As another year passes, it’s time to look at your investment strategies and make any adjustments before the new year.
As another year passes, it’s time to look at your investment strategies and make any adjustments before the new year. Use these ten strategies to make the most of your investments.
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Review your portfolio
At year-end, you will want to review your portfolio to analyze your gains and losses. If you need to shift gears, now is the time where you can sell and harvest losses. Keeping detailed records during the year can make this process much easier.
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Defer or accelerate your income as needed
With this unprecedented year, you may find yourself needing to make income changes. Calculate which tax bracket you are in. If you’re in a high marginal tax rate, you may consider deferring your income. You can also reduce your income if your investment will be affected as a result of higher taxes due to the Affordable Care Act. You can also accelerate your income as well if you are in a lower tax bracket, shifting some of your income to this year, rather than the beginning of next year. [1]
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Check your Flexible Spending Account balance
Your employer plan may not allow you to roll money over into the next year, so make sure to spend the balance in your account on qualified expenses. If you don’t use it, you could lose it!
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Take your Required Minimum Distribution if needed.
RMDs were waived for 2020, but you must take them in 2021 to avoid penalty. Your required minimum distribution is the minimum amount you must withdrawal from your retirement account each year. Visit https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds for complete guidelines on taking your RMD.
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Select next year’s employer benefits
If you are currently employed, take advantage of Open Enrollment which usually begins in December. You will have the option to choose from available options such as a flexible spending account, health savings account, life insurance and more.
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Consider a Roth conversion
If you do not qualify for a Roth IRA and are unable to contribute to one, consider contributing to a traditional IRA. After you make your contribution to a traditional IRA, you can convert those funds to a Roth IRA.
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Plan for life events
A job change, home or car purchase, surgery or other expensive events require planning ahead. Be certain that you have enough funds to cover unexpected events or planned purchases that may come up in the future.
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Consider funding an HSA before year-end
If you are eligible, contribute to your Health Savings Account. The deadline to contribute is usually in April, but by funding at the end of the year, you can make any adjustments needed for the future. You can still contribute to you HSA after year-end, and you can roll over any funds indefinitely that are still in the plan at the end of the year. [2]
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Review insurance policies
Look over your insurance policies including home, auto and life insurance to determine if you have enough coverage or if your deductible may need adjusting. Make sure your insurance reflects your needs, and works for your budget.
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Review your beneficiaries
Check that all beneficiaries on your accounts are accurate and up-to-date. Oftentimes, a change in family status, such as marriage, divorce, or death of a beneficiary requires an update to your accounts. By double-checking your accounts, you can be certain that your beneficiaries and accounts are correct.
Interested to learn more information on year-end investment strategies? We’re here to help! Contact Central Investment Advisors with any questions, or if we can help in any way.
Sources:
[1]. Year-End Tax Tips – 5 Actions to Pay Less Taxes on Investments, Investor Junkie
[2]. Rules for Having a Health Savings Account (HSA), Investopedia
This material is intended for informational purposes only, and should only be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice, as individual situations will vary. Traditional IRA account owners have considerations to make before performing a Roth IRA conversion. These primarily include income tax consequences on the converted amount in the year of conversion, withdrawal limitations from a Roth IRA, and income limitations for future contributions to a Roth IRA. In addition, if you are required to take a minimum distribution (RMD) in the year you convert, you must do so before converting to a Roth IRA. Neither LPL Financial, nor its registered representatives, offer tax or legal advice. We recommend you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
The information provided in these articles is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as the opinion of Central Bancompany, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and does not imply endorsement or support of any of the mentioned information, products, services, or providers. All information presented is without any representation, guaranty, or warranty regarding the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of the information.
Category: Investing
