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Your
WE A L T H
®
FEBRUARY 2018
(520) 325-1600 WWW.SHEPHERDWEALTH.COM
CHANGE YOUR
Approach
R ight now, people are starting to think about the documents they need to send to their CPA to file taxes before the April deadline. Seems like a good time to do that, right? Here’s the bad news: If you’re hoping to make any changes that will impact your taxes, you’re already too late on all but a very few items. If paying the lowest amount of taxes legally possible is important to you — and it should be — you’ve missed an opportunity to strategize with your CPA towards that goal. Your appointment then becomes a glorified data gathering meeting instead of a strategic planning one. If you do just one thing with your taxes to change your stress level, schedule your meeting with your CPA for the fall instead of the spring. Not only will you sit down and do the planning for the next tax season, you’ll likely have actionable steps you can implement before the end of the year. You’ll know what to send to your CPA, any
changes you’ll want to make before the end of the year, and your CPA will be able to compile this information quickly and efficiently, instead of it being backlogged when April hits. As a result, you’re not stressed and filing for extensions. You can relax and smell those spring flowers! If you’ve been a client of ours for a couple years, you already know this. Remember your “Now Is the Time,” letter? We wanted to remind you to set that strategic meeting with your CPA. You know if you want to make any major changes that will impact your tax filing, you need to make those in the fall. How do we know this is helpful? We had a CPA tell us exactly what I’m telling you. In my opinion, the number one change you can make to improving your tax strategy is to meet with your CPA in the fall. If you’re disappointed you didn’t do that this year, here’s the good news: It’s something you can get better at. Now that you know the
difference a few months can make, schedule your 2019 tax appointment for the fall of 2018. Better yet, come see us immediately after you meet with your CPA to strive for maximum financial synergy! Talk to your CPA early. We can’t say it enough, and we’re happy to be involved with you in this process. If you utilize your financial advisor, who knows how all your pieces fit together, and your CPA, who is able to fill in the tax portion, and if you fill in the personal pieces yourself, your tax season could be much more efficient. A group of smart people communicating and collaborating? That sounds like good news to us. *Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. -David WShepherd, Jr.
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E V E N T H I G H L I G H T THE GAME CHANGER FALL IN LOVE WITH FITNESS THROUGH DANCE
Tax season is closer than you think. On the cover, we shared why February is already too late to strategize for your taxes. How can you make sure you’re ready for next year? Your first step is to come to our Investment Strategy Game Changer™ workshop. What if I told you that you might be needlessly giving away money each year because of how you’ve been planning for your taxes? What if you could find out how to pay the lowest amount of taxes legally possible? If you’re a current client, you’re already privy to this game-changing presentation. But you probably have friends or family who haven’t heard it, and it’s time for them to see how they can change their tax planning game. Our workshops will take place at the Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson. Since you're clients, we are already applying the thinking we are presenting in this workshop to the work we are doing for you. But your friends and family likely still need to hear this message. Tell them to join us at the Mountain Oyster Club next month so they can feel as empowered by their financial decisions as you do. This event is 100 percent educational, and there will be nothing for them to buy or sign. It is free, and if they like what they hear, they may qualify for our complimentary Financial Clarity Experience™. To reserve a seat at the exclusive — only eight seats per event — Investment Strategy Game Changer™ workshop and learn ways that could protect their capital and maximize their returns, have them call Darlene at (520) 325-1600. SEE HOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR GAME THIS YEAR
When you get ready to exercise, the last thing you probably think to wear is a bow tie or evening dress. If that’s the case, then it’s time to broaden your approach to fitness and step out onto the dance floor. The wide world of dance might hold the secret to exercise that you — and your partner — will actually enjoy! Whether you enjoy a romantic waltz, an intimate salsa, or a fun swing, dance promises a full-body workout. Your legs, glutes, back, core, and even arms are engaged when you feel the music. A study from the University of Brighton in England found that dance can burn 600 calories per hour, depending on the intensity of the dance, which is as much as running for an hour! In addition to toning your muscles, dancing also improves balance and coordination. Your brain is engaged as you memorize the steps and spins, a health perk you miss when you’re on the treadmill or lifting weights. Don’t have a partner willing to join you on the dance floor? No problem! Many dance classes anticipate having solo students and arrange for partners to cycle through, so everyone has the opportunity to practice. Of course, ballroom dance isn’t your only option for a fun workout. If relying on a partner isn’t your style, there are plenty of other dance genres you can groove to. Consider trying K-pop (Korean pop music), Zumba, hip-hop, ballet, tap, and even belly dancing, if you’re feeling adventurous. With dance, exercise becomes an activity you look forward to. You no longer need to treat exercise as a dreaded chore week after week. Even if you have two left feet, remember that dancing is an acquired skill. With a willingness to learn, over time, you could dance circles around Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Get your groove on today and search for dance studios in your area, look for lessons at your local community center, or find instructional videos online and bust a move right in your living room. When it comes to dance, if you’re having fun and moving, you’re doing it right.
