Can I Afford To Buy A Second Home In Retirement?

Contributed by: Robert Ingram, CFP®

It’s a dream for many Americans as they envision retirement, having a second home as a vacation getaway, a seasonal escape, or a primary residence someday.  Even with the relatively mild winter we’ve just experienced in Michigan, it’s easy to appreciate the idea of living away during the cold months or enjoying a summer home up North.  But before you can live the dream, do your due diligence and crunch the numbers.

Retirement income expenses include the daily cost of living and the things you want to enjoy.  Making a large purchase, such as buying a second home, will take a significant chunk of your savings.  If you’ve underestimated the cost, it will wreak havoc on your retirement income.  

So, how realistic is your second home retirement plan? Factor in our suggestions below.

Purchasing costs

If you plan to buy the home using a mortgage, you will of course have a monthly payment.  While the continued low interest rates may help with the home’s affordability, this payment does add to the expenses that your retirement income sources will support.  Calculate your withdrawal rate (the percentage of savings needed to be withdrawn each year) and determine if it’s sustainable over your retirement years.

Now, if you’re able to purchase the property without a mortgage, yes, you would avoid paying interest and you would have no monthly payment.  On the other hand, using a portion of your retirement savings to purchase the home could mean that you have fewer assets reserved for other retirement spending needs.  Consider the impact it may have on the sustainability of your retirement income and whether purchasing or financing the property is more advantageous.

Don’t forget about property taxes. They’re ongoing expenses that you must factor into your budget. They vary widely depending on the state and local community.  Consider any difference in tax rates; non-homestead property is taxed higher than homestead property.

Additional costs

Unfortunately, we know that the cost of owning a home doesn’t end with the purchase. This is certainly true with a second home as well.  Depending on the property type, location, and climate/environment there may be additional costs that you aren’t used to with your current home.  It’s vital that your plan supports these costs as well.  Some examples include:

• Insurance: You’ll pay annual premiums for homeowner’s insurance on two properties.  Plus, homes with higher risk (e.g. hurricane prone southern states) often require additional flood or wind damage insurance.  In some cases, this nearly doubles the cost of the new policy.

• Condo/Association Fees:  Buying a condominium or a standalone house in a community with a neighborhood association will likely mean additional monthly fees.  Homeowners associations may also impose special assessments during the time you own the property for maintenance projects, community amenities, etc.  Understanding the previous history of assessments and the need for future projects can help you better prepare for those potential costs.

• Maintenance on two properties:  Now you have two homes to maintain.  If your second property is far away or you won’t visit often, you may need to hire people locally to provide the maintenance services for you.

• Home security:  Especially for a home that is unoccupied for long periods of time, you want to protect it from vandalism, trespassing, and burglary.  That could mean investing in security systems or working with local service providers to routinely check-in on the property.   

• Heating and cooling year-round: Unlike cottages or houses up North that you can close down and winterize, vacation homes in warm climates may require you to run the air conditioning when you’re not there.  Issues like mold and mildew can be a problem when temperatures and humidity are too high, which is another reason you may need to hire local services to make sure everything is working properly.

• Insect/pest control:  Your second home may be in a region with insects or other critters that require more regular/aggressive pest control.  Add this to your list of monthly or annual maintenance expenses.

What if I plan to rent out my second home?

• Renting out your second home could be an excellent way to generate additional income to offset the costs of ownership.  However, you could face lifestyle compromises. Here are some considerations:

•  Local rules on renting:  It’s critical to understand any local government ordinances or homeowners association restrictions on using your property as a rental.  In some cases, short-term rentals are not allowed or there are limits on the total number of rentals.

• Property management:  The farther the distance between your rental and primary properties, the greater chance you’ll need to hire a property manager to provide on-site service for your vacation guests or long-term tenants.  Property managers can advertise, book renters, and manage financial transactions.  The cost to outsource these services is typically between 10-35% of the rental cost.

•  Additional insurance coverage:  Tenants may not be covered by your insurance.  Homeowners insurance often covers incidents only when the property is owner-occupied.  You may need to add a form of landlord insurance, depending on factors such as the frequency and amount of days you will have the property rented.  Review your policy to be sure.

• Extra maintenance and repair:  You may face repairs and/or need to replace furniture.  Studies suggest that the cost to maintain a vacation rental is 1.5-2% of the property value each year.

The decision to buy a second home involves a combination of both lifestyle and financial considerations. Build a sound plan by balancing your priorities.  Consult with your financial planner as you work through these important life goals, and if we can be a resource for you, please reach out to us! 

