Financial Advice

With National College Savings Day (which is 5/29, coincidence, we think not) right around the corner, we wanted to talk about one of the most popular education savings vehicles available to you: a 529 plan. 

A 529 plan has been used by parents and students alike to help save for the massive cost of education today. Depending on if a college is private, public, in-state, or out-of-state, students could pay upwards of $50,000 per year for an education! With that number in mind, finding another savings option may not sound like such a bad idea.

Let’s get down to it— what is a 529 plan and how does it work? How can you best use them in your financial plan? The answers may surprise you.

What exactly is a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings vehicle designed to help save for the cost of education. Though initially limited for a college education only, 529 plans have since expanded to include K-12 education through to graduate programs.

There are two types of 529 plans: education savings plans and prepaid tuition plans.

The most popular 529 plan is an education savings plan. An education savings plan allows you to contribute after-tax dollars into an investment account to save for the beneficiary’s future. The monetary gains grow tax-free and the distributions remain tax-free as long as they go toward qualified educational expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, and books. 

These savings can also be used toward elementary and secondary schools. However, you may have to consider riskier investment opportunities if you wish to use the funds in that way. This is because you will have less time to save for elementary education versus college education.

While not the most popular, prepaid tuition plans can be an excellent option for some people. Prepaid tuition plans are only offered by certain states and can allow the account holder to pay for all or a portion of tuition and fees in advance in order to lock in a current rate. 

There are also more restrictions with prepaid tuition plans including:

• A limited number of universities accept them.
• Prepaid tuition plans cannot go towards room, board, and/or books.
• These plans are not guaranteed by the federal government.
• You cannot use these plans for elementary or secondary schools.

A major benefit of 529 plans is that anyone can open an account— no matter your income. While they are most commonly set up by parents or grandparents to help fund the education expenses of someone in their family, that is certainly not the only available route to take.

529 plans are executed on a state by state basis, so it is important to know the different rules for your specific area. This can be tricky for family members who live in a different state, but you are not limited to using a plan from your home state. For example, you can live in California and contribute to a 529 plan in Ohio.

Now that you know the basics of both education savings plans and prepaid tuition, it’s time to learn about the tax advantages that await you.

Tax advantages of 529 plans

In general, 529 plans were created to be tax-efficient. As long as the withdrawals are made for a qualifying educational expense (room, board, books, ect.), it will not be taxed. If you have to withdraw the money for any other reason, you will have to pay ordinary income tax and be subject to a 10% penalty. 

As we said above, even though each state operates its own 529 plan, you aren’t restricted to opening a 529 plan in your home state. However, by opening an account in a different state you may possibly forego some credits or deductions. For example, California’s plan Scholar Share doesn’t offer state exemptions or credits. 

There aren’t typically any annual contribution limits on 529 plans like there are with a 401(k) or IRA, but that goes on a state by state basis. However, there is usually a lifetime limit, which for California is $475,000. 

The bottom line is that the longer your money is invested, the more time you have for the funds to grow and the tax benefits to be greater.

How to best use a 529 plan

Of course, the primary purpose of a 529 plan is to save for future educational expenses. While this is the most effective way to use your money, it can be used in other ways.

The SECURE Act allows for $10,000 from 529 plans to be used to pay toward student loan repayment of the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s siblings. This is a lifetime limit with no tax consequences. 

There’s also a chance that your child may not attend school after you’ve invested in a 529 plan. In this case, you can transfer the plan to another beneficiary if you have multiple children, transfer the fund to another family member, or use the funds for your own education. 

This may not come as a surprise, but the earlier you get started with your savings, the better the outcome will be. We’ve said this in all areas of the financial process, but with the cost of education rising every year, it’s vital to put money away as early as possible.

Choose smart investing with Platt Wealth

Saving for education expenses can be one of the largest savings ventures a family can face. With the cost of education continuing to rise, the emphasis on saving, and saving early, can put you and your family in a good position to remain financially stable throughout the whole process. 

Every state has its own 529 plan and whether you choose an educational saving or prepaid tuition plan, it’s important to think about what is most important to you in a plan and how you can set your family up for a bright future. 

Our advisors at Platt Wealth Management are here to help you use your money in a way that not only enhances your life but the lives of others around you. Take control of your future education and give us a call at (619) 255-9554 or email us here for a review of your finances, on the house.

Believe it or not, spring is in the air. With most people spending more time at home due to shelter in place orders, this is the perfect time for spring cleaning. 

More often than not, spring cleaning is often talked about in terms of your house or personal habits — but your finances can also undergo a dedicated, deep spring clean.

