Working while Collecting Social Security Benefits Increases Lifetime Benefits

May 31, 2023 — Sam H. Fawaz

The rules governing working while collecting social security benefits are complicated and voluminous. Many people think they can’t work once they start collecting social security or they must return all benefits received. That’s simply not the case.

In some cases, you can earn unlimited income from work and keep 100% of your social security benefits. In other cases, you may have to re-pay some or all your social security benefits if you earn too much money.

In short, anyone can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you’re younger than full retirement age (see below), and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced.

The amount that your benefits are reduced, however, isn’t truly lost. Your benefit will increase at your full retirement age to account for benefits withheld due to earlier earnings. Note that spouses and survivors who receive benefits because they care for children who are minors or have disabilities, don’t receive increased benefits at full retirement age if benefits were withheld because of work.
 
NOTE: Different rules apply if you receive Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income payments. If so, then you must report all earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Also, different rules apply if you work outside the United States.
 
How much can you earn and still get benefits?
If you were born after January 1, 1960, then your full retirement age for retirement insurance benefits is 67.

If you work, and are at full retirement age or older, you keep all your benefits, no matter how much money you earn.

If you’re younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full Social Security benefits.

  • If you’re younger than full retirement age during all of 2023, the SSA must deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $21,240.
  • If you reach full retirement age in 2023, the SSA will deduct $1 from your benefits for each $3 you earn above $56,520 until the month you reach full retirement age.

The following two examples show how the rules might affect you:

Example #1: Let’s say that you file for Social Security benefits at age 62 in January 2023 and your payment will be $600 per month ($7,200 for the year). During 2023, you plan to work and earn $23,920 ($2,680 above the $21,240 limit). The SSA would withhold $1,340 of your Social Security benefits ($1 for every $2 you earn over the limit). To do this, SSA would withhold all monthly benefit payments from January 2023 through March 2023 ($1,800 total). Beginning in April 2023, you would receive your full $600 benefit and this amount would be paid to you each month for the remainder of the year. In 2024, SSA would pay you the additional $460 ($1,800 minus $1,340) over-withheld in March 2023.

Example #2: Let’s say you aren’t yet at full retirement age at the beginning of the year but reach it in November 2023. You expect to earn $57,000 in the 10 months from January through October. During this period, SSA would withhold $160 ($1 for every $3 you earn above the $56,520 limit). To do this, SSA would withhold the full benefit payment for January 2023 ($600), your first check of the year. Beginning in February 2023, you would receive your $600 benefit, and this amount would be paid to you each month for the remainder of the year. In 2024, SSA would pay you the additional $440 over-withheld in January 2023.

NOTE: If you receive survivors’ benefits, SSA uses your full retirement age for retirement benefits when applying the annual earnings test (AET) for retirement or survivors’ benefits. Although the full retirement age for survivors’ benefits may be earlier, for AET purposes, SSA uses your full retirement age for retirement benefits. This rule applies even if you are not entitled to your own retirement benefits.

What Income Counts and When is it Counted?
If you work for an employer, only your wages count toward Social Security’s earnings limits. If you’re self-employed, only your net earnings from self-employment count. For the earnings limits, SSA doesn’t count income such as other government benefits, investment earnings, interest, pensions, annuities, and capital gains. However, SSA does count an employee’s contribution to a pension or retirement plan (i.e., 401(k) or 403(b) plan) if the contribution amount is included in the employee’s gross wages.

If you earn salary or wages, income counts when it’s earned, not when it’s paid. If you have income that you earned in one year, but the payment was made in the following year, it should be counted as earnings for the year you earned it, not the year paid to you. Some examples include year-end earnings paid in January, accumulated sick pay, vacation pay, or bonuses.
 
If you’re self-employed, income counts when you receive it, not when you earn it. This is not the case if it’s paid in a year after you become entitled to social security benefits but earned before you became entitled to benefits.

Special Rule for the First Year You Retire
Sometimes people who retire in mid-year have already earned more than the annual earnings limit. That’s why there is a special rule that applies to earnings for one year– usually the first year of retirement.
 
Under this rule, you can get a full Social Security check for any whole month you’re retired, regardless of your yearly earnings. In 2023, a person younger than full retirement age for the entire year is considered retired if monthly earnings are $1,770 or less (1/12th of the annual earnings limit).

Example: Someone retires at age 62 on October 30, 2023 and has earned $45,000 through October. He/she takes a part-time job beginning in November earning $500 per month. Although their earnings for the year substantially exceed the 2023 annual limit ($21,240), they will receive a full Social Security payment for November and December. This is because their earnings in those months are $1,770 or less, the monthly limit for people younger than full retirement age. If they earn more than $1,770 in either November or December, they won’t receive a benefit for that month. Beginning in 2024, only the annual limit will apply.
 
If you’re self-employed, SSA considers how much work you do in your business to determine whether you’re retired. One way is by looking at the amount of time that you spend working. In general, if you work more than 45 hours a month in a self-employment venture, you’re not retired. If you work less than 15 hours a month, you’re considered retired. If you work between 15 and 45 hours a month, you won’t be considered retired if it’s in a job that requires a lot of skill, or you’re managing a sizable business.

Should You Report Changes in Your Earnings?
SSA adjusts the amount of your Social Security benefits in 2023 based on what you told them you would earn in 2023. If you think your earnings for 2023 will be different from what you originally told the SSA, let them know right away.

If other family members get benefits based on your work, your earnings from work you do after you start getting retirement benefits could reduce their benefits, too. If your spouse and children get benefits as family members, however, earnings from their own work affect only their own benefits.

Will You Receive Higher Monthly Benefits Later if Benefits are Withheld Because of Work?
Yes, if some of your retirement benefits are withheld because of your earnings, your monthly benefit will increase starting at your full retirement age. This is to consider those months in which benefits were withheld.

Example: Let’s say you claim retirement benefits upon turning 62 in 2023, and your payment is $910 per month. Subsequently, you return to work and have 12 months of benefits withheld.

In that case, SSA would recalculate your benefit at your full retirement age of 67 and pay you $975 per month (in today’s dollars). Or maybe you earn so much between the ages of 62 and 67 that all benefits in those years are withheld. In that case, SSA would pay you $1,300 a month starting at age 67.

Are There Other Ways That Work Can Increase Your Benefits?
Yes. Each year the SSA reviews the records for all Social Security recipients who work. If your latest year of earnings turns out to be one of your highest years, the SSA refigures your benefit and pays you any increase due. This is an automatic process, and benefits are paid in December of the following year. For example, in December 2023, you should get an increase for your 2022 earnings if those earnings raised your benefit. The increase would be retroactive to January 2023.

The number of possible work and social security benefit scenarios are many and varied. If your situation is unique or complicated, it may be worth a call to your local social security office to find out how the rules affect your situation.

