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Tax Season Ain't Over: What You Need to Know for 2019 Taxes Now that April 15 has passed, you’re probably over the idea of taxes. But taxes aren’t just something you should think about when it comes time to file, especially if you’re a business owner or entrepreneur. You should have some passing knowledge of taxes, new changes that affect your business, and how to leverage that knowledge so you don’t pay more than you have to. This week on Worth It, Dustin and Danielle are giving you a brief rundown of three tax topics they think every taxpayer should understand: new tax rules, ETF strategies, and capital gains and losses. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 01:15 Why you need to think about taxes year-round 3:00 New tax rules and what they mean for your tax return 4:05 How fewer taxes withheld is good for you 4:25 Why you should be contributing to retirement monthly 5:15 New maximum contributions for retirement and health savings accounts 8:00 How much you can contribute to your HSA 9:25 What an “ETF” is 10:40 How ETFs are different from other funds 11:05 What tax loss harvesting really is 15:05 The definition of capital gains and losses 15:20 Deductions for capital losses 16:55 Why it’s important to have a team of financial professionals NEW TAX RULES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOU Keeping up with the tax code isn’t your job, but understanding major changes is a huge benefit to you. To make this is a bit easier, Dustin and Danielle break it down for you. In the episode, they talk about new tax changes that are allowing taxpayers to bring home from their paychecks, but that also means they’re not getting a refund. For many people who are accustomed to receiving a refund, this may come as a shock. But Dustin and Danielle explain this is actually good news: it means you’re paying less in taxes upfront and keeping more throughout the year. But for those who are used to using that big tax refund to roll into retirement or business profit, it can be a bummer. That’s why Dustin and Danielle walk you through the importance of monthly retirement contributions. Tune in if you want to learn more about the tax benefits of contributing to your retirement accounts throughout the year. They also talk about new maximums for retirement and health savings accounts. As of 2019, the new maximums are: Roth IRA and traditional IRA: $6,000 SEP IRA: $56,000 Simple IRA: $13,000 HSA: $3,500 single, $7,000 married As usual, Dustin and Danielle recommend maxing out your accounts so that you can build wealth, so keep these numbers in mind as you contribute throughout the year. If you are unsure about the difference between these retirement accounts, you can also check out Worth It Episode 62, where Dustin and Danielle break down the most common types of retirement accounts for business owners and self-employed individuals. ETF STRATEGIES AND TAX LOSS HARVESTING One element of taxes that many people don’t know — or understand — is ETFs. ETFs stand for Exchange Traded Funds, and they’re important to all of your taxable accounts (savings, investments, etc.). With ETFs, Dustin and Danielle explain, you don’t have to pay out capital gains distributions each year. This means that you don’t have to pay extra taxes. But the main reason people should use ETFs, they explain, is because you can use tax loss harvesting. Tax loss harvesting is the selling of securities or investments at a loss to offset a capital gains tax liability. This is useful because, if you sell a fund for a gain, you have to pay taxes on that gain. These can be taxed at a very high rate. But with tax loss harvesting, you can sell ETFs that have collected losses to avoid paying those capital gains taxes. While this can be complicated, it’s a useful tax strategy to keep in mind, especially when speaking to your tax professional or financial advisor. Ask your financial advisor if they know this strategy and, if they don’t, move on to someone who does. CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES Capital gains are essentially a profit you make from the sale of an asset, such as a stock. A capital loss, on the other hand, is the loss you pay if you sell an asset for less than you purchased it. When you receive capital gains, you have to pay taxes on that, but when you collect a capital loss, you can deduct it. A lot of people don’t know this, as Dustin and Danielle explain, so it goes unaccounted for on year-end taxes. But you can actually deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses each year on your taxes. In the episode, Dustin and Danielle talk about the importance of working with both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Certified Public Accountant to ensure that capital gains and losses are taken into account on your long-term investment strategy and your yearly tax filings. They also recommend that you look at all your capital gains and losses by November 30, which is something they do for all of their