Your 2022 Financial Playbook - Homage to a 'Plan' |  WT Wealth Management White Paper

Benjamin Franklin famously said, "failing to plan is planning to fail." Wise and simple advice, yet often hard to follow. But this time-tested principle still applies to many choices we make in life today – including personal finance. That's where the experts at WT Wealth Management come in! As we approach a New Year 2022, we want to provide you with two foundational investing concepts to consider along with our annual reminder of the "10 Best Year-End Plays."

Foundational Investment Concept #1
Earning Interest (savings) vs Paying Interest (debt)


When faced with a major purchase (fill in the blank: college, down payment for a home, wedding, remodel, dream vacation, etc.), there are two opposing approaches one can take: save towards a goal in advance, pay off consumer debt after the fact.

How to Get There
https://www.humaninvesting.com/450-journal/if-you-fail-to-plan-you-are-planning-to-fail

In the example above, an individual can choose to (A) invest monthly savings over the next 10 years to reach a goal of $25,000 or (B) borrow the $25,000 now and make monthly debt payments for the next 10 years. As illustrated above, Option A achieves the goal for only $18,240, while Option B requires $33,360. That's more than a $15,000 swing just for purchasing convenience.

Foundational Investment Concept #2
The Power of Compounding Interest (Time in the Market)


Achieving the greatest benefit from compound interest requires one critical element: time.

The hypothetical illustration below (assuming a 10% annual yield) shows the profound impact of starting to invest today, as opposed to waiting 5 years to start investing.

Hypothetical growth of $100,000, assuming 10% annual yield
https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/insights/investing-with-calm

An old adage says the best time to start investing is 20 years ago and the second-best time to start investing is today. Don't wait!

WTWM's 10 Best Year-End Plays
Making a Plan and Checking it Twice


With those two foundational investing concepts as our base, we are ready to recommend our "10 Best Year-End Plays" for you to consider as we approach the new year.

  1. Fund tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts.

    • 401(k) and 403(b) plans must be funded by December 31, 2021 to be deductible for 2021 taxes.

    • SIMPLE IRA plans must be established before October 1, 2021 and employee funded by no more than 30 days after December 31, 2021 (i.e., January 30, 2021) to be deductible for 2021 taxes. Employer contributions are due by the company tax filing deadline.

    • Traditional and Roth IRA contributions must be made by the initial tax filing deadline on April 15, 2022 to be deductible for 2021 taxes.

    • Solo 401(k) plans must be established before December 31, 2021 to be deductible for 2021 taxes. For single-member LLCs and C-corps, contributions may be funded by April 15, 2022 (October 15, 2022 if extending). For Partnership LLCs and S-corps, the deadline is March 15, 2022 (September 15, 2022 if extending).

    • SEP IRA plans may be both established and funded for single-member LLCs and C-corps by April 15, 2022 (October 15, 2022 if extending). For Partnership LLCs and S-corps the deadline is March 15, 2022 (September 15, 2022 if extending).

  2. Consider tax-loss harvesting. Realized capital gains possibly offset with losses. Call us!

  3. Required Minimum Distributions. RMDs are required for 2021, speak with your advisor for help.

  4. Consider a Roth Conversion. Converting a Traditional IRA or a legacy 401(k) to a Roth IRA may be a smart move. You will have to pay taxes on the converted amount now (which can be handled through the IRA account), but the amount converted will then grow tax free and never be taxed again. Proposed legislation, if passed, will prohibit this tactic in the future. The Roth conversion must be completed by December 31, 2021.

  5. Verify your business/home office contributions and deductions. While we have returned to a more familiar routine from last year, changes caused by the pandemic are ongoing. Talk to your tax professional about deductions especially as they relate to the documentation of automobile mileage expenses or meals, travel and gift expenses. Home office expenses may be factored into deductions/contributions as well, however, all must be reviewed by a tax professional.

  6. Pay it forward, consider a charitable contribution. Talk to your tax professional to understand how charitable donations might have been impacted this year. Ask about state-specific tax credits available for individual taxpayers. Open a donor- advised fund to provide a tax-smart and simple giving solution. Direct RMD funds towards charity for a lessened tax burden as well. Giving pays in special ways!

