Center For Asset Management, LLC https://cf-am.com Center For Asset Management Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:41:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://cf-am.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/favicon.png Center For Asset Management, LLC https://cf-am.com 32 32 179008848 Why should we be afraid of rampant inflation? https://cf-am.com/why-should-we-be-afraid-of-rampant-inflation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-should-we-be-afraid-of-rampant-inflation Tue, 11 Jan 2022 20:48:28 +0000 https://cf-am.com/?p=42149
The Blatt Family, NOLA, 2022

During the winter break, our family traveled to New Orleans. It was our first time in the ‘Crescent City.’ We took a history tour of the French Quarter, led by a retired teacher. We also visited the National WW2 Museum, a must-go for history buffs. I enjoy waking up early and going for walks or exercising. This trip was no different as I volunteered to wake up early and bring back a local favorite.

As I waited in line (for over an hour) for beignets at Café Du Monde, I thought about all the times we attempted to visit New Orleans. The first time was in 2005, but a Hurricane and faulty dams caused us to decide not to travel to the city. The second time was in early 2020 as the world shut down. The third time was the charm. It reminded me of the number of times I have witnessed the Federal Government attempt to stop inflation.

What is inflation, and why should we be afraid?

Inflation, as a general term, does not have to be fearful. There is a saying that ‘without inflation, there would be no economic growth (stagflation).’ Inflation increases the cost of goods or services in an economy. Thus, the U.S. dollar (our national currency) loses value over time. For example, in 2002, the average cost of a movie was $5.81, and in 2022, a movie costs a lot more (especially on Xfinity or Amazon). Some of the historical reasons for inflation are lower interest rates, supply chain issues, higher wages, actions by the U.S. Government or other governments.

How is inflation measured?

There are many ways to measure inflation, but one of the most common measures is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U), produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U shows changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a “representative basket of goods and services” or the most common goods and services purchased on an average month based on detailed surveys of what Americans buy. The urban consumer group represents about 93% of the total U.S. population.

Federal Reserve policymakers evaluate changes in inflation by monitoring several different price indexes. A price index measures changes in the price of a group of goods and services. The Federal Reserve considers several price indexes because other indexes track different products and services calculated differently. Therefore, various indexes can send diverse signals about inflation.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/economy_14419.htm

Some inflation is good; lots of inflation is harmful. The Federal Reserve is concerned that if inflation drops below a reasonable amount over time, say 2%, interest rates would also decline. If the economy falters, the Federal Reserve cannot lower rates to jump-start the economy. On the other hand, too much inflation would increase interest rates and make lending competitive with other forms of investing, which would cause the U.S. Government to include more of our Gross Domestic Product, spending on just servicing the national debt.

As I was bringing the bag of beignets back to my family, I thought of how wrong the Federal Reserve could be. At the end of 2018, the Federal Reserve appeared to raise interest rates as quickly as possible to slow down the economy. Then, we had a pandemic, and the Federal Reserve reduced rates as soon as possible. The U.S. Government spent or deployed over a Trillion dollars to ‘recover’ a stopped economy in 2020. All this money needed to go somewhere, so demand increased dramatically. Consumers want to buy more than ever. This increase in demand is causing prices to skyrocket. Can the U.S. Government stop increasing demand (by raising interest rates) and slow down the rampant inflation? Not to ruin the story, beignets are donuts with nothing inside. In my opinion, Jupiter Donuts are more delicious.

Sorry, New Orleans; South Florida’s donuts are better than your beignets.

Jupiter Donuts are AMAZING! NOLA’s beignets have nothing on these!

Sorry, Federal Government, fixing the supply chain is not enough to slow down inflation. It will take a change of either the current spending policy (reducing benefits that are increasing demand) or the taxing policy (taxing people or companies buying more goods or services).

How can we still do well in this economy?

The easy answer is, remember that all things are cyclical, and if you have staying power, you may get a reward. Don’t panic. Keep some money for emergencies. Consider investments that do well during inflationary times. Invest in dividend-paying stocks and other equity investments so that you can keep up with at least inflation.

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.

To book an appointment, please call us at (561) 625-0900, x-104.

