New rules on how surplus 529 Education Savings funds can be used

If you or your child, grandchild or other person was fortunate enough to pay for their education without using all your 529 education savings funds, Congress recently passed legislation to help avoid penalties for using the money for other purposes. But first, consider whether the funds might be used for another family member or for graduate or professional school sometime in the future. 

Account withdrawals that aren’t used for qualified education expenses mean you will owe income taxes and a 10% penalty. Until now, if a student earns a scholarship, parents would be permitted to take a penalty-free 529 withdrawal, although income taxes would still be owed on the earnings portion of the withdrawal. Excess funds can be transferred to a sibling or other close relation such as a cousin.

Beginning in 2024, parents can now transfer part of that surplus to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary ro continue to grow tax-free.  The following details are quoted directly from the author, Adam M. Grossman founder of Mayport, a fixed-fee wealth management firm.

• There’s a lifetime limit of $35,000 per beneficiary that can be transferred from a 529 to a Roth.
• The amount that can be transferred each year is limited to the amount that could otherwise be contributed directly to an IRA. In 2024, that will be $7,000, meaning that it would take five years to move the entire $35,000.
• In years when funds are moved from a 529 to a Roth, those funds will count toward the beneficiary’s IRA contribution limit. Suppose that parents transfer $4,000 from a 529 account to their child’s Roth IRA. Since the child’s overall IRA contributions are capped at $7,000, he or she could only contribute an additional $3,000 directly to an IRA that year.
• The beneficiary would need to have earned income that’s at least equal to the 529-to-Roth transfer amount, just like the requirement for a regular IRA contribution. The child doesn’t have any earned income? No transfer is allowed.
• The usual income caps for direct Roth IRA contributions don’t apply. That’s a nice benefit of this new rule, allowing a high-income beneficiary to complete a 529-to-Roth transfer.
• To be sure parents use the new provision in the way it was intended—that is, truly for surplus funds—there are two additional restrictions. First, the 529 account must be at least 15 years old. Second, any funds contributed to the 529 within the most recent five years aren’t eligible to be transferred. Neither of these restrictions is a permanent obstacle, but they can slow transfers.
• The 529 account must be at least 15 years old. 
• Any funds contributed to the 529 within the most recent five years aren’t eligible to be transferred. 
  

This strategy is a great way to use 529 funds for a child (grandchild) who chooses not to pursue higher education.

Grossman provides more details and perspective in his article Strings Attached published in the Humble Dollar newsletter (which I highly recommend): https://humbledollar.com/2023/12/strings-attached-2/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=another-ses-test_7

Utahns: Find out which natural disasters your county faces

Homeowners insurance is growing more expensive or hard to find because of natural disasters. The Salt Lake Tribune breaks down which counties have the highest risk for some of the havoc. 

"As wildfires, floods and other natural disasters wreak havoc across the country, insurers are raising premiums or pulling out of some markets altogether because of the risk" writes Megan Banta for The Salt Lake Tribune.   | Dec. 28, 2023

 Wonder why your Homeowners insurance had increased substantially for the past couple of years? 

"Premiums increased an average of 21% from May 2022 to May 2023 across the country and more in Florida and some western states including Utah, according to a report from Policygenius." HO insurance is not only becoming more expensive but also, harder to get. Friends of mine have had their insurance cancelled after a very minor claim. 

According to Banta's research: "Summit County and five other counties in Utah have a “relatively high” risk of wildfire, according to the National Risk Index, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The other 5 counties are: Washington, Iron, Tooele, Salt Lake, and Utah. 

Banta's investigation also identified Utah counties at highest risk for avalanche, earthquake, and landslide. 

Of course, certain areas within a county likely have little or no risk of landslides and avalanches. So consider location when purchasing or renting property. One can still see the massive boulders that crushed a house and killed two people in Rockville. Just this year a house in LaVerkin started to crack and slide into the canyon where it was perched. Within the past decade Santa Clara lost some homes to the same risk of being built on the edge of a cliff for the view. Other counties provide numerous examples of housing being built where it never should have been located.  

