January 2021 – Dual-Threat Quarterback

DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK

“With the exception of kicking plays, quarterbacks touch the ball on every offensive play during a football game. A quarterback’s job is to direct his team toward the end zone and score as many points as possible. The typical team scores on one-third of its offensive possessions, resulting in either a touchdown or a field goal. So you can see that the quarterback is under enormous pressure to generate points every time the offense takes the field,” according to Dummies.com.

Sometimes there are many yards to be gained for the necessary first down. Other times, you simply need a yard and a half. The most versatile quarterbacks are those who can pass or run, commonly known as dual-threat quarterbacks.

Back in the 1950’s Tobin Rote was a rare dual-threat. He led the Green Bay Packers in rushing 3 seasons and retired with 3128 yards.

The next decade brought Fran Tarkenton into the lead dual-threat role. He wrote, “When I began my NFL career in 1961, I was a freak. The reason was simple: I played quarterback and I ran. There were no designed runs in our playbook, but I would scramble out of the pocket when a play broke down." He acknowledged that his skill set was not embraced at that point—some people mocked and others wrote him off.

What makes any quarterback so important is their role as leader. Every play passes through their hands and they are responsible for gauging distance, openings, movement, and opportunity. They need vision and confidence...and they need to be willing to take a hit when necessary, rather than foolishly throwing the ball away.

Many people have likened the role of financial adviser to that of a quarterback. If you Google ‘financial adviser as quarterback’, you will see that many professionals use the term and some have even trademarked a variation of it.

What is the significance of considering us your financial quarterback? There are many!

• Someone with ‘field vision’ needs to be able to see your whole financial picture, handle what they can, and delegate (or ‘pass off’) other things.
• You need someone to coordinate your tax advice, insurance situation, retirement planning, charitable giving, Social Security, estate planning, and legal concerns. Just as in a football team, it is not one person’s role to DO all of those things. However, it does belong to one person to direct and oversee the play. You need someone calling the shots.
• If you allow someone else to quarterback, YOU can enjoy the game. Most of us have worked for years or even decades at things we are good at, but perhaps financial planning wasn’t one of those things. Do you want the burden of being an expert in something you’re not an expert at?!
• Because we serve multiple families, couples, and individuals from every walk of life, year after year, we’ve probably seen something like your situation before. This may be your first time at the fourth down of retirement, but we’ve been on the line many times before. We’ve watched the film and have game experience. It can be very hard to understand terms and concepts the first time around and I’m not being at all condescending when I say that! There are many things I don’t understand—and I exhibit the most wisdom when I realize what I know and what I don’t know.

We would be honored to be your first-round draft pick when you are forming your team. We can work well with other financial players, such as your tax preparer, account, lawyer, insurance agent, or other professional. If you don’t have your team roster yet, we can even help you meet some great new players we’ve worked with before. Call us to start a conversation about your victory!

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In the same way you might down-size your home to reduce ’clutter’, it can also be wise to consolidate and simplify your finances. This makes details easier to keep track of and helps your spouse and/or heirs upon death. Ask us how to get started.

HSA—Healthcare Savings Accounts

Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) offer tax savings for medical expenses for those individuals who have high-deductible medical insurance. An HSA can be invested and used strategically, all while sheltering the money from tax. It is not hard to establish an HSA, but only certain people qualify. Ask us about your situation—the savings are worth it!

SEP IRAs

SEP IRAs can give self-employed persons additional options and higher levels of contribution. We can help you understand your options!

BIG DECISIONS FOR TAX YEAR 2020 AND 2021

If you are an existing client of ours and you want to make a contribution to your IRA or Roth IRA for tax year 2020, you have until April 15 to do so. However, the paperwork and transaction must be ‘complete’ by then so we recommend that you contact us no later than March 15 to start the process. If you send a check to your account without our help, be sure to clearly designate which tax year you intend it for on the memo line as well as the account number of your IRA or Roth IRA. It is also helpful to write ‘Traditional IRA’ or ‘Roth IRA’ on the memo line. You can also begin making contributions for tax year 2021 at this time.