The bottom line is that working while receiving social security benefits may temporarily reduce your benefits, but may, in fact, increase your overall lifetime benefits. If you plan to claim social security benefits before your full retirement age, you should talk to your financial advisor or contact us for help.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning or social security benefit matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

Source: SSA.gov, “How Work Affects Your Benefits”

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SECURE 2.0 Adds New Early Withdrawal Exceptions

April 30, 2023 — Sam H. Fawaz

Normally, an early withdrawal (distribution) from a pre-tax retirement account comes with a 10% federal income tax penalty, but under certain conditions, the tax code has always provided a few exceptions.

The 10% penalty tax generally applies to withdrawals prior to age 59½ from IRAs, employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and traditional pension plans, unless an exception applies. The penalty is assessed on top of ordinary income taxes.

For example, exceptions to penalty taxes apply in hardship cases, or if you agree to withdraw substantially equal payments for a minimum length of time. Note that you avoid the 10% tax penalty but not any regular taxes due on the distribution.

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed as part of an omnibus spending bill in December 2022, added new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The Act also expanded an existing exception that applies specifically to employer plans. These exceptions are often called 72(t) exceptions, because they are listed in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.

New exceptions

Here are the new exceptions with their effective dates. Withdrawals covered by these exceptions can be repaid within three years to an eligible retirement plan. If repayment is made after the year of the distribution, an amended return would have to be filed to obtain a refund of any taxes paid.

  • Disaster relief — up to $22,000 for expenses related to a federally declared disaster if the distribution is made within 180 days of the disaster occurring; the distribution is included in gross income equally over three years, beginning with the year of distribution, unless the taxpayer elects to report the full amount in the year of distribution (effective for disasters on or after January 26, 2021)
  • Terminal illness — defined as a condition that will cause death within seven years as certified by a physician (effective 2023)
  • Emergency expenses — one distribution per calendar year of up to $1,000 for personal or family emergency expenses to meet unforeseeable or immediate financial needs; no further emergency distributions are allowed during the three-year repayment period unless the funds are repaid or new contributions are at least equal to the withdrawal (effective 2024)
  • Domestic abuse — the lesser of $10,000 (indexed for inflation in future years) or 50% of the account value for an account holder who certifies that he or she has been the victim of domestic abuse (physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse) during the preceding one-year period (effective 2024)

Expanded exception for employer accounts

The 10% penalty does not apply for distributions from an employer plan to an employee who leaves a job after age 55, or age 50 for qualified public safety employees. SECURE 2.0 extended the exception to public safety officers with at least 25 years of service with the employer sponsoring the plan, regardless of age, as well as to state and local corrections officers and private-sector firefighters.

Previously established exceptions

These exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty were in effect prior to the SECURE 2.0 Act. They cannot be repaid unless indicated. Exceptions apply to distributions relating to:

  • Death or permanent disability of the account owner
  • A series of substantially equal periodic payments for the life of the account holder or the joint lives of the account holder and designated beneficiary
  • Unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income
  • Up to $5,000 for each spouse (from individual accounts) for expenses related to the birth or adoption of a child; can be repaid within three years to an eligible retirement plan
  • Distributions taken by an account holder on active military reserve duty; can be repaid up to two years after end of active duty to an individual retirement plan
  • Distributions due to an IRS levy on the account
  • (IRA only) Up to $10,000 lifetime for a first-time homebuyer to buy, build, or improve a home
  • (IRA only) Health insurance premiums if unemployed
  • (IRA only) Qualified higher education expenses

These exceptions could be helpful if you are forced to tap your retirement account prior to age 59½. However, keep in mind that the greatest penalty for early withdrawal from retirement savings may be the loss of future earnings on those savings. Some employer plans allow loans that might be a better solution than an early withdrawal.

Retirement account withdrawals can have complex tax consequences and other costs. Consider calling on us for advice and possible alternative sources of funds before taking specific action with your retirement plan assets.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

Posted in Financial Planning, General, retirement planning. Leave a Comment »

There’s Still Time to Fund an IRA for 2022

March 31, 2023 — Sam H. Fawaz

The tax filing deadline is fast approaching, which means time is running out to fund an IRA for 2022.

If you had earned income as an employee or self-employed person last year, you may be able to contribute up to $6,000 for 2022 ($7,000 for those age 50 or older by December 31, 2022) up until your tax return due date, excluding extensions. For most people, that date is Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

You can contribute to a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or both. Total contributions cannot exceed the annual limit or 100% of your taxable compensation, whichever is less. You may also be able to contribute to an IRA for your spouse for 2022, even if your spouse didn’t have earned income.

Traditional IRA contributions may be deductible

If you and your spouse were not covered by a work-based retirement plan in 2022, your traditional IRA contributions are fully tax deductible.

If you were covered by a work-based plan, you can take a full deduction if you’re single and had a 2022 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $68,000 or less, or if married filing jointly, with a 2022 MAGI of $109,000 or less. You may be able to take a partial deduction if your MAGI fell within the following limits:

Filing as:MAGI is between:
Single/Head of household$68,000 and $78,000*
Married filing jointly$109,000 and $129,000*
Married filing separately$0 and $10,000*
*No deduction is allowed if your MAGI is more than the above listed maximum MAGI.

If you were not covered by a work-based plan but your spouse was, you can take a full deduction if your joint MAGI was $204,000 or less, a partial deduction if your MAGI fell between $204,000 and $214,000, and no deduction if your MAGI was $214,000 or more.

Consider Roth IRAs as an alternative

If you can’t make a deductible traditional IRA contribution, a Roth IRA may be a more appropriate alternative. Although Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible, investment earnings and qualified distributions** are tax-free.

You can make a full Roth IRA contribution for 2022 if you’re single and your MAGI was $129,000 or less, or if married filing jointly, with a 2022 MAGI of $204,000 or less.

Partial contributions may be allowed if your MAGI fell within the following limits:

Filing as:MAGI is between:
Single/Head of household$129,000 and $144,000*
Married filing jointly$204,000 and $214,000*
Married filing separately$0 and $10,000*
*You cannot contribute if your MAGI is more than the above listed maximum MAGI.

Tip: If you can’t make an annual contribution to a Roth IRA because of the income limits, there is a workaround, often referred to as a “Backdoor Roth IRA” contribution. You can make a nondeductible contribution to a traditional IRA and then immediately convert that traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to aggregate all traditional IRAs and SEP/SIMPLE IRAs you own — other than IRAs you’ve inherited — when you calculate the taxable portion of your conversion.

**A qualified distribution from a Roth IRA can be made after the account is held for at least five years and the account owner reaches age 59½, becomes disabled, or dies. Under this so called 5-year rule, if you make a contribution  — no matter how small — to a Roth IRA for 2022 by your tax return due date, and it is your first Roth IRA contribution, your five-year holding period starts on January 1, 2022. Regardless of your Roth contribution’s holding period, in an emergency, you can withdraw your Roth IRA contributions (not the earnings) without penalty at any time.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

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SECURE 2.0 Changes the Required Minimum Distribution Rules

February 26, 2023 — Sam H. Fawaz

The SECURE 2.0 legislation included in the $1.7 trillion appropriations bill passed late last year builds on changes established by the original “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act” (SECURE 1.0) enacted in 2019. SECURE 2.0 includes significant changes to the rules that apply to required minimum distributions from IRAs and employer retirement plans. Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Required Minimum Distributions or RMDs?

