New Focus on Wealth with Chad Burton

Planning for retirement is goes beyond making sure you have enough money that’ll last. So much of retirement is finally making that decision to quit working no matter how daunting that next phase of life can be. Today it’s all about preparing for every aspect of retirement. Topics include: • Financial readiness tests and myths • Retirement fears and anxiety • Dealing with health limitations • Adult child dependency • Cash flow planning • Medicare and HSA plans

October 1st is the start date for college students looking for financial aid and students who apply early are more likely to receive more money than their friends who stall. While parents are always willing to do anything to help their children succeed, after age 18 you are unable to act on their behalf on financial transactions and healthcare decisions. Is your child set up with a POA and a healthcare directive? Also: • Does infinite banking work? • Cash value life insurance policies • HSA account

Manufacturing reports showed the weakest numbers in 10 years. In fact numbers lower than expected due to trade issues slowing things down and presented the worst rating since June 2009. A manufacturing slowdown alone is not enough to put us into a recession; strong consumer sentiment is what we need to keep the economy going strong. Other topics include: • What is Bond duration? • Why even own bonds at these low rates? • Hidden costs of owning rental properties

As Q3 comes to an end it’s mindboggling to think of all the crazy headlines we have heard in these few short months. Separate your investing moves from the fear-based media stories vying for your attention. These headlines only matter in the short term and gut-decisions lead to mistakes. Don’t let the media scare you into making a mistake! Also: • Q3 review • Why own bonds in a low rate environment? • Two cases for being a global investor • Portfolio tweaks

• Should the repurchase market be the biggest headlines? • Fixing Craig’s backdoor Roth IRA conversion • 401k, Roth IRA, Megaroth 401k, Backdoor Roth, SEP-IRA–Which one do you fund? • Is velocity banking worth the effort • What to do when you’re struggling to pay down debt • Funding retirement when your employer doesn’t match your 401k • Factoring pensions into your retirement plan • Reassessing your rental property

Managing your taxes is extremely important once you go beyond your 401k. Every year you need to be in the habit of actively harvesting losses if you have them. As long as you don’t buy back what you sold within 30 days, you can take that loss on your tax return. You also need to be aware of issues of inherited gains in mutual funds and ETF’s in your taxable account. ALso: • Irrevocable trust issues • Healthcare directives & POLST forms • Protecting family money in community property assets

Twice in month of August, the yield curve inverted and two year bonds were paying more than 10 year government bonds. Many people panicked believing a recession was imminent. Is it still a predictor of an impending recession or just an unfortunate coincidence that raised alarm? Other topics include: • How to contribute to a Mega Roth IRA online • Can you contribute to a Mega Roth if you have a SEP IRA? • Self-employed retirement saving issues • Momentum vs. value investing • Financial regrets

Not enough people financially plan for prolonged nursing home stays. Medicare helps with these costs if you meet a certain criteria that only few actually meet. After that, expenses are all out of your own pocket. Also: • Combining traditional and Roth 401k’s contributions • Mega Roth 401k and creating huge amounts of tax free money • Funding college without a 529 plan • Pros and cons of carrying a mortgage • Mohammed and his multiple retirement accounts • Should Robert rollover his IRA

Over the last few weeks you have heard me say that growth investing has had a historical run since the bottom of the market in 2009; handily outperforming value investing. This is your cue to do a portfolio review to try and figure out if you are investing areas that have run too far. Other topics include: • Momentum’s worst daily performance relative to value since early 2013 • Getting your portfolio to last longer in retirement • Saving Social Security

Max out your 401k, get the employer match and save on taxes – this is 100% the most basic retirement planning advice everyone should follow unless it is keeping food off the table. Knowing what to do next with your excess cash flow can be quite perplexing to the point where you could make mistakes, like investing in life insurance. Today I discuss how to build your financial base once you’ve already maxed out your 401k.

It seems all the headlines want to tell you about are the trade wars with China, Brexit becoming more of a disaster, and what the inverted yield curve could possibly mean. Rough headlines and fears of recession are causing some people to panic and stop funding their 401k. This is a fool’s move where you lose out on free money and a tax break. Today it’s all about 401k issues and how to survive them.

Rob Black and Chad Burton Talk About Yield Curve Inversions and Recessions: • Is an inverted yield curve a predictor of a recession or a coincidence? • Is this yield curve inversion different than previous ? • How do stocks perform after the yield curve converts? • Value vs. Growth and Global Diversification

As the world we live in becomes increasingly more digital, estate planning takes on a whole new face with more and more things being stored online. Family photos are stored on the cloud, social media accounts stay active well after someone dies and important scanned documents may be difficult for the surviving family members to find. Next time you review your estate plan make sure your digital life is covered and not just your physical one.

Years ago I thought you would have to be crazy to buy something you saw advertized on social media. Today I’ll admit that I actually bought something I saw on social media and fell victim to online. Online security is something we all need to take seriously for more than one-time transactions. Don’t let something as simple as a weak password end up with you losing anything from a few dollars to your identity. Also: • Digital estate planning • Another yield curve inversion • Growth vs. value

If you’re trying to give somebody money for education do not give them the cash directly, pay the institution instead. Not only will you not have to file a gift tax return, but you are able to exceed the $15,000 limit. Believe it or not there is also a correct way to withdraw from a 529 plan; is your child getting the most out this money? Other topics include: • Top retirement planning questions • The inverted yield curve, recessions and the biggest discount between growth and value stocks