If you are considering becoming our client, we would love to discuss your options with you. We can help you transfer an IRA, an old 401k or 403b, or other investment vehicle AND make a contribution at the same time. But please remember that it takes time and the IRS deadlines aren’t flexible. We can also help you establish a brand new account and begin making contributions—if that’s right for you. It starts with a phone call to 419-358-4207 OR an email to orrie@myfaithinvestments.com

SIMPLE IRA

Are you a small business owner? Do you want to help your employees prepare for retirement while realizing tax benefits in the process? You might want to consider starting a SIMPLE IRA. A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) IRA is truly one of the most simple of all retirement savings accounts. It is an employer sponsored retirement plan offered by businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

For the employer:

• Compared to a 401(k), start-up & operating costs are significantly lower.
• The plan is easy to create and manage.
• Tax deductions are given to employers for their contributions.

For the employees:

• Employee must have made at least $5000 in one of last 2 years and will earn that much in current year.
• The option still exists to contribute to other IRAs. You can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA and still max out a traditional or Roth IRA as well.

You can either match employee contributions up to 3% of their pay OR you can do a “flat” non-elective contribution of 2% of their pay. If you would like to talk about your options and the ‘why’ behind a SIMPLE IRA, please call us at 419-358-4207 or email Orrie at orrie@myfaithinvestments.com

To be 59 1/2

Once you are 59 1/2, you may be eligible for in-service distributions from your workplace retirement plan. This can allow you to withdraw part of your 401k, set up your own IRA, and begin to ‘take control’ of your plans for retirement. This isn’t suitable for everyone, but can be very advantageous for some. This is a great time to become more informed and find out if this is an option for you. Information is power!

TRANSITION

Consider for a moment driving down the interstate, focused on your destination. You begin to see signs indicating that the highway is narrowing: “Right lane closed ahead,” red barrels, flashing arrows. Change is coming, but thankfully you’ve seen warning signs and have been able to adapt.

You begin to merge left and find yourself reacting to everything around you. There are brake lights you weren’t expecting and the lanes are uneven and narrow. You are on “high alert” but you know that there is a better stretch of road ahead.

The signs could just as easily say “Transition ahead!” Most of us have experienced something like this in our personal or financial life. Approaching retirement, experiencing the death of a spouse, facing job changes— these are all triggers that create transition in our lives.

One of our roles as financial advisers to our valuable clients is to set up “road signs” that help them see the transition they are experiencing. Knowing that you are going through a time of transition can be very helpful so that you are aware and alert.

Tips for going through transition:

1) Our first piece of advice for folks going through transition is “Cut yourself some slack!” ;-) This can also be stated as “Extend some grace to yourself.” We have found that it is tempting to be dogmatic or rigid at times such as this, perhaps because we are trying to gain control, but it can be better to relax a little and lighten up. You will get through the cones and on a straight stretch of road again!

2) We also recommend that folks in transition seek counsel. We believe that there is power in speaking about your situation with those you trust. Sometimes just saying things aloud gives clarity!

3) Understand that you may only be going through this particular transition once in your life, but we’ve had the privilege of walking alongside hundreds of people in transition of one kind or another. We have probably seen something like your situation. :)

STATE OF AFFAIRS

Our country is in a time of transition as well—and it can feel more like a rollercoaster than a road construction project.

When you begin to see signs on the road, you slow down and become more alert. We see some advantage to approaching 2021 with the same caution.

1) Our nation is facing extraordinary debt. At the time of writing this newsletter, the debt was over $27 trillion, which equates to $83,906 per citizen or $222,190 per taxpayer. Comparing that to a mortgage, we are essentially living in a lavish “2nd home” of debt. The bill collector will eventually come for this debt, in one form or another.

2) COVID-19 has placed demands on the economy and personal finance. The price tag for this (in lost work, additional debt, strain on savings and contingency funds, etc.) remains to be seen.

3) Changes to the tax code and higher regulations are anticipated. These factors typically serve to slow the economy.

We are not permitted to make sweeping general recommendations, nor do we want to do that. We are committed to treating folks as individuals and know that every situation is different. However, it is important to watch for trends and see how your situation might be impacted by economic changes.

For some who are approaching retirement, it might be worth considering a pull back into a more conservative position. For others who are younger or who plan to continue working for a number of years, it might be time to review your investment allocations and prepare for change. We can help you with your personal IRAs or non-qualified accounts and even with your 401k in most cases.

This should not be a time for fear. For the believer, we know that our entire future is held in the hands of a loving God. If you do not know and experience the hope that is found in Christ, seek Him and know true freedom from fear. “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 Amplified Bible

Advisory services are provided through Creative Financial Designs, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities are offered through cfd Investments, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA & SIPC. Faith Investment Services is independently owned and is not affiliated with the CFD companies.