Required minimum distributions, sometimes referred to as RMDs or minimum required distributions, are amounts that the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer retirement plans after you reach a certain age or, in some cases, retire. You can withdraw more than the minimum amount from your IRA or plan in any year, but if you withdraw less than the required minimum, you will be subject to a federal tax penalty.

The RMD rules are designed to spread out the distribution of your entire interest in an IRA or plan account over your lifetime. The RMD rules aim to ensure that funds are utilized during retirement instead of remaining untouched and benefiting from continued tax deferral until left as an inheritance. RMDs generally have the effect of producing taxable income during your lifetime.

These lifetime distribution rules apply to traditional IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs, and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs, as well as qualified pension plans, qualified stock bonus plans, and qualified profit-sharing plans, including 401(k) plans. Section 457(b) plans and Section 403(b) plans are also subject to these rules. If you are uncertain whether the RMD rules apply to your employer plan, you should consult your plan administrator or us.

Here is a brief overview of how the new legislation changes the RMD rules.

1. Applicable Age for RMDs Increased

Before the passage of the SECURE 1.0 legislation in 2019, RMDs were generally required to start after reaching age 70½. The 2019 legislation changed the required starting age to 72 for those who had not yet reached age 70½ before January 1, 2020.

SECURE 2.0 raises the trigger age for required minimum distributions to age 73 for those who reach age 72 after 2022. It increases the age again to age 75, starting in 2033. So, here’s a summary of when you have to start taking RMDs based on your date of birth:

Date of BirthAge at Which RMDs Must Commence
Before July 1, 194970½
July 1, 1949, through 195072
1951 to 195973
1960 or later175

Your first RMD is for the year you reach the age specified in the chart and generally must be taken by April 1 of the year following the year you reached that age. Subsequent required distributions must be taken by the end of each calendar year. So, if you wait until April 1 of the year after you attain your required beginning age, you’ll have to take two required distributions during that calendar year. If you continue working past your required beginning age, you may delay RMDs from your current employer’s retirement plan until after you retire.

1 A technical correction is needed to clarify the transition from age 73 to age 75 for purposes of the RMD rule. As currently written, it is unclear what the correct starting age is for an individual born in 1959 who reaches age 73 in the year 2032.

2. RMD Penalty Tax Decreased

The penalty for failing to take a RMD is steep — historically, a 50% excise tax on the amount by which you fell short of the required distribution amount.

SECURE 2.0 reduces the RMD tax penalty to 25% of the shortfall, effective this year. Still steep, but better than 50%.

Also effective this year, the Act establishes a two-year period to correct a failure to take a timely RMD distribution, with a resulting reduction in the tax penalty to 10%. Basically, if you self-correct the error by withdrawing the required funds and filing a return reflecting the tax during that two-year period, you can qualify for the lower penalty tax rate.

3. Lifetime RMDs from Roth Employer Accounts Eliminated

Roth IRAs have never been subject to lifetime RMDs. That is, a Roth IRA owner does not have to take RMDs from the Roth IRA while he or she is alive. Distributions to beneficiaries are required after the Roth IRA owner’s death, however.

The same has not been true for Roth employer plan accounts, including Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) accounts. Plan participants have been required to take minimum distributions from these accounts upon reaching their RMD age or avoid this requirement by rolling over the funds in the Roth employer plan account to a Roth IRA.

Beginning in 2024, the SECURE 2.0 legislation eliminates the lifetime RMD requirements for all Roth employer plan account participants, even those participants who had already commenced lifetime RMDs. Any lifetime RMD from a Roth employer account attributable to 2023 but payable in 2024 is still required.

4. Additional Option for Spouse Beneficiaries of Employer Plans

The SECURE 2.0 legislation provides that, beginning in 2024, when a participant has designated his or her spouse as the sole beneficiary of an employer plan, a special option is available if the participant dies before RMDs have commenced.

This provision will permit a surviving spouse to elect to be treated as the employee, similar to the already existing provision that allows a surviving spouse who is the sole designated beneficiary of an inherited IRA to elect to be treated as the IRA owner. This will generally allow a surviving spouse the option to delay the start of RMDs until the deceased employee would have reached the appropriate RMD age or until the surviving spouse reaches the appropriate RMD age, whichever is more beneficial. This will also generally allow the surviving spouse to utilize a more favorable RMD life expectancy table to calculate distribution amounts.

5. New Flexibility Regarding Annuity Options

Starting in 2023, the SECURE 2.0 legislation makes specific changes to the RMD rules that allow for some additional flexibility for annuities held within qualified employer retirement plans and IRAs. Allowable options may include:

  • Annuity payments that increase by a constant percentage provided certain requirements are met.
  • Lump-sum payment options that shorten the annuity payment period
  • Acceleration of annuity payments payable over the ensuing 12 months
  • Payments in the nature of dividends
  • A final payment upon death that does not exceed premiums paid less total distributions made

It is important to understand that purchasing an annuity in an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan provides no additional tax benefits beyond those available through the tax-deferred retirement plan. If you plan to purchase an annuity in your IRA, you should talk to us or your financial planner first. Qualified annuities are typically purchased with pre-tax money, so withdrawals are fully taxable as ordinary income, and withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.

These are just a few of the many provisions in the SECURE 2.0 legislation. The rules regarding RMDs are complicated. While the changes described here provide significant benefits to individuals, the rules remain difficult to navigate, and you should consult a tax professional like us to discuss your individual situation.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any RMD planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

Posted in estate planning, Financial Planning, General, IRA, retirement planning, tax planning. Leave a Comment »

Are Interest Rates Signaling a Recession?

January 31, 2023 — Sam H. Fawaz

According to Investopedia, the yield curve shows the relationship between bond yields (the interest rates on the vertical axis) and bond maturity (the time on the horizontal axis).

Long-term bonds generally provide higher yields than short-term bonds because investors demand higher returns to compensate for the risk of lending money over an extended period. Occasionally, however, this relationship flips, and investors are willing to accept lower yields in return for the relative safety of longer-term bonds. This is called a yield curve inversion because a graph showing bond yields in relation to maturity is essentially turned upside down.

Imagine going to the bank and being told that a 1-year certificate of deposit yields 4.0%, but the 5-year CD only yields 3.0%. Few people would lock up their money for five times as long and earn a lower rate. This is an example of a yield inversion.

A yield curve could also apply to any bonds that carry similar risk, but the most studied curve is for U.S. Treasury securities, and the most common focal point is the relationship between the two-year and 10-year Treasury notes. Although Treasuries are often referred to as bonds, maturities up to one year are called bills, while maturities of two to 10 years are called notes. Only 20- and 30-year Treasuries are officially called bonds.

