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Investing: Why Are Bonds Important? [Video]

The Stockmarket has had a number of good years this past many years. So strong in fact it can be easy to forget the value of having bonds in your stock market portfolio. So why are bonds important?  The stock market tends to go up and and down, go from a bull to a bear…

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Where Do We Go From Here? Coronavirus Update fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago draft

Where Do We Go From Here? Coronavirus Update

A lot is happening in response to the spread of the coronavirus. As you all know, many of us are in lock-down, working from home and hoping that these actions help “flatten the curve” on the spread of the virus. The Response We are less than one month into stay-at-home orders and school shutdowns, but…

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fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago The CARES Act- Mortgage Forbearance Request draft

CARES Act: Mortgage Forbearance Request

CARES Act: Mortgage Forbearance Request Background:  Another provision of the CARES Act, for keeping more funds in your pocket, allows for individuals with a mortgage to defer their mortgage payments for 90 days, and as long as 180 days. Timing: This is an immediate benefit you can receive. Benefits: If you have a federally backed mortgage…

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CARES Act For Businesses: Payroll Tax & Net Operating 

CARES Act For Businesses: Payroll Tax & Net Operating Losses Loosened

CARES Act For Businesses: Payroll Tax & Net Operating Payroll Tax Payment Deferral Background:  The “CARES Act” which was recently signed into law allows employers as well as those self-employed the ability to defer payroll tax or self-employment tax payments.   Amount & Timing  The payroll tax payments which are eligible for deferral begin on the…

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The CARES Act For Businesses: Employee Retention Credit

CARES Act For Businesses: Employee Retention Credit

CARES Act For Businesses: Employee Retention Credit If you do not receive a loan from SBA as a result of the other portions of this law, you may be able to claim a very favorable tax credit. This is a refundable credit that goes against the businesses’ share of Social Security taxes, typically 6.2%. First hurdle:…

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fee only financial advisor deer park barrington cares act for busiesses paycheck protection program and forgivable loans

CARES Act For Businesses: Paycheck Protection Program & Forgivable Loans

CARES Act For Businesses: Paycheck Protection Program & Forgivable Loans To help protect small businesses and their employees, the CARES Act provides a new type of loan through the Small Business Administration, a portion of which would be forgivable if used for certain types of expenses. Background: The CARES Act, through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”),…

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The CARES Act- Unemployment Benefits fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago unemployment benefits draft

CARES Act: Unemployment Benefits

CARES Act: Unemployment Benefits Background: Unemployment is a resource available to those when they lose their employment.  It is meant to provide a percentage of the previously earned income while you look for other employment.  During this Coronavirus pandemic there have been Millions unemployed temporarily and/or permanently. Because the length of this pandemic is uncertain and…

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fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago The CARES Act- Miscellaneous Healthcare Benefits draft

CARES Act: Miscellaneous Healthcare Benefits

CARES Act: Miscellaneous Healthcare Benefits Background: As a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) from 2011, most ‘over the counter’ drugs and medicines technically required a prescription to be considered a qualified expense. Meaning it could be paid from the different Health focused savings accounts like a Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA),…

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The CARES Act- Student Loan Borrower Relief fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago draft

CARES Act: Student Loan Borrower Relief

CARES Act: Student Loan Borrower Relief Background:  Along with the goal of the CARES Act putting money into the pockets of Americans, there is also help for them to keep more money in their pockets.     Timing: You can reach out to your student loan lender immediately to learn what you need to do in order to…

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The CARES Act- new Deductions & Charitable Contributions Fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago draft

CARES Act: New Deductions & Charitable Contributions

CARES Act: New Deductions & Charitable Contributions Qualified Charitable Contributions – NEW Above The Line Deduction Background: This new deduction is for taxpayers that are claiming the Standard Deduction and made charitable donations.  In the past, you weren’t able to deduct these donations and therefore didn’t experience any benefit. Amount & Timing: Starting with the…

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The CARES Act- Required Minimum Distributions Waived For 2020 fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago draft

CARES Act: Required Minimum Distributions Waived For 2020

CARES Act: Required Minimum Distributions Waived For 2020 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2020 are WAIVED; you do not have to take an RMD as you normally would. Background: Normally, if you’re over Age 70-½ (or Age 72 starting in 2020) you have to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your pre-tax retirement accounts, such…

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The CARES Act- Enhanced Loans From Employer Retirement Plans fee only financial advisor deer park barrington chicago draft

CARES Act: Enhanced Loans From Employer Retirement Plans 

CARES Act: Enhanced Loans From Employer Retirement Plans Background: Previously, if you ever needed to request a loan from your 401(k) or 403(b) plan, you’d be restricted to the lesser of 50,000 or 50% of your vested account balance. Meaning if your vested balance was 90,000, you’d be limited to 45,000 (90k * 50%) as that is…

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