-
What They Don’t Teach in School: Financial Literacy Lessons for Kids of All Ages
Guiding Your Children Towards a Prosperous Financial Tomorrow
With the start of a new school year, the fall season can be an exciting time for parents and children alike. And while you can be sure your kids will learn about math, science, and history, there is a significant subject that is often skipped, regardless of grade level: financial literacy. Even when schools do offer this practical subject, it’s not usually a requirement. This means the majority of children and young adults are lacking in knowledge, experience, and skills related to personal finance. If you’re a parent wanting to help teach your children about financial literacy but you’re unsure where to start, read on to learn more about the significance of nurturing financial awareness in youngsters and discover actionable suggestions for their financial education.
Start Early with the Basic Concepts
Begin teaching financial literacy as early as possible – and start simply. Even preschoolers can learn basic concepts like counting money, recognizing different coins and bills, and understanding the concept of saving. Use real coins or play money to make learning engaging and practical.
Normalize Conversations Around Money
This is a big one, because many people still feel money topics are taboo and to be avoided. Normalize this topic in your home by incorporating discussions about money into everyday conversations. Whether it’s shopping, budgeting for a family activity, or explaining the value of items, these conversations help demystify money matters and make kids comfortable discussing finances.
Use Allowances to Teach About Budgeting
As your kids get older, give them a small allowance, and guide them on how to manage it. Encourage them to allocate a portion to savings, a portion for spending, and perhaps even a portion for charitable giving. This hands-on approach helps them understand the concept of budgeting and gives them confidence in their ability to make smart money choices.
Set Savings Goals
Teach children about setting goals and saving towards them. Whether it’s buying a toy, a gadget, or saving for a future trip, having a goal encourages discipline while also teaching them delayed gratification. Sitting down with your kids and drawing up visual aids like progress charts can make the process more tangible and exciting for them.
It’s back to school time: Does Your Retirement Savings Plan Earn a Passing Grade?
Involve Kids in Family Decisions
Here’s a question to ask yourself: if your children don’t hear you discuss money matters, how are they going to learn what managing money in real life should look like? As your kids grow older, involve them in appropriate family financial discussions. This could include decisions about family vacations, major purchases, or even basic bill-paying routines. These experiences will provide practical insights into financial decision-making, while also helping them gain more confidence in their abilities to contribute.
Introduce Banking Concepts
As your children become teenagers, take some time to teach them the basics of banking. Open a checking and savings account in their name, and explain concepts like interest, deposits, and withdrawals. You’re also going to want to be sure that you teach them about the pitfalls of debt. Explain how credit cards work, the concept of interest rates, and the consequences of excessive borrowing. These lessons will help provide a real-world understanding of how banks work, the benefits of saving money over time, and help prepare kids to make wise decisions about credit and debt.
Explore Investments
Investing can be complicated even for adults to understand, but to the best of your ability, be sure that you teach the concept of investing to your older teens. Explain the difference between saving and investing, and touch on basic investment options like stocks and bonds. This early exposure can spark an interest in long-term financial planning and help pave the way to a solid financial future.
Promote and Encourage Critical Thinking
Promoting critical thinking in kids is an essential aspect of teaching financial literacy. Encourage kids to think critically about advertisements, deals, and spending choices. Teach them to evaluate whether a purchase is a want or a need, and to consider the long-term value of their choices. By encouraging them to question, analyze, and evaluate financial choices, you’re equipping your kids with valuable skills that extend far beyond the realm of money.
Lead by Example
A lot of the financial literacy knowledge your children will pick up will come from observing your own behavior. So, be sure that you’re modeling responsible financial habits, such as budgeting, saving, and making thoughtful spending decisions. Your actions will have a lasting impact on their financial attitudes and behaviors.
Giving Your Children the Gift of Financial Literacy
Gaining a strong grasp of financial literacy is an essential skill for young minds, enabling them to make well-informed choices and construct a stable economic foundation for their future. By starting this learning process early and seamlessly integrating practical teachings into their daily experiences, you can cultivate a positive and enduring comprehension of effective money management.
