Your Financial Life Planner

Real Estate can be a great investment that can provide both short and long-term income and growth. It is one of the easiest things to get capital (a loan) for and has numerous tax advantages. So where is the downside? Just like with anything, there are pros and cons with any investment.

Here a handful of things to think about when considering real estate as an investment.

At the end of the day, all investments need to make financial sense. No matter how much you like a property, make sure the numbers work. If you are looking to flip a property, are you confident in what you can sell it for when you are done? Are you confident that the repairs won’t cost more time and money than you think? You will always want to have a healthy margin of safety between what you have into it and what you think you can sell it for. This way, when you learn you have to replace the roof as well, you still can make money.

If you are looking to rent a property, you will want to look at the spread between your monthly expenses (mortgage, insurance, repairs, ect) and rent income. Is the spread wide enough to be worth your time? Does it provide enough income to make up for the times that you don’t have tenants or the hot water heater goes out? Do you want to manage the property yourself or hire a manager? A property manager generally costs right around 10% of rental income. Again, you will want a margin of safety so that you have some wiggle room on the deal.

A huge part of making the numbers work is buying the property at a good price. If you get a deal on a property, the odds of making money are so much higher. This way, even if you decide you don’t want to be involved in real estate any more, you can sell the property and at least get what you paid if not make a little money. Obviously, it is not always easy to know when you are getting a good deal. Make sure you are very familiar with the real estate prices and trends in your area. This will make it much easier to recognize a deal when you see one.

Despite what you can read on the internet, real estate is not a passive investment. It takes tremendous effort and due diligence when finding good properties, not to mention all the work to maintain the property and find and keep good tenants. With any investment, there is a risk that the property values will go down and that you won’t be able to find good tenants. Real estate can become somewhat passive if you hire a property manager but you will probably want to be involved in the bigger decisions.

On the upside, real estate can provide larger returns than you can typically find elsewhere if you are good at it. Because you can often use a mortgage to finance a deal, it can amplify your returns. For example, let’s say you buy a property for $90,000 with cash. You put $10,000 into it to fix it up and you sell it for $120,000. You just made $20,000 on your $100,000 which is a 20% return. Now let’s use the same deal but say you only put $20,000 down and financed the other $70,000. You still use $10,000 to fix it up and sell it for $120,000. Now you just made $20,000 on the $30,000 you invested which is a 66% return. The use of debt allows people to do more deals and make more off the money they invest. The downside of using debt is that you are on the hook to pay it back no matter how well the deal plays out for you.

For all these reasons, real estate can be an attractive option if someone is willing to put the time and energy into becoming an expert in their local market. Real estate is unique in the fact that varies dramatically by location. The Sierra Vista market is going to vary dramatically from other places and sometimes even within neighborhoods. This gives local real estate investors an advantage because they can become more familiar with the local nuances of the market.

Real estate as an investment is not better or worse than other investments. But there are unique advantages and disadvantages to all...

I am a very frugal person. It is almost exhilarating for me to find a great deal on something. But sometimes I get so focused on the lowest price that I forget the big picture. For example, sometimes I would buy the cheapest shoes but they would only last 8 months. I did not realize the worth of investing a bit more in shoes that would last for years. It not only would have saved me money over the long run but a lot of time and energy that I spent buying multiple pairs of shoes.

I was penny wise but pound foolish. I was so focused on the little things that I didn’t think about the big picture.

Here are a few examples of how we can all worry more about our pounds (or dollars on this side of the atlantic) and less about our short term pennies.

One of the biggest issues that people run into is when they focus on their small bills (which is not a bad thing) but they rush their large ones. You can save a few hundred dollars a month by packing a lunch to work but you could save thousands by making educated decisions when buying a home or vehicles. Obviously, every dollar can make an impact, just make sure to give the large dollar item decisions the time and attention they deserve. Those decisions will affect your financial life again and again for years to come.

It may save you a lot of money in the short term to skip regular car maintenance but it is never fun to be hit with large repairs. Take the time to properly maintain and take care of your vehicles now so that you not only save yourself from big unexpected problems but your cars will last longer and have higher resale values as well.

No one likes going to the doctor but regular check ups can save a lot of money as well as health issues down the road. If you notice a small problem creep up, take care of it early. Your pocketbook and wellbeing will thank you that you did.