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Google Easily Finds Peter Blatt, Palm Beach Gardens Financial Advisor Walking Into His Office! https://cf-am.com/google-easily-finds-peter-blatt-palm-beach-gardens-financial-advisor-walking-into-his-office/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-easily-finds-peter-blatt-palm-beach-gardens-financial-advisor-walking-into-his-office Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:23:08 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39871 A few weeks ago, one of my clients called extremely excited and said, ‘I found you on Google Earth.’ That sounded to me like she found me doing a Google Search. Then I thought about how she said, Google Earth, and I realized she was talking about the Google Maps car getting a picture of me! This reminded me of how little we control our own data. (See more later in the article.)

Over the last week, a stock called GameStop price went up over 1000%. Crazy. It then proceeded to fall by 50%. As a financial advisor I have no idea where it will end. Being in wealth management, I am happy to report none of the portfolios we control directly own this stock. Why did this stock go up and then down so rapidly? It really comes down to individual investors attempting to bust ‘trades’ of big hedge funds. There is a common practice among hedge funds to short stocks. If you are a hedge fund and you short a stock and the stock price starts to rise, to cover the short, you need to buy the stock.

Background: GameStop’s stock had been falling for over 5 years. Some hedge funds bet that this decline would continue.

In such bets, called “short sales,” hedge funds borrow a share and sell it. The hedge fund is obliged to buy back the borrowed share later. The bet pays off if the price drops in the interim period, meaning the hedge fund can pocket the difference.

In the newer age of ‘transparency’, users of the Reddit threads found a way to profit at the hedge fund expense. The Reddit thread readers joined together and over the last week bought GameStop stock. This buying caused the price of GameStop stock to increase.

This in turn forced hedge funds to cut their losses and buy back shares in GameStop and then sold the stock one last time. This yo-yo pricing of GameStop is an example of both transparency and a way for individuals to take advantage of someone else’s greed.

As our world becomes more transparent, more individuals will look for ways to outsmart big data. One fear is that big data will find ways to reduce transparency and ‘protect’ individuals. The biggest loser of this type of trading is that the stock price of a company may no longer actually represent the legitimate value of the company.

Click here to see me walking into the Center For Asset Management office and follow me on a satellite!

Captured from Google Maps

Remember….

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.

Peter Blatt

Copyright 2021 by Peter Blatt. All rights reserved.

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How to thrive in 2021 https://cf-am.com/how-to-thrive-in-2021/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-thrive-in-2021 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:34:35 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39848 During the week before Christmas, I hiked with my younger son’s Scout Troop on the Appalachian Trail. This trip was planned early in 2020 and was considered an Advanced Hiking/Backpacking Trip. My son, David, who served two consecutive terms as Senior Patrol Leader, led the hike. We hiked on the Indian Trail Loop over a three day period. We hiked over 35 miles, slept outside in tents, and backpacked with all our supplies. I am happy to report no one was hurt. As we hiked out the last day, finding our cars, I started to reminisce about 2020. It could have been the fact that we ran out of water about 2 miles before we found the cars.

The question that I ask myself as we wrap this year up, is what benefit do we gain from reminiscing about the year?  Or another way to put it—what lessons can we glean from 2020?

About 10 years ago, I learned a concept called ‘equanimity’ and this year tested my ability to remain in this state. There are a lot of good internet definitions of equanimity. However, this year I would like to use the definition of a pause before reacting to news. Imagine someone tells you something inflammatory and you become angry, disappointed, sad, etc.  You can view the comment as lighting a flame or striking a match in you. You can then use equanimity—a pause—and choose to notice how you are feeling and how this action causes you to feel; and, therefore, choose not react. This calmness in the storm allows us to not let outside influences dictate our reactions.

As a Palm Beach Gardens financial planner, driving home to Florida, thoughts of the trip and the excitement of completing something difficult allows me to clear my head. The year 2020 as a Wealth Manager and as a Financial Advisor, was one of the most interesting years since I started working in the industry more than 20 years ago.

So, what will 2021 bring? The short answer is that it does not matter. We can control how we feel about things. Maybe the better question as this year begins is, “what can I do to improve the lives of myself, my family and my friends? For those who are working, what can I do to improve the lives of myself, my family, my friends and my clients?”

How do you thrive in 2021? The answer is to take a moment for yourself. Do not stress about outside influences. Focus on improving the lives of yourself, your family, and your friends.

Happy New Year!

Peter Blatt

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.

©Copyright 2021 by Peter Blatt. All rights reserved.