How can you best organize your finances this season? The first step is to get a certified financial planner involved. Keep the vacuum in the closet for a bit longer and concentrate on cleaning up your finances in the following five ways.

A certified financial planner can help organize your finances by consolidating your accounts

The first step to simplifying your financial plan is by consolidating your accounts. Consolidating your accounts into one place is a great way to add organization and ease not only to your financial plan but also to the whole financial process.

In all likelihood, you have income streaming in from many different sources which can add complexity to your financial plan— this where a certified financial planner can help. Consolidating your accounts can help you:

• Understand the full scope of your investments
• Create a better tax plan
• Reduce costly fees and charges

Understanding the full scope of your investments will help you track and visualize all of your investments in one place. It will ensure you aren’t over or under-exposed in certain areas in your portfolio. You will also be able to select investments that meet both your long-term and short-term goals.

Understanding your investments will also make rebalancing and asset allocation simpler because all of your investments live in one place. An example could include the transfer of funds from an old 401k into an IRA.

By consolidating your accounts, you will also be able to create a better, stronger tax plan with your certified financial advisor. With your investments housed in one place, your certified financial planner will be better able to help you implement tax-efficient strategies to your investments.

Last, but certainly not least, you can reduce the risk of added costs and fees by consolidating your accounts. Expensive fees can drag anybody down— especially when they are unnecessary and completely avoidable. When your investments are housed under multiple providers, it can hinder your returns and increase your fees. Consolidating your accounts can create a more effective planning experience that can ultimately save you time and leave you more educated about your financial holdings.

Sweep away old spending habits

It is always hard to admit when something needs to change, but now is as good of a time as any to take another look at how you are spending money. In some ways Coronavirus has helped us to prioritize and cut away excess spending. 

Write down what negative spending habits you’ve formed over the years and reevaluate which spending habits to keep and which to throw out.

It’s important to be intentional with your spending. When you spend your money in a way that is reflective of your goals and values, you will be more likely to spend it on the people, places, and things that really matter to you and will help further your goals.

Organize your finances by deep cleaning your budget

First, if you don’t have a budget detailing your monthly expenses, now is the time to create one. It doesn’t have to be fancy, all it needs to include is what you spend monthly and how much each expense costs. This can easily be done in Excel or Google Sheets.  

Budgets are living documents that should change and evolve as your needs do. Take some time to sit down and evaluate your current budget. While doing so, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your budget working for you and your financial health?
• What areas need to be changed for you to be able to reach your goals?
• How can you better track your spending and be aware of your budget in practice?

A strong budget leads to more organized finances. After you’ve created a strong budget, re-visit it every month and adjust as needed. A budget is just an estimate, so don’t be afraid to increase or decrease certain areas of spending (just don’t increase any area too much!).

We’ve created a budget spreadsheet to help you evaluate your cash flow.

Triple check your beneficiaries

Life can change in an instant and when those changes happen, it’s vital to have the correct beneficiaries on your accounts. Updating your beneficiaries on your bank, investments, and insurance accounts are important especially as you move into new phases of your life.

While you’re updating your beneficiaries, be sure to select both primary and contingent beneficiaries. Your certified financial planner can help ensure that you haven’t missed anything.

Talk with a certified financial planner

At Platt Wealth Management, we handle your finances as if they were our own so you, your family, and your assets are protected from any unforeseen financial circumstances.

Our certified financial advisors are here to answer any questions you may have about consolidating your accounts, creating budgets, and/or updating the beneficiaries on your accounts. 

At Platt Wealth Management, we put our client’s needs first and provide completely transparent services so you are in better control of your financial health. Take some time this year to spring clean your finances and bring back organization and structure to your financial life. Are you ready to take control of your financial health? Give us a call at (619) 255-9554 to set up a complimentary review or email us here. Let us help you succeed!

Many investors who are able to save a lot of money max out their 401(k) contributions and want to know where the rest of their savings should be invested. Unfortunately, there comes a time when you will have maxed out all your tax-deferred savings! At that point the remainder should go to your nontaxable brokerage account for investing.

That’s not a bad thing. Having a mix of taxable and tax-deferred assets means that you don’t have to withdraw money out of your retirement accounts for emergencies if you’re under 59 ½. So you won’t have to pay the early withdrawal penalty. You may also have some more near-term goals that you can invest in, since you’ve put away all the retirement funds.

But maxing out your 401(k) or TSP doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re finished with retirement accounts, however. There are a few more things you can consider.

After-tax deferral to employer retirement plans

The deductible limit for employer plan contributions in 2020 is $19,500, with the additional catch-up provision of $6,500 for those over 50. Does that mean if you’re over 50 your contribution limit is $26,000?