clients. This ensures that capital losses are properly accounted for and that you have a good picture of the taxes you will owe on capital gains and losses come April 15. —- Of course, if you’re like most people, all of this tax information can be overwhelming. That’s why Dustin and Danielle recommend having a team of financial professionals on your side. By understanding these tax rules and strategies, at least in theory, you can make sure to hire only the professionals who can leverage these strategies for your ultimate benefit. If you’re wondering where to find a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who can help, check out the quiz below to see if Toujours Planning is right for you. RESOURCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED Tax Guide inside the Resource Vault Investopedia: tax loss harvesting The Toujours Planning Quiz — are we a good fit for your financial planning needs? Episode 62: Self Employment + Retirement: Savings Options Episode 48: How to Maximize Your HSA (Health Savings Account) CONNECT WITH DANIELLE AND DUSTIN Ask Your Questions On Facebook On Twitter
In Episode 551 I discuss: *you need to be able to trust your partner to respect who you truly are and what your feelings are when you express them *the way that trust is really repaired: time *you need to be DATING each other and you both need to be spending lots of time together Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP Set up a date night schedule. RESOURCES Episode 484: How to Trust Him Again Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 427: Marriage is Harder Than Parenting Go Shop NOW at the WWM Store (FREE Shipping Special) Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
In Episode 528 I discuss: *keeping in touch with your kids when you're away, and making sure they know they're in your thoughts *treating small moments in your life as special and important for YOU *creating a special ritual in your life; whether it's starting your day, ending it, or anything in between Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP What is one thing you can do to create a special ritual each day? Resources Episode 448: Maybe It Doesn’t Take That Much Time Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 265: Are You Missing the Moments? Go Shop NOW at the WWM Store Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
In Episode 505 I discuss: *our children teaching us to remember who we truly are *marriage being similar to parenting in that it exposes the nonsense and lack of truth *the input of others making us detach from who we are, and marriage waking you up Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP Open your journal and answer this question: where do you WANT to be more conscious in your marriage? Past Related Episodes for #505 Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 343: What Love Is. What Love is Not. Go Shop NOW at the WWM Store {FREE Shipping Special!} PLUS get 10% off when you use the keyword NEWSLETTER at checkout Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
The recession of 2008-09 may have occurred nearly a decade ago, but it’s still a painful memory for many entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, economic downturns are a fact of life when you’re running a business. But there are steps you can take now to prepare your business to weather a storm and emerge even stronger. On this Worth It Episode, we will share 5 tips you can use to help you prepare for a recession. Here’s What You’ll Learn [2:30] Preparing for a recession [5:15] #1 - Be financially prudent before the crisis [8:45] #2 - Be indispensable [9:30] #3 - Diversify your income [10:45] #4 - Change your mindset [14:30] #5 - Take advantage during the recession [19:30] Toujours Worth Software - Guided Wealth Portfolios [21:15] Worth It Inspirations Tip #1: Be financially prudent before the crisis It’s a great idea to start planning before the crisis hits. We recommend saving enough cash to cover 3-6 months of expenses. If you have children, saving for more than 6 months is a wise idea! It’s also a prudent idea to pay close attention to your monthly bills that are automatically withdrawn. During a financial crisis, people tend to get more emotional, so having foolproof systems in place is not only a good idea, it prevents the stress of having to manage your finances on a daily basis. Lastly, pay attention to your lifestyle spending habits. Do you drink a Starbucks latte every day? As much as we love them, smart spending may mean cutting back and reallocating that money. Tip #2: Become indispensable It’s a known that fact that many people lose their jobs during a financial crisis. One way to combat that fear is to work on becoming indispensable. This could mean learning a new skill, pursuing continuing education training, and probably even working harder than your coworkers. Dustin R. Granger, CFP® highly recommends becoming a “renaissance” man or woman, a person with a wide variety of interests and skills. Your work ethic, combined