Robert Ingram, CFP®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® With more than 15 years of industry experience, he is a trusted source for local media outlets and frequent contributor to The Center’s “Money Centered” blog.

How To Invest Your Money In Turbulent Markets

Contributed by: Jaclyn Jackson, CAP®

Navigating daily market fluctuations through COVID-19 has been challenging. With every newsfeed from Washington or new economic data numbers, markets react. So what do we make of this as investors? Well, it truly depends on your circumstance. For individuals who have a long investment horizon and stable finances, there may be an opportunity to take advantage of market inefficiencies.

For individuals who have experienced (or anticipate) financial changes, it may be time to reevaluate your investment approach. Here are a few ideas to discuss with your advisor when considering investment strategies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Strategies for Long-Term Investors

For long-term investors, volatile markets should not discourage commitment to your investment plan. Staying invested, reestablishing your asset allocation, gradually investing, and generating tax opportunities are still valuable to progressing your investment aims. Think about the following strategies:

1. Rebalance - Rebalancing is a systematic way of adapting the commonly suggested investment advice, “buy low and sell high”. It disciplines investors to trim well-performing investments and buy investments that have the potential to gain profits. In our current environment, that looks like trimming from bond positions and investing in equities for many people. Importantly, rebalancing helps investors maintain their established asset allocation; someone’s predetermined investment allocation suited to meet their investment objectives. In other words, rebalancing helps investors maintain the risk/return profile meant to enhance their probability of meeting long-term goals.

2. Dollar-Cost Average - A gingerly alternative to rebalancing is dollar-cost averaging. Investors who use this strategy identify underexposed asset classes and invest a set amount of money into those assets at a set time (i.e. monthly) over a set period (i.e. 1 year). This method helps investors buy more shares of something when it is inexpensive and fewer shares of something when it is expensive. Buying at a premium when the market is up is stabilized by taking advantage of prices when the market is down. Therefore, the average cost paid per share of your investment is cheaper than just paying the premium prices. Having a dollar-cost averaging strategy in place now, while markets have dipped, helps you buy more shares of investments while they cost less.

3. Tax Loss Harvest - Selling all or part of a position in your taxable account when it is worth less than what you initially paid for it creates a realized capital loss. Losses can offset capital gains and other income in the year you realize it. If realized losses exceed realized gains during that year, realized losses can be carried forward (into future years). Harvesting losses could help investors replace legacy positions, diversify away from concentrated positions, or stow away losses for more profitable times.

4. Do Nothing - The key here is to stay invested. The challenge with fleeing investment markets when they are down is that it is incredibly hard to time reinvesting when they will go back up. Missing upside days may inhibit full recovery of losses. According to research developed by Calamos Investments, missing the 20 best days of the S&P 500 over 20 years (1/1/99 – 12/31/19) reduced investment returns by two-thirds. Time, not market timing, supports you in meeting your investment goals.

Strategies Amid Financial Hardships

Many people’s employment and financial situations have changed. Understandably, some have to review their ability to invest. If you are concerned about losing your job or potential health issues, it is time to revisit your savings. Could your rainy day resources cover 6-8 months of financial needs? If not, you will likely need to build up savings. For those who are experiencing financial challenges, consider the following strategies:

1. Add to emergency funds by lowering or pausing retirement account contributions. Luckily, you do not have to liquidate part of your retirement account with this strategy. Staying invested gives your portfolio a chance to benefit from long-term performance. If your employer matches retirement account contributions, continue to invest up to that amount, then add to savings with the balance of your normal participation amount. Once savings needs are met, resume full investment participation.

2. Rebalance your portfolio to provide liquidity. As noted above, rebalancing takes earnings off the table from investments that have performed well. However, instead of reallocating to other investments, use proceeds to increase your rainy day savings. This method prevents you from selling off positions that are at a loss.

Jaclyn Jackson, CAP® is a Portfolio Administrator at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® She manages client portfolios and performs investment research.

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Please note, the options noted above are not for everyone. Consult your advisor to determine which options are appropriate for you. 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. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Rebalancing a non-retirement account could be a taxable event that may increase your tax liability. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

What’s the Difference Between a Roth and a Traditional IRA?

Contributed by: Kali Hassinger, CFP®, CDFA®

Many are focused on filing their taxes by April 15th, but that day is also the deadline to make a 2019 IRA contribution! With only a week left, how will you decide between making a Roth or a traditional IRA contribution? There are pros and cons to each type of retirement account, but your individual situation will determine the better option. Keep in mind, the IRS has rules to dictate who can make contributions, and when.

