Mike provides some year-end tax planning tips, including: Max out your retirement plan contributions IRA RMDs are not required this year IRS is allowing a $300 charitable gift deduction for standard filings If self-employed, consider making purchases before year-end and billing clients after year-end Barbara Cotton, Executive Director of American Red Cross - Southeastern MA Chapter indicates the need for blood donations and to make appointments at redcross.org. RapidPass allows you to enter your health history and track where your blood donation goes.

Chris and Brian talk about things to consider when purchasing individual stocks, including the company’s: market capitalization income statement gross margin operating margin earnings per share expected profit Stocks should be considered as a long-term investment and part of a balanced portfolio.

What is a stock buyback? Brian, AMR’s CIO, explains how companies direct excess cashflow to capital reinvestment, shareholder dividends, and/or stock buybacks. The AMR team discusses their holiday plans and tips for managing debt: use credit cards with low interest rates, always make at least the minimum payment, make payments on time. #financialplanning #stocks

70% of charitable giving occurs in November and December. Chris and F. Keats Boyd, President of Boyd and Boyd, P.C., discuss three smart ways to give this year: RMDs, Cash, and Appreciated Assets. They also talk about the difference between Spousal and Beneficiary IRAs, and why it might make sense to consider harvesting tax gains this year.    

Kristen O’Malley, President and CEO, of The Cape Cod Foundation, announced a Strategic Emergency Response Fund challenge campaign to help Cape Cod families who are struggling with food insecurity, and need fuel and medical assistance.   Lisa Guyon, Executive Director of WE CAN, tells how they support the needs of women going through challenging transitions. Mike and Chris explain tax brackets. If you are in a higher tax bracket, you pay the higher rate only on the portion of income above the threshold.

The AMR team reviews takeaways from the SECURE Act and the CARES Act, and year-end financial planning priorities to consider: maximizing retirement plan contributions, tax harvesting, Roth conversions, charitable giving, Biden administration implications, and Covid-19 planning. For more information, view the AMR "2020 Year-End Priorities" financial planning webinar.     

Susan Huettner, Esq., specializing in family law, shares how the MA courts are currently handling family cases. She is seeing an uptick in divorce cases, with more being settled through mediation and pre-court agreements. Scott shares how financial planners can help couples going through divorce – including getting organized, understanding implications of decisions, and making a list of all shared assets. Chris and Brian discuss investment portfolio tactics used in this challenging year.  

Chris and Brian talk about Covid-19 vaccinations and Biden’s appointment of Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary. Douglas MacDonald, President, Murray & MacDonald Insurance provides great advice on earthquake and wind insurance. It’s important to know the difference between wind, hurricane, and named storm insurance deductibles.  

Is your 401(k) working as hard as you do? Chris and Scott talk about things to consider. AMR is offering a complementary 401(k) review. Learn more at https://amrfinancial.com/getting-started/ Mark Skala President of Cape and Islands United Way talks about the need and ways to give – their Annual Fund, Power of the Purse virtual event, or Puritan’s donation and discount. The AMR team wishes everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!  

Chris welcomes Skip Schweiss, President-elect of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Skip shares a few initial thoughts on what a Biden administration might mean for investors. He indicates that a “split federal government has, over the decades, produced the strongest returns”. Brian Regan, AMR Chief Investment Officer, recaps highlights and takeaways from the New York Times Deal Book Summit.

Chris welcomes Bob Vandy, President of Advisors Insurance Brokers. They discuss factors to consider when choosing between traditional #long-termcareinsurance, hybrid policies, or hybrid annuities for long-term care. Tammy Leone, Director of Cape Kid Meals, tells how they are getting weekend meals to food insecure school-aged children. They are currently working with 26 public schools on #CapeCod to support 560 children per week.    

Brian reviews recent drivers behind the market, including a split Congress, selection of a U.S. president, relations with China, and momentum with a coronavirus vaccine. He also reviews how certain sectors are affected as we move into a more stable environment (or Act 2 as he calls it). Chris reminds us that a financial plan should include probabilities of success, which along with AMR’s Active Allocation process can reduce stress when there is anxiety in the market.  