The two-year yield has been higher than the 10-year yield since July 2022, and beginning in late November, the difference has been at levels not seen since 1981. The biggest separation in 2022 came on December 7, when the two-year was 4.26%, and the 10-year was 3.42%, a difference of 0.84%. Other short-term Treasuries have also offered higher yields;  the highest yields in early 2023 were for the six-month and one-year Treasury bills. (1) 

Predicting Recessions

An inversion of the two-year and ten-year Treasury notes has preceded each recession over the past 50 years, reliably predicting a recession within the next one to two years. (2)  A 2018 Federal Reserve study suggested that an inversion of the three-month and ten-year Treasuries may be an even more reliable indicator, predicting a recession within about 12 months. (3) The three-month and ten-year Treasuries have been inverted since late October 2022, and in December 2022 and early January 2023, the difference was often greater than the inversion of the two- and 10-year notes. (4)

Weakness or Inflation Control?

Yield curve inversions do not cause a recession; rather they indicate a shift in investor sentiment that may reflect underlying economic weakness. A normal yield curve suggests investors believe the economy will continue to grow and interest rates will likely rise with the growth. In this scenario, an investor typically would want a premium to tie up capital in long-term bonds and potentially miss out on other opportunities in the future.

Conversely, an inversion suggests that investors see economic challenges that are likely to push interest rates down and typically would instead invest and lock in longer-term bonds at today’s yields. This increases demand for long-term bonds, driving prices up and yields down.

Note that bond prices and yields move in opposite directions; the more you pay for a bond that pays a given coupon interest rate, the lower the yield will be, and vice-versa.

The current situation is not so simple. The Federal Reserve has rapidly raised the benchmark federal funds rate (short-term) to combat inflation, increasing it from near 0% in March 2022 to 4.50%–4.75% today. The fed funds rate is the rate charged for overnight loans within the Federal Reserve System.  The funds rate directly affects other short-term rates, which is why yields on short-term Treasuries have increased rapidly. The fact that 10-year Treasuries have lagged the increase in the federal funds rate may mean that investors believe a recession is coming. But it could also reflect the confidence that the Fed is winning the battle against inflation and will lower rates over the next few years. This is in line with the Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) projections, which see the funds rate peaking at 5.0%–5.25% by the end of 2023 and then dropping to 4.0%–4.25% in 2024 and 3.0%–3.25% in 2025. (5)

Inflation has been slowing somewhat in October-December, but there is a long way to go to reach the Fed’s target of 2% inflation for a healthy economy. (6)  The fundamental question remains the same as it has been since the Fed launched its aggressive rate increases: Will it require a recession to control inflation, or can it be controlled without shifting the economy into reverse?

Other Indicators and Forecasts

The yield curve is one of many indicators that economists consider when making economic projections. Among the most closely watched are the ten leading economic indicators published by the Conference Board, with data on employment, interest rates, manufacturing, stock prices, housing, and consumer sentiment. The Leading Economic Index, which includes all ten indicators, fell for nine consecutive months through November 2022. Conference Board economists predict a recession beginning around the end of 2022 and lasting until mid-2023. (7) Recessions are not officially declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research until they are underway. The Conference Board view would suggest the United States may already be in a recession.

In The Wall Street Journal’s October 2022 Economic Forecasting Survey, most economists believed the United States would enter a recession within the next 12 months, with an average expectation of a relatively mild 8-month downturn. (8) More recent surveys of economists for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicators also found a consensus for a mild recession in 2023. (9)

For now, the economy appears strong despite high inflation, with a low December 2022 unemployment rate of 3.5% and an estimated 2.9% 4th quarter growth rate for real gross domestic product (GDP). Nonetheless, the indicators and surveys discussed above suggest an economic downturn in the next year or so. This would likely cause some job losses and other temporary financial hardship, but a brief recession may be the necessary price to tame inflation and put the U.S. economy on a more stable track for future growth.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

(1), (4) U.S. Treasury, 2023

(2)  Financial Times, December 7, 2022

(3) Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, August 27, 2018

(5) Federal Reserve, 2022

(6) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

(7)  The Conference Board, December 22, 2022

(8) The Wall Street Journal, October 16, 2022

(9) SIFMA, December 2022

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Retirement Investors Get Another Boost from Washington

December 31, 2022 — Sam H. Fawaz

If the Inflation Reduction Act passed earlier this year wasn’t amusing enough for having the exact opposite effect, the latest bill will certainly cement Congress’ sense of humor when it comes to fighting inflation.

Amid the 1,650-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending legislation passed by Congress last week and signed by President Biden this week, were several provisions affecting work-sponsored retirement plans and, to a lesser degree, IRAs. Dubbed the “SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022” after the similarly sweeping “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act” passed in 2019, the legislation is designed to improve the current and future state of retiree income in the United States.

“This important legislation will enhance the retirement security of tens of millions of American workers — and for many of them, give them the opportunity for the first time to begin saving,” said Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association.

What Does the Legislation Do?

The following is a brief summary of some of the most notable initiatives. All provisions take effect in 2024 unless otherwise noted.

