With the tariff announcement on April 2nd, many investors have rethought their investment strategy and changed their focus from US stocks to other stock, commodity, or currency asset classes. This has created volatility within the financial markets as investors attempt to discern the potential future winners and losers from the trade war. However, it is important to remember that it is still early, and the initial responses may not indicate the longer-term implications.

The prospect of paying for higher education can be daunting. To lower the overall after-tax cost, it can be advantageous to incorporate tax planning to find ways to use funds that will be tax-advantaged. This may include claiming tax credits, using accounts that have special tax benefits for education savings, or accessing retirement accounts penalty-free.

Variable annuities are complex savings and investment vehicles that come with some unique benefits but also have some drawbacks. Among these drawbacks are high fees, lockup periods, and less favorable taxation in the long term. Therefore, investors should ensure they understand all the pros and cons of purchasing a variable annuity and weigh their options against other investment options.

Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

This year Planned Solutions will be breaking up into small teams to examine different areas of our business to uncover ways that we can better systemize some processes, address areas were better organization will allow us to be more proactive in meeting our client’s needs, and ways we can improve our communications so that our clients are informed about any changes that may be occurring.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only.

Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

The Winners and Losers So Far from the Trade War 01:40

Funding College 11:55

Variable Annuities 16:10

Bulletin Board 21:10

Planned Solutions, Inc. https://www.plannedsolutions.com/

The US negotiating strategy when it comes to tariffs started as a valid game theory strategy to achieve fairer terms of trade with our trading partners. However, the current policy seems to have deviated from the optimal strategy into a territory where the optimal strategy for our trading partner is to continue to escalate tariffs in retaliation to the US policy of competition, rather than cooperation. Taken to its logical end this could lead to tariff rates so high that they don’t just raise prices but effectively put a ban on foreign imports.

The recent increase in US bond yields may be a signal that US trading partners are selling US government bonds in response to the trade war. This could lead to a scenario where the US economy enters a recession due to supply chain disruptions, while at the same time interest rates increase rather than decrease as they do in recessions, making it more challenging for the economy to return to growth.

Target date retirement funds are sold as an easy retirement accumulation vehicle that takes very little thought or monitoring. However, while these funds can be somewhat effective during the retirement accumulation phase,their generic asset allocations often are not a good fit for savers or retirees who do not fit the cookie cutter assumptions that were used in creating the target date funds.

Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

It is important to remember that investment strategies involve altering investment risk in different market environments to preserve capital during difficult markets. For example, the trend following risk management model used by Planned Solutions is an investment strategy designed to reduce risk when the market enters a negative trend to preserve capital and have proceeds available to buy at more attractive prices should the market decline continue.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only.

Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

Negotiating Strategies and Tariffs 01:07

Trade War and Interest Rates 13:01

Target Date Funds Upon Retirement 20:35

Bulletin Board 27:17

Planned Solutions, Inc.

Periods of market volatility can be stressful, and studies show that stress can cause long-term investors to make poor short-term decisions that hurt their long-term performance. In some cases, one poor short-term decision could put long-sought-after financial goals at risk. Therefore, it is valuable to know how to take a different perspective on short-term market volatility to make it easier to stay grounded and objective during periods when stock market prices appear erratic.

Diversification has long been a tenet of investment strategy. Yet in the past few years it has actually paid to be less diversified as long as the portfolio was concentrated into the largest growth stocks on the US stock exchange. However, so far in 2025 there are signs that this trend may be reversing as value stocks have outperformed growth stocks and foreign stocks have surged while US stocks have slumped.

Variable annuities can be a complex and confusing investment vehicle. This is especially true when it comes to the rules around taxation and the distribution options for the annuity contract beneficiaries. Therefore, it is very important for annuity owners and anyone considering investing in an annuity to make sure they have a full understanding of the potential income tax and estate planning drawbacks of annuities.

Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

As a reminder, taxpayers are allowed to file for an automatic extension of time to file their personal income taxes if they are unable to complete their tax returns by the April 15th deadline. This extension gives taxpayers six additional months to file their taxes, making the extended deadline October 15th.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only.

Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action.

Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights- is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

How to Deal with Market Volatility 01:07

Benefits of Diversification 13:19

Inherited Annuities 18:24

Bulletin Board 23:19

Planned Solutions, Inc.

Recent stock market volatility has been unnerving as investors attempt to price in the uncertainty of future economy and financial data given several recent changes in the economic and market environment. Making intelligent investment decisions when hard data is largely absent is always difficult. However, there are some tools, such as trend-following models, that have proven to be helpful during periods of uncertainty and therefore should be given more emphasis when determining investment strategy.

After increasing slightly in January, the rate of inflation declined in February due to a decline in energy prices and a long-term downward trend in the rate of inflation on services. This report confirms that the long-term trend of declining inflation rates remains intact. However, tariffs may create some challenges in upcoming reports as they could push goods inflation above the important 2% level.

When an individual sets up a revocable trust, often the first step is to transfer the ownership of a primary residence into the name of the trust. However, this can create issues if the insurance policy covering the home does not include the trust as a secondary insured. Therefore, it is best practice to add the trust to the homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure a smoother process should there be an insurance claim.

Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

Several clients have asked if we will be sending out one of our special reports or white papers addressing the current state of the US economy and financial markets. While addressing periods of economic and market turbulence is a normal part of our process, this time it is very difficult to do because there is a lack of hard facts. We read the financial news and monitor incoming economic and financial data regularly and update our strategy accordingly.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only.

Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

Trend Following During Market Uncertainty 01:19

Inflation Moderated in February 13:49

Insuring a Home in a Revocable Trust 18:28

Bulletin Board 20:14

Planned Solutions, Inc.

Renting is often viewed as throwing away money rather than building equity in an asset. However, when transaction costs, tax laws, and the prioritization of longer-term financial goals are considered, renting may be the better strategy for some people. Therefore, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of renting versus buying, both in the short-term and long-term, to determine the right strategy that will make the most financial sense.

The most recent US consumer inflation report showed that prices increased slightly on a year-over-year basis in January. However, the data shows that the inflation rate is still on its moderating long-term path as services prices continue its slow, long-term decline. Meanwhile, goods prices increased some in January but remain within a reasonable band of 0-2% inflation rates.

A new rule has gone into effect that requires entities to report their beneficial ownership to the Department of the Treasury. If you are a control person of an entity that is used for business or as an investment holdings company, you need to be aware of the March 21st deadline. If you have questions about the filing process, feel free to contact our office, and we can walk you through the process. For Planned Solutions tax clients with entities that we are aware of, we will be reaching out to discuss this issue.

Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

We have been talking to a lot of clients who may be eligible to receive increased benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act. The current understanding is that someone who is already receiving benefits will automatically have their benefits adjusted. However, those who are notreceiving benefits will need to contact the Social Security Administration to apply for their newly eligible benefits.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only.

Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

When Renting Makes Sense 01:19

Inflation Ticks Up in January 13:49

Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements 18:28

Bulletin Board 20:14

Planned Solutions, Inc.

The Federal Reserve paused its rate cuts recently as the rate of inflation has stubbornly oscillated above the Fed’s 2% target rate. Added to the Fed’s concerns about the uncertainty of the future path of inflation is the unknown impact that tariffs may have on end-consumer prices and an increase in short-term consumer inflation expectations. So far, this data appears to have impacted the bond market with US long-term interest rates nearing a 10-month high, but the US stock market has been impacted very little.

The US Government finances have been headlining the news lately. While the methods have been hotly debated, having the spotlight on the US deficit will hopefully be a good thing as the current $2 trillion federal deficit is likely double the long-term sustainable level. In addition, the high levels of government borrowing are likely pushing up borrowing costs for US businesses and consumers.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) which are medical savings accounts that allow those with high-deductible health insurance plans to save for future out-of-pocket medical expenses, have become more and more popular over time as individuals see the benefits of having more control over their health costs. For 2025 the contribution limits to these medical savings accounts have increased by $150 for those with individual plans and $250 for those with family plans.

Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Schwab is issuing 1099s for non-retirement accounts in three batches this year. The first batch, which only included the most basic tax reporting, was issued on January 31st. The second batch, which includes a much larger percentage of all the 1099s that will be issued, was mailed and posted online on February 14th. The final batch, which will likely include just a small number of accounts with unusual transactions, will be mailed and posted on February 28th. So, all 1099s should be available in February with the vast majority available by mid-February.

To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action.

Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Intro 00:00

Tariff and Inflation Uncertainty Put the Fed on Pause 01:35

Government Debt Sustainability and Crowding Out 13:46

Health Savings Account (HSA) Limits Increase in 2025 22:00

Bulletin Board 20:14

Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how The IRS has announced several provisions to provide tax relief to those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfire disaster that started on January 7th. The IRS will allow victims an automatic extension of time to file their income tax returns, make certain tax-deductible contributions, and make tax payments that would normally be due in 2025. In addition, some penalty relief is available for those who access retirement funds early.

The release of a China-based AI model called
Ever since the Secure Act created the option for IRA owners to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), this option has become more and more popular. Originally, the law allowed an IRA owner to contribute up to $100,000 to charity using QCDs. However, this amount was indexed for inflation, so it increases over time. For 2025, the increased limit for QCDs is $108,000 per taxpayer, per year.

Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -

Carter Osborn recently joined the Planned Solutions team. Some may have met Carter when he
To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action
Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro 00:00

Los Angeles Wildfire Tax Relief 01:18

AI Market Panic 09:40

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Limits

Increase 17:35

Bulletin Board 20:13Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how The Social Security Fairness Act has changed how Social Security benefits are calculated for individuals who had years of employment not covered by Social Security (did not pay Social Security taxes while working). This change also impacts those eligible for survivor or spousal benefits under a spouse’s record. Those who may be impacted should contact the Social Security Administration to determine what they need to do to increase their benefits. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html

Depending on who an individual listens to, the current market cycle may be very long and nearing a downturn, or it’s the beginning of a new growth cycle with additional strong returns anticipated. Arguably, the few Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) over the past three years make a case that the growth cycle is in its early stages and is unlikely to peak until after the IPO market heats up.

Also, some taxpayers may need to file Form 1098, which is also due by January 31st. This form reports the interest received on a seller-financed mortgage.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how large company US stocks appear historically expensive when the price is compared to the earnings the companies generate. However, the historical earnings growth rate for those stocks has been quite high, which may justify the high valuations should those earnings growth rates continue. Meanwhile, the valuations for foreign, small, and mid-sized US companies are starting the year at more reasonable levels, even with their lower expected earnings growth.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how with the start of a new year many people will reach an important date or milestone that will impact their financial situation. So, as we prepare for another year, we have outlined a few of the most common dates or ages that may affect financial planning options and opportunities for the coming year. Of course, this list is not comprehensive as many people will have additional dates that impact their specific financial situation.