Not necessarily. That is the deductible limit that you can contribute. Your employer may also provide a match. The limit for all contributions is actually $57,000. Some employer plans will allow you to contribute after-tax dollars until you reach the $57,000 maximum.

Suppose you contribute the full $26,000 and your employer matches a total of $4,000. Contributions are $30,000. If your plan allows, and plans vary when it comes to this, you may be able to contribute an additional $27,000.

Bear in mind that this additional contribution is not tax deductible. However, it is tax-deferred. You won’t receive a current year tax deduction on it, but you won’t pay taxes on it as it’s growing. As you can see, it’s a good choice for investments that generate plenty of current income.

Not sure if your plan allows for it? Check with the TPA (third-party administrator) to see if it’s a fit for you.

IRA retirement contributions

Traditional and Roth IRAs are not considered employer plans. Once you’ve maxed out your employer retirement, you can still make IRA contributions. SEP and SIMPLE IRAs are considered employer plans, so you can’t make additional contributions to them above the $53,000 limit.

As you might recall, additions to a Traditional IRA are 100% deductible for workers not covered by an employer plan. Households filing jointly but covered by an employer plan can deduct their contributions as long as their modified AGI stays under $104,000. Over that, the deductibility phases out until you’re unable to deduct contributions if you make $124,000 or more.

Income limits for Roth IRAs are slightly higher but don’t depend on whether you’re covered by an employer plan. The ability to make contributions starts phasing out at joint AGI of $196,000, and if you make $206,000 or more, you can’t add to your Roth.

However, no matter what your income is, you can always make contributions to a Traditional IRA. The caveat is that they’re not deductible when your income is over $124,000. But you can still contribute and have those contributions grow tax-deferred. Just as with the after-tax deferrals outlined above for employer plans.

You will need to keep good records for your IRA if you contribute both deductible and nondeductible money over time. Many custodians won’t keep the record for you. When it comes time to start withdrawing, you’ll need to be able to show the funds with a non-zero basis. Deductible contributions have zero basis and so they’re fully taxable.

When it comes to withdrawal time, you can’t tell the management company to only withdraw the nondeductible funds. That could lower your taxes, and that would be too easy! Withdrawals will contain a proportional amount of basis and non-basis money. For example, if you have several IRAs and one-third of the funds were nondeductible, then one-third of the withdrawal will come from funds with basis.

529 accounts

These types of accounts are a great way to stash tax-deferred money away. If the funds are used for qualified expenses at a qualified institution, then the withdrawals are tax-free as well. Otherwise you pay a penalty on the gain. Depending on your tax bracket and the size of the gain, it might very well outweigh investing in a taxable account.

Originally the 529 accounts were for college and higher education, but they’re now available for secondary school as well. Contributions are limited by gift tax exclusion rules. In 2020 you can gift $15,000 per person per year. If you have five kids (or grandkids), you could set aside $75,000 tax deferred with no gift tax limitations.

In contrast with UGMA and UTMA accounts, the owner of the 529 account is the adult, not the minor. If you’re concerned that one child may not go to school or may end up with enough scholarships to cover costs, you can simply change the beneficiary of the account when you get to that point.

And the beneficiary can be yourself as well. There are plenty of qualifying golf and cooking schools, for example.

Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent does make a difference. If you’re a grandparent setting up 529s for the grandkids be careful. As you may know, all students applying to American colleges and universities are required to fill out the financial aid form known as FAFSA.

The student’s assets weigh more heavily in the equation, and therefore reduce the amount of student aid that they qualify for. UGMAs and UTMAs are student assets. 529 accounts are not. If parents own the 529, then the account is considered as a parental asset. These have a lighter weighting in the equation.

The grandparent’s 529 isn’t listed on the FAFSA. However, withdrawals from a non-parental account are considered income to the student. Up to half the student’s income is available for college expenses, so it reduces the amount of financial aid required.  

However, the FAFSA uses income tax returns from two years prior. As long as the grandparent doesn’t distribute until junior year, the FAFSA won’t recognize the income.

How about retirement contributions to taxable accounts?

After you’ve gone through the above list, you’ve pretty much maxed out the available tax-deferred accounts. The remainder goes into your taxable accounts.

Don’t forget that when you have capital losses, they’re netted out against your capital gains. And as long as you held them for a year or more, you qualify for the more favorable capital gains treatment.

Are you interested in seeing how much you can potentially contribute to tax-deferred accounts? Give us a call at 619.255.9554 or send us an email.

