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For many, spending more quality time with loved ones and friends is a New Year’s resolution or work-life balance goal. But for investors who are accustomed to keeping a close eye on their assets' performance, balancing one's "to do" list with one's "want to do" list may be tricky. Below, we discuss three time management tips investors may employ to free up some extra time for what matters most. Why Time Management Matters Adopting time management skills may do two things. First, it may allow you to become more efficient, letting you accomplish more tasks in the same amount of time. But for many, doing more may not be a key part of the equation. For these people, time management may allow them to do the same tasks in far less time—freeing up time for other pursuits. Whatever your goals, time management helps you streamline and prioritize tasks to make every minute count. Delegate It may be far more time-consuming to teach others to do certain tasks than to simply do them yourself. But as your to-do list grows longer, delegation often becomes necessary. By assigning certain tasks to others—whether a tricky work report or a weekly grocery delivery—you may be able to put more time and energy into the tasks that are tough or impossible to delegate. Automate If you find much of your working time is spent on the same tasks, it may be worth investigating ways to automate them. You may be able to write a simple algorithm or macro that reduces the time spent on these items. Setting up calendar reminders or scheduling weekly meetings with your team may also help reduce your mental load while ensuring that nothing falls between the cracks. Prioritize When there are multiple projects and tasks competing for your attention, it may be tempting to put out the fires first—but often, doing this means that the plan for your day goes by the wayside. You're then forced to put today's tasks off until tomorrow, setting you further back on tomorrow's to-do list. Instead, by designating certain times of day for certain tasks, you'll be better able to optimize your time and prioritize what needs to be accomplished. At the same time, don't let yourself become overly controlled by a rigid to-do list. If a last-minute emergency pops up, it may be counterproductive to let it fester while you work your way through less time-sensitive tasks. Above all, flexibility—albeit structured flexibility—may be one of the keys to more efficient time management. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05232422

The Super Bowl is more than just a game. It's an American holiday. As you prepare for this fun day, you may also want to think about how to create "big wins'' in your investment strategy. Get ready for Super Bowl Sunday by checking out these Super Bowl-inspired investment strategies. 1. Focus On Your Goals Before any competition, athletes spend a lot of time practicing and thinking about their goals. Just as a kicker imagines the perfect kick, you might imagine what you want from your investments. What are your short and long-term goals? Decide what you want from life in this moment and the future. Then, craft your investment strategy around those goals. 2. Think About the Whole Game Super Bowl coaches and players do not only think about the current moment. They think about the whole game. This strategy also applies to investing. Instead of being overwhelmed by ups and downs in the market, think about the long-term growth of your investments. This perspective is especially important when you invest for a goal like retirement, which is decades in the future. When you deal with long-term plans, you expect your portfolio may shrink a bit on a short-term basis, but ideally, you hope it experiences overall growth despite any short-term downturns. 3. Use Time-outs Strategically Once in a while, you must step back and look at your financial plan. This strategy is just like calling a time-out in a big football game. You take a step back from the action. You look over the situation. And then, you decide if you need to change your strategies. 4. Make the Most of Limited Time Think of how serious football is when the game is tied and only a minute is left. At this point, professionals do not just throw a "Hail Mary" as a last-ditch pass. Instead, they call a timeout and develop a very strategic plan. If retirement is on the horizon or you have a short-term financial goal, you may take the time required to embrace a strategic plan. 5. Draft Players Carefully Many people do not handle all of their finances on their own. Instead, they bring in professionals to guide them through the complicated decisions. When drafting a team to help you, make sure that you choose them carefully. Look at their references and experience before letting anyone help you with your finances. 6. Focus on Diversity Just as a football team needs a range of players, your investment portfolio also needs diversity. Make sure you do not have all your investments in the same asset class. Work with a financial professional who may help you diversify asset allocation according to risk tolerance. 7. Play Your Hardest You cannot afford to slack off whether you play ball or the markets. Make sure that you are always putting in your full effort. Learn as much as possible about the game, and outsource decisions to the pros as needed. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking # 1-05351239.

