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Confluence Commentary


Traditional 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k)

Retirement plans can be confusing – we know! The decision of whether to contribute to a Traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k) is one that many people have or will encounter at some point in their lives. Although these two types of retirement accounts are very similar, they also have key differences. As more and more employers begin to offer a Roth 401(k) option, you should make sure that you have an understanding of each so that you can make the most informed decision possible.

What is the difference?

The main difference between a Traditional or Pre-Tax 401(k) and a Roth 401(k) is the tax impact. With a Traditional 401(k), you receive a tax benefit for your contribution now, but are taxed on the withdrawals later. A Roth 401(k), however, does not provide a tax benefit now. As a result of paying tax on your contribution now, the Roth option allows for tax-free withdrawals later.

Here is a quick example to help explain the tax difference between the two options. This year, if you contribute $10,000 to a Traditional 401(k) and were taxed at a fictional rate of 15% (this would depend on your tax bracket) the $10,000 contribution would decrease your current year taxes by $1,500. If you contributed $10,000 to a Roth 401(k) instead, there would be no reduction to your current year taxes. If we fast forward to retirement and assume the $10,000 contribution is now worth $50,000, there will again be a difference between the two upon withdrawal. If you made a withdrawal of the entire $50,000, the full $50,000 would be taxed at your retirement tax rate with a Traditional 401(k), but the entire $50,000 would be withdrawn tax-free if it were originally invested in a Roth 401(k).

As you can see, the current tax benefit is greater with the Traditional 401(k), but the future tax benefits are better upon withdrawal from a Roth 401(k). One other item to note is that these facts hold no matter what the withdrawal amount is. No matter the amount, a withdrawal from a Traditional 401(k) is generally all taxable and a withdrawal from a Roth 401(k) is generally tax-free.

Which is right for you?

Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends. The primary question to ask yourself is: will my tax rate now or during retirement be higher? If you are in the beginning of your career or expect your income during retirement to be more than it is today, a Roth 401(k) may be right for you. If you believe your tax rate now is going to be higher than what it will be during retirement, then a Traditional 401(k) may be the best option for you.

Another advantage of the Roth 401(k) is that in addition to your original contribution, the growth of the account can be withdrawn tax-free! This is not the case with a Traditional 401(k). Also, if your employer provides a contribution match, you would need to pay tax on this portion of your account at the time of withdrawal whether you use a Traditional or Roth 401(k) as it is a pre-tax contribution.

Other considerations

There are several other differences between the Traditional and Roth 401(k) options that you may want to consider.

  • Required minimum distributions (RMDs) – Beginning at age 72, there are required minimum distributions from both 401(k) options unless you are still working. However, a Roth 401(k) could be rolled over to a Roth IRA. Unlike Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs do not have required minimum distributions.
  • Estate planning – Inheriting a Roth retirement account is more beneficial to your heirs than a Traditional account. This is because they would generally not have to pay tax on distributions from the inherited Roth account, whereas they would have to pay tax on distributions from the Traditional.
  • Law changes – Just as we can’t predict what your future tax rate will look like we also can’t predict law changes that could occur. Any law changes during your lifetime could change the results of this decision for yourself or your heirs. For example, the recent SECURE Act pushed back RMDs from age 70 ½ to age 72. It also requires an inherited IRA to be distributed within 10 years of inheritance rather than over the beneficiary’s lifetime. This could be a reason to contribute to both a Traditional and a Roth 401(k) to give yourself tax diversification across different accounts. Many employers will allow you to split your contributions between the two.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no easy answer to what type of 401(k) option is better. The decision will depend on your individual circumstances and most likely will change throughout your life. Using the information above should hopefully give you a good starting point to be able to make the most informed decision possible.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you would like to discuss further!

401(k) plans are long-term retirement savings vehicles. Withdrawal of pre-tax contributions and/or earnings will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59 1/2, may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. Roth 401(k) plans are long-term retirement savings vehicles. Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are never tax deductible, but if certain conditions are met, distributions will be completely income tax free. Unlike Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k) participants are subject to required minimum distributions at age 72. RMD’s are generally subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state taxes. Consult your tax advisor to assess your situation.

Any opinions are those of Gregory Weimer and Chuck Ziants and not necessarily those of Raymond James. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

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How to Nurture Moneywise Children


Teach your children to treasure their financial legacy.

Most parents appreciate the importance of traditional education in their child’s development considering the obvious intellectual and social benefits. Yet all too many forget that a financial education is also crucial for ensuring their offspring’s long-term well-being.The good news is it’s never too early or too late to begin sharing your financial wisdom and experiences with your family. By taking the time to teach your children the value of money, you’ll have the comfort of knowing they’ll understand how to care for their own financial legacy when the time comes.

An Essential Skill

Like reading, financial literacy is an essential skill, but unfortunately, it’s not typically taught in school. Rather, it’s up to parents to pass on their financial knowledge to ensure the next generation is capable of taking care of the wealth they’ve built.

Pre-kindergarten age is a great time to introduce the basics, including the idea that you must work to earn money in order to pay for items and services, as well as the value of different coins and bills. As they get a little older, your child can start doing chores and earning an allowance. Help them go through the motions of saving up for something they’d like to buy and deciding whether or not it’s a worthwhile purchase.

With pre-teens and teenagers, there are several other steps you can take, such as helping them open a savings account with their earnings from chores, babysitting or other jobs. Share your own tips on managing a budget and introduce them to the concept of investing and saving for retirement. Simply being transparent with your children about the realities and costs of living can go a long way in preparing them for the future.

Sharing Your Financial Legacy

While products such as trusts and wills can help ensure your wishes are carried out, they can’t give your heirs the true understanding of how to save, grow and spend money wisely. In fact, if your children are going to receive a sizable inheritance, they may get overwhelmed by sudden wealth without a solid foundation to rely on. It’s also a good idea to introduce your children, when they’re ready, to your financial advisor and other professional partners, so they’ll know where to find expert guidance when dealing with money issues.

Next Steps

  • Write out a sample budget with your children, explaining the expenses you have each month, such as utilities and groceries
  • Help them open a savings or checking account
  • Schedule a time for them to join you for a meeting with your financial advisor

Family and Life Events

August 14, 2019

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Family and Life Events


Make Lasting Memories by Savoring Life’s Simple Joys

While extravagant vacations are great, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make meaningful memories with your loved ones. A slow morning on the first day of summer. Baking cookies with the littles. A great meal surrounded by close friends or family. The best memories come in all shapes and sizes, both planned and unplanned. And while there’s nothing like going on that vacation you’ve been looking forward to for months, sometimes it’s the small, unexpected delights that stay with us the longest.