It can be tempting to drive all over town to get the best deal on produce or gas. While not always a bad idea, we have to make sure that we aren’t spending more in time and gas than what we are saving.

Now, I am not saying that we should ignore the small details. The details matter and really add up over time. All I am saying is that we have to get out of the weeds and look at the big picture sometimes. This will help us stay focused on what is really important and what will make the biggest impact over a lifetime.

As the costs of a college education continues to rise, it may be tempting to ask if it is still worth it to get a degree. We all have heard stories of those that get a degree yet still struggle in the job market with their newly acquired student loans in tow. A college degree is obviously valuable but very few things are worth an infinite price. The question is now, where is that break even point and have we reached it yet?

Let's start with the cost of a college degree. Over the last few years, the average cost of a year of in-state college, including room and board, was about $24,000. That number is about $48,000 for a private university. And for the average University student, it takes four and a half to five years to graduate with a bachelor's degree. That puts the average cost of a bachelor's degree well above $100,000, not to mention the lost income during that time, as well as the interest they will owe on their student loans.

Now let’s talk about what college provides. After graduating, the average worker with a bachelor's degree makes $30,000 more than their counterparts with only a high school diploma. Those with a masters make another $20,000 above that on average. Employment rates are significantly higher for college grads as well, not to mention all of the non-financial benefits that they get from their education.

According to these numbers, even with the rising costs of education, this is still a great return on investment. The problem however, is that all majors are not created equal. Some majors, such as engineering and data analytics, skew all the results with their high salaries after graduation. Other majors, such as some liberal arts degrees, struggle to find employment that requires their specific degree and skills. Obviously there is much more to picking a major then the potential salary but it can be helpful to know that all degrees are not created equal.

It is also important to note that while student loans can be a helpful tool to get through school, there are many opportunities to reduce the cost of education and reduce the need for loans. Scholarships and grants can make a huge difference especially due to the fact that you don’t have to pay these back. Every year the government pays out 500 billion in federal grants to college students. Oftentimes, these grants are needs based for those with lower incomes.

Community college can be a great option as well to keep the costs of college down. It is possible to attain a bachelors from a regular 4-year institution by taking the first two years at a community college and then transferring those credits. Depending on the specific schools, community college can be less than ⅓ of the cost of a University.

While college still makes a lot of sense financially, we have to remember that it is not the only option available. Trade schools are becoming an increasingly more attractive option. Especially in the recent years, we are seeing the demand for the trades increase which means that the salaries are following suit.

Picking a degree or a trade and subsequently a career is definitely not just about the money, but it is one piece of the puzzle. It is important to weigh all the costs and benefits of every route to see what makes sense for you and your situation. Your job often takes up a huge portion of your life so making an informed decision today will really pay off down the road.

Starting a family can be an exciting yet daunting thing. There are many things to think about such as the name, the nursery, and the changes to your routine that will surely come. Not to mention the unknown financial needs that it will bring as well. Especially for new parents, it can be hard to know what to expect at a time when medical expenses are climbing rapidly. And while it is impossible to know exactly what it will cost, there are some things that every prospective parent should plan for so they can spend less time worrying about the money and more time enjoying their new addition.

One of the biggest unknowns in medical bills. These vary greatly depending on the type of pregnancy and birth as well as if there are complications. It can be broken down into 3 sections.

Prenatal (before birth)

This will include all the ultrasounds, doctors visits, and miscellaneous things such as new clothes and supplies for the mom.

Birth

A huge difference in cost will depend on whether the birth is vaginal or a C-section. The average vaginal birth averages between $5,000-$11,000 while the average C-section is between $7,500-$14,500. The price will vary as well if there are any complications.

Postnatal (after birth)

This will include any follow-up appointments, immunizations, and all the baby

clothes and gear that you’ll need. Child care can also be a big expense if the

parents are going to be working. The average cost of childcare can range between $800-$1,300 per month.

Health Insurance

Health insurance can cover many of your medical expenses depending on your plan. You will want to check with your insurance company to see what they cover and what you’ll have to cover. If you are unhappy with your coverage, you may want to explore what other options are available to you.