  • A later age for required minimum distributions (RMDs). The 2019 SECURE Act raised the age at which retirement savers must begin taking distributions from their traditional IRAs and most work-based retirement savings plans to 72. SECURE 2.0 raises that age again to 73 beginning in 2023 and 75 in 2033.
  • Reduction in the RMD excise tax. Current law requires those who fail to take their full RMD by the deadline, to pay a tax of 50% of the amount not taken. The new law reduces that tax amount to 25% in 2023; the tax is further reduced to 10% if account holders take the full required amount and report the tax by the end of the second year after it was due and before the IRS demands payment.
  • No RMDs from Roth 401(k) accounts. Bringing Roth 401(k)s and similar employer plans in line with Roth IRAs, the legislation eliminates the requirement for savers to take minimum distributions from their work-based plan Roth accounts.
  • Higher limits and looser restrictions on qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs. QCDs are a great way to give your RMD (or more) to charity and thereby avoid taxes on the distribution. The amount currently eligible for a QCD from an IRA ($100,000) will be indexed for inflation. In addition, beginning in 2023, investors will be able to make a one-time charitable distribution of up to $50,000 from an IRA to a charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable remainder unitrust, or charitable gift annuity.1
  • Higher catch-up contributions. Currently, taxpayers age 50 and older can make an additional “catch-up” contribution to their IRAs and 401(k)’s. The IRA catch-up contribution limit will now be indexed annually for inflation, similar to work-sponsored catch-up contributions. Also, starting in 2025, people age 60 to 63 will be able to contribute an additional minimum of $10,000 for 401(k) and similar plans (and at least $5,000 extra for SIMPLE plans) each year to their work-based retirement plans. Moreover, beginning in 2024, all catch-up contributions for those making more than $145,000 will be after-tax (Roth contributions).
  • Roth matching contributions. The new law permits employer matches to be made to Roth accounts. Currently, employer matches must go into an employee’s pre-tax account. This provision takes effect immediately; however, it may take some time for employers to amend their retirement plans to include this feature.
  • Automatic enrollment and automatic saving increases. Beginning in 2025, the Act requires most new work-sponsored plans to automatically enroll employees with contribution levels between 3% and 10% of income, and it automatically increases their savings rates by 1% a year until they reach at least 10% (but not more than 15%) of income. Workers will be able to opt out of the programs.
  • Emergency savings accounts. The legislation includes measures that permit employers to automatically enroll non-highly compensated workers into emergency savings accounts to set aside up to  $2,500 (or a lower amount that an employer stipulates) in a Roth-type account. Savings above this limit and any employer matching contributions would go into the traditional retirement account.
  • Matching contributions for qualified student loan repayments. Employers may help workers repaying qualified student loans simultaneously save for retirement by investing matching contributions in a retirement account in the employee’s name.
  • 529 rollovers to Roth IRAs. People will be able to directly roll over up to a total of $35,000 from 529 plan accounts to Roth IRAs for the same beneficiary, provided the 529 accounts have been held for at least 15 years. Annually, the rollover amounts would be subject to Roth IRA contribution limits.2
  • New exceptions to the 10% early-withdrawal penalty. Distributions from retirement savings accounts are generally subject to ordinary income tax. Moreover, distributions prior to age 59½ also may be subject to an early-withdrawal penalty of 10%, unless an exception applies. The law provides for several new exceptions to the early-withdrawal penalty, including an emergency personal expense, terminal illness, domestic abuse, to pay long-term care insurance premiums, and to recover from a federally declared disaster. Amounts, rules, and effective dates differ for each circumstance.
  • Saver’s match. Low- and moderate-income savers currently benefit from a tax credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly) for saving in a retirement account. Beginning in 2027, the credit is re-designated as a match that will generally be contributed directly into an individual’s retirement account. In addition, the match is allowed even if taxpayers have no income tax obligation.
  • More part-time employees can participate in retirement plans. The SECURE Act of 2019 required employers to allow workers who clocked at least 500 hours for three consecutive years to participate in a retirement savings plan. Beginning in 2025, the new law reduces the second component of that service requirement to just two years.
  • Rules for lifetime income products in retirement plans. The Act directs the IRS to ease rules surrounding the offering of lifetime income products  within retirement plans. Moreover, the amount that plan participants can use to purchase qualified longevity annuity contracts will increase to $200,000. The current law caps that amount at 25% of the value of the retirement accounts or $145,000, whichever is less. These provisions take effect in 2023. Qualified annuities are typically purchased with pre-tax money, so withdrawals are fully taxable as ordinary income, and withdrawals prior to age 59½ may be subject to a 10% penalty tax.
  • Retirement savings lost and found. The Act directs the Treasury to establish a searchable database for lost 401(k) plan accounts within two years after the date of the legislation’s enactment.
  • Military spouses. Small businesses that provide immediate enrollment and vesting to military spouses in an eligible retirement savings plan will qualify for new tax credits. This provision takes effect immediately.

These provisions represent just a sampling of the many changes that will be brought about by SECURE 2.0. We look forward to providing more details and in-depth analysis for both individuals and business owners in the months to come as more detailed information becomes available.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg, Kiplinger,Fortune,Plan Sponsor magazine, National Association of Plan Advisors, and the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022

1 Bear in mind that not all charitable organizations are able to use all possible gifts. It is prudent to check first. The type of organization you select can also affect the tax benefits you receive.

2 As with other investments, there are generally fees and expenses associated with participation in a 529 savings plan. There is also the risk that the investments may lose money or not perform well enough to cover college costs as anticipated. Investment earnings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis, and withdrawals are tax-free as long as they are used for qualified education expenses. For withdrawals not used for qualified education expenses, earnings may be subject to taxation as ordinary income and possibly a 10% tax penalty. The tax implications of a 529 savings plan should be discussed with your legal and/or tax professionals because they can vary significantly from state to state. Also be aware that most states offer their own 529 plans, which may provide advantages and benefits exclusively for their residents and taxpayers. These other state benefits may include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors. Before investing in a 529 savings plan, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully. The official disclosure statements and applicable prospectuses – which contain this and other information about the investment options, underlying investments, and investment company – can be obtained by contacting your financial professional. You should read these materials carefully before investing.

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Year-end 2022 Tax and Financial Planning for Individuals

November 30, 2022 — Sam H. Fawaz

As we wrap up 2022, it’s important to take a closer look at your tax and financial plans and review steps that can be taken to reduce taxes and help you save for your future. Though there has been a lot of political attention to tax law changes, inflation and environmental sustainability, political compromise has led to smaller impacts on individual taxes this year.

However, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, there are new tax incentives for you to consider. There are also several tax provisions that have expired or will expire soon. We continue to closely monitor any potential extensions or changes in tax legislation and will update you accordingly.

Here’s a look at some potential planning ideas for individuals to consider as we approach year-end:

Charitable Contribution Planning

If you’re planning to donate to a charity, it may be better to make your contribution before the end of the year to potentially save on taxes. There are many tax planning strategies related to charitable giving. For example, if you give gifts larger than $5,000 to a single organization, consider donating appreciated assets (such as collectibles, stock, exchange-traded funds, or mutual funds) that have been held for more than one year, rather than cash. That way, you’ll get a deduction for the full fair market value while side-stepping the capital gains taxes on the gain.

Because of the large standard deduction, most people no longer itemize deductions. But bunching deductions every other year might give you a higher itemized deduction than the standard deduction. One way to do this is by opening and funding a donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF is appealing to many as it allows for a tax-deductible gift in the current year for your entire contribution. You can then grant those funds to your favorite charities over multiple years. If you give $2,000 or more a year to charity, talk to us about setting up a DAF.

Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) are another option for certain taxpayers (age 70.5+) who don’t typically itemize on their tax returns. If you’re over age 70.5, you’re eligible to make charitable contributions directly from your IRA, which essentially makes charitable contributions deductible (for both federal and most state tax purposes) regardless of whether you itemize or not. In addition, it reduces future required minimum distributions, reducing overall taxable income in future years. QCDs keep income out of your tax return, making income-sensitive deductions (such as medical expenses) more viable, lowers the taxes on your social security income, and can lower your overall tax rate. They may also help keep your Medicare premiums low.

Last year, individuals who did not itemize their deductions could take a charitable contribution deduction of up to $300 ($600 for joint filers). However, this opportunity is no longer available for tax year 2022 (and future years).

Note that it’s important to have adequate documentation of all donations, including a letter or detailed receipt from the charity for donations of $250 or more. That letter/receipt must include your name, the taxpayer identification number of the institution, the amount, and a declaration of whether you received anything of value in exchange for the contribution.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

Tax rules don’t allow you to keep retirement funds in your accounts indefinitely. RMDs are the minimum amount you must annually withdraw from your retirement accounts once you reach a certain age (generally age 72). The RMD is calculated and based on the value of the account at the end of the prior tax year multiplied by a percentage from the IRS’ life expectancy tables. Failure to take your RMD can result in steep tax penalties–as much as 50% of the undistributed amount.