If you’d like to discuss financial literacy and financial educational resources further, contact Lane Hipple Wealth Management Group at our Moorestown, NJ office by calling 856-638-1855, emailing info@lanehipple.com, or to schedule a complimentary discovery call, use this link to find a convenient time.
-
Staying Physically (and Fiscally) Fit as You Age
Keep connected, develop good sleep hygiene and get in fiscal shape
Aging is a natural process that everyone goes through, but how we age can be significantly influenced by our daily habits. Staying fit and healthy as we grow older is not just about physical exercise, though that plays a crucial role. Experts emphasize that it’s also about focusing on mental well-being, maintaining social connections, and prioritizing good sleep hygiene.
Exercise for the Body and Brain
Physical Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity helps to maintain muscle mass, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. It can also reduce the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Whether it’s walking, swimming, or practicing yoga, find an exercise routine that suits your abilities and preferences.
Cognitive Exercise: Just as the body needs exercise, so does the brain. Mental exercises like puzzles, reading, or learning a new skill can sharpen cognitive function and ward off memory-related ailments like dementia. Never stop challenging and engaging your mind.
Related article: How to Preserve and Grow Your Family’s Legacy
Strive for Mental Fitness
Mental fitness goes beyond cognitive exercises. It encompasses emotional well-being, resilience, and overall psychological health. Engaging in activities that bring joy and purpose, practicing mindfulness, and seeking professional help if needed, can keep your mind in top shape. Staying fit and positive mental health supports overall well-being and can even enhance immune function.
Staying Fit Socially
Humans are social creatures, and staying connected to friends and family is essential for emotional health. Social interactions stimulate the brain and enhance feelings of happiness and fulfillment. Joining clubs, volunteering, or simply maintaining regular contact with loved ones can foster a strong social network. Remember, quality is often more valuable than quantity when it comes to social connections.
Develop Good Sleep Hygiene
Sleep is a vital but often overlooked aspect of overall health. Good sleep hygiene means creating a conducive environment for sleep, establishing a regular sleep schedule, and avoiding things that might disrupt sleep patterns (such as screens or caffeine close to bedtime).
Aging might come with changes in sleep patterns, but maintaining a healthy sleep routine can have profound impacts on physical and mental health. Adequate rest supports cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall wellness.
Not Just About Staying Fit at the Gym
A holistic approach to staying fit as you age encompasses more than just hitting the gym. These habits aren’t just for those in their golden years either; starting early can lay the foundation for a robust and resilient aging process.
Regular check-ins with healthcare professionals who understand your individual needs can further support these habits. Ultimately, the journey of aging is unique to each person, and cultivating these habits can make that journey a fulfilling and healthy one.
Your Financial Advisor
A good advisor will spell everything out for you in ways that you understand. After all, it is your future that you are working on. If your doctor or advisor shoos you out without explaining problems and solutions, you can find a better one.
Decision-making in both areas changes with circumstances and works best with consistent, objective planning. Just as your health changes over time, markets and economies change even faster.
- Your financial advisor is there to discuss your future and be a sounding board for your career.
- Your financial advisor can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Your financial advisor will be there for to help you get in – and stay in – fiscal shape.
Your financial advisor is always there to care for your financial well-being, but also your emotional well-being. Always.
-
Tax-Efficient Wealth Building: Strategies to Maximize Your Returns
Tips to Keep More of Your Hard-Earned Money Working for You
When it comes to preparing for a financially secure future, utilizing tax-efficient wealth building strategies can help you make the most of your assets. In fact, one often overlooked aspect of wealth building is the impact of taxes on investment returns. Implementing tax-efficient strategies can help you minimize tax liabilities and keep more of your hard-earned money working for you. In this article, we will explore various strategies that can optimize your investment returns and help you on your journey to tax-efficient wealth building.
Understand Tax-Advantaged Accounts
One of the foundational strategies for tax-efficient wealth building is leveraging tax-advantaged accounts. Familiarize yourself with options such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), 401(k) plans, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and 529 education savings plans. These accounts offer tax advantages, such as tax-deferred growth or tax-free withdrawals, allowing your investments to grow more efficiently.