Consider adding another layer to your emergency fund to cover any unexpected surprises that insurance doesn’t cover that might come up at any point in the process.

Life/Disability Insurance

Because there will be an extra bundle of joy relying on you, it often makes sense to think about extra life and/or disability insurance. That way, you can be certain that your family will be taken care of regardless of what happens. Oftentimes, this can be relatively inexpensive especially for younger parents.

Overall, starting a family can be an incredible thing. There are many joys that only can be experienced as a parent. Preparing now for the financial aspect of parenthood will help you feel ready to welcome your new addition into your life.

Getting a large sum of money can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Most people have never dealt with huge sums of money and not making mistakes can be challenging. And while others believe that a bunch of money will solve all their problems, the lottery has shown that that simply isn’t the case. Studies show that 33% of all those that have won the lottery end up going bankrupt. A windfall is far from a fix-all but can be a huge help in our financial life.

Here are a couple of things to think about if you have a large sum coming your way.

Take a Step Back

These sort of life events can be very emotional, especially if they are accompanied with a loved one passing away. It often makes sense to wait for things to settle down before you make any big decisions. This will give you the time needed to think clearly about what to do next.

Get Out of Debt

A windfall can be a great way to pay off your debt. Start with your highest interest rates and go from there. It is important to remember however, that your financial habits up to this point are what have gotten you to where you are today. Even with a bunch of new cash, if we don’t change our underlying habits, we will end up in the exact same place that we were before. If you weren’t in a good financial place previously, figure out what you have to do to not fall back to where you were.

Plan for the Future

The joy from a windfall will be short-lived if we don’t save any of it for the future. Think about your goals with regards to retirement, children’s schooling, vacations, charitable giving, or anything else that is important to you. Think about what is necessary to fund these goals and how you can save and invest now to get there.

Get Help

Depending on where you are receiving the money, a windfall can put you in a much higher tax bracket. A pro would be able to walk you through the strategies to save a potentially large amount of money in taxes. Some windfalls (such as life insurance proceeds) are generally received tax-free, but it never hurts to talk to someone to make sure.

Especially if managing your finances isn’t your strong suit, it may make a lot of sense to get help from a professional. They’d be able to help you make the decisions to not only enjoy your new wealth in the present but also to make sure you are ready for the future.

Conclusion:

A windfall can improve your financial life in many ways but only if you are mentally prepared to be smart and manage it wisely. Doing so can not only bless your life but the lives’ of those around you as well.

A few months ago I wrote an article about maintaining your home to protect what is the biggest asset for most Americans. While our homes may be our biggest asset, I would argue that they aren’t our most valuable one. Our most valuable asset not only affects our financial lives but every other aspect as well. It is our health.

Our bodies are the vehicle through which we experience life. It allows us to move and take in the world through our senses. When we are young, we often take our health for granted, almost assuming we’ll be young forever. And then age creeps in. We are then reminded that we are all mortal and our health can and will affect our ability to think, work, and do the things we like to do. It is in our best interest to take care of our bodies the very best we can to maximise our ability to enjoy life.

We are a few reminders for all of us to improve our health.

Move

What we don’t use, we often lose. If we don’t regularly exercise and move our bodies, it grows weak and stiff. Not only will you look and feel better, your body will be far less likely to have issues if you exercise on a regular basis. This could be anything from a morning walk, 30 minutes in the gym, or 1 hours of tennis. Find something that works for you and stick to it.

Protect Your Senses

A huge portion of our perception of the world is almost entirely experienced through our eyes and ears. Unfortunately, these are some of the things that we start to lose as we age. We can protect our eyes by taking regular breaks from screen time and by wearing sunglasses that block UV rays. We can protect our ears by wearing ear plugs in loud environments and not listening to music too loud. These tips may seem like a hassle but you will thank yourself over and over again as you continue to enjoy your senses.

Sleep

As life gets busy, it is easy to cut away at our sleep time to get another thing checked off the to-do list or to finish that Netflix show. Even though sleep can often be ignored, it is just as important as good eating and exercise. Good sleep will not only allow you to have better productivity and concentration but allows your body to recover from the days work. It plays a vital part in fighting disease and keeping our bodies healthy.