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How to evaluate the lessons we are learning from this year https://cf-am.com/how-to-evaluate-the-lessons-we-are-learning-from-this-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-evaluate-the-lessons-we-are-learning-from-this-year Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:43:19 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39779 Changing plans does not mean changing your outlook. At the end of each day of hiking the Continental Divide Trail with the Boy Scouts, each of the boys would discuss the thorn and rose of the day. The idea was to learn lessons from each day that we could bring back to our normal lives. One of the questions that I asked the boys was, “who here has fallen down during this hike?” All of the boys and all of the Assistant Scout Masters (including myself) smiled and acknowledge they fell down.

After asking this question, I thought of the expectations of this year, and how the reality is far different than the expectation. As a presidential election year, I expected volatility. As most of you are aware, I did reduce risk on my clients’ portfolios prior to the beginning of 2020. However, I did not expect the Coronavirus to affect the economy as it did. Now, I know a lot of people were effected by the change in our country.

The big question is when you talk about how you are affected by this change, are you smiling or frowning? Can you find a positive in the current times to help you cope and excel?

Before the most difficult hike, we met with an amazing individual who helped us coordinate the entire trip. He asked the boys to think about three life lessons that help guide him. The first lesson is to be truthful to yourself and others. The second lesson is to live with integrity (always do what you say you are going to do) for yourself and others. And the third lesson, is fix your mistakes (as you are bound to make them). These life lessons help him cope with his daily decisions.

As he discussed his truths with the boys, I thought of all the lessons I learned in over 20 years of financial planning. The question you might ask yourself is what new lesson is the Coronavirus teaching me about how I want to retire?

As the summer continues to heat up in South Florida, please stay cool and safe.

Also remember,

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.
Peter

©Copyright 2020 by Peter Blatt. All rights reserved.

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A new perspective from adversity https://cf-am.com/a-new-perspective-from-adversity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-new-perspective-from-adversity Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:39:02 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39758 I returned early last week from an amazing trip with my son, David, and the Boy Scouts of Troop 132. We hiked Yellowstone National Park and part of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The CDT connects Mexico to Canada. We took all necessary precautions on our flights for COVID19, and I am happy to report no one has tested positive for COVID19. 

The second week of the trip, we were on a portion of the CDT between Montana and Idaho. This trail spans a mountain ridge about 9,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level. This part of our country is beautiful, and I would strongly recommend anyone who has not seen the area, to visit.

As I sit here thinking about the trip, I am reminded about how our perspectives can change after bad things happen. A friend of mine calls it “putting difficult experiences into a cookie jar and being able to take them out when we are faced with adversity”.

On the 2nd day of the CDT, we hiked 11 miles with 40-pound backpacks. Most of our tents, water, and food were carried on our backs. The weather was getting cold (about 35 to 40 degrees) and we decided to stop for the day and make camp. The way you hike the CDT, is by hiking on the ridge lines above tree level and camping about 1,000 feet below in a valley. We set up camp and put up our lightweight backpacking tents. I am originally from New Jersey, but I have been in Florida for over 30 years and I kind of remember cold weather. I was unprepared for what happened next. 

It started to snow later that night. It did not just snow, we had 2 feet of snow in 2 hours starting around midnight. The weight of the snow crushed our tents and forced them to collapse.  At about 2:30 AM, our guide, Marshall, who helped us navigate the trail came out of his tent and told everyone to be quiet. He said, “Everyone be quiet. Do you hear that?” Then we heard it– the howling noise from the darkness beyond our camp site. Then multiple howling noises. ‘That is the sound of wolves circling our campsite.’ We were extremely fortunate they did not come closer. However, it does put things into perspective.

The Continental Divide Trail, near the border of Montana and Idaho.

When I returned to sunny Florida, I heard a lot of fear (some real and some irrational) about the virus, the economy, Congress, and the President. As I hear all of this, this Palm Beach Gardens Financial Advisor, is reminded that this is nothing compared with the safety of 10 boys in the woods, during a 2-foot snowstorm, with wolves circling our campsite.

I ask you to reflect as we enter this July 4th weekend, what adversity have you overcome in the past that you can use to strengthen yourself as we continue in these troubling times? What past experiences can you take out of your cookie jar and use to help you navigate these times? We live in an amazing country and I love the United States. I hope you all have a great and safe weekend and rest of the summer.

As always,

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow. 

Peter

©Copyright 2020 by Peter Blatt. All rights reserved.