Capitalize on Tax-Deferred Investments
Investing in tax-deferred vehicles can have a significant impact on your long-term wealth accumulation. Explore options like traditional IRAs, 401(k) plans, and deferred annuities. By deferring taxes on investment gains until withdrawal, you can potentially benefit from compounding growth and keep more of your returns working for you.
Utilize Tax-Efficient Asset Location
Strategic asset location involves placing different types of investments in the most appropriate accounts to optimize tax efficiency. For example, high-growth assets that generate significant capital gains may be best held in tax-advantaged accounts to defer taxes, while tax-efficient investments like index funds or tax-managed funds can be placed in taxable brokerage accounts. If you’re unsure about the tax treatments of different types of accounts, work with a financial advisor or tax professional to determine the most tax-efficient wealth-building strategies for your personal circumstances.
Harvest Tax Losses
Tax-loss harvesting involves strategically selling investments that have experienced losses to offset taxable gains. By realizing losses, you can reduce your tax liability while maintaining a similar investment position by reinvesting in similar assets. Careful consideration of tax rules and restrictions is crucial to ensure compliance and maximize the benefits of tax-efficient wealth building strategies like this one.
Long-Term Investing for Capital Gains
Holding investments for the long term can have substantial tax advantages. Capital gains from investments held for more than one year are subject to lower long-term capital gains tax rates. By adopting a long-term investment strategy, you can take advantage of these preferential tax rates and enhance after-tax returns.
Consider Tax-Efficient Investment Vehicles
Certain investment vehicles, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or index funds, are designed to be tax-efficient. These funds aim to minimize taxable distributions by minimizing portfolio turnover or using in-kind transfers. Exploring these options can help you reduce taxable events and improve overall tax efficiency.
Charitable Giving
Charitable giving may strike you as an odd addition to a list of tax-efficient wealth building strategies, but these types of contributions offer potential tax benefits while supporting causes you care about. Consider donating appreciated securities directly to charitable organizations instead of cash. By doing so, you can potentially avoid capital gains taxes and still claim a deduction for the fair market value of the donated assets.
Related Article: Five Charitable Gifting Strategies That Come With Tax Advantages
Seek Professional Guidance
Navigating the complexities of tax-efficient wealth building can be challenging, and some of the above strategies may leave you feeling confused or overwhelmed if you try to go it alone. Consider working with a knowledgeable financial advisor or tax professional who can provide personalized guidance based on your unique financial situation. They can help you identify and implement the most effective tax strategies and ensure compliance with tax laws.
Are You Utilizing Tax-Efficient Wealth Building Strategies?
Building wealth requires a comprehensive approach that includes optimizing your investment returns while minimizing tax liabilities. By implementing tax-efficient wealth building strategies such as leveraging tax-advantaged accounts, capitalizing on tax-deferred investments, and utilizing strategic asset location, you can enhance your after-tax returns and accelerate your wealth-building journey. By making tax efficiency a priority, you can keep more of your wealth working for you and achieve greater long-term financial success.
If you’d like to discuss strategies for tax-efficient wealth building, contact Lane Hipple Wealth Management Group at our Moorestown, NJ office by calling 856-638-1855, emailing info@lanehipple.com, or to schedule a complimentary discovery call, use this link to find a convenient time.
Illuminated Advisors is the original creator of the content shared herein. I have been granted a license in perpetuity to publish this article on my website’s blog and share its contents on social media platforms. I have no right to distribute the articles, or any other content provided to me, or my Firm, by Illuminated Advisors in a printed or otherwise non-digital format. I am not permitted to use the content provided to me or my firm by Illuminated Advisors in videos, audio publications, or in books of any kind.
-
Bridging The Retirement Income Gap With FIAs
Authored By: Heather L. Schreiber, RICP® NSSA®
What do retirees fear most?
According to a GoBankingRates survey, 66% of Americans worry that they will run out of money during retirement. That’s ahead of the 50% who were concerned about a steep healthcare outlay¹.
How can seniors and their financial advocates address this worry? Many are choosing to do so with a fixed index annuity (FIA). LIMRA reports that FIA sales were $79.4 billion in 2022, up 25% from 2021, and 8% higher than the record set in 2019²’³. What’s so appealing about FIAs? Before the big reveal, let’s set the stage.