Financial wellness is a state of being when one is in control of their finances, can cover expenses, and save for future goals. Consider financial wellness as your relationship with money; it can be either healthy or unhealthy. Financial wellness is essential to being financially secure and meeting your goals. Here are ten tips to help you develop financial wellness this year: Tip #1: Check that your income and spending are in balance. You must be aware of your spending patterns, limit your use of credit, and be mindful of not spending more than you make. Review your online banking, bill payments, and credit card statements to ensure you're not overspending. Tip #2: Develop a monthly budget. A monthly budget helps you track exactly where your money is going so you aren’t living paycheck to paycheck due to overspending. Budgeting can help you save for retirement and create a plan to pay off debt. A budget can also help you learn to live without wants because you can see where your hard-earned dollars are going. Tip #3: Save money to cover unforeseen emergencies. Ideally, save three to six months of living expenses in an emergency savings account. Once you reach six months of emergency savings, continue saving in your emergency fund until you reach another milestone, such as one year of living expenses. Tip #4: Consistently save for retirement and other goals. Invest in yourself by automating your monthly 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA retirement savings contributions. Save for different purposes through automatic savings account contributions through payroll or other bank apps into an account set up for a specific financial goal. Tip #5: Discuss significant financial decisions with others. Before making financial decisions or purchasing big-ticket items, discuss the pros and cons of your decision with others before spending. Discussion can help determine if the financial decision aligns with your budget and goals. Tip #6: Regularly monitor and adjust your financial plan. You should have a written financial plan that aligns with your goals and timeline. Self-monitor your progress toward your goals and adjust your financial plan as necessary as your life changes. Tip #7: Educate yourself. Financial literacy is the confluence of the economic, credit, and debt management knowledge necessary to make financially responsible decisions that are integral to our everyday lives. The more you know about personal finance, the more likely you are to make comprehensive financial decisions. Tip #8: Work with a financial professional. Working with a financial professional can help you determine strategies appropriate for your goals, risk, and timeline. They can also help you develop a budget, create a financial plan, save for your child’s education, and keep you on track toward your goals. Tip #9: Don’t let your emotions impact your financial decisions. Weighing out the pros and cons of financial decisions before making a final decision is essential to financial wellness. When it comes to investing, emotions can be tricky since investors don’t always make rational decisions, according to the CFA Institute. Financial decisions require evidence and reasoning to make the most thoughtful choice so that you don’t regret your decisions later. Tip #10: Save money in small ways. Look for discounts, promos, and coupons on items you regularly buy. Also, consider negotiating a reduced price for memberships and subscriptions such as internet, gym, and streaming channel services. Financial wellness is essential for many reasons since it can impact your mental and physical health and overall quality of life. By improving your financial wellness, you can build wealth for a more financially secure future. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations, nor is it intended to provide any specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax. The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change. This article was prepared by Fresh Finance. LPL Tracking # 1-05351060

If you are someone who makes New Year's financial resolutions and often doesn't keep them, behavioral economics can help. Behavioral economics studies psychology as it relates to economic decision-making. Ideally, people would make the financial decisions that are appropriate and will benefit them the most. In economics, the rational choice theory states that when presented with choices under scarcity, people will choose the option with the most personal satisfaction. However, scarcity is an economic problem that is the gap between our financial resources and wants. Scarcity requires us to decide how to use our financial resources efficiently, but often that may differ depending on our choices. That's where behavioral economics comes in. Sometimes we make rational decisions, and other times, irrational decisions about our financial resources. Here is a few examples of behavioral economics, rational, or irrational decision-making when it comes to our finances: Budgeting Buying a coffee shop latte twice a week