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Palm Beach Gardens, Unemployment Rates, New Technology Jobs, and Selling in May https://cf-am.com/palm-beach-gardens-unemployment-rates-new-technology-jobs-and-selling-in-may/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=palm-beach-gardens-unemployment-rates-new-technology-jobs-and-selling-in-may Wed, 13 May 2020 17:16:32 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39740

Early this morning as I was walking my golden retriever, Jack, I noticed the oddest of conversations. Some of my other dog walking neighbors, were upbeat and positive. One of my neighbors who is a real estate attorney, smiled as I walked by and said, ‘what a beautiful day.’ In fact, the weather for early May in South Florida is rather pleasant. My dog Jack attempted to say hello to her dog.

The next neighbor who I walked by was wearing a mask while walking her dog. She waited for my dog to pass her. She said to me, ‘I am concerned and need to stay at least 6 feet away from everyone.’ Medically, she might be correct. I do imagine it is hard to walk in the heat wearing an N95 mask. Jack also attempted to say hello to her dog.

As I came home and watched the latest jobless numbers and presentations by the Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, I thought about my walk. The real estate attorney neighbor is equivalent to some of the technology stocks in the market, showing signs of recovery and optimism about the future. The concerned neighbor is like the financial, energy, and retail sector, showing signs that the end of the fear is not near. The unemployment record is now at 14.7% in the United States.

A Brief History of the Unemployment Rate

Since 1901, the highest rate of U.S. unemployment was 24.9% in 1933, during the Great Depression. Unemployment remained above 14% from 1931 to 1940. It remained in the single digits until September 1982, when it reached 10.1%.

During the Great Recession of 2008 to 2009, unemployment reached 10% in October 2009. One of the two mandates of the Federal Reserve is to keep unemployment below 6%. The main method to increase employment by the Federal Reserve is to lower interest rates.

Now which of my neighbors are correct? We shall see but one thing I know, old strategies may not be true.

One of the oldest stock market strategies is to “Sell in May and Go Away.” But what does this phrase mean? Is there any historical reason for selling stocks in May and leaving the market? What are the risks? The Strategy “Sell in May and go away” is a well-known trading adage that recommends investors sell their stocks in May to avoid a seasonal decline in the stock market.

An investor selling his or her stocks in May would then buy stocks again in November because the November through April period shows significantly stronger growth in the market than the other half of the year.

However, this seasonal strategy flies in the face of the buy-and-hold strategy of investors like Warren Buffett, the wildly successful “Oracle of Omaha.”
History of the “Sell in May and go away” advice.

The advice originated in London, England. The original saying, “Sell in May and go away, come back on St. Leger’s Day” refers to a horse race. The St. Leger Stakes is one of England’s greatest horse races and is run in late September. London traders would sell their shares, enjoy their summer, and return to the market after the St. Leger race. The idea is based on seasonality and with this strategy, traders are only invested in the stock market for about six months of the year (November through April). These months are typically the strongest period of the stock market. Investors sell their stocks in May, save their money in cash, bonds, or another safe investment, then buy stocks again in early November. Statistics on this Strategy As it turns out, stocks have done better during the winter-early spring period. According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained an average of about 7.5% during the November-April period since 1950. Its average return has been only 0.3% during the May-October period in those same years. In addition, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost money in only 14% of the November-April time periods since 1950. That success rate is remarkable.

However, looking at the S&P 500 from November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018, the S&P 500 returned 2.33%. But if you sold out of equities in May 2017, only to get back in on November 1, 2017? Well you would have missed the S&P 500 returning 7.83%.

The stock market is showing signs of improvement since the big dip this past March 2020. The economy will improve as the fear of the virus subsides. Fear and superstition should not rule how to invest in the stock market.

It is going to get hotter in South Florida later in May. My walks will occur earlier in the morning. I will attempt to keep an open mind as I meet fearful neighbors. I am still upbeat about America and South Florida.

One of the big questions, that will be asked is how does the stock market effect the South Florida Real Estate Market? Sign up for our June 3rd Dine and Discover and find out.

Stay safe.

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.
Peter

©Copyright 2020 by Peter Blatt. All rights reserved.