So how can you lead a life with more moments worth savoring? Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Focus on the Little Things

There’s nothing wrong with a bucket list full of exotic travel destinations or goals to buy that yacht or plan a big family reunion. After all, helping you work toward those goals is what a well-planned life is all about. Still, that’s usually not our day-to-day life. There are so many moments in between those grander experiences that are opportunities to explore smaller joys that, when added together, can be just as memorable or fulfilling as a big trip.

Start by picturing your perfect day. What do you do or eat? Who and what do you see? Perhaps it’s reading a book, listening to music or getting outside. Maybe you want to spend more time with close friends. After thinking it over, consider how to bring a few of those elements into your regular routine.

For example, maybe you want to get outside and see one of your friends more often. Consider putting a weekly date on the calendar with them to go for a walk, helping you fulfill both goals. Or perhaps you want to spend more time with your grandkids and also do more at-home cooking. Can the kids help? It could turn into an opportunity to not only spend time together, but for you to share some of your skills and insights with the next generation – doing something as simple as making a pizza.

When trying to find ways to bring the whole family together, consider what everyone is most interested in. Do your kids or grandkids have favorite activities you can do together? Maybe it’s going to an escape room or planning a watch party for their favorite show. Better yet, take turns choosing the plans for a monthly get-together. Experiences are a great way to connect and they make excellent gifts, too.

Commit to Unplugging

Social media has given us unprecedented access to loved ones near and far, and it’s made it easier than ever to share our lives (for better or for worse). But while it makes capturing a moment so easy, social media can also put extra pressure on ourselves and our experiences to be and look perfect – making it that much harder to cultivate and cherish authentic memories.

Moreover, according to Psychology Today, the average American has five social media accounts and spends an hour and 20 minutes each day browsing their feeds. That’s more than 37 hours every month! Imagine the memories we could create over a year with that time.

If you’ve found yourself getting sucked into social media, consider taking a break or limiting the time you spend scrolling. Time management apps and new settings on phones allow you to set timers so you receive an alert when you’ve gone over your allotted time on specific apps.

Learn to Be Present

It’s hard to fully take in a great moment when we’re distracted, whether by our never-ending to-do list or our phone. Learning how to quiet our mind for even short periods of time can leave us open for moments of serendipity and spontaneity. Perhaps you run into a friend at the grocery store and decide to catch up over lunch, or spot a bed of flowers in full bloom while on a walk – both things you may have missed while checking your phone or worrying over all the errands on your list.

Meditation has been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety while improving our concentration. And with several popular apps out there with guided meditations, it’s never been easier to give it a try. While some require subscriptions, most offer a free trial so you can see how you like it before making a commitment.

Enjoy the Moments Worth Living For

Living for the moment is all about applying that stop-and-smell-the-roses mindset to your daily life. That way, even when you aren’t cruising the Mediterranean or celebrating your birthday with a bash, you might just stumble upon a few more exciting moments and soak up some extra memories along the way.

Sources: Psychology Today; Huffington Post

Raymond James is not affiliated with any organizations mentioned.

Family and Life Events

June 26, 2019

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Tax Planning


Check This List – Twice – Before Year-End

Proactive investors know that the months before year-end are an ideal time to make any final tax-saving moves.

While keeping in mind your long-term investment goals, meet with your advisor and coordinate with your tax professional to examine nuances and changes that could impact your typical year-end planning.

Mind Your RMDs

Be thoughtful about required minimum distributions (RMDs) to ensure that you comply with the rules. If applicable and you have yet to do so, take your 2017 RMD to avoid a 50% penalty on required amounts not taken. Other considerations:

  • By automating your RMDs with your advisor, ensure that you never miss this important deadline.
  • You can take your first RMD during the year you reach age 70½, or you can delay it until April 1 of the following year. Know, however, that if you delay and take two distributions in the first year after turning 70½, your income could be inflated, which may affect your tax-bracket standing.
  • Subsequent RMDs must be taken no later than December 31 of each calendar year.
  • Qualified charitable distributions allow traditional IRA owners who transfer RMDs to qualified charities to exclude the amount donated from their adjusted gross incomes, up to $100,000.
  • Be mindful of how taking a distribution will impact your taxable income or tax bracket. If you have space left in your bracket or a down income year, you may want to consider taking additional distributions.

To Harvest or Not to Harvest

Evaluate whether you could benefit from tax-loss harvesting – selling a losing investment to offset gains or establish a deduction of up to $3,000. Excess losses also can be carried forward to future years. With your advisor, examine the following subtleties when aiming to decrease your tax bill:

  • Short-term gains are taxed at a higher marginal rate; aim to reduce those first.
  • Don’t disrupt your long-term investment strategy when harvesting losses.
  • Be aware of “wash sale” rules that affect new purchases before and after the sale of a security. If you sell a security at a loss but purchase another “substantially identical” security – within 30 days before or after the sale date – the IRS likely will consider that a “wash sale” and disallow the loss deduction. The IRS will look at all your accounts – 401(k), IRA, etc. – when determining if a wash sale occurred.

Manage Your Income and Deductions

Those at or near the next tax bracket should pay close attention to anything that might bump them up and plan to reduce taxable income before the end of the year.

  • Consider making a donation. Giving to a charity can benefit a cause you care about and reduce your taxable income. Make sure your gifts are well-documented. You also can gift up to $14,000 tax free to as many individuals as you wish.
  • Determine if it makes sense to accelerate deductions or defer income, potentially allowing you to minimize your current tax liability. Some companies may give you an opportunity to defer bonuses and so forth into a future year as well.
  • Certain retirement plans also can help you defer taxes. Contributing to a traditional 401(k) allows you to pay income tax only when you withdraw money from the plan in the future, at which point your income and tax rate may be lower or you may have more deductions available to offset the income.*
  • Evaluate your income sources – earned income, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, qualified dividends, etc. – to reduce the overall tax impact.

Evaluate Life Changes

From welcoming a new family member to moving to a new state, any number of life changes may have impacted your circumstances over the past year. Bring your financial advisor up to speed on major life changes and ask how they could affect your year-end planning.

  • Moving, for example, can have a significant impact on taxes and estate planning, especially if you have relocated from a high income tax state to a low income tax state, from a state with an estate income tax to one without or vice versa, or if you have moved to a state with increased asset protection. Note that moving expenses themselves, however, are no longer deductible as an itemized deduction for non-military members.
  • Give thought to your family members’ life changes as well as your own – job changes, births, deaths, weddings and divorces for example can all necessitate changes – and consider updating your estate documents accordingly.