versus daily spending, which is more than your budget allows. Debt Paying off credit card debt and not using credit versus making payments but accumulating more monthly debt. Investing Consistently investing each month versus occasionally investing, depending on market performance. Herd Mentality Spending and investing based on your financial situation versus spending and investing in keeping up with your peers. When it comes to keeping New Year's financial resolutions, understanding behavioral economics may help you make confident financial decisions in the following areas: Personal Debt Working toward eliminating personal debt such as credit card, auto, or other personal loans. Investments Determining appropriate investments for your goals, risk tolerance, timeline, and situation. Retirement Savings Regularly contributing to your retirement savings accounts and maximizing contribution amounts based on your age and timeline until retirement. Insurance Reviewing, updating, and purchasing insurance coverage for your situation to offset the risk that can derail your financial goals. Money Management Develop a monthly budget to help you understand your cash flow and where you can make objective improvements. Seek Investment Help Working with a financial professional for comprehensive financial planning and working toward it. Behavioral economics is the psychology that can help you be mindful of the consequences of your financial decisions in the New Year. Start by writing down your financial resolutions, thinking about them, creating your plan, working toward them, and revising. It may help to discuss your financial resolutions with an accountability partner, such as a spouse, close friend, or financial professional. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by Fresh Finance. LPL Tracking # 1-05351060 Sources: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/behavioraleconomics.asp https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scarcity.asp https://www.investopedia.com/articles/02/112502.asp

Just as it is important to be physically and mentally fit, it is also important to be fiscally fit. Fiscal fitness is not only about how much money you earn or the balance in your savings or retirement accounts. Instead, it is about the relationship you have with your finances. Here are five signs that you are fiscally fit and tips on how to potentially improve the health of your wealth. 1. Grateful If you resent your financial situation, you may not be fiscally fit. Sometimes, this might occur due to an unexpected change in your life, such as losing a job. But in other cases, resentfulness springs from poor money management habits. Living above your means usually creates a lot of stress. It may also take a toll on your personal life. Identify areas where you may make changes that allow you to feel grateful rather than resentful about your situation. Fiscally fit people feel grateful about their money and the things it allows them to do. 2. Well-Informed Fiscally fit people are well-informed. They understand financial essentials. They have the knowledge they need to make sound decisions about their current and future finances. That said, you do not necessarily need to know everything about finances. Ideally, you should be financially literate and bring in financial professionals as required to help you. 3. Forward-Looking Do you think about the future? Or are you just living for today? Even if you are very comfortable and grateful about your current finances, you may not be financially healthy if you do not have a plan for tomorrow. Ideally, you should have short- and long-term financial goals and manage your money in ways that help you work toward those goals. 4. Optimistic People who have high levels of fiscal fitness are optimistic. They are not worried about the financial aspects of the future because they have a plan in place. They save for the future and put aside enough to cover unexpected emergencies. They have insurance coverage or contingency plans just in case they develop a major illness, get in an accident, become disabled, die prematurely or encounter other unforeseen issues and challenges. 5. Confident Having confidence about your finances is a major sign of fiscal fitness. Well-informed and forward-looking people feel confident about the decisions they make about their money. Whether splurging on a luxury item, sticking to a budget or putting money into savings, they feel confident in those decisions. A false sense of bravado or assuming everything could be OK even though you do not plan for your financial future or budget properly is not the same as being confident. Confidence, instead, is a sense of assurance that you make informed decisions for each situation. Are you fiscally fit? If the concepts above accurately describe you, then you probably are fiscally fit. If not, you may need some extra help. Consider consulting with a financial professional regularly to manage your finances. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking #1-05345915.