Shaky Stool
During the 20th century, a so-called 3-legged stool provided an underpinning for retirees’ finances. That is, cash flow could come from 3 sources: Social Security, pensions from former employers, and personal savings. However, employer pensions have become the exception rather than the rule for many retirees. Pensions are still common for long-term government workers but are relatively rare in the private sector.
Instead of pensions, private sector employers offer employees the opportunity to put wages into defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s. Generally, those dollars go into funds holding stocks and bonds. Recently, though, market
volatility has been in the headlines.Down Year
The Morningstar U.S. Market Index lost 19.4% in 2022, the biggest annual loss since 2008…when it lost a 38.4%. Bonds are supposed to offer stability when stocks sag, but the Morningstar U.S. Core Bond Index lost 12.9% in 2022, its biggest annual loss since inception of the index in 1993³.
To demonstrate the potential effect of such results on an approaching retirement, suppose a hypothetical Holly Smith retired in early 2022. At the start of that year, Holly had managed to accumulate $600,000 in retirement savings, evenly divided between stock funds and bond funds.Assume Holly’s investments matched the broad equity and fixed-income markets. At the start of 2023, her holdings would have been down to $241,800 in stocks and $261,300 in bonds—from $600,000 for retirement to just over $500,000. After such a loss, Holly would need almost a 20% gain just to get back to where she had been. Moreover, our Holly had retired in 2022, taking 4% of her savings ($24,000) to supplement Social Security last year. Now, Holly bears sequence-of-return risk, which impacts people whose retirement coincides with a bear market.
Holly’s choices might be taking that same $24,000 this year, from the $479,100 left in her portfolio. That’s a 5% withdrawal rate, which could lead to depletion while Holly is still alive. Or, Holly might stick to her 4% strategy, withdrawing only $19,164 (4% of $479,100) in 2023, which could mean cutting back on her lifestyle in retirement.
Financial markets have bounced back in the past, and that could be the case again, helping Holly’s portfolio last longer. Even with a rebound, retirees such as Holly face risks such as longevity that could eventually drain her portfolio, inflation that could strain her budget, and a need for costly long-term care. Threats to cut back on Social Security benefits add to Holly’s dilemma.
Mitigating Retirement Risks
Savvy planning can help take these key retirement risks off the table, or at least reduce them to the point where retirees are comfortable. Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs) can help mitigate these concerns to the extent that exceeds what other sources of retirement income can provide for retirees.
An FIA is funded either through a single lumpsum payment or a series of periodic contributions from a consumer to an insurance company. In exchange, the consumer receives a contract that may deliver tax-deferred buildup, principal protection in a down market, and growth potential. Increases to the annuity value, termed interest, are credited to the contract annually, tied to a market index such as the S&P 500. FIA dollars are not directly invested in the index components but are pegged to the results.
Generally, FIAs offer protection against market losses. In return, they usually provide lower upside potential than being invested directly in the market. With a crediting rate of 70% of the S&P 500, for example, a hypothetical 12-month index gain of 10% would generate a 7% crediting rate to the annuity value of an FIA with that provision. The tax-deferred nature of an FIA allows money to compound over time without having to pay ordinary income taxes on the growth until funds are withdrawn. Consumer have the choice of turning on a reliable income stream from an FIA for a period of time or for a lifetime to supplement other sources of income in retirement.
Related Article: Passing an Inheritance to Your Children: 8 Important Considerations
Bountiful Benefits
On the plus side, considering a fixed index annuity when building a retirement income strategy has several advantages which include:
Tax deferral. Any gains inside an FIA avoids immediate income tax, allowing the annuity owner to take advantage of pre-tax compound growth during the accumulation phase. FIA owners also benefit from flexibility in creating retirement income drawdown strategies by controlling when and how to take income from the annuity.
Asset allocation alternative. Conventional wisdom holds that a 60-40 split, stocks to bonds, combines the growth potential of equities with the stability of fixed income. However, both stocks and bonds suffered double-digit losses in 2022, as previously mentioned. Concerns of ongoing inflation may lead to hesitation regarding investing in bonds.