Next Steps

Consider these to-dos as you prepare to make the most of year-end financial moves, and discuss with your financial advisor and tax professional:

  • Manage your income and deductions, paying close attention to your tax bracket, especially if you are on the edge.
  • Remember to take your RMD, if applicable.
  • Evaluate your investments, keeping in mind whether you could benefit from tax-loss harvesting.
  • Make a list of the life changes you and your family have experienced during the year.

*Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may also be subject to a 10% federal penalty tax. RMDs are generally subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state taxes. Consult your tax advisor to assess your situation. Raymond James advisors do not provide tax advice. 

TAX PLANNING

November 21, 2018

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Redefining Your Retirement


Redefining Your Retirement

Today’s retirees are choosing from a variety of retirement styles. What’s yours?

Although an estimated 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age every day, how each chooses to spend their free time can be quite different. Today’s retirees wish to forge new identities and seek new experiences, while redefining how they spend their time and money.

See if one or more of these new retiree profiles resonates with you. Deciding how you’ll stay busy can go a long way toward helping you plan and save for your dream retirement.

The Giver

Givers contribute time, talent and, yes, even money to support causes close to their hearts. While the typical American spends 20 minutes a day engaged in volunteer, civic or religious activities, the Giver over age 65 dedicates a half hour or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One retiree may use her musical talents to play the violin for hospital patients, while another works behind the scenes updating a nonprofit’s website. Either way, it’s all about making a meaningful difference.

Note: Givers may become too altruistic, spending more time and money than planned, undermining health or financial stability.

Givers represent 33% of working retirees.

The Thinker

Thinkers have a deep desire for lifelong learning. They may retire in a college town, take classes, read for pleasure and engage in contemplative activities.

Many colleges and universities are designing courses aimed at this new senior class. Campuses can be found in areas with affordable housing, quality education, teaching opportunities, walking and biking trails, and excellent transportation, healthcare and entertainment options.

Note: If you’ve established a 529 plan for a child or grandchild, you may be able to use unneeded funds for your own continuing education. Ask your financial advisor about potentially withdrawing funds without penalties.

Cognitively active people are 2.6 times less likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs typically start a business that’s different from a past career, bringing decades of experience, success, passion and emotional intelligence to their new ventures.

Goals include a fulfilling career, increased flexibility and enjoyment in their work. Some hope their new endeavors will becomes self-sustaining, while allowing for work/life balance.

Note: A small business entails a business plan, startup costs, insurance and a financial plan. Work with a professional tax planner and financial advisor to build a successful venture.

Nearly 3 out of 5 working retirees consider a different line of work.

The Explorer

The Explorer dedicates up to a quarter of their financial resources on travel. These globetrotters invest in experiences and indulge their wanderlust while they have the health, energy and resources.

Good saving habits help Explorers immerse themselves among other cultures, foods and languages.

Note: Plan for ongoing travel expenses, desired location, frequency and duration, as well as inflation and foreign exchange rates. Health-related issues may become a limitation in later years.

There are just as many Explorers over age 75 as there are among younger groups.

The Part-Timer

The Part-Timer, like the Entrepreneur, seeks a career change, but may not wish to commit to a full-time position. Some favor mini-retirements – periods of work followed by intermissions for relaxation. Think consulting and contracting, for example.

Note: Returning to work, even part time, can incur expenses such as new work attire, transportation and dining out. Evaluate the impact of additional income on your current tax bracket, Social Security benefits, healthcare coverage, and potential contributions to retirement plans.

There are more than 7.1 million Part-Timers age 55 or older.

The Foodie

Foodies prefer quality dining and enjoying the experience of the meal. They typically spend about an hour and 20 minutes when dining, relishing how food and drink increases their quality of life. They enjoy experimenting with new creations, introducing new flavors or bringing friends and family together.

Since the Foodie spends time shopping for and preparing meals, other expenses are typically lower.

Note: Food connoisseurs need to factor in healthcare costs and inflation, as well as utilities and transportation.

Foodies spend, on average, 28% of their income on food and beverage.

The Athlete

The Athlete may compete in triathlons or play tennis into their 80s and beyond. They stay in top form and enjoy training and competition.

As the Athlete eventually slows down, or faces sudden illness or injury, healthcare costs can account for a significant share of retirement income, including Medicare expenses, prescriptions or long-term care needs.

Note: It’s important to budget for proper equipment and training. Select an appropriate Medicare or healthcare policy and account for expenses that aren’t covered. Be sure to factor in inflation and long-term care or assisted living.

Approximately a third of Americans over 65 are considered physically active.

Next Steps

  • Decide what type or types of retirement styles you’d like to pursue
  • Further explore the necessary steps to achieving your goals
  • Talk to your financial advisor about the best strategy for turning your retirement dream into reality

Sources: Journal of Financial Planning: “How retirees spend their time”; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center; Work in Retirement: Myths and Motivation; J.P. Morgan “Cost of Waiting” study; President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Earnings in 529 plans are not subject to federal tax, and in most cases, state tax, so long as you use withdrawals for eligible education expenses, such as tuition and room and board. However, if you withdraw money from a 529 plan and do not use it on an eligible education expense, you generally will be subject to income tax and an additional 10% federal tax penalty on earnings. Investors should consider before investing, whether the investor’s or the designated beneficiary’s home state offers state tax or other benefits only available for investments in such state’s 529 savings plan. Such benefits include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors. 529 plans offered outside their resident state may not provide the same tax benefits as those offered within their state.

RETIREMENT AND LONGEVITY

August 15, 2018

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Confluence Financial Partners Quarterly Webinar – 1Q21


Your 2021 outlook: What’s it all about?

The live event occurred on 1/12/21, but you can still watch our 2021 Outlook presentation.

Join Greg Weimer and Jim Wilding, Partners at Confluence Financial Partners, as we close the books on an unforgettable year and look forward to all that lies ahead. Jim Wilding will recap 2020 and examine the forces and trends driving the worldwide economic recovery. He’ll also share the practice’s perspective on investing in equities versus bonds, along with insights into companies poised for growth. Then, Greg Weimer will explore the five key questions investors should be asking to maximize their lives and legacies. Tune in as we prepare our friends, family and stakeholders for the financial challenges and opportunities to come. Let’s make it a great year.

Heather:

Thank you for attending the Confluence Financial Partners Quarterly Webinar, 2021 Outlook “What’s It all about?” with Greg Weimer and Jim Wilding. We’ll be starting shortly.