On this Veterans Day, Chris welcomes Bill Blaisdell and Joe Taylor from the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center to share the great work that they do to help veterans. Anthony Encarnacion, a highly decorated combat veteran who served the US Army in Iraq, shares his personal story and how the Outreach Center “saved his life”. Chris and Cathi review the updated MA Covid-19 Order to help curb the virus spread.  

Chris and Brian discuss the initial market reaction to the elections and the drivers behind it. They also talk about key indicators that measure an economic rebound – GDP, unemployment, new mortgage applications, credit card usage, etc. Listen to Brian’s view on tax-exempt bonds and value stocks. Chris shares some financial planning lessons learned.  

Interested in how your retirement savings stacks up? Mike talks how important it is to pay yourself first. Scott & Cathi discuss how biological age factors into financial planning. Brian reviews how Trump and Biden compare on a stimulus package and funding infrastructure plans.  

Chris talks about voting options and the coronavirus numbers. Why invest in bonds when interest rates are so low? Brian explains.  

Chris welcomes Annalee Kruger, Founder and President of Care Right. Annalee is a geriatric family consultant and discusses challenges that seniors face and how having an aging plan can help. Karen Gardner, Executive Director of Laurentide at Mashpee Commons, shares information about their senior living residence.  

Chris welcomes Cyndy Jones (Founder), Nicole Spencer (Executive Director), and Kristen Boyd (Board Member) from Heroes in Transition to talk about the great work that they do to help veterans. They will be holding their 11th Annual Fall Gala At-Home Edition on November 6th. Melanie Braverman (Co-Founder of Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod tells about the services that they provide to help patients with cognitive decline and their caregivers.

Chris welcomes Amy Barao Kullar, Esquire, from Patricia Mello & Associates, LLC to talk about Medicaid planning. Medicaid (known as MA Health in Massachusetts) has requirements that must be met before coverage eligibility. Chris also talks with Christine Cross, Executive Director, Bridges by EPOCH at Mashpee, about their cognitive care residence.

Brian talks about the market in two acts – one of uncertainty over the next few months, and the other providing more stability after the elections and the Covid-19 vaccine trials progress. Chris welcomes Bob Tranchell from The Federal Savings Bank who shares how a HECM can make a house function like an IRA or 401k, and the HECM to purchase product.

AMR continues the long-term care discussion. Joy Tower, Regional Director, and Mary Ellen Greenfield, Culinary Director, of Maplewood join to talk about their senior living residences. Scott and Chris attended the national FPA Annual Conference 2020 to stay current on the latest financial planning resources.  Chris answers a mailbag question “Will social security run out?”

Insurance is a key tool to mitigate risk. Chris and Robert Vandy, President of Advisors Insurance Brokers, talk about how long-term care insurance works, why it is needed, costs to consider, and policy features – for both traditional and hybrid products.

Joanna Lovely, Executive Director of Mill Hill senior residence, tells about their assisted living and cognitive care facilities. Mike and Marcia Perna share a personal story about how to fund long-term care. AMR talks about financial scam – from home repair, to the black widow, to grandparent scams.

Chris welcomes Kurt Raber, Tim Sawyer, Todd Carson from Catalyst Architecture Interiors to talk about their firm’s evolution, rebranding from Brown, Lindquist, Fenuccio, & Raber, and some of their key projects.

Heather Hurd, a Senior Plan Consultant at BCBS, shares what you need to know about Medicare and the types of plans that are available. For more information, view the “Planning for Medicare: Countdown to 65" webinar at AMRfinancial.com.

Matt Burke, Co-President of Cape Cod Five, joins Chris to talk about the Payroll Protection Program and the bank’s role in helping small businesses gain access to needed capital as a result of the pandemic, as well as filing for the forgiveness process.

A widower shares her story – both her financial and personal experiences. Keats Boyd III, President of boydandboydpc.com talks about proactive planning for accessing digital assets (social media, online photos and books, etc.) of a deceased family member.

The AMR team discusses steps to take after the loss of a spouse, including consolidating accounts, updating health insurance, notifying life insurance companies, etc. If you’d like to receive the AMR paper “Financial Planning for Widowhood”, which provides tips for planning ahead and steps to take after the loss of a spouse, email [email protected] or call 508-771-8900.

Keats Boyd III, President of boydandboydpc.com, shares tips on #estate planning. There are many actions that need to be taken after the loss of a spouse – including taking inventory of estate documents, getting appraisals, re-titling documents, filing tax returns, and administering the trust. Chris answers a client’s question about investing in stocks.