An income stream that retirees can’t outlive. Americans are living longer than ever. That generally equates to more time spent in retirement and pressure on retirement assets to last longer. Even with Social Security and perhaps other sources of dependable cash flow, there still may be a gap between actual income and desired annual outflow. An FIA can fill that gap, generating income that will last as long as the retiree (and perhaps a spouse) may live.
Principal protection against possible market losses. As explained above, sequence-of-returns risk occurs when financial markets drop early in retirement while a retiree is tapping his or her investment portfolio. That can cause lifelong savings to deplete more rapidly than would have been the case if those market corrections occur later in retirement. An FIA can protect retirement assets by offering a source of cash flow that is not exposed to this risk during a market downturn.
Income to allow deferral of Social Security benefits. Waiting to claim Social Security benefits, perhaps to as late as age 70, can increase lifelong payouts substantially and often increase payments to a surviving spouse. In order to finance such a delay while avoiding additional stress on other assets, an FIA can play a key role. A retiree might start tapping into an FIA at, say, age 62 to bridge income so that Social Security claiming occurs later. Seniors can make their accumulated retirement assets work smarter, not harder.
Support for a surviving spouse. When one spouse dies, the Social Security income benefit of the lower-earning spouse goes away, and the higher benefit is payable to the survivor. Loss of a spouse generally means a decline in income—going from two Social Security benefits to one survivor benefit—so depending on an FIA to replace lost income may be a strategy that can help the survivor maintain the same standard of living.
A hedge against unanticipated long-term care expenses in retirement. Standalone LTC insurance policies can be costly. Data from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance put the average premium for a 55-year-old couple on a $165,000 initial policy with a 3% annual growth in maximum coverage at approximately $5,025 per year³. That can be an unnecessary expense if the policy benefits are never used.
Nevertheless, LTC coverage may be necessary, because Medicare does not cover custodial LTC and the average cost nationwide for a private room in a nursing home is about $9,000 a month, according to Seniorliving.org⁴. Adding a long-term care rider to an FIA can provide an additional layer of protection, offsetting the potential expense of a need for LTC.
Spousal benefits. FIAs, when jointly owned, can create income streams over the course of two lives for a married couple. This can be extremely important because widow(er)s typically become single taxpayers, owing increased income tax. What’s more, a surviving spouse may not have much experience handling the couple’s finances. An FIA offering continued contract ownership to the survivor may provide tax deferral and market risk-free cash flow to an aging widow(er) in need of stable income.
Legacy planning: Non-qualified annuities, with properly named beneficiaries, may be utilized as an estate planning opportunity to permit non-spousal beneficiaries, such as the owner’s children, to stretch post-death withdrawals over decades, based upon their life expectancy. That’s because non-qualified annuities are not covered by SECURE Act’s 10-year rule.
Due Diligence
No financial product is perfect for every consumer in every situation, and that’s true for FIAs, too. These annuities may deliver exceptional results, but there are risks as well. For starters, any guarantees are backed by the issuer, so it’s necessary to evaluate the insurer’s financial strength; therefore, due diligence is vital. A knowledgeable financial professional can provide real value here.
In addition, FIAs may have costs, just as is the case with any financial product, such as an additional fee for an income rider. Again, a financial professional can help by determining the actual cost of buying a specific FIA to ensure that the product and associated costs meets the specific needs of the investor. The more that is known before buying an FIA, the greater the chance of enjoying the multiple benefits listed above.
Retirement Action Plan:
- Prepare early. Determine a realistic retirement timeline that considers income needs in retirement, source of retirement income, family history, and current investor health.  
- Develop a plan that includes guaranteed income sources for predicable and necessary expenses. This plan should aim to fill any projected gaps.  
- Recognize the various risks that come with any financial plan, including market risk, healthcare risk, inflation, loss of employment, or death of a loved one. Adjust the approach to minimize such concerns.  
- Schedule a plan review at least annually with a knowledgeable financial professional and make needed changes.  