  7. Health check your budget – Adjust Your Playbook! Assess the year. It's not what you make, it's what you keep that builds wealth.

    • Micromanage your service providers: Call to confirm you are getting the best rates possible.

    • Review your subscriptions: Unsubscribe from those that do not add real value to your life. While you're at it, review those of your children. You may be paying for more subscriptions than you need, and they add up!

  8. Health check yourself. Nothing hits a budget like unexpected or preventable medical expenses. Make appointments to check in. Health is the best wealth!

  9. Check your credit score. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion all offer free one-time annual credit score checks. The free service is available on AnnualCreditReport.com.

  10. Put your extra money to work. If you have extra funds at year-end, put them to work by adding to your investment portfolio. As stated before, the sooner and longer your money is invested, the better.

This check list will remain featured on www.wtwealthmanagement.com for your review.


While solid, standard concepts make up the foundation of our playbook, the experts at WT Wealth Management realize that everyone is playing a different game. Our experience and tools are available to help you define and develop a playbook unique to the circumstances of your game.

Please reach out with questions or to ask for assistance.


WARRANTIES & DISCLAIMERS

There are no warranties implied.
Any opinions expressed on this website are the opinions of WT Wealth Management and its associates only. Material listed on this website is neither an offer to buy or sell securities nor should it be interpreted as personal financial advice. You should always seek out the advice of a qualified investment professional before deciding to invest. Investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETF’s carry certain specific risks and part or all of your account value can be lost.

At WT Wealth Management we strongly suggest having a personal financial plan in place before making any investment decisions including understanding your personal risk tolerance and having clearly outlined investment objectives.

View Disclosure
WT Wealth Management is an SEC registered investment adviser, with in excess of $100 million in assets under management (AUM) with offices in Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Sedona and Tucson, AZ along with Jackson Hole, WY and Las Vegas, NV. WT Wealth Management is a manager of Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs). With SMAs, performance can vary widely from investor to investor as each portfolio is individually constructed and managed. Asset allocation weightings are determined based on a wide array of economic and market conditions the day the funds are invested. In an SMA, each investor may own individual Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), individual equities or mutual funds. As the manager we have the freedom and flexibility to tailor the portfolio to address an individual investor's personal risk tolerance and investment objectives – thus making the account “separate” and distinct from all others we manage. An investment with WT Wealth Management is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Any opinions expressed are the opinions of WT Wealth Management and its associates only. Information offered is neither an offer to buy or sell securities nor should it be interpreted as personal financial advice. Always seek out the advice of a qualified investment professional before deciding to invest. Investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs carries certain specific risks and part or all of an account's value can be lost. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, narrowly focused investments, investments in smaller companies, sector and/or thematic ETFs and investments in single countries typically exhibit higher volatility. International, Emerging Market and Frontier Market ETFs, mutual funds and individual securities may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuations in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability that other nations experience. Individual bonds, bond mutual funds and bond ETFs will typically decrease in value as interest rates rise. A portion of a municipal bond fund's income may be subject to federal or state income taxes or the alternative minimum tax. Capital gains (short and long-term), if any, are subject to capital gains tax. Diversification and asset allocation may not protect against market risk or investment losses. At WT Wealth Management, we strongly suggest having a personal financial plan in place before making any investment decisions including understanding personal risk tolerance, having clearly outlined investment objectives and a clearly defined investment time horizon. WT Wealth Management may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Individualized responses to persons that involve either the effecting of transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made without registration or exemption. WT Wealth Management's website is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to its advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links. Accordingly, the publication of WT Wealth Management's website should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as WT Wealth Management's solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the internet. Any subsequent, direct communication by WT Wealth Management with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. A copy of WT Wealth Management's current written disclosure statement discussing WT Wealth Management's registrations, business operations, services, and fees is available at the SEC's investment adviser public information website (www. adviserinfo.sec.gov) or from WT Wealth Management directly. WT Wealth Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to WT Wealth Management's web site or incorporated therein, and takes no responsibility therefor. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Contact Us Today

Reach us directly at 800-825-0616
or by using the contact form below.

Your message has been sent. Thank you!
Cancel