For many people, a new year provides a new start—and nothing says "new start" like a fresh new set of financial goals. But setting these goals is easier said than done. What steps should you take to get the most bang for your buck over the next year? Below we discuss three New Year's resolutions that may help you get your new year off to a great start. Pay Off High-Interest Debt Whether you have a payday loan, a credit card balance, a personal loan, or another type of debt that carries a higher-than-average interest rate, it's important to make a plan to pay this debt off as quickly as possible. If you have $6,000 in credit card debt at a 20 percent interest rate, it typically takes nearly 2 years to pay this debt off at a rate of $300 per month—and you may pay $1,374 in interest in the process. If, on the other hand, you raise your monthly payment amount to $600, you end up paying the debt off in only 12 months and save $750 in interest costs. The more you pay each month, the faster your balance is likely to drop, and the less interest may accrue. If you can't afford to pay off your debt quickly, consider consolidating it into a single loan with a lower interest rate or transferring the balance to a 0% interest credit card. Make a Student Loan Plan Repayment of federal student loans has been paused since March 2020, and this moratorium is likely to continue through January 31, 2022. During this repayment pause, these loans haven't accrued any interest, and voluntary payments that borrowers have made have gone straight toward the outstanding balance. However, beginning in February 2022, student loan holders are likely to begin repayment. If you haven't been accounting for this payment in your budget during the moratorium, you need to add it back. You may also want to consider making some optional payments now, while they may still be applied at the 0 percent interest rate. Create a Will or Estate Plan More than half of all Gen Xers and Millennials don't have any sort of written will. But while death isn't something anyone wants to dwell on, particularly at the dawn of a new year, it's important to have your last wishes put into writing in the event of your untimely passing. Having to navigate the accounting and division of your assets without a will may cause strife among even the closest family members. Whether you visit an attorney to discuss your estate plan or download a fill-in-the-blank form online, getting your affairs in order may be one of the greatest gifts you could give to your loved ones. Important Disclosures: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized legal advice. Please consult your legal advisor regarding your specific situation. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. LPL Tracking # 1-05195662 Sources https://wallethub.com/credit-card-calculator https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/us/politics/biden-student-loan-repayment-extension.html https://www.caring.com/caregivers/estate-planning/wills-survey/2017-survey/

What if you focused on your system instead of just your goals? Setting goals for a new year can feel overwhelming. We all know that resolutions don’t last, but we also feel the energy that comes with a new year of possibilities. Here’s a clearer path for setting and reaching your goals. Many of us love complex processes. Intricacies of a large spreadsheet really get our brain going and we can spend lots of time deeply analyzing financial questions. Maybe. But when we try to apply the same level of study to setting goals, it never works out. We try spreadsheets and software and Gantt charts to lay out goals in detailed sequences and it just doesn’t click. We never understand why. What is Your System? Maybe it’s time to try something different, like what is passed along in personal coach James Clear’s excellent writings on setting aside goals to focus on systems in which he discusses the difference between goals and systems. “If you’re a coach, your goal is to win a championship,” Clear writes. “Your system is what your team does at practice each day. If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book and your system is the writing schedule you follow each week. If you’re an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million-dollar business and your system is your sales and marketing. “Now for the really interesting question,” he adds. “If you completely ignored your goals and focused only on your system, would you still get results?” Yes, says Clear, who can help spark new thinking in us regarding this year’s goal setting. Let’s create our own goal-setting template with just three short sets of questions. Review 2022’s Successes What did you accomplish in 2022? Personally? Professionally? What were the year’s successes? Large and small, all your successes build toward your long-term vision. Put your achievements on paper and remind yourself what you did accomplish last year. We all dwell on what we didn’t accomplish more than on what we did, so take a few minutes to counter that natural tendency and prime your goal-setting mechanisms. Plan 2023’s Successes What would you like to accomplish in 2023? Personally? Professionally? Give your imagination some space and think about what you want done by the time you sit down at your desk in the first week of 2024 and look back at another successful year. Write down these 2023 goals and think about how you’ll feel when those turn into accomplishments on 2023’s success list. What do You Need to Succeed? What do you need to do to accomplish your 2023 goals? Skills to learn? Habits to acquire? Put the first page on your left and put the second page on your right. Place the third page, with these questions, in the middle and let your brain connect your positive past to your envisioned future. What must you do to make those goals reality? What habits and skills do you need to develop? What connections do you need to make? What activities should you try? Like Clear advises, focus on systems and habits. Most of us love setting goals and thinking about the future. But our biggest area of improvement could be building systems that support those goals and the positive changes we want to make. Focus on building positive habits toward the goals that you seek for yourself, your family and your business. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by AdviceIQ. LPL Tracking #1-05345220

