Since 2014-15, the IRS only allows one IRA rollover per 12-month period and what does not apply...

*Please, we are not tax professionals and highly advise consultation with your tax professional or one we can connect you with, here locally.

The IRS, in Announcement 2014-15, has indicated it will follow the recent Tax Court decision in Bobrow v. Commissioner, which held that a taxpayer may make only one tax-free, 60-day rollover between IRAs within each 12-month period, regardless of how many IRAs he or she maintains. However, the IRS will not apply this new interpretation to any rollover that involves an IRA distribution occurring before January 1, 2015.

IRA one-rollover-per-year rule: 

You generally cannot make more than one rollover from the same IRA within a 1-year period. You also cannot make a rollover during this 1-year period from the IRA to which the distribution was rolled over.

Beginning after January 1, 2015, you can make only one rollover from an IRA to another (or the same) IRA in any 12-month period, regardless of the number of IRAs you own.

The one-per year limit does not apply to:

• rollovers from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs (conversions)
• trustee-to-trustee transfers to another IRA
• IRA-to-plan rollovers
• plan-to-IRA rollovers
• plan-to-plan rollovers

Possible tax ramifications:

• you must include in gross income any previously untaxed amounts distributed from an IRA if you made an IRA-to-IRA rollover (other than a rollover from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA) in the preceding 12 months, and
• you may be subject to the 10% early withdrawal tax on the amount you include in gross income.

The irony of this action by the IRS, reasons to switch IRA's in numerous volumes are pretty much nonexistent. Maybe this is to protect the consumer or saver, and if it is, it probably deserves applause. 

Since 2014-15, only one IRA rollover allowed during 12-month period:

When should you shop home and auto insurance rates?

ANNUALLY!

Whether you think $1.7M is out of reach for #retirement...instead of buying stupid shit, save!

What is your fear, financially? Saving enough for retirement? Credit card debt? Peace of Mind for loved ones, in case something happens to you? Or is it as simple as paying the rent, or car payment, or putting food on the table?

For this blog, we'll focus on peace of mind and retirement. We can easily solve the peace of mind issue, with a combination of insurance and proper estate planning, or a simple will. We can simply take out enough life insurance (term or permanent is irrelevant for now). Sufficient life insurance strategies suffice the peace of mind for loved ones and family, in case the 'if' happens to you, prematurely.

The retirement issue is far more complex. The first move would be to reduce and eliminate debt, wasting money on buying stupid shit, and ramp up savings to at least an adequate level. First, as part of an evaluation with our agency and network of professionals, would be for us to listen and ask, "what type(s) of money do you have?" An example of this can be found at: What type of money do you have?

An important part of the consultation, evaluation, and analysis is learning the goals of the client. Ideas, creativity, and strategies of the professionals performing the analysis mean very little. The role of the consultant is to implement a strategy based upon those discovered goals. With Advocate Insurers, the client is the only thing, their goals are our goals.

We touch lightly on the retirement strategies here, and solving the Peace of Mind issue. But spurring the conservation, promoting interest, and inspiring individuals to think beyond today is the goal. Whether you believe it will take $1.7M to retire or not, the article from Allesandro Malito of Market Watch may open up dialogue that is uncomfortable for many in America. Check out her article below, by following the link.

Americans may have guessed the amount they need to save for retirement — but they’ll probably never get there (via Alessandro Malito of Market Watch)

What type of #insurance plan do I need? Begin with the end in mind!

What type of life insurance plan do I need?

Consultations and evaluations by professionals are not always opportunities to increase sells. For many, it is the foundation for clients and where the introduction of your needs meets the practical and professional feedback and analysis.

What sets our agency apart from others is our company culture and mission. Professional and practical feedback and analysis provided, has been woven into it a needs-based selling platform. Needs-based selling platform only means, the client is getting what they need, not what helps the commissions of the company or agent involved.

So, what type of insurance plan do you need? That is a question that has many different answers, for many different people. We take an estate planning approach, and that benefits the client because we begin the process, consultation and analysis with the end in mind.

For all clients, there exists so many factors intertwined into the equation of the plan, that giving one cookie cutter or template answer, does not align with our culture or approach. Our focus is on the client, his or her experience and the end-goal.

My mentor devoted a great deal of time ingraining the importance of doing what is best for the client. Now that I have launched a new agency, that focus has not wavered. Talk with your agent, or give us a call. If it is your agent, challenge him or her to provide the service and expertise you need, and make sure they listen instead of talk.

Stay-at-home parents...do you need #lifeinsurance?

If you are blessed to be able to stay-at-home with those children, do you and your partner feel you need life insurance? The answer, based on my expertise, is yes, and yes without a doubt! 

You make it possible for your partner to go to his or her job, while raising the children. Your role also frees up disposable income that may have been allocated for childcare. Childcare is quite expensive in 2019. 

By assuming this role, your partner can focus on their career, job, business, or entrepreneurial pursuits. This role acceptance makes you a tremendously valuable asset, not only to the kids but to the income generated and amount of time that is freed up in the partner's schedule. 

If something were to happen to you, the stay-at-home parent, the life of the partner would drastically be altered forever! 

Covering the cost of labor associated with raising children is one example. Let's face it, it is work taking care of our children. It can be a lot of fun, but laboring at time, no doubt. 

Let's have the conversation, no matter who gets uncomfortable.

*Click on the link from LifeHappens below. They provide 9 reasons why life insurance is a good idea for stay-at-home parents:

9 reasons why stay-at-home parents need life insurance via LifeHappens

DYK: You may be able to add a rider to your #lifeinsurance policy enabling you/beneficiary to access funds prior to death?

Many insurance companies and their life insurance policies have what is called, an "accelerated death benefit (ADB)." An ADB allows the policyowner/beneficiary to access death benefit (usually up to 75% of face value).

Why is this important? If the insured has been diagnosed terminally ill and can only perform certain human capabilities, policyowners and beneficiaries may be able to access up to 75% of the policy death benefit (DB).

Furthermore, if the insured has medical bills and financial stress associated with the diagnosis, then early access to the death benefit, may make a tremendous amount of sense and financially responsible.

For additional information, research ADB or message us for further details.

Captive vs. Independent #Insurance Agents?

I must disclose, first, that there are many great captive agents, who work for very reputable insurance companies and they do a tremendous and professional job, for their clients. Yes, as with several things in life, there are bad ones, who make it hard for others. Same could be said for independent agents.

What are two types of #insurance agents? Why is it important to know the difference? In the industry of insurance, there are captive and independent agents. Captive agents, while many are very good at what they do, and conduct business on behalf of major insurance companies, they are restricted as to the companies they represent.

Those major companies restrict what companies they can write business for and the rates for those companies could not work to your advantage. Another practice of some captive agents is, what I refer to as, pushing policies. Often times these particular agents do not sell on a needs-based structure. The client can suffer.

An independent agent may represent a wide variety of companies and are able to shop those insurance companies to locate a good policy, at a very competitive rate. Caution, cheapest is not always best with insurance. Any agent can strip out additional coverage levels to lower the premium and then show you a comparison that looks cheaper.

An example of lowering coverage levels, to offer a cheaper premium can be found on t.v. & radio and to compare only take about 15 minutes. You probably see that on social media and hear it on your favorite podcast, all the time. One thing you won’t see with Advocate Insurers, we do not push policies.

We do consultative, needs-based selling to ensure the client gets only, what they need, while minimizing risk. Give us a call, send a direct message on social media, or shoot us an email and we’ll represent you and your family, the manner in which you should be represented. It is our guarantee.

Insurance | Retirement | Planning