2019 Roth IRA Contribution Rules/Limits

• For single filers, the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) limit is phased out between $122,000 and $137,000.

• For married filing jointly, the MAGI limit is phased out between $193,000 and $203,000

• Please keep in mind that for making contributions to this type of account, it makes no difference if you are covered by a qualified retirement plan at work (401k, 403b, etc.), you simply have to be under the income thresholds.

• The maximum contribution is $6,000 for those under the age of 50. For those who are 50 & older (and have earned income for the year), you can contribute an additional $1,000 each year.

2019 Traditional IRA Contributions

• For single filers covered by a company retirement plan, the deduction is phased out between $64,000 and $74,000 of MAGI.

• For married filers covered by a company retirement plan, the deduction is phased out between $103,000 and $123,000 of MAGI.

• For married filers not covered by a company plan, but have a spouse who is, the deduction for your IRA contribution is phased out between $193,000 and $203,000 of MAGI.

• The maximum contribution is $6,000 if you’re under the age of 50. For those who are 50 & older (and have earned income for the year), you can contribute an additional $1,000 each year.

Now, you may be wondering what type makes more sense for you (if you are eligible). Well, like many financial questions…it depends! 

Roth IRA Advantage

The benefit of a Roth IRA is that money grows tax deferred. So, when you are over age 59 1/2 and have held the money for 5 years, the money you take out is tax free. However, in exchange for tax free money, you don’t get an upfront tax deduction when investing the money in the Roth. You are paying your tax bill today rather than in the future. 

Traditional IRA Advantage

With a traditional IRA, you get a tax deduction the year you contribute money to the IRA. For example, a married couple filing jointly has a MAGI of $190,000 putting them in a 24% marginal tax bracket.  If they made a full $6,000 traditional IRA contribution they would save $1,440 in taxes. To make that same $6,000 contribution to a Roth, they would need to earn $7,895 to pay 24% in taxes in order to then make the $6,000 contribution. The drawback of the traditional IRA is that you will be taxed on it later in life when you begin making withdrawals in retirement. Withdrawals taken prior to age 59 1/2, may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.

Pay Now or Pay Later?

Future tax rates make it challenging to choose what account type is right for you. If you go the Roth IRA route, you will pay your tax bill now. The downside is that you could find yourself in a lower tax bracket in retirement. In that case, it would have been more lucrative to take the other route. And vice versa.

How Do I Decide?

We typically recommend Roth contributions to young professionals because their income will most likely increase over the years. However, if you need tax savings now, a traditional contribution may make more sense. A traditional IRA may be the best choice if your income is stable and you’re in a higher tax bracket.  However, you could be disqualified from making contributions based on access to other retirement plans. 

As always, before making any final decisions, it’s always a good idea to work with a qualified financial professional to help you understand what makes the most sense for you.

Kali Hassinger, CFP®, CDFA®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® She has more than a decade of financial planning and insurance industry experience.

Why We Grow Happier With Age

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

Having had a “milestone” birthday at the end of last year, I came across a book recently that caught my attention. The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50 by Jonathan Rauch seemed like a book that I had to read – who wouldn’t want to know how and why life was going to start getting better!?!  I was completely intrigued by this book. It is backed by the personal experience of the author, actual case studies, and long-term social research.  So, what did I learn?

Research indicates that life satisfaction declines in your forties. Despite being dubbed as having a “midlife crisis”, your forties are less of a crisis and more of a sense of despair. Why could this happen?

• We realize that we’re not going to achieve everything we once imagined

• We compare ourselves to others who’ve achieved more and question our self-worth

• We lack gratitude and feel shame or embarrassment

However, by age 50 (or shortly thereafter) our “sour” mood changes and we begin to feel more life satisfaction. As each decade passes, our happiness “ranking” gets even higher.

• We become less focused on our own goals and become more focused on serving others

• We accept our life and focus on personal relationships instead of external achievements

• We stop comparing ourselves to others and focus more on our own internal satisfaction

Key takeaways:

• Be self-aware of the psychology behind your feelings

• Know that the “midlife crisis” isn’t forever and better times are ahead

• The future is an opportunity to live our happiest and most socially satisfying years

For those who are focused on the negatives of aging such as an ailing body or a failing mind, I challenge you to pick up The Happiness Curve to get a different perspective on your future retirement years. What you learn just might surprise you! If you’d like to have a conversation about this topic or additional topics around retirement or longevity planning, feel free to contact me at sandy.adams@centerfinplan.com.