 

Greg:

Thanks, Heather. This is Greg Weimer and I just wanted to welcome all of you to our webinar on behalf of my partner. So you can see, hopefully on the screen, Jim Wilding and all the associates of Confluence, we want to welcome you to the webinar and tell you, we are very, very grateful for the relationship and it’s been a challenging year, but we got through it together. And our thoughts and prayers obviously go out to all of the people that have been affected by the horrible pandemic that we’ve been through. So, we continue to pray. We continue to stick together and let’s all just believe there are greater days ahead. I think at a time like this, in January, everybody tends to say, “happy new year.” And I was thinking about that and just thinking, well, happy new year, that sounds like somewhat hopeful.

How about we all together agree as a team and we start saying, “let’s make it a great year.” That just sounds a little more active. Like, we have some control, which we do. So, let’s say, “let’s make it a great year” instead of the past. So, I’m hoping it’s a great year. So, to all of you, let’s make it a great year. We look forward to continuing to work with you. And in that regard, just to say, congratulations. It was a challenging year. In fact, I just looked, if you didn’t pay attention in the last year, you would have thought it was somewhat boring. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 7% from 12 months ago today, which is amazing. Now other indexes could have, or were up a lot more, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average is the one that a lot of people think about and it was only up 7%.

So, it’s like not much happened, boring year, 7%. Not really. So, but I will tell you, we navigated it well as a team. And, and I just want to thank all of you, and we want to thank all of you for your, you know, your informed patience as we got through this year, because it was bumpy. We’re not dancing. You know, if you’re running a hundred mile race, you don’t, you don’t celebrate too much when you, when you do well for one lap. But I think our team, with you at the driver or steering wheel, the driver’s seat, I think we did well. I will tell you that your spotter, your crew chief and the pit crew, all worked really well together, but without all of you looking through the windshield and focusing on your goals and looking forward, we wouldn’t have navigated together as well.

So, we want to thank you for just sticking with us and making sure we got to the end of the lap. We have a lot more to go, but thank you. And congratulations. Here’s what we thought we’d talk about today. The agenda for today is really, it’s reflect and plan. So, I’m going to turn it over to my partner, Jim Wilding. And he’s going to talk about the 2021 outlook, and then I’m going to come back on and we’re going to talk about how we can, our passion, your passion is how we can plan to help you maximize your life and legacy. But first I’d like to turn it over my partner, Jim Wilding.

 

Jim:

Thanks very much, Greg let’s make 2021 a great year together. And thank you to everybody for joining us today. As Greg mentioned, I’m going to give an outlook for 2021, but I’m going to start by giving a quick market recap in 2020. We’re going to talk a little bit about the worldwide economy and we’re also gonna talk about stocks and bonds and the some of the valuation issues going on right now in some of the areas where we think there could be a good potential within the next year.

2020 was sure an unforgettable year. We can go to the next slide. There are lots of things about the year we’d like to forget, but I doubt we ever will. The market actually got off to a good start in 2020. As a lot of you might remember, mid-February, it was up almost 5% for the year on February 19th.

That was the peak before the decline. The S&P 500 was at 3393, but that was the peak for a while. And what followed was, was real challenging. The spread of the coronavirus with a simultaneous huge drop in the price of oil led to a major decline in economic activity and stock prices. The ensuing loss of jobs produced 22 million unemployment claims in a month. And just to give you a historical perspective about that, if you went back to the great recession that we had in 2008, in 2009, cumulatively, over that whole time, we lost about 9 million jobs. So, 22 million in a month was unbelievable. The chart on the left hand side of the screen shows that by Friday, March 20th, the S&P 500 was down 35% from its high just four weeks ago. From February 19th to March 20th, that decline was actually the fastest drop of 30% or more ever.

And as almost all declines do, it felt awful and nobody knew how much worse it might get. The next week on the right-hand side of the screen, we see the recovery that began three days later. On Monday, March 23rd, the day the Federal Reserve came out and announced that it was committed to using its full range of tools to support households, businesses, and the U.S. economy overall. Amazingly, right after the S&P 500 completes its quickest decline into a bear market, we actually have the best 50 days ever for the market. And by late August, we’re actually back to a new all-time high for the S&P 500. The early fall is challenging. You might remember the focus turns to elections and September and October were both down months. The market pundits on CNBC, CNN and Fox News tell us that divided government is the best election outcome that we could hope for.

Sounds good to me, as you know, that’s not what happens. And the S&P 500 now is up about 13% since the election day, a little over two months ago. We think 2020 might just be the best year ever for illustrating the impossibility of timing the market. Last year showed that even if you could somehow accurately predict a global pandemic and a U.S. Presidential election, you probably could not reliably anticipate the market reaction for the year. The S&P advanced by over 16%, as Greg mentioned, the Dow was only up seven, and there was a big disparity between the returns generated by traditional dividend paying stocks and growth stocks. We’ll talk a little bit more about that later.

We could be on the cusp of a synchronized worldwide economic recovery. 2021 has the potential to be a year where most of the world’s major economies are growing, which could be very good news for global stocks. The International Monetary Fund estimates that global economic growth will exceed 5% in 2021. The current recovery in China has been surprisingly swift, as you probably realize China is the world’s second largest economy. They are expected to have growth, not only in 2020, but also in 2021. The U.S. contracted in 2020 by about 4% slightly over. It’s anticipated that our economy is going to grow by a little bit, over 3% in 2021. And as the chart shows on the screen, emerging markets are actually expected to do even better, up about 6% in 2021. We think all of these growth forecasts are very dependent on the vaccines implemented around the world.

In addition to a strong worldwide economy, a weaker dollar may also strengthen the non U.S. markets. The dollar has been in a bull market for about 10 years. That cycle may start to change with our super low interest rates that we now have in the United States and drastically higher government spending. The dollar may become a little bit less attractive. The valuations of non U.S. markets are also significantly lower than U.S. markets. Said another way, expectations for companies outside of the U.S. are generally not as high, which may turn out to be a positive for the non U.S. portion of our portfolios.

As I mentioned in the 2020 recap and that, and you can see on the left-hand side of the screen, the Fed cut rates drastically last March and pledged to keep rates low for the perceivable future. An ultra-low interest rate environment encourages investors to move assets out of the safe havens and into riskier investments, especially stocks. And I mentioned earlier that growth stocks had done very well lately. One of the reasons is actually the very low interest rate. A company shares are valued, not just by the current earnings, but also what the projected future earnings are going to be. And that valuation is made by discounting back to today. All of those future earnings, when you have a discount rate that is drastically lower than the old discount rate, you’re going to come up with a much higher number for what the value of that company would be.