with an insatiable desire to learn is a great way to create job security! Tip #3: Diversify your income Today, more than ever, there are ways to diversify your earnings by using your skills and technological know-how to create sources of income that extend beyond your day job. Technology is making it easier than ever for people to start a side business. Creating multiple income streams isn’t easy, it requires plenty of hard work, but it is possible if you’re willing to put in the time and energy. For more insights on creating a side hustle, check out episode 16. For some tips on how to grow your following online, check out episode 33! Tip #4: Change your mindset To start, don’t assume that you are immune from a recession. Many millennials were pretty young during the last major recession, so they assume it “will never happen to them.” That also means they are probably not preparing like they should be. A recession doesn’t have to be a bad thing. And every recession won’t be as severe as the last one. But business cycles are called cycles for a reason. There will continue to be ebbs and flows, upturns and downturns, expansions and contractions. This is the way the economic machine works. The trick is focusing your energy on those things you can control since no one has control over the business cycle. Tip #5: Take advantage during the recession Warren Buffet says “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful.” What does this mean in the context of recession planning? When other people are not investing because of fear, stock prices drop. That also means if you follow Warren’s advice, you can buy up those stocks are a much lower price. That will also mean that as the market starts to go back up, you will be ahead of the game. If you set your investing on automatic when things are booming, it makes sense to just leave it be during a crisis. Like Dustin says…”money is like soap...the more you mess with it, the faster it disappears.” In a time of crisis, be leary of the opportunists who will try to capitalize on your fears (“don’t buy stocks, only buy gold” or “Banks will fail, don’t invest, just keep all your money in your mattress.”). This “wisdom” will not serve you well in the long run. Resources & People Mentioned My Favorite Murder- Podcast Toujours Worth Software - Guided Wealth Portfolios Connect With Danielle and Dustin Ask your questions! On Facebook On Twitter Connect with Dustin on Twitter: @DRGranger
The value investors derive from financial planners is changing drastically in the digital era, driven by a broader availability of information, the proliferation of automated investment tools, and expanding communication channels. The old mahogany desks and formal attire have been replaced with minimalist office spaces, younger, more tech-conscience advisors, and even automated, or “robo” advisors that can crunch the numbers much faster. Even more revolutionary is the expanded focus on life planning. Life is not just “death and taxes” anymore, but clarifying and achieving your most meaningful and deeply felt aspirations. On this episode, Dustin R. Granger, CFP® and I talk about the history of the financial planning industry, and share where we think it’s headed in the future! Here’s What You’ll Learn [1:30] The future of the financial planning industry. [3:45] This generation does financial planning differently [4:30] How relevant are stockbrokers in today’s financial landscape? [5:30] The online revolution changed the game [8:15] The positive effects of the Index revolution [11:00] Here’s why Clients that had a financial plan were much calmer during the recession [15:00] Are robots running your finances? [19:15] The numbers don’t lie: A Vanguard study on the value of financial advisors [24:15] The focus on life planning [26:30] 3 scenarios that will help you clarify what is most important [31:00] The Tech Effect: Financial planning, a 1000 miles away [36:00] Toujours Worth Software - Guided Wealth Portfolios [38:00] Worth It Inspirations The Index Fund Revolution Index funds are simple, low-cost ways to gain exposure to markets. They’re most commonly available as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). While stocks, bonds, commodities and real estate have been around for centuries, index funds have revolutionized how investors access these assets. Technology has made it possible to index strategies that were once only the province of active managers that isolate factors like value, growth and low volatility. Most financial planners leverage these indexes and include them as an investing strategy for their clients. The benefit is the client has access to a broad investment portfolio, as a part of a larger financial plan. Financial Planning Revolution Investing and planning for one’s financial future is a very personal experience that relies on more than simply allocating funds across a variety of asset classes. During a recession or a period of extended volatility, many investors find reassurance in being able to pick up the phone and