Sandra Adams, CFP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and holds a CeFT™ designation. She specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and serves as a trusted source for national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine, and Journal of Financial Planning.

COVID‐19 and Your Money: New Risks and Simple Solutions

Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

Should pre‐retirees (and their advisors) take a new look at retirement income? It’s no secret that COVID‐19 has greatly impacted the world, but let’s talk specifically about its impact on retirement planning. Partner and Senior Financial Planner Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, RICP® provides valuable insight in this Q+A.

Q. Does the COVID‐19 crisis (market decline and job loss) mean retirement is more in peril than ever before? Some advisors tell clients to "work longer" to achieve their desired retirement outcome, but has that advice quickly become outdated due to job cuts?

A. Unfortunately, many retirement plans will be pushed out by the pandemic. Even in a diversified 60% stock and 40% bond portfolio, many clients were down just north of 20% around mid‐April. Thankfully, the market has recovered quite a bit since its lows in March. However, for those closely approaching retirement, this highlights the danger of the “sequence of returns risk”…aka having crummy market returns in the year or so leading up to retirement or shortly after transitioning into retirement. Working longer is still good advice, in my opinion, but what most advisors don’t communicate is that working longer doesn’t have to mean working full‐time longer. Over the past 5 years, I’ve seen an uptick with clients “phasing into retirement”, which essentially means working on a part‐time basis before stopping work completely. Most clients largely underestimate how big of a positive impact on working and earning even $15,000/yr for several years can have on the long term sustainability of their portfolio.

Q. Does the 4% withdrawal rule make sense?

A. Yes, I believe it does. Keep in mind, it’s still a very conservative distribution rate for those with a 30‐35 year retirement time horizon, especially if the client is comfortable dipping into principal. Right now, I think the biggest risk of the 4% rule is our low interest rate environment and the “sequence of returns risk” mentioned previously. However, they both can be greatly mitigated through prudent planning and investment choices in the “retirement risk zone” which I would define as 3 years leading up to retirement and 3 years post‐retirement.

Q. Should pre‐retirees be looking at guaranteed sources of income, such as annuities?

A. Annuities should be evaluated for almost all retirees. The keyword here is evaluated and not implemented. Annuities have a bad reputation by some very prominent faces you see in the media and rightfully so for a myriad of reasons. But the reality is simple, guaranteed income is proven to make human beings feel happier and more secure, especially in retirement and there are only a few ways to get it. Through the government (Social Security), pensions (which are becoming extinct), and annuities. When using annuities for clients I work with, it’s only for a portion of their overall spending goals, perhaps 10‐20% of their cash flow needs. That will not be the right fit for everyone, but it should be part of the due diligence process when evaluating the proper retirement income strategy for a client. In times like this, you won’t find too many clients who are upset that they transferred risk from their portfolio to an insurance company in the form of an annuity that offers guaranteed income.*

Q. Do you have an interesting story about a client who changed their strategy?

A. I work with a couple who recently faced a hard stop working full‐time for several reasons, one being health‐related. Their retirement income goals are a bit of a stretch considering their accumulated portfolio. Our plan was for husband and wife (both 62) to work part‐time starting this year to be eligible for health insurance and receive some income until at least 65. This would dramatically shrink their portfolio distribution rate in the early years of retirement where the “sequence of return risk” is very real. Unfortunately, both of their jobs were affected by the pandemic and the possibility of working part‐time for several years is now slim to none. The clients own their home free and clear and have no plans whatsoever to move in the future. This ultimately led them to explore a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) which is a type of reverse mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Over the past decade, there have been dramatic improvements in how these loans are structured to protect borrowers and surviving spouses. It can be a phenomenal financial planning and retirement income tool as researched by well‐respected thought leaders in our profession such as Wade Pfau and Michael Kitces. The HECM is allowing the clients to fully retire right now and enjoy time with their grandkids. They can now step away from jobs that have been extremely stressful for them over the years. Helping them find such a solution to still achieve their goal in this environment has been extremely rewarding!

Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, RICP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick specializes in tax-efficient retirement income and distribution planning for clients and serves as a trusted source for local and national media publications, including WXYZ, PBS, CNBC, MSN Money, Financial Planning Magazine and OnWallStreet.com.

*Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the insurance company. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Be sure to contact a qualified professional regarding your particular situation before making any investment or withdrawal decision. This material is provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security referred to herein. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. does not provide advice on mortgages.