It’s really the exact same math that allows you to buy a much more expensive home with the same monthly payment when the mortgage rate is 3% instead of 8%. So very low interest rates do generally make stocks more expensive. The long-term decline of interest rates is like having some wind at our back, helping us if we’re investing in stocks. So, one of the things we gotta be aware of now is the long-term decline of rates. That’s probably over. You can see on the right-hand side of the screen, that the Fed’s announcement on March 23rd kicked off the fastest recovery from a bear market. Once the market was confident that the Fed was going to help with all of its tools, the recovery was on. The old saying is don’t fight the Fed. With interest rates so low now, one of the questions that we get quite frequently is it, does it still make sense for investors to have bonds in their portfolio?

And for a lot of investors, the answer is still yes. And here’s why. What happened in the stock market last February, March potentially could happen at any time. And so, there’s two main reasons you’d want to have some of your portfolio in bonds. Number one, if you have a cash need in the short term, whether that’s your retirement living expenses, paying for your child’s college tuition next year, an upcoming wedding, you don’t want to have to sell when the prices are low. So, it makes sense that some of your money in bonds or money market. It’s what we call having the bucket strategy.

The other reason would be if you prefer your portfolio to not move down during the temporary stock market setbacks, as much as the stock market does, it probably makes sense to have bonds in your portfolio, because that would lessen the decline. We can help you build a plan and determine what the right percentage of bonds in your portfolio should be for your risk tolerance. And that still lets you accomplish your long-term goals. But for long-term investors, bonds do not currently offer what they historically have, which is a somewhat reduced return with significantly less risk. Today it is almost no return. And you do have risks with longer-term bonds. The average yield on the ten-year Treasury during the past 60 years is almost exactly 6%. Today, the ten-year Treasury yields about 1%. So you have to have six times as much money in those bonds to get the same amount of interest that you would’ve gotten on average over the past 60 years. It is our opinion that bonds today are a lot more expensive than stocks.

Amazon, Alphabet (also known as Google), Facebook and Netflix — those are the names that most people think about when they think about digital leaders. But there’s also a lot of online payment processors, cloud computing providers. Microsoft is one of them. And chip makers, such as Taiwan Semiconductors that are also digital leaders. Not to mention companies in such varied industry as personal fitness, automobile sales and foot and athletic wear. Companies with strong digital business models have an advantage. And that advantage widened substantially during the coronavirus outbreak. A senior analyst at an investment firm that we use in our portfolios said, “the growth rates at companies with a digital advantage have been phenomenal during the downturn.” And in my view, we’re not going back when the pandemic is over. We may see slower growth rates, but I don’t think a lot of people will be canceling their Netflix subscription or returning their Peloton bike. As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And there are some cases where the market might be placing an unsustainably high premium on a company’s digital model. The market might be, in some cases, a little over enthusiastic about that. And I’ll give you one example, and I’m not saying for sure, this is, but this is a valuation difference. So, CarMax is an established car retailer been around for a while. They sell about a little over $20 billion of cars a year and their latest year, they had pre-tax income of $1.2 billion. Their stock was up about 15% in the last 12 months and the market values their total enterprise at about $17 billion. A much newer car retailer that has a more of a digital platform is Carvana.

They have annualized, right now, about $5 billion in sales in a year. They have yet to make a profit. In their most recent full year, they lost $365 million. Their stock in the last 12 months was up 237%. The stock market places a value on them of about three times as much as CarMax. Their value is just under $50 billion. So not all experiences can be digitized and digitized for phenomenal success. And there’s pent-up demand for a lot of those businesses. Have you heard of the flight to nowhere? Probably not, but on October 10th of 2020, 150 restless passengers boarded a seven hour Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia to Sydney, Australia, and the flights sold out in 10 minutes. Wow. I’m not the biggest fan of air travel, especially if I’m going nowhere, but maybe I’m in the minority on that.

Air travel is back to pre-coronavirus levels in China. As you can see from this chart, I doubt the U.S. can be far behind. After September 11th, 2001, there was a lot of talk that air travel was permanently going to be low. That turned out not to be true. I think there’s a lot of behaviors due to the coronavirus that we have a feeling that maybe it’s not going to come back. I think in a lot of ways, it is going to come back. Certainly, the pandemic has expedited changes in our society, for sure. Online shopping and working from home. They might never go back completely to what they were pre-COVID, but most people are very eager to return to many parts of our old ways of doing things, attending concerts, going to casinos, attending live sporting events, eating out at restaurants and traveling. I had with, with some other associates in Confluence, we had a few meetings this week with clients reviewing their plan. And each of the clients mentioned that in the next few years, they intend to travel more than they normally would because they didn’t get to travel in the last year.

There are many airline cruise, hotel, entertainment and restaurant companies whose businesses could be back to booming soon. Not everything can be done on a computer. In summary, I went over the stock market of 2020, a crazy year, but maybe the best one ever for learning or relearning some of the most important lessons in investing. It’s not tim-ing the market, it’s time in the market. And don’t let your political views shape your investment philosophy. We talked about a synchronized worldwide economic recovery that we think could be coming in the near term. And we do think that’s pretty dependent upon the vaccine availability and how the rollout goes. And then, finally we believe equities remain significantly more attractive than bonds, but for a lot of investors, bonds absolutely play a very important role in your portfolio and your long-term plan. With that, I’m going to turn it back over to my partner, Greg. Thank you.

 

Greg:

Hey, thanks, Jim. We appreciate the update. And the review of 2020 and thinking about what’s going to happen in 2021 and beyond. And by the way, I agree with you. It was if you, if someone had told you exactly what happened last year, even if you knew exactly what was going to happen, your response as an investor may not have been to stay invested the whole time. But it also reminds me of the saying, you never get hit by the bus that you’re watching. And it’s so true, but even though you don’t get hit by the bus that you’re watching, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to plan for it. On a positive side, you know, I think that was an interesting year. When you, we watched the private sector companies, we watched science and we watched government come together to focus on one enemy.

And that is the pandemic. And 12 months later, we have a vaccine. That just shows you the human spirit. When it comes together, we really can solve great things, right? If some people are thinking, yeah, but what’s going on in TV sometimes what, regardless of what news channel you watch, can be disappointing. I totally agree. We totally agree. But at the end of the day, as a society, we have not been very good at solving problems. We have been great at solving a crisis, and this is a crisis and we’re closer to the end than the beginning. We’re not in the prediction business. Obviously, we are, in the end, in the anticipation business. I think there’s a subtle difference there and we’re in the planning business. So, one of the things that we, that I’ve noticed, I’ve had the privilege and I’ve been blessed to be around some just brilliant people over the years.