The wildfire problem grows each year with our changing, hotter climate and as people build homes at the urban-wildland interface.

Unfortunately, HO insurance doesn't cover loss due to earthquake, flood and earth movement. 

Check out the other posts in this blog on related topics. 

Read the full article at: 

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/12/28/heres-where-utahns-face-highest/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_864285712.28.23%20Top%20Stories 

If you are not a Salt Lake Tribune subscriber and live in Utah... maybe it is time. 

Don't believe any of the investing forecasts

Wall St. Loves to Guess, but Nobody Knows What the Market Will Do in 2024

So-called stock forecasts don’t deserve the name, our columnist says. Wall Street’s track record is horrendous.

By Jeff Sommer,who writes Strategies, a weekly New York Times column on markets, finance and the economy.

"Wall Street strategists are issuing forecasts for the performance of the stock market in 2024.

Pay them no mind.

The predictions are usually wrong, and when they’re right it’s only by accident."

These forecasts get a tremendous amount of media coverage but aren't worth the paper/pixels they are written on.

Sommer advises: "If you find them entertaining or otherwise illuminating — wonderful. Enjoy them."

"But at all costs, don’t take them at face value because there is no evidence that anyone can predict the market’s movements reliably, and a great deal of evidence that buying and selling stock on the basis of your views about the market’s impending movements is a fool’s game."

It is amazing how much money these investment analysts and gurus are paid to speculate about the future. 

In 2019 who would have predicted Covid 19 and the way it affected economies throughout the world for the next three years?

In 2022, not even the best Pentagon and CIA analysts predicted that Russia would invade Ukraine and disrupt grain markets and raise food prices throughout the world in addition to many other economic impacts. 

Israel, with the best spies, analysts and undercover agents around the world, was taken by surprise by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Even setting aside these earth shaking events, it is literally impossible to predict the direction of investment markets. Reams of academic research papers have explored this topic and all agree that no one can reliably predict short term investment markets. 

You can't control markets so stick to what you can control: your asset allocation and how much you pay for investing. Choose ultra low cost index mutual funds for your long term goals.

 

Rising share of US wealth held by Americans over 70

Have you seen various Senior discounts at restaurants, theaters, ski resorts, and retailers? These discounts date back to the post WWII era when persons over 65 tended to have low to moderate incomes. This was before Medicare and as Social Security was just beginning to provide benefits for retirees.

 Despite poverty among a small segment of the senior population today, the vast majority of 65+ Americans are wealthy by world and American standards,

Americans ages 70 and older made up 11% of the US population last quarter (2023) but held a record 30% of the country's wealth, according to data from the Federal Reserve. Increases in stocks and home values during the pandemic help to explain the increasing concentration of wealth for members of this demographic.

Across the nation, it is retirees who are fueling the housing markets as they sell paid off homes that appreciated during their long tenure to trade up to more luxurious homes. Sure, some seniors are down-sizing but with developers and builders profiting most from building larger, higher-end homes, many seniors are buying larger homes than where they raised their families.Very few "starter" homes are being built because they are like compact vehicles are to car companies... not profitable. 

The economics of families have shifted over the decades so that people raising children should be getting the discounts, not seniors.

Full Story: Bloomberg

 

Three things you need to know about your student loans

"Going to college is one of the most significant decisions an individual will ever make. There are enormous 

opportunities that come with higher education, but there are also significant costs associated with pursuing a degree. 

Most college students, if not all, need financial assistance to pay for tuition, books, and other fees. This is where 

student loans come in handy."

"Student loans are a type of financial aid that supports students across the globe in achieving their dreams of 

obtaining a college degree. While student loans can be a great resource, they can also become a burden if you don't 

understand how they work. In this blog post, we will share three things you need to know about your student loan 

to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary debt."