SECURE Act: Potential Trust Planning Pitfall

Contributed by: Josh Bitel, CFP®

Does the SECURE Act affect your retirement accounts?  If you’re not sure, let’s figure it out together.

Just about 2 months ago, the Senate passed the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act.  The legislation has many layers to it, some of which may impact your financial plan.

One major change is the elimination of ‘stretch’ distributions for non-spouse beneficiaries of retirement accounts such as IRAs. This means that retirement accounts inherited by children or any other non-spousal individuals at least 10 years younger than the deceased account owner must deplete the entire account no later than 10 years after the date of death. Prior to the SECURE Act, beneficiaries were able to ‘stretch’ out distributions over their lifetime, as long as they withdraw the minimum required amount from the account each year based on their age. This allowed for greater flexibility and control over the tax implications of these distributions.

What if your beneficiary is a trust?

Prior to this new law, a see-through trust was a sensible planning tool for retirement account holders, as it gives owners post-mortem control over how their assets are distributed to beneficiaries.  These trusts often contained language that allowed heirs to only distribute the minimum required amount each year as the IRS dictated.  However, now that stretch IRAs are no longer permitted, ‘required distributions’ are no longer in place until the 10th year after death, in which case the IRS requires the entire account to be emptied.  This could potentially create a major tax implication for inherited account holders.  All trusts are not created equally, so 2020 is a great year to get back in touch with your estate planning attorney to make sure your plan is bullet proof.

It is important to note that if you already have an IRA from which you have been taking stretch distributions from, you are grandfathered into using this provision, so no changes are needed.  Other exemptions from this 10-year distribution rule are spouses, individual beneficiaries less than 10 years younger than the account holder, and disabled or chronically ill beneficiaries.  Also exempt are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and minor children who inherit accounts prior to age 18 or 21 (depending on the state) – once they reach that specified age, the 10-year rule will apply from that point, however.

Still uncertain if the SECURE Act impacts you?  Reach out to your financial advisor or contact us. We are happy to help.

Josh Bitel, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He conducts financial planning analysis for clients and has a special interest in retirement income analysis.

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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.

When Stock Markets Fall 20%

Contributed by: Nicholas Boguth

We are supposed to know that stocks are risky, but that doesn’t make holding onto them any easier during turbulent times like these. Hopefully this post provides some optimism for anyone invested in stocks, both domestic and international.  

What happened if you invested $1 in a stock market after it crashed 20% or more?

I took 15 stock indexes representing the largest economies in the world and found the date when they fell 20% from an “all-time high” like the U.S. markets did this past March. I counted 68 of these drawdowns in Morningstar’s database. Below is the performance of $1 over the 10 years following each drawdown.

This is a hypothetical example for illustration purposes only. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

In this example, blue lines ended positive. Red lines ended negative. $1 invested after a 20% drawdown turned positive 64 out of the 68 times. There were only 4 negative time periods (Hong Kong & Italy in ’73, Brazil & Italy in ’08). In the worst 10 year period, the index was down 28% and ended at $0.72. The best instances returned over 600%, and even all the way up to 1,100%!

The economy is tanking, should I get out of the market?

Every investor has thought about this question at least once, probably multiple times, during his or her lifetime. I’m not going to answer it for you here, because there is no universal answer. Investing is not one-size-fits-all. Time horizon, spending goals, cash flows, risk tolerance, and your entire financial plan will affect the decision. We work with our clients to ensure that they have a plan in place before it is too late. If you are unsure of your plan, or need to create one, feel free to reach out to us by phone, email, or on our social media.   

Source: Morningstar Direct. Indexes and dates shown below. Total return, monthly data.

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 doesn't guarantee future results. Investing involves risk regardless of the strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Holding investments for the long term does not insure a profitable outcome.

International investing involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic volatility.

Nicholas Boguth is a Portfolio Administrator at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He performs investment research and assists with the management of client portfolios.