And what I notice about these brilliant people, they don’t pride themselves on having the right answers all the time, but they’re brilliant. And making sure that they’re asking themselves the right questions. So, my goal and my segment is helping you really think about maximizing your life and legacy, is just really challenging you. Challenging you to ask the right questions of yourself. I’m going to give you five. There’s a lot more questions we should be asking together, but let’s go through the five questions that if you ask yourself this year, let’s make it a great year. If we ask yourself these questions this year, at the end of the year, you’ll be better off than you are at the beginning of the year. So, let’s go to the first question.

It’s a simple one that we don’t ask enough, and we don’t ask this enough. And it’s, what’s it all about? And there are purposefully a piece of driftwood on the beach. And you know, I mean, at one point that driftwood was a tree and vibrant now it’s driftwood. And I, and I’ll tell you what caused me to think about this? And, and I’m reminded all the time to ask myself, my family, my loved ones, “what’s it all about?” I was in Turks and Caicos, and sometimes people can make a huge impact on you and not even know. And this gentleman in Turks and Caicos did. We were sitting, looking outside. I wish we had this weather now, but we we’re sitting in a hut. One of those high bars up by the beach and this older gentleman, and he is in his eighties, but I’m telling you, this guy had spunk.

He led a full life and you could just tell he had that…He had that “it” about him. And he said to me he said, son, never forget to ask, ‘What’s it all about?’ And I said, Oh do tell, tell me about that. What do you mean? He said, Well, 20, 30 years ago, I was out in the ocean, he went to Turks and Caicos every year. He said I was out in the ocean and I saw a piece of driftwood and I grabbed the piece of driftwood and I wrote on it, “What’s it all about?” And he said, I put that on top of my bed and I have it in my bedroom. So, every day I asked myself the question, what’s it all about? In 2020, if there was ever a year that we should be asking ourselves, coming off of that, what’s it all about? It certainly should have happened last year. So, we really, you know, so the question becomes, what’s your portfolio all about?

Is it just about money? Or if you look at the next slide, is it about creating moments with you, your family and your loved ones? Most people would agree, at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. And oh, by the way, if you look at the couple, I never thought of it, but they sort of matching hats on, which is odd, but right above the TS, you see the couple, let’s assume they’re 75. Guess what? They have 12, their life expectancy, they have 12 more expected Christmases or summer vacations with their family. That’s what it’s all about. Maybe you want to create a legacy, whatever you want to do. We have to remember, life is short. Like, let us help you with the dash. We all have a dash, right? Two dates and the dash. The dash is your life. But at the end of the day, what’s it all about is moments.

And we want to help you plan for those moments. Maybe you say, I’d like to buy a house in Florida someday. Well, that day, may be today! We can help you figure that out mathematically and say, yep, let’s go get that house in Florida, so you’re really enjoying special moments with your loved ones. So just really thinking about that and really thinking about what’s it all about.

Let’s go to the next set of questions. Are you protected? I don’t think you’re going to enjoy those moments if you’re worried about risk. So, we need to help you with that. You know, we spent a lot of time on helping you maximize your wealth, but you know, if an unforeseen event comes and it throws you off your plan, we haven’t really helped you. So, we’ve noticed this year, we’ve been asking the question, tell us about your umbrella policy.

And it’s interesting. And, by the way, it’s with your homeowner’s. So, we just want to make sure this year that a few had an unforeseen event where you were sued because of an accident or whatever, that you have the right umbrella policy. It’s fascinating how many times we see clients with an umbrella policy that, that you may not even know what your coverage is. So, we want to help you with that income protection. You know, what happens if something happens to you? What if you die prematurely? What if you become disabled, let us help you with that. And then the one that I think, the truth be told, the other moat that you can build around your castle, that a lot of people worry about, because the senior care, because not only are you worried about senior care on what it means to you, let’s be candid.

It also is a concern of what it means to your family and the burden that they may have. So, we’re not suggesting by the way, long-term care is for everyone. You may have enough money in your portfolio that you’re protected already. And that’s great. We’re not suggesting that everybody go out and buy long-term care, but we are suggesting, it probably makes sense to do that evaluation in your plan. And when you look at the next slide that shows some data points on long-term care, and I don’t know about you, I sort of find them startling. And unfortunately, surprising. And I’ll just acclimate you to the slide. So, the top bar chart, the one in green shows that 69% of us will have some type of a long-term care event. Now, in all fairness, a big percentage of those will be unpaid home care by family and friends, but still, I mean, when you look at the amount of people in nursing home, it’s still 35% will have an event that has, that causes them to go a nursing home.

The one that’s also startling for me and everybody receives this information differently. It’s the purple one. And I guess that gray line at the bottom, the bars. And it says, ‘greater than five years.’ It’s amazing to me that if you’re a man, you’re going to have a one in ten chance of needing some type of care for more than five years. And if you’re a female, it’s one out of 20. So, we want to help you with that. I know that everybody says, I’m going to look at that someday. Let’s make some day today. So, then you can be at the beach with your loved ones and you don’t have to worry about all these potential events, what ifs. One of the peace of mind we can give you is, we can help you think about the what-ifs and give you some certainty around that.

When you look at the next slide, this just takes me back to March. I don’t know if you remember. We were, I think almost begging people to say, let’s focus on the horizon, not the waves, the waves will make you sick. And let’s stay focused on the horizon. By the way, it is interesting how technology changed. We were on conference calls when we thought we — now, all of a sudden, everybody knows how to use Zoom and we’re on a teleconference. Wow. I mean, the pandemic sure did all teach us how to use technology and accelerated our growth. But this is the picture. And we wanted to share this again, because when you look, there’s two ways you can live your life. There’s two ways you can think about investing. When you look at the line going across, to me, that looks like an EKG.

The good news is the patient still alive, but it looks like an EKG. The mountain chart, the blue getting bigger over time. That is, that is the same investment from 2010 to 2019. So, let me make that a little clear. The EKG is the S&P 500 results on a monthly basis. Said differently, if you’re going to make decisions based on monthly investment results, good luck. If people are telling you they can make investment decisions based on monthly investment results, run away. More importantly, if you focus on the horizon, it’s a very, very, very different path, very, very different feelings. So, ask yourself in what timeframe am I thinking. Now, by the way, in productivity. So, if you want to get a lot done today, you think in terms of 30-minute increments or 15-minute increments, that doesn’t work in investment. You need to think in terms of 10-year increments.