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Politics and Personal Budgeting https://cf-am.com/politics-and-personal-budgeting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=politics-and-personal-budgeting Fri, 24 Apr 2020 16:41:12 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39729

Earlier this week, I was watching Bloomberg at about 5 AM, and a poll streamed across the board. The poll was in regards to safety and the Coronavirus, it stated that over 57% of Republicans believe we should open up businesses now and lift restrictions. The poll also stated that over 60% of Democrats believe that we should not lift restrictions and open businesses. This poll might be right or it might be wrong. As I thought more about this poll, I thought of the age-old question of retirement planning, is it better to plan for the worst or plan to achieve the best?

A few weeks ago, we started utilizing Zoom for progress reviews with clients. One of the main topics for this quarter is to review current and future expenses. As a financial planner, the cornerstone of determining how much you need to retire is dependent upon how much are your living expenses.

You Need a Budget.
The dreaded (for some) budget word comes into play. Some people plan to travel and enjoy their lives more when they retire. Others plan to maintain their current expenses and hope the monies last. The big question is should you plan for the worst? During times like these, where most of us are sitting at home and not spending extra monies on eating out or going on trips, we are living well within our normal means. If you calculate how much you are currently spending over the last 30 or so days, you can create your minimum required budget. Just index it for inflation for when you retire, and you can see how much you need on a monthly basis.

Alternatively, you could decide that sitting at home and not eating out or traveling is no fun in retirement. Then you could look back over a year ago at your expenses and exclude the last few months and determine your average expense. You might want to add an extra amount of money per year for an extra trip or two. Then index this average amount for inflation and you can figure out how much you would need in retirement.

To assist in this effort, here is a link to a fillable budget worksheet that will help you determine how much you spend.

There is a lot of planning that can be done once you know how much you want/ need to spend each month in retirement. If you would like to share your budget sheet with me, feel free to share and I can help you navigate the ability to reach your retirement expenses.

Stay safe.

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.
Peter

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Freedoms We Take For Granted https://cf-am.com/freedoms-we-take-for-granted/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=freedoms-we-take-for-granted Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:59:26 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39738

A few days ago walking my dog Jack, I noticed a neighbor hanging an American flag. As I walked by and thought how nice that was to display patriotism, I noticed American flags hanging on about 5 houses on the block. As I attend Physical Therapy for my right foot, and relearn how to walk properly, I think about how rare it is to see so many fags. The slow recovery of my foot and the strong belief in being united under our Government reminds me of how we can come out of this recession stronger. I would like each of us to come out of this recession without fear and with a strong desire to improve.

Last night was the second night of Passover, and we had less people attending than usual. Our conversation evolved around four topics in the form of questions. The first topic that went around the table was, “what do you look forward to doing once you are allowed?” I now ask you, what do you desire the most to be able to do after the virus has passed.

My answer was shaking people’s hands. As most of you know, I am by nature an introvert who really enjoys working with people. I enjoy educating my clients so they can make informed financial decisions. I enjoy implementing strategies that allow you to be successful in work and/or retirement. But, I really enjoy being with my clients and helping them. As I welcome someone in to becoming a new client, before any paperwork is reviewed, I shake their hand.

Now the second question, do you find that during the ‘stay at home’ time that you are spending less money? You probably are spending less because you are not going out to dinner or doing your normal recreational activities. Current times show us how little we actually need to spend. Now I am going to encourage you to look at your budget and see how much you are spending. Try to do it with the understanding that when the new normal happens you can go back to your normal spending habits or be more mindful of your expenses. The goal in retirement is to live well within your means. We are here to help you to live better within your means.

The third question, how are you dealing with the stress of our current times? The biggest problem that I am seeing is that in the past, people would use food, travel, or social interaction to avoid the ‘feelings of stress.’ With these items curtailed, it is harder to hide from stress. I would encourage each of us to find a special time to be in the moment and try to center ourselves. Some do this through meditation, others through walking in nature. This is our opportunity over the next few weeks to be at ease with ourselves and find times throughout the day to be calm.

The fourth question, what can we do to help others? There are a lot of people unemployed or underemployed in the United States and our community. I encourage you to help others in a meaningful way. Please do not put yourself at risk, but help as best you can. This will allow you to be mindful, less stressed, and more relaxed. We are all in this together.