Retirement withdrawals obviously have tax impacts. As mentioned above, you can send retirement funds to a qualified charity to satisfy the RMD and potentially avoid taxes on those withdrawals.

Effective for the 2022 tax year, the IRS issued new life expectancy tables, resulting in lower annual RMD amounts. We can help you calculate any RMDs to take this year and plan for any tax exposure.

Digital Assets and Virtual Currency

Digital assets are defined under the U.S. income tax rules as “any digital representation of value that may function as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and/or a store of value.” Digital assets may include virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, Stablecoins such as Tether and USD Coin (USDC), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Unlike stocks or other investments, the IRS considers digital assets and virtual currencies as property, not as capital assets. As such, they are subject to a different set of rules than your typical investments. The sale or exchange of virtual currencies, the use of such currencies to pay for goods or services, or holding such currencies as an investment, generally have tax impacts –– and the IRS continues to increase its scrutiny in this area. We can help you understand any tax and investment consequences, which can be quite convoluted.

Energy Tax Credits

From electric vehicles to solar panels, “going green” continues to provide tax incentives. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included new and newly expanded tax credits for solar panels, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient home improvements. The rules are complex, and some elements of the law are not effective until 2023, so careful research and planning now can be beneficial. For example, previously ineligible electric vehicles are now eligible for credits, while other eligible vehicles are now ineligible for credits if they don’t contain the right proportion of parts and assembly in the United States.

Additional Tax and Financial Planning Considerations

We recommend that you review your retirement plans at least annually. That includes making the most of tax-advantaged retirement saving options, such as traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs, and company retirement plans. It’s also advisable to take advantage of and maximize health savings accounts (HSAs), which can help you reduce your taxes and save for medical-related expenses.

Also, if you withdrew a Coronavirus distribution of up to $100,000 in 2020, you’ll need to report the final one-third amount on your 2022 return (unless you elected to report the entire distribution in 2020 or have re-contributed the funds to a retirement account). If you took a distribution, you could return all or part of the distribution to a retirement account within three years, which will be a date in 2023.

We can work with you to strategize a plan to help restore and build your retirement savings and determine whether you’re on target to reach your goals.

Here are a few more tax and financial planning items to consider and potentially discuss with us:

  • Life changes –– Let us (or your current financial planner) know about any major changes in your life such as marriages or divorces, births or deaths in the family, job or employment changes, starting a business, and significant capital expenditures (such as real estate purchases, college tuition payments, etc.).
  • Capital gains/losses –– Consider tax benefits related to harvesting capital losses to offset realized capital gains, if possible. Net capital losses (the result when capital losses exceed capital gains for the year) can offset up to $3,000 of the current year’s ordinary income (salary, self-employment income, interest, dividends, etc.) The unused excess net capital loss can be carried forward to be used in subsequent years. Consider harvesting some capital gains if you have a large capital loss from the current or prior years.
  • Estate and gift tax planning –– There is an annual exclusion for gifts ($16,000 per donee in 2022, $32,000 for married couples) to help save on potential future estate taxes. While you can give much more without incurring any gift tax, any total annual gift to one individual larger than $16,000/$32,000 requires the filing of a gift tax return (with your form 1040). Note that the filing of a gift tax return is an obligation of the giver, not the recipient of the gift. The annual exclusion for 2023 gifts increases to $17,000/$34,000.
  • State and local taxes –– Many people are now working from home (i.e., teleworking). Such remote working arrangements could potentially have state or local tax implications that should be considered. Working in one state for an employer located in another state may have unexpected state tax consequences. Also, ordering merchandise over the internet without paying sales or use tax might obligate you to remit a use tax to your home state.
  • Education planning –– Consider a Section 529 education savings plan to help save for college or other K-12 education. While there is no federal income tax deduction for the contributions, there can be state income tax benefits (full or partial deductions) for doing so. Funds grow tax-free over many years and can be distributed tax-free when used for qualified education purposes. Lower-income taxpayers (less than $85,800 if single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er); $128,650 if married filing jointly) can redeem certain types of United States savings bonds tax-free when redeemed for college.
  • Updates to financial records –– Tax time is the ideal time to review whether any updates are needed to your insurance policies or various beneficiary designations (life insurance, annuity, IRA, 401(k), etc.), especially if you’ve experienced any life changes in the past year.
  • Last Call for 401(k), 403(b) & Other retirement Plan Contributions –– Once the calendar turns to 2023, it’s too late to maximize your employer plan contributions. It may not be too late to make sure that you’ve contributed the $20,500 maximum (plus $6,500 for those age 50 and older) to the plan. Review your last pay stub and check with your human resources or retirement plan website to see if you can still increase your current year contributions (don’t forget to reset the percentage in early 2023). Remember, if you’ve worked for more than one employer in 2022, your total contributions via all employers cannot exceed the annual maximum, so you must monitor this. For IRAs, you have until April 18, 2023, to make up to a $6,000 contribution for 2022 (plus a $1,000 catch-up contribution for those age 50 and older)
  • Roth IRA conversions –– Depending on your current year’s highest tax rate, it may be prudent to consider converting part of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA to lock in lower tax rates on some of your pre-tax retirement accounts. A conversion is nothing more than a taxable distribution from your IRA which is immediately deposited into your Roth IRA (while income taxes apply, no early withdrawal penalty applies). Roth conversions can help reduce future required minimum distributions and help keep future Medicare premiums lower.  The ideal time to consider Roth conversions is after you retire and before you start collecting your pension or social security checks (or whenever your income is much lower in any particular year).
  • Estimated tax payments –– Review your year-to-date withholding and estimated tax payments to assess whether a 4th quarter 2022 estimated tax payment might be required. An easy way to do this is to compare the total tax line on your 2021 income tax return with your total withholding and estimated payments (total payments) made to date. If your total payments made to date are at least 110% of your 2021 total tax, chances are, you are adequately paid in. While you may owe some tax with the filing of your 2022 return (due on April 18, 2023), you likely won’t owe any penalties for underpayment of estimated tax. Similarly, you may not need to pay 110% of last year’s tax if your income has decreased substantially versus the prior year.

Year-End Planning Means Fewer Surprises

Whether it’s working toward a tax-optimized retirement or getting answers to your tax and financial planning questions, we’re here to help. As always, planning can help you anticipate and minimize your tax bill and position your family and you for greater financial success.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other tax or financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so are your financial plan and investment objectives.

Posted in General, IRA, retirement, retirement planning, tax planning, Taxes. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

How Medicare Costs Are Changing for 2023

October 30, 2022 — Sam H. Fawaz

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period — which runs from October 15 through December 7 — is your annual opportunity to switch your current Medicare health and prescription drug plans to ones that better suit your needs. Just in time for Open Enrollment, 2023 Medicare premiums, deductibles, and other costs have been announced, and surprisingly, some of these costs are lower than they were last year.

