Radio Shows

Don’t Panic. Take Control. April 2nd, 2020
Earlier this week, our team spoke extensively with Jon Sluis, a local CPA who will join us via phone during today’s program. We took three pages of notes, not including the term sheets from which he relayed information. Over the weekend, Jon read the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act twice (it’s more than 800 pages long ) as well as U.S. Senate Committee Reports, Small Business Administration and Department of Labor summaries, and other summaries. Listen … it’s overwhelming out there, but there is GOOD news … and we are on it. Over the last year, we’ve mentioned many times that the markets were overvalued, and a correction was inevitable. And no one – absolutely no one – could have seen it coming from a virus that affected the global economy. For those of us who spend our days buried in the details trying to dig a way out into daylight, we can see it. There are silver linings all around us, and that is topic of today’s show.

Today, we are going to cover just the tip of the iceberg on what’s all packed into the CARES Act, but believe us – even that is a lot! This includes: the purpose of the stimulus package, how you’ll receive your recovery rebate, whether or not you should pull $100K from your 401(k), why RMDs being waived for 2020 is a benefit to you, and the list goes on.

Some of you have already been practicing social distancing for the past week. For those of you who have just started, welcome! These are wild times. We’ve never seen anything like it. Day to day, we are experiencing a wide range of emotions. It’s important to plan appropriately and not panic, especially when you’ve watched such a drastic decline in your investments. Believe it or not, there are opportunities during a crisis. In order to stay in the long game, it’s good to take advantage of them now.

Topics of discussion today:

· Can I use the income tax deadline to my advantage?

· What are the new IRA contribution deadlines, and can they help me?

· Is now a good time to convert my Roth IRA?

· What if I had planned on retiring this year?

We’ll be on the air LIVE and ready to answer your questions this week. Now, more than ever, we are here and we HEAR you.

When fear is running rampant in the world, it is a normal reaction to retreat and hide. But as humans, we are designed to survive no matter what. It’s our most primitive calling … to live. Therefore, we work, support and thrive in an economy where our contributions matter and we are rewarded for that. As social distancing increases, it changes the economy, which is already at mercy of the market reactions. The goal of today’s show is to give you perspective. Anytime we face a global crisis, it hits close to home when our survival is threatened.

Join us today as we give you a personal and professional overview of what is currently happening in the market. Remember … this can also be a time of great opportunity. As such, we are going to stay the course. Investing is about the long game, not the short-term gains.

We are HERE and we HEAR you.

Social Security and Medicare considerations in 2020.

By some miracle, we were able to get Jon Sluis out of his office during tax season! We aren’t going to waste his time or yours … so we’ve come up with a list of FRESH, relevant questions! So whether you’re planning solo or as a business owner, now is the time to take a closer look at the numbers and strategies available to you.

Today, we’ll ask Jon about the new tax laws and how they are affecting people right now. For business owners, we’ll discuss business income deductions and why they are important to owners. When it comes to saving, we want to know how CPAs and advisors think differently. And when it comes to spending, how do consumers think differently?

Tune in and catch up. Jon has great, fresh ideas that are hot off the press!

Are you working with the right tax professional? With the April deadline fast approaching, you may have already started reviewing your financial documents for your 2019 return. But do you have a qualified professional on your planning team? There are certain questions to ask and criteria to look for before hiring anyone. Tune in today and we’ll give you some questions that may help you!

Also, as promised, we are keeping you up-to-date with the SECURE Act and how it will affect your planning.

Finally … Heidi has some pertinent Health Savings Account information you definitely don’t want to miss!

https://proutfinancialdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Economy-and-More.mp3Podcast: DownloadIn this episode Dennis Prout talks about the economy and current situations such as the Coronavirus that could have

They’re BAAAAAAACK! February 6th, 2020
Dennis, Heidi and the team are back from their annual TD Ameritrade Conference in Orlando, Florida. It’s always a mind-blowing experience to hear from global experts in the world of finance and beyond. So today, we’ll cover exciting topics from blockchain to bitcoin. The global market is getting close to home. In fact, it’s already in your backyard.

And speaking of your yard, if you expect to find a pot of gold buried there, think again. Most families plan on leaving their treasures to charities, which isn’t such a bad idea considering that Millennials are turning out to be the most generous generation yet.

Did you know that Heidi and I (Shea) have been working together for 11 years now? Over the last few years we have developed a workshop for women called “Flourish.” This event teaches women how to look at planning for their financial future from the bird’s-eye view. This broad perspective helps us decide where we want to land in retirement.

Turns out, men want to hear the information too!

You’re in luck! Heidi and I are taking over the studio to share portions of our workshop with you. This is also a great show for younger family members who are trying to understand how and why they should get started.

Chances are you have heard about the 3.8% surtax that went into effect in 2013 under the Affordable Care Act – but do you know if and when you might need to pay it? Despite changes to the tax code in recent years, the Medicare tax and net investment income tax remain in effect. This surtax requires that an additional tax be paid by those with investment income, whether from interest, dividends, capital gains or rental properties when they are above the annual income threshold. Trusts and estates are hit especially hard; they reach the income threshold at only $12,950 in 2020. For those still earning wages or self-employment income, there might be an additional 0.9% Medicare tax to consider as well.