 

e: michael.morris@thesixthdegreemedia.com

w: thesixthdegree.media

1. There are different types of loans
2. What are the interest rates?
3. How will you pay it off?

Get more info on how to Set yourself up for success at: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TAhC0Ewk6v89XACA74ytEhkV4jX_GVjUUzXLxIDJ3f8/edit#heading=h.sombh0tthz8g     

Downsizing without filling the landfill

 My husband and I are in the process of selling our house and moving furniture and belongings into storage while we wait for our desired home to hit the market. So we have spent the last two weeks sorting through stuff we accumulated from 32 years in the same house plus possessions, photos, letters and more from a lifetime of accumulation. We are deep into "Swedish Death Cleaning!" Check out the book:

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297297-the-gentle-art-of-swedish-death-cleaning

Read about lots of options for giving away or selling your stuff:

My Quest to Downsize Without Throwing Anything Away

A big old house full of belongings — could I find them all a new life?

Read the article by By David Pogue, a "CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-we-downsized-and-sold-our-house-without-creating-waste.html 

We still ended up filling our trash and recycling cans many times over. 

Time to start holiday shopping

To spend less money on holiday shopping, get it done ASAP

Michelle Singletary, personal finance writer for the Washington Post, says it's time to start holiday shopping to get the best deals. Yikes! It's not even Halloween. I cringed when I saw Christmas decorations and displays in a store recently. Sigh.  But if you are one of those people who buys a lot of holiday gifts... now is the time. 

It's also a good time to remind readers that so many gifts are unappreciated by the recipient and returned to the retailer and that gifts of experiences are remembered and appreciated more than gifts of goods.

Singletary suggests there are five types of shoppers. Which are you, and has it served you well?

1. Overspender

2. A gift for you, one for me

3. Bargain hunter

4. Last-minute shopper

5. Early bird

 Check out the full article for details.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/25/spend-less-money-holiday-shopping-get-it-done-asap/?template-name=%7B%7Bletter.config.name%7D%7D&utm_campaign=wp_personal_finance&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_finance

How do you compare financially to Americans overall?

 Among U.S. families, 66% own their home, 58% own stocks, 54% have a retirement account, 45% have credit card debt and 35% have a car loan, according to the Fed's latest Survey of Consumer Finances.

Of course, no one is really average but the figures help you get an idea of where you stand. 

"Net worth. The typical (or “median”) net worth—meaning the value of all assets minus all debt for those American families halfway down the wealth spectrum—was $192,700 in 2022.  But the average (or “mean”) wealth, which measures America’s total net worth divided by all households, stood at $1,059,470. This is a classic example of skewness, with a small number of outliers—in this case, America’s wealthiest families—skewing the results higher."

Income. Skewness also shows up in pretax family income. As of the latest survey, the median (mid-point) household income was $70,260, while the average was twice as high, at $141,390. Houshold income is different from family income because households include singles whereas families are composed or two or more individuals which means the potential for two (or more) earners. 

Stocks. 58% of U.S. families were invested in the stock market, up from 48.9% nine years earlier. 

Real estate. 66% of families owned their primary residence, up from 63.7% six years earlier, but below the peak of 69% in 2004 (before the 2008 financial crisis).

Retirement accounts. 54.4% of families have a retirement account. Even in the age group where retirement accounts are most widespread—those ages 45 to 54—they’re held by just 62.2% of households. Those ages 65 to 74 had median retirement account balances of $200,000, enough to generate $670 in monthly income, assuming a 4% withdrawal rate.  

Credit cards.  When the data were collected... "credit card balances in inflation-adjusted terms are at their lowest levels since the 1990s. In 2022, 45.2% of families had card debt, down marginally from 2019, with a typical balance of $2,700 and an average balance of $6,120. Credit card debt is the most common form of debt, ahead of home loans, which 42.2% of families have, and car loans at 34.7%. Overall, 77.4% of families have some form of debt." However, the most recent data (mid-2023) show increases in the number of households with credit card debt and the amount of debt. 

Education loans. Roughly a fifth of families have student loans, with a typical balance of $24,500 and an average balance of $46,980.  