What to consider

Start by reviewing any materials your plan has sent you. Look at the coverage offered, the costs, and the network of providers, which may be different than last year. Maybe your health has changed, or you anticipate needing medical care, or new or pricier prescription drugs. If your current plan doesn’t meet your healthcare needs or fit your budget, you can make changes. But if you’re satisfied with what you currently have, you don’t need to do anything. The coverage you have will continue.

During Open Enrollment, you can:

  • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
  • Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to a different Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer prescription drug coverage
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that does offer prescription drug coverage
  • Join a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D)
  • Switch from one Part D plan to another Part D plan
  • Drop your Part D coverage altogether

Any changes made during Open Enrollment are effective as of January 1, 2023.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) costs for 2023

Most people with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $164.90 in 2023. This premium is $5.20 lower than it was in 2022 due to lower-than-projected spending for a new drug, Aduhelm, and other Part B items and services.1

People with higher incomes may pay more than the standard premium. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) as reported on your federal income tax return from two years ago (2021) is above a certain amount, you’ll pay the standard premium amount and an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), which is an extra charge added to your premium, as shown in the following table.

You filed an individual income tax return with MAGI that was:You filed a joint income tax return with MAGI that was:You filed an income tax return as married filing separately with MAGI that was:Total monthly premium in 2023 is:*Total monthly premium in 2023 immunosuppressive drug coverage only is:
$97,000 or less$194,000 or less$97,000 or less$164.90$97.10
Above $97,000 up to $123,000Above $194,000 up to $246,000N/A$230.80$161.80
Above $123,000 up to $153,000Above $246,000 up to $306,000N/A$329.70$258.90
Above $153,000 up to $183,000Above $306,000 up to $366,000N/A$428.60$356.00
Above $183,000 and less than $500,000Above $366,000 and less than $750,000Above $97,000 and less than $403,000$527.50$453.10
$500,000 and above$750,000 and above$403,000 and above$560.50$485.50

People with higher incomes may also pay a higher premium for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, because an IRMAA will be added to the Part D basic premium based on the same income limits in the table above. Part D premiums vary, but the average basic monthly premium for 2023 is projected to be $31.50 (down from $32.08 in 2022).

People with Medicare Part B must also satisfy an annual deductible before Original Medicare starts to pay. For 2023, this deductible is $226 (down from $233 in 2022).

*This premium applies to a new benefit that extends coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for people who qualify for Medicare coverage due to end-stage renal disease. Prior to 2023, Medicare coverage, including immunosuppressive drug coverage, ended 36 months after a successful kidney transplant. Beginning January 1, 2023, Medicare will offer a new benefit that will help continue to pay for immunosuppressive drugs beyond 36 months for people who don’t have other health coverage. It does not cover other items or services. Rates shown apply to people who file individual or joint tax returns. Premiums for beneficiaries filing as married filing separately are different.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) costs for 2023

  • Part A deductible for inpatient hospitalization: $1,600 per benefit period (up from $1,556 in 2022)
  • Part A premium for those who need to buy coverage: up to $506 per month (up from $499 in 2022) — most people don’t pay a premium for Medicare Part A
  • Part A coinsurance: $400 per day for days 61 through 90, and $800 per “lifetime reserve day” after day 90, up to a 60-day lifetime maximum (up from $389 and $778 in 2022)
  • Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance: $200 for days 21 through 100 for each benefit period (up from $194.50 in 2022)

If you have any questions about Medicare, would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

1) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2022

You can view more information on Medicare benefits in the Medicare & You 2023 Handbook and access a Medicare plan finder tool that allows you to compare health and drug coverage options at medicare.gov.

You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, personalized counseling. Visit shiptacenter.org or call the toll-free Medicare number 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to find the phone number for your state.

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) costs vary by plan, but the projected average premium for 2023 plans is $18 (down from $19.52 in 2022). You will also have to pay the Medicare Part B premium.

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What’s Going on in the Markets September 25 2022

September 25, 2022 — Sam H. Fawaz

The markets finally bounced on Friday afternoon after taking a terrible beating the rest of last week.  On Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve (the Fed) announced another 0.75% increase in short-term interest rates to help battle inflation, this led market participants to conclude that the Fed wasn’t yet close to being done raising interest rates.  And as discussed in our newsletter last week, higher interest rates typically lead to a lower stock market which eventually leads to lower prices for goods and services.

From the way the market is behaving, one might think that some of the world’s largest and most profitable companies are suddenly becoming dramatically less valuable.  Are they all laying off workers, slashing prices, closing factories, and declaring imminent bankruptcy?
 
If all this market action and talk is sending you to anxiously scan the headlines, don’t bother; none of that is happening.  Even as stock prices have fallen, and the Fed has done their best to cool the economy, earnings have grown—a fact that has been routinely ignored by the media.
 
Stock prices have never been a precise indicator of what companies are worth.  They are a very good indicator of what people are willing to pay for their shares at any moment, and right now there seems to be an abundant supply of nervous sellers. There’s little reason to join them if you’re a long-term investor.

Why?  The reasons for bear (down-trending) markets are seldom rational—which, of course, is why bear markets end and stocks return to (and always, in the past, have surpassed) their original highs. 
 
What’s happening right now is not unlike what happens when one of our children is diagnosed with an illness, and the remedy is a daily dose of some awful-tasting medicine.  The illness, in this case, is inflation, which absolutely must be cured if we are to experience a healthy economic life.  Few things are worse than having the money you’ve saved up deteriorate in value at double-digit rates, which is precisely what has been happening this year and will continue to happen if it’s not dealt with.
 
The cure, which any child will tell you is more unpleasant than the illness itself, is the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates, which is one way of reducing the amount of cash sloshing around in the economy.  Rising consumer prices, just like rising stock prices, come about when there is more demand than supply.  Reducing the available cash reduces the number of buyers in relation to sellers (ironically, both in the consumer marketplace and on Wall Street), and eventually slows down the inflation rate to manageable levels. 
 
We can already see how this works in the housing market, where, just a few short months ago, multiple would-be buyers were bidding against each other to pay more than the asking prices.  As mortgage rates have risen, the frenzy has completely dissipated.  The process takes longer in the consumer marketplace at large, but you can bet it’s slowly working behind the scenes.
 
Additional evidence that inflation is cooling can be found in gasoline prices that are solidly below their summer peak levels above $5.00 a gallon, and used car prices, which are normalizing as supplies of new cars on dealer lots are increasing.
 
Doesn’t less spending mean less economic activity?  Doesn’t that lead to a recession?  The answers, of course, are yes and maybe.  But at this point, a recession might not be all that bad for the economy.  Recessions act like a cleansing mechanism, exposing/eliminating waste and inefficiency, ultimately creating a healthier economy when we come out the other end.
 
It’s impossible to know exactly which direction stock prices will go next since stock prices are inherently irrational in the short term. They may rise from here, or go down from here. We know the media’s position will always be one of doom and gloom. Tune them out.
 