As a member of a Board of Directors, you are responsible at a high level for the activities of the organization, whether it’s a nonprofit or corporation. You’re not concerned with the nitty-gritty details, because the officers of the organization handle those. The mission of the corporate board is to maximize the benefits to the shareholders.

Bylaws of the organization spell out what your specific duties are, but there are some common tasks that most boards share.

Board members act as fiduciaries to the organization. (Just as your independent wealth manager is a fiduciary to your portfolio!) Meaning that they must put the organization before their own personal interests.

At the beginning of the organization’s existence, the board is responsible for its mission. A mission statement is important to develop, so everyone’s rowing in the same direction. Later on, a board may decide to change the mission of the organization, but this should only be done after careful thought.

The board will set the overall policy for the organization, without getting bogged down in the daily minutia. It also oversees the organization’s officers and executives. At the end of the year, the board holds an annual meeting where any changes to mission, bylaws, etc. are announced or any elections held. At a corporation annual meeting, there’s usually the announcement of any dividends being paid.

Organizations like to have certain professions on their board, such as financial advisors, accountants, or lawyers.

Potential liability concern should not be a deterrent when considering a seat on the board of directors.

If you’re concerned about liability, know that board members have a pretty wide latitude when dealing with policies and other oversight duties. Many companies offer officer and director liability insurance. But you can be sued and held personally liable for acts committed while serving, which this type of insurance doesn’t cover.

For nonprofits, the board typically hires the executive director, and may face issues if the director is derelict in their duties. If you’re on the board of a nonprofit, the expectation is that you will fundraise for the mission. This could be your own money, finding outside sponsors or donors, etc. You’ll set policy as a board member, but implementation is left up to the staff.

As a board member you can help direct operations for a cause you believe in.

Most people find that a great way to give back to their community is to join the board of a nonprofit whose mission they believe in and are passionate about. You may find similar satisfaction with a corporate board.

Charitable boards tend to be volunteer positions only, which makes it all the more important to ensure that the mission aligns with your own beliefs and values! Nonprofits, especially the smaller ones in your community, run lean. This provides a greater opportunity for you to be hands-on in shaping the policies and programs of the charity you’ve chosen to work with.

Sitting on the board of directors will strengthen you leadership skills

Being on a board, whether it’s for a company or nonprofit, gives you the chance to experience different leadership styles. Watch how other leaders respond to issues that may be similar to your own. You’ll also likely be exposed to situations you’re not already familiar with.

Working through them with people you may not know as well, outside your own comfort zone, provides an opening to really stretch yourself as a leader. Eventually you may develop very close friendships with the other board members, as a result of spending so much time together solving problems.

You may even have skills you weren’t aware of, that you may be called upon to deploy as you serve. You may also discover some weaknesses that you didn’t know about, and can begin to work on them in order to improve your leadership capabilities. Awareness is half the battle!

Broaden your network with other Board of Directors

Unless you’re joining a group of old friends, you should be meeting some people you might not otherwise have met. A board that’s composed of directors based on the needs of the organization, instead of who knows whom, is an excellent way to expand your network.

When you develop tight friendships with other leaders, it often results each of you getting to know their connections. You end up helping to build each other’s networks.

As you work together, serving the organization, you’ll be able to see the strengths and weaknesses of your fellow board members.

Remember that networking is about building relationships. Meeting with your fellow board members outside scheduled times, can help you better solve problems. Face-to-face meetings are always preferable, but not always possible. Phone calls or online meetings can assist you to fill in the gaps.

Some extra income

As noted above, most of the time you’re going to be volunteering, if you’re sitting on a charity board. By contrast, most companies recognize that the monthly and annual meetings and travel do add up in terms of time and resources. Some of them will provide a stipend for your service.

Especially when you’re facing retirement, serving on a board can keep income coming in as well as keeping your business skills sharp. Which you may not need for business after you retire, but can keep you in good mental shape.

Career perks

You may have heard that people who serve on boards are more likely to be promoted. Anyone trying to get you to sit on their board has probably mentioned that to you! In fact, it’s true.

An article in Harvard Business Review showed that being on a board does provide career perks. In addition to being promoted, those who serve on boards are more likely to be named as CEO and often see an uptick in their annual income.

It’s a seal of approval to be chosen for a board, especially a corporate one. Other executives are demonstrating their belief that you have leadership skills. In fact, large companies groom their execs by having them serve on other boards.

At Platt Wealth Management, we understand the importance of serving on a board of directors. Both our financial planners sit on boards for a variety of different causes and continue to stay involved.

If you’re interested in legacy planning that includes a mission important to you, please call 619.255.9554 or email us to schedule an appointment.