speak with a personal financial advisor to make sense of the current situation and lay out a plan for going forward. The investor/advisor relationship requires a critical balance of emotional support and practical thinking, being a support system and providing counsel on how to make financial decisions that give the investor a competitive advantage over the rest of the market. The Robo-Advisor Revolution For younger investors who are just beginning to build their financial profile and want to save money, using a robo-advisor can provide an effective and cost-efficient way to get started. Robo-advisors can also help individuals with smaller savings or simplified tax circumstances save for retirement. Investors looking for more personalized long-term management may find that working with an advisor, preferably a certified financial planner, better provides them with investment and financial planning advice. Life Planning This may sound elementary but few of us spontaneously undertake a thoughtful inquiry into our deepest and most enduring values and objectives. Traditionally financial advisors have focused on the numbers—budgeting, investments, taxes, or insurance–without exploring the broader context. They rarely ask questions like: “If you had more time or money, what would you do?” “What do you want to accomplish or attain so you will feel that you’ve had a life well-lived?” “What moves, touches, or inspires you?” We call it life planning because what’s really important isn’t your money, it’s your life. Resources & People Mentioned Life Planning Template Vision Worksheet Toujours Worth Software - Guided Wealth Portfolios Worth It Episode 2 Worth It Episode 25 Connect With Danielle and Dustin Ask your questions! On Facebook On Twitter Connect with Dustin on Twitter: @DRGranger
In Episode 456 I discuss: *having the conversations you need to have with your husband to get what it is that you want *feeling grateful for what you have, and being okay with wanting more *things only getting better if you continue doing what got you to this point Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP What is one simple thing you want that you need to communicate to your husband about? Sit down and have that powerful conversation with your husband or spouse. Past Related Episodes for #456 Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 324: It’s Easy to Regurgitate Past Stories Episode 250: Love Yourself FIRST Go Shop NOW at the WWM Store {FREE Shipping Special!} Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
In Episode 452 I discuss: *what reactions are really about *the inevitable conflicts in relationships, and how to handle them *honoring your significant other Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP Do the majority of your conversations honor or dishonor your spouse? Decide what action you want to take. Past Related Episodes for #452 Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 358: Your Emotions are a Portal to Your Transformation Go Shop NOW at the WWM Store {FREE Shipping Special ONLY until April 1st!} Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
In Episode 421 I discuss: *the difficulties of creating an amazing marriage *having to continually invest in your spouse in addition to simply loving each other *understanding who you are and loving yourself first Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP Join the Women Wanting More Newsletter! There will be three trainings for you to watch to help you remember who you are. Past Related Episodes for #421 25th Anniversary Video Gift For My Husband Episode 371 : Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 343: What Love Is. What Love is Not. Episode 162: The ONE Thing That Will Make Your Marriage Better Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Grab your copy of The MORE Journal System HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Follow me on Pinterest here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here
In Episode 391 I discuss: *fights and resolutions in a relationship, and the negative effects of suppressing emotions and problems *romance and passion after many years of being with a significant other *the hard work it takes to create a truly incredible relationship Listen to the latest Women Wanting More episode on iTunes here. MORE TIP What do you want your marriage to look like? Take ten minutes to state what you want and begin to create what you want in your marriage. Journal this. RESOURCES Video Gift I made for my Husband: The Story of Us Episode 371: Your Marriage is Worth It Episode 216: The Trifecta of Insanity (Marriage+Kids+Business) Watch the WWM Live 4.0 Movie +to Apply for The Evolution Feb 2018 (just 6 seats left) Get your FREE Limited Edition WWM Journal HERE Request to be added to the NEW Women Wanting MORE Experience Private FB Group here Join the NEW Women Wanting More Sisterhood (get your 7 Day FREE Trial-limited spots left) Follow me on Instagram here Like the Women Wanting MORE Facebook Page here Visit my Website here