When it comes to New Year's Resolutions that include financial goals, writing them down and being visible is essential to your success. After you’ve written down what your financial resolutions for the New Year are, tell others about your progress and failures. Here are some things you may want to focus on this year: Decrease Your Spending The less you spend, the more you can save into an emergency fund, pay toward debt reduction, or save for retirement. Review your spending this month to determine what you can eliminate and reduce. If you felt financially insecure the past year or on the brink of it, now take control of your financial future. Reduce Your Debt If you are one of the ‘revolver households’ that carries credit card debt month after month, make this the year you pay off your debt, cut up the cards, and close credit card accounts. You may want to consider paying down your mortgage, refinancing, or moving to a home that costs less. If you become unemployed in the future, making your mortgage payment is essential to remaining sheltered. If you’ve maintained employment but have a higher interest rate than today’s rates, consider refinancing or making extra payments toward your mortgage. Pay off your auto loan, increase your monthly payment, or refinance the remaining term at a lower rate. Although refinancing may look appealing, confirm that the refinance saves you money and reduces your loan term. Start your debt reduction investigation by using financial calculators or consult your financial professional to determine if these ideas are appropriate for you. Establish An Emergency Fund Start with a minimum of one month’s expenses and work toward a fully-funded emergency fund. A fully-funded emergency fund should have six months or more of expenses in savings that you won't access and that's not tied to stock market performance like a money market account. Save For Retirement Set your retirement savings contributions up automatically increase year over year and make an effort to maximize your contributions. Additionally: Get Your Employer’s Retirement Savings Contribution Match Contribute enough to your employer’s retirement plan to receive matching dollars. If you’re not saving enough to receive a matching contribution from your employer (commonly a 2-4% match), you’re throwing away ‘free money.’ Take Some Risk (in your investments) If you have your retirement savings in an interest-bearing account outside of the stock market, you will not keep up with inflation in retirement over time. Having 100% of your retirement savings tied to stocks may not be best for you, but all of it outside the market may not be either. Meet with your financial professional to determine if your risk tolerance and portfolio allocations are appropriate to your situation. Be Aware of How Taxes Impact You Part of your investments should be in tax-sheltered accounts and some after-tax investments. Discuss how each investment may affect you this year and in retirement with your financial and tax professionals. Part of tax awareness is understanding how trading and rebalancing impact your taxes and how your financial professional can help. Monitor Your Investments Meet with your financial professional for a financial review at least once this year to determine if your risk tolerance, investment options, and your timeline for retirement are still on target. Receiving financial help from a professional can help you accomplish your financial resolutions. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning or legal advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified tax or legal advisor. This article was prepared by Fresh Finance. LPL Tracking # 1-05221674

There are countless benefits of charitable giving. Through generous donations, you can make a difference in your community and society. You may also feel happier and even save on your taxes. Here are some key things to need to know regarding charitable giving. Types of Charitable Giving Donor-Advised Funds: A donor-advised fund allows you to donate cash or securities, which are non-refundable to a non-profit organization. Real Estate: If you have a property you no longer need, you can donate it to charity. Cash: With a simple cash gift, you’ll receive a tax deduction that is equal to the amount of money you donated minus the value of any products or services you received in return. Charitable Trusts: The two types of charitable trusts you may want to incorporate into your financial plan include charitable lead trusts (CLTs) and charitable remainder trusts (CRTs). Consult your legal professional and financial professional if you plan to include securities in your trust. Tax Benefits of Charitable Giving If you choose to itemize your taxes, charitable contributions can reduce your tax bill. It may be an excellent idea to itemize if the total of your deductions plus charitable gifts equals more than the standard deduction. If you decide to give to a charity, ensure it’s a 501(c)(3) public charity or private foundation to receive tax benefits. Then, keep a receipt or another record of your contribution. At tax season, itemize your deductions (if appropriate to your situation) and file your tax return. Your tax professional can help you determine how charitable contributions will impact your tax situation. The Impact of COVID-19 on Charitable Giving Charitable giving was at an all-time high during the pandemic. Charitable Giving reached a record of $471 billion in 2020. Many Americans choose charitable giving as a way to help others during this unprecedented time. Since they couldn’t volunteer in-person at local charities, many donated their financial resources, despite the economic hardships they may have endured. Consult Your Financial Professional If you have any questions on charitable giving or how it may affect your financial situation, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how securities can help impact your giving ability. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. Content provider: Fresh Finance LPL Tracking # 1-05182676

Whether you're hoping to retire soon or are just beginning to explore the idea of stepping back from your job, you're probably wondering how to make it happen. Will you have enough money? How will you spend your time? What will you do for health insurance? Here, you’ll find a useful countdown of the five biggest steps to developing a solid retirement plan. 5. Assess Your Retirement Goals What does retirement look like for you? Do you plan to or want to continue working part-time? Will you travel? Do you want to sell your home and hit the road in an RV? At what age will you claim Social Security? When will you qualify for Medicare? Everyone's retirement goals are different, which means your financial plan for retirement will also be different. 4. Decide How to Draw Down Savings Depending on whether your assets are held in a pre-tax account, a post-tax account, or a taxable account, your savings drawdown strategy can vary widely. Your age can also dictate when, how, and how much you withdraw from your retirement accounts. For example, if you plan to retire before age 59.5, you may want to first begin withdrawing funds from a taxable account to provide flexibility until you're able to take penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) or a traditional IRA. 3. Enlist a Financial Professional If you don't yet have a dedicated financial professional, now may be the time to assess your retirement readiness and work to optimize your income and assets as you enter retirement. You don't want to find yourself in a position where your retirement needs exceed your income or assets and you're forced to scale down—or even go back to work—after you've already been enjoying retirement for a few years. 2. Survey Potential Large Expenses Beginning your retirement with multiple large, unexpected expenses can send even the most carefully planned budgets off track. Before you retire, consider some of the biggest expenses that are likely to come your way. ● Will your home need new windows or a new roof soon? ● Are your major appliances—washer and dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, HVAC—getting older? ● How much longer do you expect your vehicle to last? ● Is your health plan switching to a high-deductible one? By planning for large expenses before you retire, you can work to ensure these costs won't catch you by surprise. 1. Begin Planning Your Estate Whenever you're making a big financial shift or embarking on a new phase of your life, it's important to revisit and assess your estate plan. If you pass away without a valid will or other estate plan, your heirs could find themselves embroiled in a messy, expensive court battle to reclaim and divide your assets. In some cases, you may only need a will to dispose of your assets in the way you'd like. Other situations may call for an irrevocable trust or some other multifaceted approach to managing your estate. Talking to an attorney and your financial professional can give you a better idea of the options available to you and where each different path may lead. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) and options may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing or withdrawing. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. This article was prepared by WriterAccess. LPL Tracking # 1-05337697.

Tax planning can be advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end. Opportunities exist for you to mitigate tax liability, which may leave more income for you and/or your family. Generally, people put off tax planning because paying income taxes is an obligation. So, this “negative” view can cause frustration. It is often simpler to say, “Let’s see how everything shakes out between January 1 and April 15.” However, after December 31, all you can do is deal with your tax liability. On the other hand, if you take care of the tax planning now, you may save more on April 15. Considering doing a trial tax return based on your projected personal income and deductions. Afterward, you can adjust your W-4 Form accordingly. If you expect to have income that is not subject to withholding, review your required quarterly estimated tax payments. If you fail to have enough tax withheld or make sufficient estimated tax payments by the end of the year, you may be subject to penalties and interest. Adjust your W-4 or estimated payments to make up any shortfall. It may be beneficial to keep an eye on what is happening in Congress. Tax reform is an ongoing process, and there may be more changes ahead. If you can control when you receive income or take deductions, consider deferring income into next year if you expect to be in a lower tax bracket. Likewise, accelerate your deductions if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket this year as opposed to next. If you expect a tax change for the upcoming year, you may want to revisit this