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A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. The MSCI World Index consists of the following 24 developed market country indices: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With Net Dividends (Total Return Index): Net total return indices reinvest dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using (for international indices) a tax rate applicable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the United States & Canada. As of June 2007 the MSCI EAFE Index consisted of the following 21 developed market countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. (Total Return Index) - With Net Dividends: Approximates the minimum possible dividend reinvestment. The dividend is reinvested after deduction of withholding tax, applying the rate to non-resident individuals who do not benefit from double taxation treaties. MSCI Barra uses withholding tax rates applicable to Luxembourg holding companies, as Luxembourg applies the highest rates. The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of the following 21 developed market country indexes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The MSCI Hong Kong Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the Hong Kong market. With 43 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the Hong Kong equity universe. The MSCI Japan Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the Japanese market. With 323 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in Japan. The MSCI Germany Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the German market. With 59 constituents, the index covers about 85% of the equity universe in Germany. The MSCI United Kingdom Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the UK market. With 96 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in the UK. The MSCI France Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the French market. With 77 constituents, the index covers about 85% of the equity universe in France. The MSCI Italy Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the Italian market. With 24 constituents, the index covers about 85% of the equity universe in Italy. The MSCI Canada Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the Canada market. With 89 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in Canada. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represent approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index.

Beware Of This COVID-19 Scam

Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, RICP®

During times of uncertainty, it is common for adversaries to take advantage of global headlines in an attempt to get people to click malicious links, enter credentials on fraudulent websites, volunteer their personal information, download malicious software or fall for common interpersonal scams.  

Emerging Trend: Economic Impact Payment Scams

Congress recently passed a COVID-19 relief and stimulus package (click here to learn more about the “CARES Act”). As with other aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudsters are exploiting the relief and stimulus efforts to victimize the public. The latest scams optimize on these stimulus relief initiatives like Economic Impact Payments to trick individuals into providing financial and other personal information.

If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department, the IRS or other government agency offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards; do not give out your personal information.

Economic Impact Payment Scam Red Flags

• The use of words like "Stimulus Check" or "Stimulus Payment." The official term is Economic Impact Payment.

• The caller or sender asking you to sign over your Economic Impact Payment check to them.

• Asking by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information, insisting that the information is needed to receive or speed up your Economic Impact Payment.

• An offer to expedite a tax refund or Economic Impact Payment faster by working on the taxpayer's behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person.

• Receiving a 'stimulus check' for an odd amount (especially one with cents), or a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number.

Pandemic-Related Phishing Attempts

COVID-19-related email scams have become the largest collection of attacks united by a single theme. Adversaries continue to pose as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and now government agencies like the IRS to obtain information. General COVID-19 red flags include:

• Urging people to click on links regarding “safety tips” to prevent sickness and to “view new cases around your city.”

• Posing as the CDC, WHO or other well-known health organizations.

• Posing as a medical professionals requesting personal information.

Protecting Senior Citizens

• ·Under normal circumstances, seniors are more likely to fall victim to scams. Preying on fear and isolation, fraudsters have no reservations about trying to take advantage of this section of the population even in the most desperate times.

• Additionally, as social distancing continues to be necessary, experts worry that social isolation will lead to depression, anxiety and ailing health for some seniors. These could lead to both cognitive decline and the desire to find social interaction online—easily leading senior and at-risk clients to fall victim to both COVID-19 scams and other common online, interpersonal or romance scams.

Security Recommendations

We recommend that you take the following actions if you receive a suspicious email or phone call:

• If you believe an email could be suspicious, do not click any links, reply or provide any information.

• Always confirm who you are receiving emails from. Thoroughly check the email sender and domain names to be sure that they are accurate before giving out any personal details or performing any requests.

• Be aware of common red flags such as a sense of urgency, posing as a person of authority, or even uncommon language coming from a person you speak to every day.

Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, RICP®, is a Partner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick specializes in tax-efficient retirement income and distribution planning for clients and serves as a trusted source for local and national media publications, including WXYZ, PBS, CNBC, MSN Money, Financial Planning Magazine and OnWallStreet.com.

How To Invest In A Bear Market

Contributed by: Center Investment Department

In a Q+A, our Director of Investments Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® provides valuable advice on the dos and don’ts of investing in a bear market. A “bear market” is when assets fall at least 20% or more from their high. We are currently facing a bear market.

What is a bear market and what triggers them? 

A variety of situations can cause a bear market. They can be event-driven, which explains the current bear market. A black swan event like COVID-19 or a shock in commodity prices like the price war on oil can cause bear markets that lead to recessions. In the case of late 2018, that brief bear market was driven by the trade-war escalation. This example did not lead to a recession. Financial imbalances like high inflation, increasing interest rates from the Federal Reserve, or banks being too leveraged (like in 2008) are all issues that can trigger a bear market and lead to an eventual recession.   

What's good/bad about investing in a bear market? 