- Consider including a fixed index annuity as part of a retirement income plan, to provide needed lifelong income without exposure to possible market weakness.
Sources
² www.morningstar.com/articles/1131213/just-how-bad-was-2022s-stock-and-bond-market-performance
³ www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/learning-center/ltcfacts-2022.php#2022costs
⁴ www.seniorliving.org/nursing-homes/costs/
Not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. This information is being provided only as a general source of information and is not intended to be the primary basis for financial decisions. It should not be construed as advice designed to meet the needs of an individual situation. Please seek the guidance of a professional regarding your specific financial needs. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific tax or legal advice. ©2023 BILLC. All rights reserved. #23-0432-053024
-
Understanding the Fed’s Pause on Rate Hikes
Remain vigilant as we might see more rate hikes later this summer
The decision by the Federal Reserve to pause its upward trajectory of the federal funds rate – after 10 straight hikes over the past 14 months – has significant implications for investors. As the central bank of the United States, the Fed’s monetary policy decisions have a profound impact on financial markets and the investment landscape.
Let’s explore what this pause means for investors and explore potential strategies to navigate this new environment.
Understanding the Pause
To grasp the implications of the Fed’s pause, it is crucial to understand the underlying reasons for this shift in policy. The Federal Reserve’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability and support maximum employment. The decision to halt rate hikes suggests that the Fed believes inflationary pressures may be lessening or that the economy requires more time to fully recover. By pausing rate hikes, the central bank aims to provide ongoing support to economic growth.
Bond and Fixed-Income Investments
The Fed’s pause on rate hikes has immediate implications for bond and fixed-income investors. Typically, rising interest rates lead to declining bond prices. However, with the Fed indicating a pause in rate hikes, bond prices may stabilize or even experience modest gains. This is particularly relevant for long-term bondholders who were concerned about potential losses in a rising rate environment.
Nevertheless, investors should remain vigilant. While the pause in rate hikes may provide some relief, it is essential to monitor inflationary trends and the Federal Reserve’s future actions. Unexpected shifts in inflation expectations or the resumption of rate hikes could still impact fixed-income investments.
Equity Markets and Investment Strategies
The Fed’s pause on rate hikes can also have a significant impact on equity markets. Historically, low interest rates have been supportive of stock prices, as they reduce borrowing costs for businesses and increase the present value of future earnings. Investors should consider the potential for continued strength in equity markets as long as the pause in rate hikes persists.
However, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid complacency. Market conditions can change rapidly, and investors should remain attentive to both global economic developments and the possibility of future rate hikes. Adopting a diversified investment strategy that balances exposure across sectors and geographies can help mitigate risks associated with potential market volatility.
Related Report: Charles Schwab’s Mid-Year Outlook
Sector Rotation and Asset Allocation
The pause in rate hikes offers an opportunity for investors to reassess their sector allocations and asset mix.
Certain sectors, such as utilities and real estate, tend to perform well in a low-interest-rate environment.
These sectors often exhibit stable cash flows and attractive dividend yields, making them appealing to income-focused investors.
Conversely, sectors like financials and banking may face challenges due to narrower interest rate spreads. Investors may consider rotating their investments into sectors that could benefit from the pause in rate hikes, while also maintaining a long-term perspective and keeping diversification in mind.
International Considerations
The Fed’s decision to pause rate hikes also has implications beyond the United States. Lower interest rates in the U.S. can lead to a weaker U.S. dollar, potentially benefiting international investments and exporters. Investors should consider the potential impact on currency valuations and diversify their portfolios by allocating a portion of their investments to international markets.
What Investors Should Do
The Federal Reserve’s pause on rate hikes represents a significant development for investors. The decision suggests that the central bank is carefully monitoring economic conditions and adjusting its policies accordingly. Bond and fixed-income investors may find some respite, while equity investors should remain attentive to potential shifts in market dynamics.
To navigate this evolving landscape, investors should adopt a diversified approach, reassess sector allocations, and consider the potential benefits of international investments.
Staying informed, monitoring economic indicators, and seeking professional advice can help investors make well-informed decisions in this environment of paused rate hikes. Even if it only lasts for a month.