Please note: Attendees must qualify by having a certain amount in assets excluding the value of their home. Give us a call for more details.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN 2018?
On Dec. 22, our president signed the bill that will put tax changes into effect starting this year. While there’s been a lot of talk about what’s going to change, you’re probably wondering, “How will it affect me?” It will take time for the changes to take effect, and it’s hard to make predictions. But there are some changes you can be aware of as you start to think about your taxes for the next few years. TAKE A BREAK!
Most of the changes went into effect on Jan. 1 and are actually set to expire in 2025, so they have a limited impact on your taxes. Here are some changes to keep in mind. Despite all the hubbub about tax reform, there were relatively few changes made to retirement planning laws. One of the two changes, though, might have an impact on your IRA. The first change is to the amount of time you have to pay back a loan from a qualified retirement plan after a separation of service. That time has been extended slightly to help those who find themselves struggling to pay them back. The second change affects your IRA. It changes the income limit at which your Roth IRA will begin to phase out, and takes away your ability to re-characterize any Roth IRA conversions done in 2018.
The new phase-out points have been raised several thousand dollars from 2017. Now for 2018, single filers will see their Roth IRA phase out begin at $120,000 and max out at $135,000. Joint filers will see it begin to phase out at $189,000 for joint filers and completely phase out at $199,000. With the loss of your ability to re-characterize your Roth IRA, give us a call at 520-325-1600 to understand the complexities and timeline for this change. With provisions in the law, there may still be an opportunity to re-characterize your IRA to a Roth for your 2017 conversions.
D E T O X S A L A D SWEET AND ZESTY
INGREDIENTS For the Salad: •
For the Dressing: •
3 cups chopped kale leaves 2 cups chopped broccoli florets 2 cups chopped red cabbage
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
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• • • • • • •
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup matchstick carrots 1 cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds 1/3 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon white miso 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper, to taste
1 diced avocado
DIRECTIONS 1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately. Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com. Investment advice is offered through Shepherd Wealth Group, a Registered Investment Advisor doing business as Shepherd Wealth & Retirement. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment advisor does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Content should not be construed as personalized investment advice or as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Certain content was prepared by a freelance journalist.
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Your Guide to a Stress-Free Tax Season Exercise for 2? Learn to Be Tax-Savvy Tax Reform and You Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash! What Happened to February?
WHY IS FEBRUARY SO SHORT?
AndWhy Is There No Full Moon This Month?
I f you were planning a romantic, moonlit stroll sometime this month, you’d better reschedule for March. But, on the bright side, if you’re terrified of werewolves, you can rest easy for the entire month of February. Every 20 years or so, because of its 28-day length, February lands between the zeniths of the lunar cycle. February passes without a full moon, while January and March get to double up. Astronomers call this event a “black moon,” and it’s happening this year for the first time since 1999. There’s a certain irony that comes with the full moon skipping the most romantic month of the year. In fact, a black moon February ensures that the new moon will always land right around Valentine's Day. There’s no chance of even a waxing crescent for couples on that special night. But, how did this come to pass? February used to not exist at all. The calendar used by the ancient Romans would, at a glance, look very familiar to us. Its months had 30 and 31 days, and the year ended in December. But
both January and February were missing. This is because the Romans, as an agricultural society, didn’t feel the need to track winter months. The days and weeks between December and the spring equinox were just, well, nothing. Eventually, the calendar was updated to more accurately reflect the lunar cycle. January and February were added, and the year was extended to 355 days. At the time, people believed that even numbers were unlucky, and the Roman ruler of that era, King Pompilius, was hesitant to create any more even-numbered months. But, to get everything to add up to 355, he had to leave one month stuck with unlucky number 28. And the rest is history. Over the centuries, days were added here and there, the leap year was eventually instituted by Julius Caesar, and we came to the 365-day calendar we know today. But this year, as we let Valentine’s Day pass in the dark, think back to the legacy of King Pompilius and his one unlucky month.
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