Friday, June 20, 2014

www.bettermoneyhabits.com

Have you heard about Khan Academy? It's a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education. It offers a wonderful, easy way to learn by providing a free, world-class education for anyone anywhere. It covers math, science, finance and history.

They have recently partnered with Bank of America and created a website offering videos that teach about money management: www.bettermoneyhabits.com

You may learn how to compute compound interest, to manage credit and to buy or rent a house. You do not have to be a BoA customer as the site stands alone.

We are so fortunate to live with and use technology. If we don't know something, there are so many ways we may learn using the internet. Check out the site and see what new ideas they offer. My favorite section is on understanding credit. It really opens your eyes to the cost of borrowing and building your credit score.

Be $ smart; keep learning how to better manage your money.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Tortoise and the Hare - $ Version

So many folks postpone saving for retirement "until I get on my feet". That day can be very illusive! Below is an example of how starting early gives you a head start towards a winning goal. ($5000 a year breaks down to $416.66 per month or $96.15 per week.)

Angie, age 30, decides to begin saving for retirement this year. She invests $5,000 a year and earns a constant 6% return. After ten years, she stops making contributions but lets the money remain in the investment, earning 6% annually, for her retirement at age 65. Dave, also age 30, does not begin to save for retirement until ten years later when he is 40 years old. From age 40 until age 65, he contributes $5,000 annually, earning a constant 6 percent return.

By the time Angie and Dave reach age 65, Angie will have invested a total of $50,000, while Dave will have invested $125,000. Intuitively, one might assume that Dave will have accumulated more. However, in 35 years, Angie will have a total of almost $225,000; Dave will have accumulated just less than $195,000.

Accumulated Amounts
Angie—$5,000 annual contributions for 10 years;
$50,000 total contributions
Year 1 $5,300
Year 5 29,877
Year 10 69,858
Year 11 Contributions cease
Year 15 93,486
Year 20 125,005
Year 25 167,419
Year 30 $224,045

Dave—$5,000 annual contribution beginning in year 11 for 25 years;
$125,000 total contributions
Year 1 $0
Year 5 0
Year 10 0
Year 11 Contributions begin
Year 15 29,877
Year 20 69,858
Year 25 123,363
Year 30 $194,964

The numbers in this chart assume all contributions are made at once at the beginning of each year; 6 percent interest is calculated and applied at the end of each year. Source: WebCE

The secret is compound growth over time. Dave put aside $75,000 more than Angie but had fewer years of the money building on itself - compound growth.

Be $ smart, start saving early!

Taxable - Tax-exempt - Tax-deferred - Tax-free

Clients often ask me to explain the differences among their various accounts. Taxes play an important role in how you invest and how much money you will be able to keep after paying taxes.

The following are simple explanations. For expert tax guidance please speak with your accountant or tax attorney.

Taxable: an account that holds money on which you have already paid taxes - e.g. bank checking or savings accounts or brokerage accounts. These accounts may have stocks, bonds, CD's, etc. Every year you receive a 1099 of all reportable earnings, dividends and interest. You enter these numbers on your tax return and pay taxes accordingly.

Tax-exempt: refers to bonds (loans) issued by municipalities (states, cities, towns, counties). These bonds are exempt from federal taxes. As an incentive to its residents to buy these bonds, which finance local projects, you pay no state taxes on the interest. As a NY resident, if you purchase a NY State bond, it will be double tax exempt as you will pay no state or federal taxes on the interest. However, NY reserves the right to tax the interest earned on other states' bonds.

Tax-deferred: means you pay no taxes now but when you withdraw the money both state and federal taxes are due. IRA, SEP, 401k, 403b all grow tax-deferred. Your 401k or 403b plan from work will take money from your paycheck before deducting taxes, deposit the money into your plan where it will grow tax-deferred (you will not receive a 1099 each year). Taxes will be paid when you start withdrawing money from these accounts later in retirement. The money will be taxed, as your income is taxed, both by the state and the federal government. Hopefully, in retirement you will be in a lower tax bracket and, consequently, pay less in taxes.

Tax-free: refers to a Roth IRA where money grows without paying taxes each year and is distributed without being taxed. Actually, the money contributed to most Roth IRA's is money on which you have already paid taxes; it is the earnings (growth) that are tax-free.

Be $ smart. Know your tax rate. Learn about the impact of taxes on your investments.