 and Beyond

Changes to Charitable Giving and Deductions

Changes to Medical Deductions

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The information contained in this blog 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 Timothy Wyman and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Please note, changes in tax laws may occur at any time and could have a substantial impact upon each person's situation. 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. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.