The AMR team discusses how to prepare for widowhood. Email [email protected] or call  508-771-8900 if you’d like the AMR paper “Financial Planning for Widowhood”, which provides tips for planning ahead and steps to take after the loss of a spouse.

Chris talks with Dan Wolf, Founder & CEO of Cape Air about the economy and politics. Dan also discusses the impact of Covid-19 on the airline industry and his role as CEO. 

Brandon Monk, Head of U.S. Plasma Derived Therapies at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, talks about immunizations for and treatment of Covid-19. Takeda is working on a hyperimmune plasma therapy and is a part of the CoVig-19 Plasma Alliance, consisting of top R&D leaders working together for treatment of Covid-19. #financialplanning #retirementreadiness

Considering retirement sooner than expected because of Covid-19? Scott shares things to be aware of and sources for obtaining cash if needed (taxable accounts, life insurance, HELOC, IRA, etc.).

Bob Tranchell from The Federal Savings Bank joins Chris to talk about unique uses of a HECM/reverse mortgage (refinancing, buying a dream home, inheritance buy out, etc.) and qualifying requirements. 

Brian and Chris discuss how over-time the market does well under both Republican and Democratic political administrations. Scott provides tips on homeowners and auto insurance. Paul Tardif, Esq. answers “How to I protect myself if provided a promissory note for sold property?”.

The US market hit a record close last week. Listen to what Chris and Brian say about the market value and recent investment trends. They also talk about government stimulus and what taxes may look like under a Trump or Biden administration.

Vinny deMacedo, Director of Regional Partnerships, shares how Bridgewater State University pivoted in March to all online classes for its 11,000 students. This fall, 90% of classes will be online and 50% of the students living on campus will be coming back to a socially distanced campus.  Chris tells how the fall tends to be a more volatile time for the markets, especially in an election year.

Julia Sheilds-Rutyna, Director of College Planning at MEFA, talks about ways to fund a college education: savings plans, financial aid, scholarships, college payment plans, and private student loans.

Cathi talks with Megan Witton, Staff Scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, about their research and findings. Chris and Brian discuss whether gold and silver are favorable investments at this time. 

Brian explains the markets bouncing back during the pandemic and the impact of government assistance on the economy.  Betsey Sethares, Executive Director of the @capecodtimes Needy Fund talks about their Major Crisis Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance due to Covid-19 related issues. 

The AMR team discusses the Republican Senate Coronavirus Relief proposal and Democrats response. Scott reviews some of the CARES Act provisions that can provide short-term access to cash. #economicgrowth #financialplanning #retirementreadiness

The AMR team discusses the Q2 GDP drop and corporate earnings, which beat expectations. They talk about recent Fed announcements to provide ongoing support during this time. 

The AMR team talks about unemployment claims and the next virus aid package. State Representative Randy Hunt discusses plans for building new Cape Cod bridges. See the “MassDOTs Study on Cape Cod Canal” - http://randyhuntcpa.com/docs/CanalBridgeStudyTwoPageSummary2020.pdf.

Julie Wagner, Assistant Publisher and Editor of Cape Cod Life magazine (including Cape Cod Home and Cape Cod Art) joins Chris. The Best of Cape Cod & Islands lists voter choices in dining, lodging, food & drink, things to do, and shopping. The AMR team talks about credit scores and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2017 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Chris talks with Jeff Riley, MA Commissioner for Secondary and Elementary Education and Patricia DeBoer, Superintendent of Mashpee Public Schools about the 3 guidance scenarios for MA schools re-opening this fall (in-person, hybrid; remote learning) and the challenges with each.

Jeff Perry, Special Sheriff for Barnstable County, joins Chris this week. They discuss the "defund the police" movement. 

Kerin Delaney, Acting Executive Director, Falmouth Service Center tells how their 14 programs and 600 volunteers are supporting those in need. The AMR team discusses a Forbes survey “How COVID-19 has changed retirement planning” and the challenges of being laid off prior to a planned retirement.

Are your estate planning documents in order? Keats shares the challenges with a Medicaid Planning Trust (MPT) and whether you can access your assets once one is in place. It is important to discuss the impact of the CARES Act and the SECURE Act on your financial and estate planning with a professional.