Data from historical bear markets indicate that they are excellent investment opportunities, however, it is the most difficult time to invest. Bear markets allow us to tax-loss harvest to offset future capital gains, ultimately reducing our tax bills. We can rebalance out of positions that may not be our highest conviction investing ideas that we have had to hold on to due to high capital gains embedded in those positions.

What investments are best for a bear market and why?

We believe “Core Fixed Income” is often the best strategy to offset the downside risk from equities. These include positions like U.S. Treasuries and High-Quality Corporate debt. Generally, when equities are going down, investors are buying these types of investments. Cash is also a good insulator during times like this. Even though interest rates are low, there is no substitute for its safety. It is very important to always have your next 6-18 months of cash needs set aside so you don’t have to liquidate during times of market turmoil.

What should a brand new investor know about building a portfolio in a bear market? Is it a good time for newbies to enter the market while prices are down? 

Start building a portfolio regardless of whether we are in a bull market or a bear market. The old saying goes, “Time in the market is more important than timing the market”. Most investors save systematically throughout their lives rather than investing in one lump sum. We save every month through our 401(k) deferrals or every year when we get that bonus from work. Dollars go farther in bear markets because the shares of the mutual fund you are buying are now on sale. Investing is the only time in life when buying something on sale doesn’t feel good, but it should if you have a long time horizon to save.

What advice do you have for managing a portfolio in a bear market and when it begins to turn bullish again? For example, how do you manage risk and asset allocation to stay on target with your goals? 

The investing strategy and financial planning goals should be developed during quieter times. Thinking ahead to how you should react during times like this is crucial because in the moment our emotions are very difficult to overcome. A rebalancing strategy also needs to be developed at the same time you are developing your investment strategy. It is a concept that sounds simple but can be very easy to neglect. When markets are doing great and there is very low volatility (like January of this year), you may be tempted to let your best-performing investments run just a little bit longer before rebalancing…meaning you hold your stock positions rather than rebalancing into bonds. In other years that may have been fine, but this year it was not. So, having thresholds around how much stock and bonds you have in your portfolio can take the guesswork out of when to rebalance. That is extremely important at the depths of a bear market because one of the best ways to help your returns coming out of a bear market is simply to rebalance back to your target allocation of stocks and bonds. When markets are down, this means selling bonds and buying stocks.

We hope you found this informative. If you have additional questions, please contact your advisor!

This material is being provided for information purposes only. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Investing involves risk regardless of the strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Rebalancing a non-retirement account could be a taxable event that may increase your tax liability.

COVID-19, The CARES Act, And Divorcing Clients: A Call To Action For Divorce Professionals

Contributed by: Jacki Roessler, CDFA®

Are divorcing couples more susceptible to becoming sick with a virus than the rest of us? According to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale[1], a research study that measured the correlation between stressful life events and future illness, divorce is second only to the death of a spouse as a predictor of future health problems. Viewed through the lens of our current social, health and economic environment, this insight resonates particularly strong. As I write this in early April 2020, Family Courts around the Country remain closed (other than for essential emergency matters), however, several divorce-related issues can’t wait. There are also some unique planning opportunities offered through the newly passed CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act that may be appealing to divorce clients. 

First Things First: Cash Flow Needs

One of the most important (and revealing) questions to ask clients right now is “how are you managing with your cash flow?” For those who are dependent on temporary support to pay their bills, this is a good time to discuss cash flow priorities and make sure there haven’t been any changes to the status quo. For some that may mean re-directing outflows to expenses that take the highest priority such as food, mortgage payments, and utilities. For example, take a hypothetical client Anne...I had a virtual meeting with my client and her attorney. Anne revealed she was feeling panicked about her dwindling cash reserves. Concerned about her mounting legal fees, she had been using her temporary support to make payments to her lawyer. Anne’s attorney let her know their firm was suspending the accrual of interest charges on outstanding legal fees during the current crisis. She also directed her to pay legal fees from a joint marital account and use her income for her family’s living expenses. Similarly, now is not a good time for clients to add to their credit card balances. Discretionary spending for most clients should be reduced or eliminated if at all possible during this time of economic uncertainty. 

For clients who are concerned about low liquidity in their estate, they may want to discuss liquidating securities or mutual funds in post-tax brokerage accounts to free up cash. Although it’s never the best idea to sell into a down market, in certain cases, it may be necessary. Clients should be advised to consult with their financial and/or tax advisor to determine the most tax advantageous way to liquidate securities while taking their overall long-term investment strategy and financial goals into consideration. 