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.
Peter

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Important COVID-19 Legislative Updates https://cf-am.com/important-covid-19-legislative-updates/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=important-covid-19-legislative-updates Tue, 31 Mar 2020 20:10:59 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39693 Yesterday morning, I was walking my golden retriever Jack. He stopped suddenly when saw a giant turtle. It took some encouragement form me but he started to move forward. On the rest of the walk I thought about how Jack would not remember the turtle, but I would. As I walked in my front door, I started comparing the turtle to our government and Jacks reactions to the stock market. A lot of legislation happened in the last week. Here are some of the highlights. July 15th New Tax Due DateFrom the IRS Website on ExtensionOn March 21, 2020 the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax. Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline, can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004. The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days. Required Minimum Distributions Not Required for 2020On March 27 the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. This $2 trillion relief /stimulus package does many things to help individuals and businesses affected by the Coronavirus. There are three provisions which directly affect your Individual Retirement Account (IRA): 

  1. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2020 are not required,
  2. Distributions prior to age 59 1/2 of up to $100,000 are not subject to the 10% excise tax in 2020, and,
  3. Distributions of up to $100,000 this year can be reported as income over three years and/or repaid.

The suspension of the RMD rules apply to all taxpayers who are otherwise required to receive an RMD in 2020. The other two provisions apply only to IRA owners affected by Coronavirus. This is defined as a person: who is diagnosed with Coronavirus, whose spouse or dependent is diagnosed with Coronavirus, who experiences adverse financial consequences as a result of: being quarantined,being furloughed or laid off,having reduced hours,being unable to work due to lack of childcare,closing or reduced hours of a business owned or operated by the participant, orany other factor determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. The suspension of the RMD requirement applies to anyone who had attained the age of 70 1/2 before January 1, 2020. If you turned 70 1/2 last year and were waiting until March 31 to take your 2019 distribution, you are in luck. You are not required to take your 2019 RMD or your 2020 RMD. If you took your 2019 or 2020 RMD within the last 60 days, you are also in luck. You can roll over your distribution to the same or a different IRA within 60 days of the prior distribution and not pay the income tax on the withdrawal (as long as you have not made an IRA withdrawal within the 365 days preceding your distribution). Although inherited IRAs can take advantage of the RMD suspension for 2020, they are not eligible for the indirect rollovers within sixty days. RMDs are calculated using the value of the IRA at the end of the prior year. With equity prices much lower than at year end, taxpayers would potentially have to take out a larger percentage of the current value of their accounts and be forced to sell assets and pay tax on a larger percentage of their IRA. The purpose of suspension of RMDs in 2020 is to provide relief for taxpayers whose IRAs have been adversely affected by market conditions, but it does apply without regard to the impact of the Coronavirus on the taxpayer or the IRA. This is a good year to look at Roth Conversions if you normally would have a Required Minimum Distribution. 

Government Loans and Grants

A network of community banks and financial institutions is gearing up to implement one of the most ambitious economic relief programs in U.S. history as small businesses across the country weather the Coronavirus and its economic fallout. The $2 trillion Coronavirus relief package signed last week, officially known as the CARES Act, includes nearly $350 billion for a federal small business loan program called the Paycheck Protection Program. The program is designed to get cash in the hands of suffering small businesses quickly, with less red tape and fewer guardrails than the SBA’s existing loan programs. It is designed to incentivize business owners to keep employees on payroll by offering them loan forgiveness. Business groups say lenders are moving as fast as they can to make the loans available. The new loan program is separate from existing federal loan programs, including the Small Business Administration’s disaster relief loans. To learn about the SBA’s other relief programs, visit the SBA’s COVID-19 resource center. Here are the details on how small-business owners can access the new federal Paycheck Protection Program. 

Q: How do I apply for a small business loan through the Paycheck Protection Program? The Small Business Administration has a network of 1,800 approved lenders that process small business loans. If you are interested in a Paycheck Protection Program loan, you should first contact your bank to see if it is an SBA-approved lender. If your bank is not an SBA-approved lender, you can contact the SBA to find one.  

Q: Which businesses qualify under the Paycheck Protection Program? Small businesses, nonprofits, tribal business concerns that meet the SBA’s standard business size definition and veterans organizations organized under 501(c)(19) with fewer than 500 employees are eligible for loans under the program. Self-employed individuals, independent contractors and sole-proprietors also are eligible. To receive a loan, your company must have been in business as of Feb. 15. If you are in the food service business, the 500-employee cap is applied on a per-physical-location basis, according to a fact sheet published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

Q: How much money can my business receive through the new loan program?The Paycheck Protection Program provides small business loans of up to $10 million to cover payroll and certain other expenses. Other SBA loan programs, including the federal disaster relief program, offer much smaller loans.  