Because if we make a mistake in thinking short-term increments, and it affects our behavior, it’s not like it’s hard to catch up. Think about it. If you’re in a boat and there’s waves and you jump out of the boat — by the way, not a good idea. If you’re ever in the middle of the ocean and there’s waves all around the boat, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t jump because what’s going to happen is, when you want to go get back on that boat, the boat is going to keep moving, and you’re never going to catch up to that boat. Look at the next slide. That’s a story. Here’s the proof. These are, this is 2010 to 2019. If you invested a thousand dollars and kept it invested in the S&P 500, you almost would have tripled your money.

If you lost 10 days, just missed the 10 best days. You’ll see, you almost doubled it. So you would, the boat’s gone. By making that decision, you’re never going to catch it. You’re trying to get back on. We’re gonna try to help you, but you’re never going to catch the boat or the people that didn’t jump. So that’s the math behind it. And interestingly enough, and we’ll have people say, you know, I want to wait until I feel better with the market. Well, guess what? When you feel better, let me make my point. Some of these, these days, when you look back at the S&P 500, and you look back, you go back to the 1930s. You could look 2000, whatever you look at the 10 best days, like going back, the 10 biggest increases percentage, not points. People look at points in the media. It doesn’t make any sense. You gotta look at percentages. The best day ever was in 1933. The market in one day went up 16%. I’ll remind you, in March, why were we saying stay in, stay in, don’t jump out of the boat? Because in March there were two days, in March alone, that the market went up, indicated by the S&P 500, over 9%. Two days. And oh, by the way, other great days were days in ’08, right after 1987, because what happens is — it’s a rubber band and the market, as it goes down, it does snap back. So, by the time you feel better, you may have missed the opportunity.

I don’t even know. I don’t like the next slide, but we got to talk about it. So, let’s go to the next one. Will taxes go up? I think people are asking that. You’re going to see a lot in the media.

This is a tough one, because if you figured out how to predict what these folks are doing in DC, you’re a heck of a lot smarter than us. But we do need to prepare for it. Because there’s a lot of talk about income tax going up, capital gains going up, and the estate taxes going up. So, we need to think about that. I mean, I will give you an opinion. I don’t know if Jim shares it — my opinion is that this will be more of a 2022 issue than a 2021. And the reason for that, that is you don’t put all the medicine into the patient in the new stimulus and then ask them for their blood. And cash in the stimulus is what’s really causing the economy to hum along and start to look like it could recover.

So, we’re putting money into the economy. It’s hard for me to understand, although I wouldn’t be shocked, if at the same time, they’re taking money out. So, I think what we’re going to hear, at least at the beginning of 2021 is we’re gonna hear about stimulus. And we’re going to hear about $2,000 checks and putting money in. Having said that, either at the end of this year or 2022, you’re going to have your income taxes are going up, going up capital gains. And clearly, you know President Biden’s proposals are out there, but, you know, it’s such a thin, thin majority in the House and the Senate, there’s likely to have to be some, some, some moderation in that. But the big, we just got to pay attention to these this year, we are here to help you, you know, do some tax planning with your accountant.

So, if you want to do some of that, please reach out to us. We have a lot of great tools. You know, a lot of people don’t even know their actual income tax bracket. You know, what are your capital gains, you know, and capital gains, is there going to be a step-up in basis that goes away? I don’t know. One of the things on capital gains, it’s interesting how many people don’t use appreciated shares to donate to charity. So, you know, we should do that. Before you donate $20,000 to charity, call us. We have appreciated shares that you should probably donate instead. I’ll tell you the big one — estate taxes. I mean, estate taxes are huge. I don’t think most people really focus on it enough. And I think we’ve been lulled to sleep on this one a little bit, because the currently, anything over roughly 22, $23 million, anything over, anything under that amount, you don’t have to pay estate, federal estate taxes on.

But you should know, in 2025, that’s coming down. And you should also know there’s some proposals right now to bring it down to 7 million. And that’s husband and wife, obviously one spouse, it would be, it would one, a single person, it would be half that. But it can be a lot of money. It could be millions. So, you know, in Pennsylvania, between federal and state, you know, to be 45%. And you should know, 17 states actually have an estate tax. So, there’s things we can do. We need to ask these questions together because there could be a lot of planning opportunities that we can work on this year.

The fifth thing and final — enough about taxes. Fifth one: Is it time to talk? We’ve talked about this before, but is it time to talk? And I’ll remind you, it’s tragic: 70% of wealth that’s inherited is squandered in the second generation, by the way, 90% in the third. Number one reason: lack of communication.

And everybody has different types of meetings. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to tell my heirs exactly how much money you have. Some people are comfortable with that. Some people aren’t and our family, we’ve had, I think we’re on four family meetings and they get better. We do them every year. So, it could be: what moments do we want to do? What moments do we want to have in our family? Let’s make sure our dashes together are special, right? Let us help you facilitate those. I was in Chicago, meeting with just a great friend, he’s probably on the call. So just a great friend. And it was a Saturday morning. We were meeting with his whole family. And we were talking about like, you know, what you care about. And we, many of you we’ve done this with also, we’ve had the pictures out and say, okay, which pictures?

And Jim’s smiling. I think he knows the story. So which pictures, you know, talk to you? So, it could be time on the beach. It could be you know, whatever, it could be a charity. It could be the symphony, what talks to you, the arts, whatever talks to you. Every family member. Cause it’s hard to put into words how you feel, but when you have pictures, that allows you an opportunity to express yourself through the pictures. So, the father, my good friend, he picked he picked the skydiver and one of his children said, dad, you want to sky dive? And he cursed a little bit. I’ll let that out. And he said, no, no, I don’t want to sky dive. I want us to have moments. I want us to have moments. As a family, I want us to have moments.

So, whatever those moments are for you, it’s not about skydiving. It’s about making sure, if you’re 75, you make the next 12 years of your life expectancy truly special. And or it could be like, what charity did we, do we care about? Let’s go, let’s go bend the curve on mental health for goodness sake. There’s so much to be done. And then, end of the day, when we become, you know, when we meet at the end, at least we have a legacy. And at least we have moments, because at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters. So, there are the five questions. You probably have more. We have some more, let’s get together by asking those questions. We’re not going to just look at each other and say, happy new year. We’re going to say, let’s make it a good year.

And we’re going to do the planning. That’s going to allow us to do it. So next slide and recap. 2021 market outlook and beyond. Thanks, Jim. That was a lot of that was a lot of great information. That’ll allow us to make great decisions. And then, you know, I just wanted to give you some things to think about. I think the greatest thing one adult can do for another is cause them to think. And hopefully it just inspired you to write a couple of notes. I am going to look at my umbrella policy this year. I am going to talk to my family. I am going to think about my estate, my legacy and my life, whatever those things are.