Other clients may not have any brokerage accounts to liquidate despite their concerns about short term cash needs. In fact, for the vast majority of my current open divorce cases, the parties have the bulk of their assets tied up in retirement accounts and real estate equity; neither of which can be easily accessible for cash needs. There are two provisions of the newly passed CARES Act that may help clients who are looking for creative ways to free up cash.

CARES Act changes to 401(k) loan rules

Before the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020, federal law provided a means for employees to access the money in their retirement accounts for short term personal loans. Qualified plan sponsors could allow employees to borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of their total account value (whichever was less). The benefit of a 401k loan is that it can be quickly and easily accessed, there aren’t any long approval delays and the borrower pays the money back to him or herself. Loans aren’t treated as taxable distributions and the employee immediately starts to pay the loan back through (after-tax) payroll deductions.

The CARES Act expanded the existing program by increasing the loan limit to $100,000 or 100% of the account balance (whichever is less). This may be a valuable tool for divorcing clients to access money during the divorce, as long as both parties understand the money must be repaid. This opportunity is time-sensitive as the increased limit is only available through September 22, 2020. 

There are other pitfalls to parties taking out loans that attorneys and financial professionals should discuss with their clients. Let’s suppose, for example, Jane and Jack are in the process of divorce. Jack is feeling anxious about his job as his employer is considering potential layoffs. Without conferring with his attorney, Jack initiates a loan of 100% of his 401(k) balance to pay his temporary spousal and child support to Jane. Jane’s signature isn’t required for the loan and he takes it without her knowledge or agreement. Will this loan be considered dissipation of the marital estate, a separate debt of Jack’s alone or will it be viewed as a legitimate marital debt the parties will share? It’s certainly something he needs to discuss with his attorney before he takes any action.

Even if the parties agree that a 401k loan is a good idea for both of them in the short term, Jack needs to understand the potential risks. If his employer is forced to lay him off, for example, the loan would need to be repaid within the tax year it is withdrawn. If it isn’t repaid, it's treated as taxable income and Jack would also owe an additional 10% penalty for early withdrawal since he’s under 59 ½ years old.

CRD-Coronavirus Retirement Distributions

The other option the CARES Act provides is a CRD (Coronavirus Retirement Distribution) for those who have the virus, have a spouse or dependent with the virus, or those who experienced financial hardship due to the virus. As of now, it seems that what qualifies as a “financial hardship” will be loosely interpreted and monitored. The maximum withdrawal amount is $100,000 per person and can be from an IRA, 401k, 403b, or other qualified retirement annuities as long as the plan sponsor allows it. Additionally, taxes on the withdrawal can be spread out over 3 years and will not be subject to the 10% penalty for early (pre age 59 ½) withdrawals.

For many divorcing couples, this might provide a planning opportunity to free up liquid assets within the marital estate. It’s important to note that to qualify, distributions must be made before December 31, 2020. Liquid assets may be needed for one or both parties for their cash reserves, to pay legal fees, moving costs or other one-time expenses. They also may be needed to buy-out all or a portion of alimony in certain cases. 

One important note for couples who will be filing separately in 2020 is that any distribution will be treated as taxable income to the person who withdraws the money. For example, suppose Jack and Jane want to free up $75,000 in cash from their combined retirement accounts. Although they both have separate retirement accounts, they decide it makes sense to take a $75,000 CRD from Jane’s IRA. They plan to split the net proceeds between them and they want to minimize taxes. Jane who plans to file as Head of Household in 2020 and whose sole income will be child support and alimony will be in a low tax bracket for the next several years. Jack predicts he’ll be in a high tax bracket. Jane will spread the tax liability on the distribution out over 3 years, thereby greatly minimizing (possibly even eliminating) the tax liability on the distribution. 

Although the tax liability can be spread out over 3 years, it’s still important to note that it’s best to leave retirement assets invested in tax-deferred vehicles, if at all possible. Of course, Jane and Jack should also be advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor about their particular situation before taking any distributions.

In stressful times such as these, it’s easy to forget that the new world we’re living in may provide unique planning opportunities. Now, more than ever, divorcing clients need the professionals they work with to reach out to them with creative ideas, suggestions, and re-assurance. 

[1] Holmes and Rahe (1967) – used a self-report measure with their Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) which looked at the events which had occurred in a person's life and rates their impact.

Jacki Roessler, CDFA®, is a Divorce Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and Branch Associate, Raymond James Financial Services. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, she is a recognized leader in the area of Divorce Financial Planning.

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The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Raymond James. 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. Examples used are for illustrative purposes only.