Thanks to Humble Dollar https://humbledollar.com/ blogger Jonathan Clements for this summary.  More details are available at: https://humbledollar.com/2023/10/by-the-numbers-2/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=another-ses-test_7

Time to ditch food expiration dates

 Americans waste a colossal amount of perfectly good food. 

This is bad because resources and money are being wasted while contributing to climate change due to methane generated by food in landfills. 

Stop throwing away good food!

Food Expiration Dates? What a Waste By Josh Zumbrun in The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 8, 2023 explains the history behind food packaging dates and why they are so misleading.

'Contrary to a common perception, “those dates are not about safety, that’s not why they’re there, that’s not what they’re doing” says Martin Wiedmann, a professor of food safety and food science at Cornell University. “For many foods, we could completely do away with it.”'

According to Zumbrun, "The dates originated as a coded system for manufacturers to communicate to retailers when to rotate stock."

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that 31% of the available food supply goes uneaten: Retailers discard 43 billion pounds of food annually, consumers a further 90 billion. That’s 387 billion calories of lost food, which the USDA says works out to 1,249 calories per American a day." 

It’s hard to determine exactly how much of that waste owes to labels, but probably more than most people think. ReFED, a nonprofit that works to reduce food waste, has used data from kitchen diaries to estimate annual U.S. food waste because of labeling concerns as nearly 7 billion pounds. There is reason to think this is an undercount. In a grotesquely amusing study, households that kept such diaries reported tossing 8.7 pounds of food a week, usually saying it was inedible or spoiled. Then researchers literally dug through their trash, and determined that 68% of the food was probably edible. Consumers might not even realize that they’re junking perfectly good food not because it’s bad, but because they are putting too much faith in expiration dates."

Traditional Medicare doesn't cover vision and dental

"Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover common dental procedures, such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures, dental plates and other dental devices. Medicare also doesn’t cover the cost of eyeglasses, lenses or contacts" writes Richard Conner in the Humble Dollar Blog:

https://humbledollar.com/2023/08/what-medicare-misses/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=another-ses-test_7

Pay attention to your dental and vision health before retirement. 

If your employer funds all or part of your dental and vision insurance, use those benefits to their fullest before you retire

"Fund a health savings account, or HSA, during your working years. You get a tax deduction for the amount you contribute, you can invest the money you save, and the earnings grow tax-deferred. When the money is used to pay for qualified medical expenses, the withdrawal is also tax-free."

"Some Medicare Advantage plans provide dental and vision coverage. What if you choose traditional Medicare? Consider purchasing private dental and vision insurance."

In his article Conner provides extensive suggestions and information if you need to buy private coverage. 

Maui Wildfires: What would you do if you had toquickly flee your home?

"If you had to quickly flee your home and had just enough time to grab some important things, could you put your hands on vital financial documents? 

Climate change has put many people in the path of major natural disasters. Fires, floods, hurricanes and wind storms are devastating communities. The disaster in Hawaii is just the latest reminder to get our financial houses in order." 

Read:

How to protect your financial life from wildfires, extreme weather

By Michelle Singletary

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/08/11/protect-financial-life-extreme-weather/?template-name=%7B%7Bletter.config.name%7D%7D&utm_campaign=wp_personal_finance&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_finance

As of mid-August 2023, "there had been 15 confirmed weather/climate disaster events in the United States this year with losses exceeding $1 billion each, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Damage from 2022 disasters totaled $165.1 billion."

"Get a safe that’s waterproof, fire-resistant and light enough to carry. Keep all your household’s important financial documents in this box, including your passport; insurance policies; extra checks; a copy of your driver’s license; your Social Security card (or at least write down the number); bank, investment and credit card account numbers; and key legal documents such as wills, marriage and birth certificates, and the titles to your home and vehicles." 

I keep these items in a credit union safe deposit box. Not sure what would be left if fire is as intense as the Maui fires. I read that one Maui couple kept thousands of dollars in a safe that was left behind. All that was left was ashes.

You should include some cash because ATMs may not be available or may not work.

"In addition to keeping your paperwork in a safe, make photocopies of your documents and place them in a safe-deposit box or give them to a trusted relative or friend who does not live in the same area you do."

