102R | Brad and Jonathan explain the long-term tax benefits of using a Health Savings Account to pay for medical expenses, discuss the benefits of new index fund investing options, review Monday’s episode with Timika Downes.

 

• Brad and Jonathan are getting back to traditional health insurance, and excited about the Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Most companies offer health insurance options, typically including:
• • Low monthly premium + high deductible
  • High(er) monthly premium + low(er) deductible.
• The IRS defines a high deductible plan as anything higher than $1,350 for an individual, or $2,700 for a family.
• Employees with high deductible plans have access to an HSA (eligible accounts).
• An FSA (Flex Savings Account) is a reloadable account, that is primarily use-it or lose-it
• Putting money in an HSA is tax free, and rolls over to future years, and drawing it out for medical purposes is tax free.
• 2018 HSA contribution limits:
• • $3,450 for individuals
  • $6,900 for families
• After 65, if you have unused money in your HSA, you can draw it out like a traditional IRA and just pay your normal tax.
• Brad intends to save his receipts and wait to be reimbursed until later, as HSAs will earn interest the same as any investment account.
• ChooseFI community members recommend Lively or Fidelity.
• Review of Monday’s episode with Timika – similar concepts and action points as the recommendations from Alan in the Side Hustle Coaching Series.
• You don’t need permission: just take action.
• Dan writes in to report that he’s reached FI!
• ChooseFI has listeners across the globe – although not all the tax and investment information are relevant to international listeners, the lifestyle conversations are.
• Brad and Jonathan highly recommend Vanguard because they have low fees, which means investors keep more of their returns.
• In last few months, Fidelity began offering zero-fee funds and Vanguard has lowered its minimum investment from $10k to $3k for several funds.
• Investments abroad can have very high fees.
• Zero fees are not the only thing to consider when picking accounts: tax efficiency is very important as well.

 

Links:

Vanguard Ratchets Up Index-Fund Price Battle