If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire by the end of this year, your take home pay will be less. Payroll taxes withheld for Social Security, currently at 4.2% of your gross income will return to 6.2%.
What is right for you?
1) more dollars for your take home pay or
2) a tax refund in the following year?
It might be a good idea to revisit the W-4 with your employer. The more allowances you claim on your W-4, the less income tax will be withheld.
More information here http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Employees/Tax-Withholding
http://www.viacompass.com
About Me
- zoni
- I'm your next door neighbor with serious concerns about our America. Most people have been silent about things that matter because they do not have the facts. This blog's mission is to educate you about the issues that impact your financial security, your health and your values. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, "Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter". Speak the truth. Be empowered and stand on the facts. Rise in righteous indignation and together we can effect the change to take back America.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
What's in your portfolio?
You see reports like this all the time "...Stocks
rallied to a three-month high in the past week, helped by more
assertive language from the Fed Wednesday..." You can read the full article here http://www.cnbc.com//id/48494065
But what does it all mean to a first-time investor? Your investment portfolio typically is made up of three main asset classes: stocks, bonds and cash or cash equivalents.
A diversified portfolio holds a mix of the three asset classes and might also include exchange traded funds (ETFs), precious metals, commodities, annuities, cash value life insrance, tax-exempt investments and real estate. It is important to remember that each has its own category-specific risks.
Your investment portfolio needs to be managed. We will cover this on a later post.
The book, Destination Points, A Values-Driven Journey, delivers essential financial topics in a cohesive, chunk-style learning that will stimulate your interest and encourage you to learn more.
http://www.viacompass.com
But what does it all mean to a first-time investor? Your investment portfolio typically is made up of three main asset classes: stocks, bonds and cash or cash equivalents.
Your investment portfolio needs to be managed. We will cover this on a later post.
The book, Destination Points, A Values-Driven Journey, delivers essential financial topics in a cohesive, chunk-style learning that will stimulate your interest and encourage you to learn more.
http://www.viacompass.com
Saturday, July 7, 2012
In Moderation
The Moderate investor's objective is growth with income. If you do not want to lose your principal but recognize that the potential for greater growth goes hand in hand with greater risk, choose a moderate allocation model for your investment portfolio.
A moderate investor will react to market downswings but not lose sleep over them. The objective for long term gain is more important and this investor is prepared to ride the market. Most investors in this category are willing to take the average amount of risk to get a larger return.
Is this you?
http://www.viacompass.com
A moderate investor will react to market downswings but not lose sleep over them. The objective for long term gain is more important and this investor is prepared to ride the market. Most investors in this category are willing to take the average amount of risk to get a larger return.
Is this you?
http://www.viacompass.com
Saturday, June 23, 2012
FINRA Update
FINRA Enhances BrokerCheck®to
Help Investors
FINRA has enhanced BrokerCheck—a free tool that lets you research the professional background of firms and investment professionals. Now, in addition to being able to look up FINRA-registered firms and brokers, you can also check out the backgrounds of investment adviser firms and representatives.
Also, you can now search for financial services professionals based on office locations or ZIP codes. And FINRA has expanded the educational content in BrokerCheck, including new help icons that clarify common terms used throughout the system and in the reports.
Learn more here http://www.finra.org/Investors/ToolsCalculators/BrokerCheck/FINRA has enhanced BrokerCheck—a free tool that lets you research the professional background of firms and investment professionals. Now, in addition to being able to look up FINRA-registered firms and brokers, you can also check out the backgrounds of investment adviser firms and representatives.
Also, you can now search for financial services professionals based on office locations or ZIP codes. And FINRA has expanded the educational content in BrokerCheck, including new help icons that clarify common terms used throughout the system and in the reports.
Source: SaveAndInvest.org, a project of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Conservative to Moderate Investor
Investors in this category are willing to tolerate some risk to have a little more return to provide income as they live longer. Minimum exposure of their principal to market fluctuations is important. Their objective is current income.
As you've often heard, past performance of a fund is not a guarantee of future results. It is generally recommended that this investor has a diversified portfolio that includes fixed income securities as well as large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap and international equities allocated with 60% to fixed income and 40%to equity securities.
Financial institutions provide portfolio allocation models to help you customize a conservative to moderate portfolio. Ask for it and put your financial representative to the task of explaining the jargon in simple layman terms. It will be a worthwhile learning experience that puts you in charge.
It's your money after all.
As you've often heard, past performance of a fund is not a guarantee of future results. It is generally recommended that this investor has a diversified portfolio that includes fixed income securities as well as large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap and international equities allocated with 60% to fixed income and 40%to equity securities.
Financial institutions provide portfolio allocation models to help you customize a conservative to moderate portfolio. Ask for it and put your financial representative to the task of explaining the jargon in simple layman terms. It will be a worthwhile learning experience that puts you in charge.