"You can also back up your data to cloud-based services such as Google Drive or Apple’s iCloud. Be sure to consistently back up your data to the cloud."

"With your smartphone, take pictures of your big-screen televisions, computers, furniture, heirlooms, etc. You want proof of the expensive stuff you own."

"record a video of the items in your home. Record model and serial numbers. Then, of course, download it for safekeeping in the event you have to prove to an insurance company what items you lost in a disaster."Do this today.

Do you have sufficient insurance?

Call your insurance agent. Will your policy replace the full value of your possessions?

If you are at risk of flooding, check my blog posts on flood insurance. Keep in mind that many Americans live in areas subject to flood but NOT on federal flood maps. See blog posts on flooding. 

Earthquakes are NOT covered by HO insurance. See blog posts on earthquake insurance. 

The fastest-growing American cities are also some of the places with the worst climate-change effects

Finally,What are YOU doing to urge your members of congress to address the causes behind our changing climate. Check out the Citizens Climate Lobby: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/

 

Is my Retiement savings on track?

 While there are many variables affecting how much you will need to live on in retirement, no one wants to be caught short. You can borrow money for college but not for retirement. (aside from the option to take a reverse mortgage against your house). Fidelity investments provides some aspirational guidelines to help. 

"Our savings factors are based on the assumption that a person saves 15% of their income annually beginning at age 25 (which includes any employer match), invests more than 50% on average of their savings in stocks over their lifetime, retires at age 67, and plans to maintain their preretirement lifestyle in retirement."

By age 30 you should have accumulated one time your salary; If you're not there yet it may be time to boost your savings. And when I refer to "saving" for retirement I really mean investing.  

Details at: https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/how-much-do-i-need-to-retire

 

Medicare Advantage vs. Traditional Medicare

 One of the most important decisions older Americans need to make when they reach 65 (or older if still covered by employer health insurance) is traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage.Once you reach age 65 almost all Americans are covered by Medicare Part A at no cost. But you need to supplement that coverage.

The primary argument in favor of traditional Medicare is the broad acceptance. You can get care from any facility in the U.S. that accepts Medicare payment. With most Medicare Advantage Plans you are limited to designated service providers that participate in that plan. 

Due to the coinsurance and deductibles with traditional Medicare, you really need to buy a supplement plan and prescription drug coverage (Part D). If you aren't taking prescription drugs when you sign up and decide to skip a Part D plan, you will pay extra if you wait to sign up.

Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer coverage with a $0 monthly premium which can seem very attractive but you need to do your homework and decide on your personal priorities. Whether or not you pay a premium, Advantage plans typically cover eye, hearing and dental exams and dental exams as well as memberships in athletic facilities and other benefits not included in traditional medicare. 

 Check out the

AARP Medicare Enrollment℠ Guide 

https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/health/aarp-medicare-enrollment-guide/

and comments pro/con on each option:

https://humbledollar.com/voices/which-is-better-traditional-medicare-or-medicare-advantage/

Got a Scholarship? Write a Thank You Note!

Receiving a scholarship is a great honor. Don't forget the important step of writing a thoughtful thank you to the donor.

A well written thank you letter not only shows how much you appreciate the financial support, but more importantly it also helps to ensure that the donors continue to offer their scholarships to future students.
https://resume.io/blog/how-to-write-a-scholarship-thank-you-letter


Digital Estate Planning

 Just when you think you've finished all your estate planning tasks... what about your digital assets? 

"Your digital life includes dozens of usernames and passwords. Providing a digital estate plan can help your family deal with your accounts with minimal fuss" according to Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®

"State laws such as the RUFADAA (Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act) offer the executor of an estate or attorney access to a person’s online accounts after incapacitation or death. These laws help you to protect your digital assets. But you need a digital estate plan to enable your family to access your digital assets if you pass away."

Your digital estate includes all of your electronic and virtual accounts and assets, such as:

• Social media accounts
• Email accounts
• Photos saved in the cloud

and much more!