I am sure you have heard all these tips before but I think we all know that information is not what we lack to improve our health. As Derek Sivers said, “If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs.” If you are already a billionaire with perfect abs, feel free to ignore all 3 of my tips. But for the rest of us, we better try to do something today to improve our health. Remember, health is wealth.

What is money? A currency? A means to exchange goods and services? Yes and Yes. But, is that all it is?

We make trades with and for money all the time. When we want goods or services, we exchange our money for it. When we need money, we generally exchange our time and energy for it. Or, our life energy. We all need money to live and we all exchange at least a portion of our life energy for it.

When we see our money as our time and energy and not just a currency, it changes how we view our purchases. When buying a new car, the question is no longer if the car is worth the $25,000 price tag, but am I willing to exchange 6 full months of my life energy for this (if you made 50k/year)?. Now, it will take the average Joe longer than 6 months to pay off a new car, but it can be helpful to remember how much life energy your purchases can represent. Are you willing to sign over 6 full years of your life energy for that house?

Now, I am not saying no one should buy nice things. Some things can bring tremendous value into our lives and are completely worth the price tag. But it is important to remember what we are actually exchanging.

Money is made and lost all the time. But we never get our time back. No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy a second of more time. Be intentional about how you choose to spend your life energy so that you have some left for the things that you truly care about.

This is a crazy time for the world. A time that no one has predicted or lived through before. The global spread of the coronavirus as well as the economic consequences that are following are unprecedented. In response to these events, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was just passed into law on March 27th. This has now become the largest stimulus package of all time with provisions to pour more than 2 trillion dollars into the economy.

Here are some of the highlights.

Rebate Checks

Understandably, one of the most popular and already well-known parts of the act is the Recovery Rebates For Individuals. If you haven’t heard, that is the portion about Uncle Sam writing checks to 80% of the taxpayers.

Here’s how it works.

Individuals will be eligible for a refundable tax credit of up to $1,200 while couples will be eligible for up to $2,400. That credit will be increased by $500 for every child they have that is under age 17. For example, if a couple files jointly and they have three kids. They’d be eligible for up to $3,900 ($2,400+500+500+500).

But if you noticed I did say they’d be eligible for “up to” those amounts. That is because over certain income levels, this credit will be phased out. More specifically, for every $100 a taxpayer’s income these thresholds, their potential Recovery Rebate will be reduced by $5.

The thresholds where the credit will start to be phased is:

-Married Joint: $150,000

-Head of Household: $112,500

-All Other Filers: $75,000

It is important to know that the credit will be based on either 2018 or 2019 tax returns (Which ever is the most recent that the IRS has on file). If someone had income that was too high for the credit in 2018 and 2019 but were eligible based on their 2020 income, they will be eligible for the credit when they file their 2020 tax return in the spring of 2021. Individuals who have banking information on file with the IRS should only have to wait a few weeks to receive their funds while those that don’t may have to wait a few months to get a check mailed.

Coronavirus Distributions

This portion of the act allows individuals to distribute up to $100,000 from their retirement accounts such as IRAs and employer sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s. To be eligible someone would have to have been adversely affected by the virus in some way. This may include getting the virus or experiencing financial difficulty from things like being quarantined, reduced hours, or being laid off.

Normally, there are numerous rules around how individuals can access their retirement accounts before age 59 and ½. For those that qualify, the following will apply:

No 10% penalty for removing funds before age 59 and ½.

No 20% withholding for taxes.

Whenever you take money out of pre-tax accounts, taxes will become due. Those that are eligible would be able to spread out that income between the next three years.

They would have 3 years to replace the funds they took out without penalty.

No Required Minimum Distributions in 2020

For those that have retirement accounts and are over age 70 and ½ (now age 72 after the Secure act passed in 2019), you are already familiar with RMD’s or required minimum distributions. This is where the government requires you to take a portion of your money out of your retirement accounts so that they can collect their portion of taxes on that money.

The CARES act completely waives the requirement for RMD’s in 2020 so the individuals that this applies to will be able to keep more money in their retirement accounts for longer.

Student Loans

This act also provides relief for those with student loans. It allows student loan payments to be deferred until September 30, 2020 with no pinterest interest accruing during that time. This can be a great reprieve for those that need it or a chance to get ahead of their loan while 0% interest is accruing.

It is important to note...