issue. Watch out for the alternative minimum tax (AMT) if you expect to have any large tax items this year such as depreciation deductions, tax-exempt interest, or charitable contributions. To avoid the AMT, consider strategies such as re-positioning assets or delaying charitable contributions. However, if you are subject to the AMT, consider accelerating next year’s income into this year if your regular tax bracket would be higher than the AMT rate. If your itemized deductions increase the likelihood of triggering the AMT and do not generate significant tax savings, consider postponing deductions into next year if you are subject to the AMT this year. By considering the above tips and establishing the most suitable strategies for your situation, you may optimize your opportunities and mitigate your liability. Consult a tax professional for more information according to your unique circumstances. Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. This article was prepared by Liberty Publishing, Inc. LPL Tracking #1-05184701 TAXCHECK-X

Consider whether a donor-advised fund can help build a more generous world November brings us Thanksgiving – a day for simply giving thanks. The 11th month also brings us Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two days encouraging us to shop. And since 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving also offers us #GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving where we can come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give back. According to GivingTuesday.org, last year saw $2.7 billion given in donations in the U.S. alone, with 35 million adults participating in a variety of ways, including donations, volunteering, and giving goods. While the average gift last year was approximately $129.33 according to Charity Navigator, there are other vehicles that can help jump-start your generosity, like donor-advised funds Donor Advised Funds Giving frequent donations to charities is not easy. Paperwork headaches, particularly related to taxes, abound. And while writing separate checks may still be the best option for small gifts, a popular alternative may make a lot of sense: the donor-advised fund. A donor-advised fund is an account, maintained and operated by an umbrella nonprofit group, called a 501(c)(3) organization, set up by sponsoring organizations. You can open an account and give it any name you want, such as the “John and Jane Doe Foundation.” You don’t have the expense and hassle of running a real foundation, which is the province of the wealthy anyway. Then, as the donor to the fund, you make contributions into your account. There is often a minimum contribution amount, such as $10,000, along with a minimum balance requirement. But because the Internal Revenue Service does not audit these accounts as it would a private foundation, they don’t have a separate tax ID or requirement to file a Form 990, as is the case with a private foundation. Since your contributions to these vehicles are irrevocable, the sponsoring organization has legal control of the fund. However, with a donor-advised fund, you as the donor advise the sponsoring organization on how to distribute the money and how to invest it in the meantime. The sponsoring organization typically invests the donor-advised funds in a pool of mutual funds, and sets the investment asset allocations. It also usually charges a low asset-based fee to cover administration costs. As the fund’s advisor, you may direct the sponsoring organization to make specific donations to charities you favor. There is often a minimum donation amount from your fund, but it is reasonable, and can be as low as $250 per grant. In addition, you may also choose successor advisors who make those recommendations when you can’t because of illness, disability or death. This can be a fantastic tool in teaching your children the value of making gifts. From a tax vantage point, you get the same benefits with a donor-advised fund as with writing a check. Because your contribution to your donor-advised fund is an irrevocable gift to a 501(c)(3) supporting organization, you get full access to the standard charitable tax deduction. The deduction amount that you claim is limited by the type of asset you contribute and your adjusted gross income. And the charitable deduction is earned in the year you make a contribution to your donor-advised fund – not when you advise the sponsoring organization to send money to one of your favorite charities. Benefits of Donor Advised Funds There are many benefits to using a donor-advised fund over the traditional “checkbook charity” approach: You can separate your grant-making from the end-of-year deadline for getting a deduction in. For calendar year tax planning, you need only time your contributions into the fund (along with taking your possibly limited charitable deduction). After that, you make grants at your leisure. You no longer have to track your grant donations, because the sponsoring organization will do that for you – and generally make those grant records available online. As part of your grant-making, you can specify whether the grant is anonymous or not. Your sponsoring organization will check if the entity you’d like to donate to is eligible. That further simplifies your responsibilities in making charitable donations. If you are the kind of person who recognizes that your accomplishments rest on the good others have done in this world– and you’d like to “give back” in an efficient and practical way – then a donor-advised fund might be your ticket. Call your financial professional to discuss how to set one up. #GivingTuesday Important Disclosures The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This article was prepared by RSW Publishing. LPL Tracking #1-05318847