Dear Friends, Clients and Colleagues,
Some of the news headlines in recent days remind me a little of Chicken Little: “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” No doubt, all the headlines and reports about the downturn in the stock market can make us uncomfortable. But we’re in this for the long term, and if history is any guide, this current situation is short term. In the words of Nick Murray Investing is the age-old, never ending, emotional battle between fear of the future and faith in the future. What is crucial to remember is that investing isn’t solely about the performance of the stock market, it’s about investing in you and your family’s future.
Fortunately there are several ways you can invest in your and your family’s future. Here’s an idea: When is the last time you checked your account beneficiary forms? With certain accounts (especially retirement accounts) the beneficiary form supersedes a will or trust. The article below will explain why it’s so important to protect your assets and make sure your forms are up to date. We can also control how much and how we save. The infographic below explains how you can be saving in your qualified (tax-free) accounts and how this may reduce your tax burden…both will serve to increase your ability to save.
When we build and discuss financial plans, we delicately discuss the “end of your plan” aka, the end of life. This is not a fun subject for anyone, and the timing certainly isn’t something we can control, however we can control living to our fullest and leaving behind our own inspired legacy, which is the essence of planning. The below TedX presentation is lengthy, take the time to savor this moving talk, which asks big questions about how we think on death and honor life. Lastly, to lighten the mood and in honor of Presidents’ Day this month, have some fun and test your presidential knowledge with this enlightening — and challenging — quiz.
Articles of Interest
Where there is a Will there is Not Necessarily a Way
Avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure your heirs inherit exactly what you intend by closely inspecting any beneficiaries you may have on your accounts.
IRA and Other Qualified Plan Limits
The infographic below explains how saving in your qualified (tax-free) accounts may reduce your tax burden…while also increasing your savings rate.
What really matters at the end of life
At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it’s simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician at Zen Hospice Project who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients.
U.S. Presidents Trivia Quiz
Find out if you are a true history buff and know your Van Buren from your McKinley.
As a convenience to our readers, some messages contain links to information created and maintained by other organizations. Charleston Investment Advisors does not control, cannot guarantee, and is not responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, or continued availability or existence of the outside information.
CIA Corner
- Need anything Notarized?: Erica is officially a notary. We know many of you often have to go through the process of getting items notarized both related and unrelated to your CIA accounts; any time you need a notary, stop by and see Erica and she will be happy to help you!
- 2015 Tax Packages: Are now available! If you need us to share information with your CPA or Tax Accountant, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We welcome the opportunity to work with your accountant so that we can work together on your tax planning goals.
- Changed Jobs or Know someone that has?: Often we find that clients have “orphaned” accounts from previous employers that sit, unmanaged and in some cases, at odds with your financial goals. If you have an orphaned account or know someone that does, let us run a Gap Analysis to help determine your best course of action.