You have worked hard your whole career looking forward to a comfortable retirement. You have patiently invested and planned diligently. You are excited to start drawing social security to reap the benefits of years of hard work. But did you know that a huge portion of your social security benefits will most likely be counted as taxable income? This is a common mistake that we see people make all the time in their retirement planning.

Because of all the misconceptions that exist about social security, here are few things that we all need to keep in mind.

It Matters When You Start Drawing It

This may seem like a no-brainer but deciding when to start Social Security can make a huge difference on your benefits over a lifetime. The earliest you can start drawing is age 62, but your benefits will be reduced by every month that you begin benefits before you FRA (Full Retirement Age). Your FRA will range from age 65-67 depending on when you were born. The Social Security estimate that you can get online is your estimated monthly benefits if you start drawing at your FRA. So if you choose to delay starting your benefits until after your FRA, your benefits will increase by 8% every year up until age 70.

Some might ask, “Why doesn’t everyone just wait until they are 70 to start drawing Social Security to get the highest monthly amount?” There are a couple of things to consider. Need and longevity. Some people can’t afford to delay starting their benefits so they start right at age 62. This may make sense for some but they will see up to a 30% decrease in their monthly benefits because of the early start. Now, if someone starts benefits at age 70 and they pass away within a one or two years, they did not benefit much from their increased monthly amount. It is important to find a balance between your financial need and lifespan in order to maximise your benefits.

Taxes, Reductions, and More Taxes

If someone takes Social Security early (before their FRA) and they continue to work, their benefits will be reduced for every dollar they make in their jobs over certain limits. In this case, their benefits would be reduced for taking them early and reduced again for earning over certain amounts. Sometimes it still makes sense to continue to work in retirement just make sure you understand these limits. Once you reach your FRA, your benefits will not be reduced because of your income.

Like I mentioned in the intro paragraph, Social Security can in fact be taxable. The equation can get complicated but for simplicity’s sake, if you have income over certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable. For this calculation, money that is taken out of certain retirement accounts (401(K), TSP, IRA) may be counted to push your benefits into taxable zones. When you are planning for retirement, make sure you run your numbers with taxes in mind.

Conclusion:

The rules can be a bit confusing at times but please don’t let this scare you into making an uninformed decision. This is a decision that can make a huge difference in your life. Because people are living longer, retirement is making up a larger percentage of our lives. It might take a little time and energy to navigate the Social Security system, but it will be one of the best investments you make as you reap the rewards of an informed decision for years to come.

Whether we realize it or not, we all have a relationship with money. Just like food, your possessions, and the people in your life, there are certain feelings and attitudes that you associate with money. These feelings can be vastly different from person to person. Most people never stop to think about what their relationship with money looks like. Or at least never in those terms.

Some people grew up with nothing. Others had plenty plus some. Some see money as a means of survival. Others see it as a means to gauge success. Some see it as a necessary evil. Others see it as a blessing in their lives. Some see it as the reason they have to go through the 9 to 5 grind every week. Others see it as a tool to lift those around them.

But if we stop and think for a moment, we might remember that money is nothing but a tool meant to ease the buying and selling of goods. It is inherently 100% neutral. Neither good nor bad. Then why do we all have vastly different experiences and feelings about money?

Everyone on earth grows up with a certain view on the world. Even the most neutral things, such as money, are seen through the lense that we have formed over our lifetime.

We all have heard the saying that money is the root of all evil. While this may be popular, I don’t agree. I have seen how powerful money can be for the good. Money can change lives. It can get people proper medical treatment. It can give someone the opportunity for education. It can give the freedom of time to do things that we are passionate about. It can give security that our future will be bright. It can truly change lives.

I subscribe to the adjusted version that the love of money is the root of all evil. When we obsess over money itself, we will always come away wanting, no matter how much we have. Money doesn’t have the ability to fulfill or bring true joy. Don’t get me wrong, money can provide a lot of comfort and opportunities, but at the end of the day, it can’t and won’t make you happy.

It is completely up to you what your relationship with money will look like. Define what you want your life to be and what role you want money to play. Just remember that you are the star of your life’s show and don’t ever let money replace what you really want out of life. Money should not be the goal. It should be a tool that can help you get to your goals.