It's your money after all.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
What Type of Investor Are You?
Can you tolerate stock market fluctuations? How are your assets invested? Typically, there are five investment risk categories or styles - conservative, conservative to moderate, moderate, moderately aggressive amd aggressive. Each category is driven by the individual's objective which simply means, what do you want your money to do for you?
You are a conservative investor if your objective is to preserve the amount of your investment, referred to as the principal or cost basis. Investors in this category want their money to grow in a vehicle that pays a fixed rate where the principal and interest are guaranteed. The investment vehicles in this category are savings accounts, money market accounts, money market funds and certificates of deposit (CDs).
Knowing your objective will determine the investment options for you to consider and there are many. There are three major asset classes- stocks, bonds and cash or cash equivalents. There are lower risk investments, investments with higher returns, tax-advantaged vehicles that can be tax-free, tax-exempt or tax-deferred and annuities. Destination Points- A Values Driven Journey, now available at Amazon, Barnes&Noble and http://www.viacompass.com/ gives you a working knowledge on all of these topics.
Next post: The Conservative to Moderate Investor
http:www.viacompass.com
we point the way.
You are a conservative investor if your objective is to preserve the amount of your investment, referred to as the principal or cost basis. Investors in this category want their money to grow in a vehicle that pays a fixed rate where the principal and interest are guaranteed. The investment vehicles in this category are savings accounts, money market accounts, money market funds and certificates of deposit (CDs).
Knowing your objective will determine the investment options for you to consider and there are many. There are three major asset classes- stocks, bonds and cash or cash equivalents. There are lower risk investments, investments with higher returns, tax-advantaged vehicles that can be tax-free, tax-exempt or tax-deferred and annuities. Destination Points- A Values Driven Journey, now available at Amazon, Barnes&Noble and http://www.viacompass.com/ gives you a working knowledge on all of these topics.
Next post: The Conservative to Moderate Investor
http:www.viacompass.com
we point the way.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Is A Curved Ball Coming Your Way?
Life’s journey is not without detours and roadblocks that set us back when caught unprepared. Have you planned for the financial crises in your life?
Here are some life events that come with a high price tag:
Job Loss
It used to be that a job equates to security. In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, unemployment could last up to three years or more. Are you prepared for the challenges of losing a job? The old rule to have emergency cash reserves equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses no longer holds. It’s more realistic to have 8 months to a year of reserves to maintain your lifestyle if you lose your income.
Disability
Have you ever thought about how you will keep the financial wheels of your household running when you can’t work due to an illness or injury? Did you know that people are likely to be disabled rather than die during their working years or miss at least 3 months of work due to injury or being sick? Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can pay you benefits but only if you are severely disabled and expected to remain so for at least 12 months. Your employer may provide some disability insurance coverage but would it replace at least 70% of your income?
Pre-mature Death
Generally, if you have someone depending on you, the death benefit of life insurance provides guaranteed financial protection in the event of your death. Have you done your personal financial planning to allow for other assets to meet the financial needs of those who depend on you?
Other Emergency Needs
These include car and home repairs, medical costs not covered by insurance and unbudgeted expenses. Do you have adequate cash reserves to cover such financial emergencies?
These are just a few of the challenges in your journey to be financially stable. It’s time that you take charge. Get your compass to a secure tomorrow – Destination Points: A Values Driven Journey, more information at http://www.viacompass.com/
Here are some life events that come with a high price tag:
Job Loss
It used to be that a job equates to security. In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, unemployment could last up to three years or more. Are you prepared for the challenges of losing a job? The old rule to have emergency cash reserves equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses no longer holds. It’s more realistic to have 8 months to a year of reserves to maintain your lifestyle if you lose your income.
Disability
Have you ever thought about how you will keep the financial wheels of your household running when you can’t work due to an illness or injury? Did you know that people are likely to be disabled rather than die during their working years or miss at least 3 months of work due to injury or being sick? Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can pay you benefits but only if you are severely disabled and expected to remain so for at least 12 months. Your employer may provide some disability insurance coverage but would it replace at least 70% of your income?
Pre-mature Death
Generally, if you have someone depending on you, the death benefit of life insurance provides guaranteed financial protection in the event of your death. Have you done your personal financial planning to allow for other assets to meet the financial needs of those who depend on you?
Other Emergency Needs
These include car and home repairs, medical costs not covered by insurance and unbudgeted expenses. Do you have adequate cash reserves to cover such financial emergencies?
These are just a few of the challenges in your journey to be financially stable. It’s time that you take charge. Get your compass to a secure tomorrow – Destination Points: A Values Driven Journey, more information at http://www.viacompass.com/
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