I wish I could say that the volatility is over and that we’ve reached bottom.  It’s possible, but it’s more likely that we’ll thrash around the current levels for a few more weeks as we approach the most favorable period in the markets, historically between November and April.
 
Meanwhile, market conditions are heavily stretched to the downside, meaning that we could see a robust snap back this coming week to relieve some heavily over-sold market conditions.  Think of this as your opportunity to unload any losing stocks that have come down so much and have little chance of recovering in the next bull market.  If you’re invested too heavily and have been losing sleep over the current market turmoil, take advantage of the rally to lighten up on some stocks/funds (Disclaimer: this is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Please consult with your own financial advisor or talk to us).
 
I can’t rule out that the markets test lower levels in the weeks ahead; in fact, they likely will. But eventually, this bear market shall come to an end and a great buy point will emerge with a new bull (uptrending) market.
 
For our client portfolios, we took additional defensive action this past week and plan more defensive action in the coming week, depending on the weight of evidence presented by any coming bounce in the markets. If you’re managing your own portfolio, consider whether your own invested percentage is consistent with your risk tolerance and adjust it if you think your portfolio risk level is too high.
 
For now we’re taking our medicine, and boy, does it taste awful.  We are also, collectively, suffering an economic illness.  Anybody who has come down with a bug and taken medicine to cure it knows that the former unpleasantness doesn’t last forever, and therefore neither does the latter.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/14/business/inflation-interest-rates.html

Posted in American Economy, Financial Planning, General, retirement planning, US Stock Market. Leave a Comment »

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Delayed Repayment to 2023

August 31, 2022 — Sam H. Fawaz

On August 24, 2022, just a few days before federal student loan repayment was set to resume, President Biden announced a plan for additional student loan debt relief.

Federal student loan repayment was originally halted in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. The new plan: 1) Extends the payment moratorium through the end of the year; 2) Offers partial debt cancellation; 3) Includes proposed updates to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and 4) Introduces a new income-based repayment plan.

What’s new

Here’s the new framework for federal student loans:

Loan Cancellation. The plan will cancel $10,000 of federal student loan debt for borrowers with an adjusted gross income less than $125,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly). The loan cancellation increases to $20,000 for borrowers who are Pell Grant recipients (1) (a Pell Grant is a federal financial aid grant award to students from low-income households.) Eligibility is based on income from 2020 or 2021, but not 2022.(2)

The Department of Education estimates that 21% of the borrowers eligible for relief are 25 years and younger, 44% are ages 26 to 39, and the remaining 35% are ages 40 and up, including 5% who are senior citizens. The Department also estimates that approximately 27 million borrowers (more than 60% of the borrower population) are Pell Grant recipients and will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in debt relief. (3).

Payment Pause Extended: The pause on federal student loan repayment is being extended one “final” time through December 31, 2022. President Biden’s announcement states that “borrowers should expect to resume payment in January 2023.”(4) In practice, borrowers should expect to hear from their loan servicer at least three weeks before their first payment is due.

Changes  to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: Borrowers who are employed by a nonprofit organization, the military, or the government may be eligible to have their federal student loans forgiven through the PSLF program due to time-sensitive changes. These temporary changes waive certain eligibility criteria for the program and make it easier for borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. These changes expire on October 31, 2022.

Important note: Borrowers who might qualify for loan forgiveness or credit under the PSLF program due to these time-sensitive changes must apply to the program before October 31, 2022. Borrowers can visit the administration’s PSLF website for more information.

In addition, the Department has proposed allowing certain kinds of deferments and forbearances, such as those for Peace Corps and AmeriCorps service, National Guard duty, and military service, to count toward PSLF.

A New  Income-based Repayment Plan. The Department of Education is proposing a new income-driven repayment plan that does the following:

• For undergraduate loans, caps monthly payments at 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income (currently borrowers must pay 10% of their discretionary income)
• For borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less, the loan balance would be forgiven after 10 years of payments (currently borrowers must repay their loans for 20 years)
• Raises the amount of income considered non-discretionary, with the result that a borrower who earns an annual salary based on a $15 minimum wage would not have to make any payments (the monthly payment would be calculated at $0)
• Covers a borrower’s unpaid monthly interest, so that a borrower’s loan balance won’t grow due to interest as long as the borrower is making monthly payments (under current income-driven repayment plans, a borrower’s loan balance can grow even if the borrower continues making monthly payments, because the interest keeps accruing)
• Makes income recertification automatic, which will allow the Department of Education to automatically retrieve a borrower’s income information every year instead of making borrowers recertify their income annually

Will my loans be cancelled automatically?

For most borrowers, no. The Department of Education will be creating a “simple” application for borrowers to claim relief, which will be available by early October. Borrowers who would like to be notified when the application is open can sign up on the Department’s subscription page. Once borrowers complete an application, their loan cancellation should be processed within four to six weeks. The Department recommends that borrowers apply before November 15 in order to receive loan cancellation before the payment pause expires on December 31, 2022. (The Department will still process applications even after the pause expires.)

Some borrowers, however, may be eligible to have their loans cancelled automatically because the Department already has their income data on record.

Are current students eligible for loan cancellation?

Yes, current students are eligible for loan cancellation, provided their loan was obtained before July 1, 2022. However, borrowers who are dependent students need to qualify based on parental income, not their own income.(5)

Are  graduate students eligible for loan cancellation?

Yes, provided income limits are met and it is a federal loan, such as a Direct Loan or Grad PLUS Loan. Private loans are not eligible.

Do parent PLUS Loans qualify for cancellation?

Yes, provided the income limits are met. Any private loans taken out by parents to pay their child’s college education are not eligible.

Will I be taxed on my cancelled debt?

At the federal level, no. At the state level, maybe. Any student loan relief will not be treated as taxable income at the federal level, thanks to provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. However, a handful of states that have not yet aligned their laws with this Act could still tax the amount of student debt forgiven unless they act to amend their laws and affirmatively exclude this debt.

I have more than $10,000 in student loan debt. Will my monthly payment be adjusted after cancellation?

It depends. Borrowers who are already in an income-driven repayment plan generally won’t see their monthly payment change because their payment is based on their discretionary income and household size, not their outstanding loan balance. By contrast, borrowers who are in a fixed payment plan should have their monthly payment recalculated by their loan servicer because their outstanding balance will be lower after loan cancellation, which should result in a lower monthly payment.

I made monthly payments during the payment pause. Can I still qualify?

According to the Department of Education, borrowers who continued to make payments on their federal student loans after March 13, 2020 will still qualify for loan cancellation (assuming they meet the income guidelines). Borrowers can request a refund by calling their loan servicer directly. According to Mark Kantrowitz, a financial aid and student loan expert, only 1.2% of borrowers continued to make payments during the payment pause.(6)

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any college planning or loan repayment matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

1) U.S. Department of Education, 2022

2) The New York Times, August 25, 2022

3-5) White House Fact Sheet, August 24, 2022

6) The Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2022

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