Steps for creating a digital estate plan include:

1. Take inventory.

2. Decide how you want your digital assets handled.

3. Pick a digital executor.

4. Store your digital estate plan in a safe place.

Get all the details at: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/easy-steps-for-digital-estate-planning

What if my child doesn't go to college or doesn't use all of their 529 plan funds?

529 college savings plans are a great tax-advantaged way to save for post-secondary education for your child or yourself. They aren't limited to paying for traditional universities but also many other post-secondary education programs. Search for "529 college savings" in this blog for the basics. 

Sometimes people are reluctant to commit funds for fear their child won't pursue college or perhaps, might get a full-ride scholarship and not need the funds. Lucky you! But 529 funds can be used for post-graduate education and can be transferred to a sibling or other close relative.

Now there is a new twist on how excess 529 funds can be used. Congress recently passed the Secure 2.0 Act which offers another option. 

"Starting in 2024, funds leftover in a 529 plan can be transferred to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary. There are some caveats, of course. There’s a lifetime limit of $35,000. The beneficiary has to have earned income, and the annual Roth IRA contribution limit also applies. The plan also must have been open for at least 15 years"according to financial expert Michelle Singletary, writing for The Washington Post. Singletary knows what she's writing about: she sent all 3 of her children to college without having to borrow money!

Money management guide for those with disabilities and special needs

Financial Resources for People With Disabilities by Daniel Gleich is available on the Madison Trust Company website.

"People with disabilities often face additional financial challenges due to the added expenses that can stem from their disabilities, such as the need for more health care and the cost of equipment required to maintain their independence. But at the same time, research has shown that people with disabilities often have less income than people without disabilities. This makes keeping up with the cost of living increasingly difficult, which is why it's essential that people with disabilities have strong money management skills. With careful budgeting, it is possible for people of all abilities to meet their financial goals."

Beside providing plenty of financial advice applicable to everyone, this website is an amazing resource with links to dozens of resources specific to persons with disabilities. Links to Supplemental Security Income, government benefits, income tax breaks, and Seven Surprising Discounts for Disabled People are among the dozens of helpful resources. The website is essentially a crash course in personal finance that all can benefit from and put to use. Check it out:

Thanks for volunteer Julianna and Lisa Echevarria at the Hastings Recreation Center in Minnesota for this information. Check out the website:

https://www.madisontrust.com/client-resources/articles/financial-resources-for-people-with-disabilities/

Series I bonds still ‘attractive for longer-term investors’ as annual rate falls to 4.3%

 

• Series I bonds will pay 4.3% annual interest through October, a drop from 6.89% in November, amid falling inflation.
• With the fixed portion of the rate at 0.9%, which stays the same after purchase, I bonds have become more attractive to long-term investors.
• But shorter-term investors may consider alternatives, such as certificates of deposits and Treasury bills.

 by Kate Dore, CFP® 

Read the full article with details on the dual aspects of I-bond rates at: 

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/01/series-i-bond-rate-falls-to-4point3percent-through-october-how-it-compares-.html

 

Facebook users can apply for a part of $725 million settlement

 Writing for The Washington Post, Heather Kelly explains how millions of Facebook users can get compensation via a class-action settlement over Cambridge Analytica privacy violation. Facebook, which is owned by Meta shared users’ data without their consent. 

"Anyone who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, can submit a claim, even if you no longer have a Facebook account."  

Simply fill out a form online at facebookuserprivacysettlement.com. If you choose you can mail in the form.

You’ll need to provide an email address, phone number or username or user ID to confirm your account.

It only take a minute to apply.

Student Loan Forgiveness in Limbo

By late June the Supreme Court will announce whether the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program will be allowed to go into effect. At the same time the pause on federal student loan payments for all borrowers will end on June 30, 2023 with payments due to resume 60 days later.

Updates are available at ed.gov/subscriptions under “Federal Student Loan Borrower Updates.” Additional information is available at studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/debt-relief-info.

Thanks to Megan Banta, writing for The Salt Lake Tribune April 24, 2023