Q: Can the loan eventually be forgiven? Yes. The act includes loan forgiveness for companies able to keep employees on payroll or continue paying bills throughout the coronavirus crisis. The amount of loan forgiveness will include payroll costs for individuals below $100,000 in annual income, mortgage and rent obligations, including interest and utility payments. The total amount will be reduced if your workforce is drawn down through attrition or if wages are reduced. If you are forced to lay off employees because of economic conditions, you may be able to preserve some of your loan guarantee by hiring them back. Eligibility for loan forgiveness starts eight weeks after the loan origination date. There is a maximum 10-year maturity after application for loan forgiveness. 

Q: What’s the interest rate? The maximum interest rate for the Paycheck Protection Program is 4 percent. 

Q: It looks like there are a lot of different federal loan programs. Can my business receive funding through more than one? Yes. Businesses that have pending or existing SBA disaster assistance loans can still receive funding through the Paycheck Protection Program as long as the loans are being applied to different cost centers. You also can still apply for a loan if you have an insurance claim pending. 

Q: What do these loans cover? Loans through the Paycheck Protection Program can cover payroll costs, mortgage and rent payments, and health-care benefits for employees, including paid sick leave. In some cases they also can cover interest on other debts. 

Q: What if I’m still paying off a different SBA disaster loan? The Small Business Administration has made all deferments through Dec. 31 automatic. That means small-business owners do not have to contact the SBA to request deferment. 

US Chamber of Commerce Emergency Loan Guide

SBA Applying for Covid19 Economic Disaster Loans

SBA Applying US Senate Committee on Small Business Paycheck Protection Program

Disaster Loan Application

Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.

Peter

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Thoughts for the Week https://cf-am.com/thoughts-for-the-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thoughts-for-the-week Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:15:24 +0000 http://tearful-papaya.flywheelsites.com/?p=39695 My right foot is feeling a lot better. Today I was able to see my physical therapist at 8 AM. The first time I met with him was last week and he was nice and gentle. Today he was not as gentle. As he bent my foot left, then right, I thought about how it feels to be invested in the stock market.
I am praying for everyone who is infected by the Coronavirus. I hope the spread of the virus ends soon.  Please stay safe.

I am constantly called by clients asking “are we at the bottom?” In the last few days, I had several existing and new clients drop off checks to invest in this down market.  I am trying to be a voice of reason in light of the constant 24-hour news cycle of fear. Attached are 2 articles written by Mike Sorrentino, that are more focused on facts and not fear.

I will be here and am reachable during these times. I don’t think this is the end of the economic world. I believe the markets have overreacted to the economic risk from the virus. I see the massive response by our Federal government and can see the markets rebound very quickly as more information about the spread of the virus.  

Below is the body of an email that I just received to help small businesses here in Florida: “As a result of the current Coronavirus pandemic and because many small businesses are having/will have financial difficulty in these uncertain times, the State of Florida has created the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. This program allows small businesses to apply for a short term loan in the amount of $50,000 with zero interest for one year. This is a short term loan that has to be paid back within the one year time period. It’s not meant to be long term. If you need a loan for a longer period of time, then you will have to apply for a loan with the SBA or a bank. I encourage all to apply for the loan even if you don’t need the money at this time as you don’t know what the future holds or if they will put a cap on the amount of money that is available. If your loan gets approved and you don’t need the money, just set it aside in a separate bank account and don’t touch the funds. That way, the funds are readily available for you to repay back the loan in one year. It doesn’t cost your business anything as it’s a zero interest loan. But at least you will have the funds already available in case of an emergency. Just be conscious that you will have to pay back the loan in one year so don’t use the funds unless absolutely necessary. Please note that one of the requirements is to have 2 or more employees, so some of you may not even qualify. Applying for a loan has to be your decision. I’m only supplying you with the information that the loan is available to apply in case you are interested and feel you will be responsible with the funds and will be able to pay back the loan in one year.” Below is a link to information about this loan. I encourage all my fellow business owners in Palm Beach Gardens to explore the opportunity to have a loan with zero interest for 12-months. 

https://floridadisasterloan.org/

I am happy to speak to you regarding your investments and the stock market.


Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow.

Peter

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