You know, just in closing, we are here to help you maximize your life and legacy. And I got to tell you, it is not our goal. It is our passion. So, we have a passion to help you maximize your life and legacy. And we are well aware, in reflecting on last year and talking to a lot of people, we are stunned actually in the last couple of months, how many people we’ve talked to that, not everybody navigated as well as all of you. And it is our passion to help you.

If you’re a client on the line, tell us how we can help you more. If you’re someone that is thinking about coming to become a client, let’s talk, we want to help you maximize your life and legacy. And this is an offer from the bottom of our hearts. We know it’s a challenging time. If you have a loved one and you think we can help them, we stand ready to help them. We want you to introduce us to your friends and your family. If in fact, you think we can make a difference in their life and help them ensure the moment.

So, in closing, on behalf of Jim and on behalf of the rest of the team of Confluence Financial Partners, we are grateful for our relationship and we’re going to work as hard as we humanly can to continue to get results for you. Thanks.

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Inflation: A Way Forward


After a long hiatus, inflation has made quite a comeback in everyday lives of consumers around the world. Generally defined as the increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy, inflation had been below historical averages most of the past decade, with the backdrop of a longer-term decline since peaking in the early 1980’s. The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for a revival, initially due to constraints on supply chains and global trade. However, as economies globally recovered from the pandemic, inflation readings continued to show signs of growth.

The phenomenon was initially described as “transitory” by economists and investors, believing that inflation would slow as supply chains and global trade healed. This assumption proved to be incorrect, with the “transitory” description has been dropped since mid-2021, as all major measures of inflation have continued to increase at a consistent and rapid pace. The most commonly referenced inflation measurement, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is tracked including food and energy prices (headline CPI) and excluding food and energy prices (core CPI). The reading through February showed that compared to one-year ago, headline CPI rose +7.9% and core CPI rose +6.4%, the highest level in almost 40-year for both readings. Importantly, this reading does not account for the subsequent increase in energy and other commodities after the escalation in Ukraine.

Core CPI through February 2022; 1970 to 2022

Inflation is an impactful force to the global economy and therefore financial markets; the sharp increase certainly has the attention of policymakers. In the United States, the Federal Reserve operates under a “dual mandate” of “price stability and maximum sustainable employment”, with the former goal referencing inflation. Due to the improvement in the labor market, and consistently high inflation readings, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates starting in the March meeting.  The first increase will mark the start of tighter monetary policy, which will influence equity and bond markets in the short-term. The additional unknown duration of the supply disruptions in the oil and gas market will also muddy the waters for policymakers over the coming months.

The long, secular decline in inflation readings is over in the short-term. With inflation readings already near 40-year highs prior to the conflict in Ukraine, the response by policymakers over the coming months will be widely followed by investors. As we transition to a rate hiking cycle and inflation stays firm, the environment will likely require investors to shift their approach. Looking back historically over periods of rising inflation, asset classes such as commodities, real estate, value equities, US small cap equities and international equities tended to do well. Within equities, dividend paying stocks may offer an attractive opportunity for investors seeking growth with income in an inflationary environment. One additional portfolio consideration for investors: inflationary periods have had implications for the relationship between stock and bond returns, with high and rising inflation historically reducing the diversification benefit from bonds (positive correlation between stocks and bonds). While the approach may be different than the past 20 years for investors, there are likely to be opportunities for long-term investors to take advantage of as we navigate the ever-changing investment environment.

Views and opinions expressed are current as of the date of this white paper and may be subject to change; they are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Prior to making any investment decision, you should consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. Although certain information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete.

Forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations. They are for illustrative purposes only and serve as an indication of what may occur. Given the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with such forward-looking statements, it is important to note that actual events or results may differ materially from those contemplated.

Confluence Wealth Services, Inc. d/b/a Confluence Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Please refer to our Form ADV Part 2A and Form CRS for further information regarding our investment services and their corresponding risks.

William Winkeler
About the Author

Bill has more than 12 years of experience in the investment industry, most recently as Managing Director of Investments at a private wealth management firm. In his role at Confluence, Bill chairs the…

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Confluence Commentary


Advice for Young ProfessionalsTop 10 Financial Wellness Tips for Young Professionals & Upcoming Graduates

By: Zac Saunders, Wealth Manager 

  1. As you consider your career and job opportunities – think about total compensation, not just salary!
  • Assess the total compensation package (healthcare, 401k match, etc.) when reviewing job offers
  1. Create and maintain a monthly budget.
  • Setting up a budget is of utmost importance.
  • Keep track of your spending and keep expenses down (Needs vs. Wants).
  1. Start to build up your emergency savings.
  • A good rule of thumb is to keep 4-6 months of living expenses in savings.
  1. If available, start contributing to your work 401k plan and take advantage of the company match benefit.
  • You should consider contributing at least the amount to obtain the maximum company contribution. This is free money!  For 2020, the maximum contribution that an employee can make to their 401k plan is $19,500.
  1. Start an individual retirement account (Roth and Traditional IRAs).
  • You can contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA (depending on income limits) while also contributing to a work 401k.
  • The total amount that a person can contribute to all traditional and Roth IRAs combined is $6,000 for 2020.
  1. Pay down any debts and if you have student loans consider consolidating.
  • Be disciplined and start paying your loan off as soon as you can.
  1. Pay off credit cards on a monthly basis. A credit card can help you build credit provided you pay off in a timely manner.
  • Don’t spend what you don’t have.
  1. Start saving for your first home. We recommend saving 20% for a down payment.
  • Avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI)!
  1. It’s ok to buy a car, but don’t fall for the low monthly payment options that are spread out over 48 + months.
  • Don’t live beyond your means.
  1. Save and Invest Early. Time and compound interest should be your best friend!
  • Case study A: Contributing $500 per month to your portfolio from age 32 to 65, growing at 9% average annual return, adds up to approximately, $1.1 million…not bad!
  • Case study B: Contributing $500 per month to your portfolio from age 22 to 65, growing at 9% average annual return, adds up to approximately, $2.6 million…even better! Key takeaway: START EARLY!
Any opinions are those of Zac Saunders and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.  The case study examples are for illustrative purposes only.  Actual investor results will vary.
Zac Saunders
About the Author

Known for his professionalism and calming demeanor, Zac is focused on helping his clients reach their financial goals through comprehensive financial planning and unbiased guidance.  Zac and his team support and care for…

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