Planned Solutions

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, when making investments in taxable accounts, People tend to mishandle equity comp by treating Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) like a stock pick instead of compensation. When RSUs vest, they’re taxed as ordinary income. It’s like receiving a cash bonus and then automatically buying your company’s shares. Paying the tax doesn’t justify holding the stock. A large position in employer stock is risky because your job and the stock can fall at the same time. Instead, consider selling enough to meet your cash needs, cover taxes, limit concentration, and diversify. Legacy giving allows individuals to support charities while receiving financial and tax benefits. Common options include charitable gift annuities, which provide fixed lifetime income; charitable remainder trusts, which pay income before remaining assets go to charity; and charitable lead trusts, which benefit charities first before passing assets to heirs. Each strategy offers different advantages depending on a donor's income needs, tax goals, estate planning objectives, and charitable intentions. Current IRS law allows an individual to give another individual up to $19,000 per year without having to file a gift tax return. However, gift splitting allows a married couple to increase this amount to double the annual limit ($38,000 in total) because both spouses may be treated as giving their $19,000 annual exclusion to each gift recipient. In addition, these gifts of up to $38,000 may be given to multiple recipients without needing to file a gift tax return. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -It has been brought to our attention that after signing a document through DocuSign, you may be prompted to create a DocuSign account for a fee. Creating a DocuSign account is not required to complete your transaction with Planned Solutions. To avoid any unexpected charges, select the option to decline account creation or close the account registration prompt after you have completed the signing process. Do not provide any payment information. If you have any questions about the signing process or receive a message you are unsure about, don't hesitate to get in touch with our office.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, when making investments in taxable accounts, there is a balance that must be struck between investment strategy and tax efficiency. Unfortunately, these decisions are often out of balance with tax efficiency, given too much weight, which can negatively impact investment results. Therefore, many investors would actually benefit from paying more in tax in order to implement their investment strategy more efficiently, thus trading short-term tax costs for long-term investment benefits. Charles Schwab's entry into prediction markets reflects growing investor interest in alternative ways to express views on future events. In addition, it highlights the increasing connection between traditional financial markets and emerging market structures. However, these markets are largely untested and may be subject to manipulation. So, while they offer increased flexibility, they can also result in large losses. Fixed Income Annuities are complex financial products that often do not generate the long-term rate of returns that investors expect. This is because these policies use complex formulas to determine the contract’s rate of return. These formulas include a participation rate, which limits the rate of return that a contract may earn when the underlying index is performing well. Often, these caps on return have a larger-than-expected impact on the overall rate of return over time. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -Planned Solutions will be closed on Friday, July 3rd for the Fourth of July Holiday. Happy 250thbirthday, America! To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the recent increase in consumer prices has made headlines, but the larger increase in producer prices has largely been ignored. When producer prices increase faster than consumer prices, it puts downward pressure on business profitability. This could negatively impact business earnings reports, as it has in past similar periods, or it could lead to businesses passing on more of the commodity price inflation they are currently experiencing if they get to the point where they cannot eat the lion's share of the higher prices. A healthy economy requires access to credit for businesses that seek to expand and hire, and for consumers who may leverage future earnings to make large purchases now. Therefore, the health of the lending markets, as gauged by the Senior Loan Officer Survey, can offer some insight into the health of the economy and future trends that may improve or diminish the pace of economic growth.Two major industries in the US can be bellwethers of the pace of economic growth: the home-building industry and the motor vehicle industry. Currently, the motor vehicle is posting good results with the total value of motor vehicles and parts shipments up 9.5% year-over-year, reaching a record of over $73 billion a month. Despite high interest rates and increasing inflationary pressures, these good results may signal that the US consumer remains resilient. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Planned Solutions had another two-day business development session with our business consultant, Lori Frasier. In an effort to grow smarter and to maintain the cultural aspects that have made us unique while continuing to add new people and scale, we have engaged Lori to make sure we are being intentional in the decisions that we make. The two-day session included a morning with Chase to review a Leadership Circle assessment (similar to a 360 leadership assessment) and discuss gaps in leadership skills as well as areas of strength that can be capitalized on. This was followed by an afternoon session with the Planned Solutions Leadership Team (Chase, Daryl, Joel, Shannon, and Katie) to review the progress thus far on key initiatives and how it can be communicated more effectively, and how to find efficiencies through scale rather than just growth. Finally, the second day involved the whole office and focused on naming and continuing Planned Solutions Core Values and how these values can be protected while still making room for growth and change. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, Interest rates, or the price of money, are important indicators of the future financial and economic climate. In addition, interest rate spreads (comparing one interest rate to another) can offer additional information about data such as the future path of inflation and the pace of economic growth. Currently, common yield spread indicators are signaling higher inflation expectations over the next 5 years, but continued strong economic growth and a low probability of a recession. The Federal Reserve Yield Curve Recession Indicator has historically been an accurate predictor of a recession within the next year. However, in recent years, the indicator may have been wrong: in May 2024, it predicted a 60% probability of a recession within the following year, but the recession failed to materialize. Now the indicator sits at just a 15% probability of a recession, possibly signaling that the economy is in the clear for now. A well-crafted estate plan often includes a trust as well as a financial power of attorney. The trustee of the trust is responsible for the trust assets, while the power of attorney is responsible for non-trust assets. In many cases, this may be the same person, but that is not always the case. A major difference being that a power of attorney may need to manage an individual’s financial affairs before death, such as in the case of incapacity, whereas a trustee may manage the trust before death but also be responsible for administering the trust after death. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Planned Solutions sponsored the first annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sacramento golf tournament. The tournament was hosted by former Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller. Despite the windy conditions, the tournament went well, and Shannon, Candice, Carter, and Matt were able to enjoy a day outside working the Planned Solutions hole. The picture to the left shows Candice and Brad Miller on the 7th hole at Del Paso. We can’t agree on whether Brad is really tall, Candice is really short, or both. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, Recent economic disruptions have caused the Fed and investors to rethink their expectations for the future path of interest rates. Higher inflation, largely due to increased oil and commodity prices, has reduced the likelihood of lower interest rates in the future, as the Fed will likely be hesitant to lower rates in a rising inflation environment. In addition, investors may be less willing to accept lower interest rates on longer-term bonds because of higher inflation risk. Digital assets, such as crypto, fall under a broad category of investments called alternative investments. Alternatives are intended to create greater diversification within a portfolio to complement more common investments, such as stocks and bonds. Therefore, when investing, it is important to consider the diversification benefits between holdings rather than being overweight in just one asset class, including digital assets. The Department of the Treasury, pursuant to a recent Executive Order, is now pushing taxpayers to receive their tax refunds via electronic transfer rather than issuing paper checks. This move is intended to speed up payment processing and reduce fraud. While paper checks will still be issued under some exceptions, taxpayers should shift to the electronic payment platform where possible to avoid delays. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Planned Solutions is working on filing Form 5500s for clients who have Solo 401k plans. The Form 5500 is an informational form filed with the Department of Labor. There is no tax due with the filing, but a failure to file penalty can be as high as $250 per day. Planned Solutions has also started filing the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). These informational reports are required to be filed by US citizens, green card holders, and residents who have an ownership interest in a foreign bank account with an aggregate valuethat exceeded $10,000 at any time during 2025. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com Intro 00:00 Interest Rate Policy 01:09Diversifying in Digital Assets 13:19IRS Direct Deposit 20:05PSI Office Bulletin Board 24:31

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the current boom in Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment has fueled stock market gains. However, these investments are based on high growth expectations and an eventual path to profitability for the largest AI companies. While AI software is inherently scalable, the hardware (data centers) required to support it is not as easy to scale. This could be the constraint that causes the AI growth rate to slow, extending the timeline to profitability, which could make these investments look less attractive. The S&P 500 earnings season has started out strong. With roughly 50% of companies having already reported, S&P 500 earnings for the first quarter are projected at $70.10, a 10.35% increase from the prior quarter and a 21.51% increase from the same quarter a year ago. These strong earnings are likely what is driving stock prices higher despite the recent geopolitical risks. Foreign stocks had a good run in 2025. This trend appeared to be poised to continue in 2026, with the foreign stock index strongly outperforming the US stock market for the first two months. However, with the start of the war with Iran, the US market has recovered to new highs, whereas foreign stocks have not performed as well. Now the return between US stocks and foreign stocks has converged, with foreign stocks having a slight edge this year. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Chase, Shannon, Joel, and Daryl played in a golf tournament at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course supporting a local charity that provides activities for teens with mental development disorders. While we did not play our best, they did a great job putting on a good tournament to raise money for a good cause.Carter and Matt have survived their first tax season. As a reward, they have been promoted from the shared back office to their own offices with a window. This will also put them closer to the front of the office, which hopefully will make it easier to hear clients dropping in when some of the people normally up front are out of the office, away from their desk, or in the back working on compiling paperwork.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the private credit market has rattled Wall Street and the broader credit markets recently. The story follows a common theme. A smaller market is promoted heavily by investment marketers, causing many investors to flood into a market that does not have the infrastructure to support it. Then something goes wrong, and investors run for the exit, but the market does not have enough liquidity to handle the levels of redemptions, causing prices to fall and, in some cases, redemptions to be suspended. Credit card rewards have become an area of increasing competition between card issuers. As a result, many cards offer attractive rewards for cardholders who are heavy users of a specific product or service. However, in many cases, these rewards have been reduced or become subject to limitations in recent years. This makes it important for cardholders to review their usage and benefits to create a strategy to maximize their rewards. Many banks and their parent financial institutions offer their customers extra perks if they use two or more of the bank’s services. These “extra” benefits may appear attractive, but are often less than what could be found at a different financial institution. Therefore, it is advisable to look at all of the options available to determine the best option for each service before committing to one institution, which is unlikely to be the leader in multiple services. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Tax season has finally come to an end. However, that does not mean it is time to stop thinking about taxes. This year, especially, many taxpayers learned that their results during tax time were largely driven by how much time and effort they put into tax planning during the year. Carter was recently asked to speak at the 2026 Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Conference for Child Welfare and Probation. The theme for this year’s conference is Breaking Barriers and Building Brave Leaders. It will bring together professionals from across California in probation and child welfare. The audience will include decision-makers, practitioners, and leaders who are actively working with youth and families. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the Federal Reserve has held interest rates steady thus far in 2026 and recently signaled that it will likely remain on pause as the committee monitors the impact of higher oil prices and reduced oil supply. Earlier this year, the market priced in the expectation that the Fed would keep rates steady in early 2026 and cut rates later in the year. The market is now pricing in a 52% probability that the Fed will raise interest rates at least once in 2026, a major reversal.S&P 500 earnings growth rebounded in early 2025 and accelerated during the year. By the third quarter, the year-over-year earnings growth rate increased to more than 20%, with the fourth quarter expected to report similar results. This strong earnings growth may be one reason that the stock market has been more resilient thus far to increased geopolitical uncertainty than would be expected.Several US stock indexes entered correction territory, which means prices declined by 10% or more from their previous all-time highs. Corrections are considered normal, whereas a bear market (a decline of 20% or more) is considered much more serious and often signals a future economic recession. So the market activity so far is concerning, but signals that it is too early to take action, given the uncertainty currently impacting the markets and the economy.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Anyone unable to complete and file their personal income tax returns by the April 15th deadline may file for an automatic six-month extension to file their taxes, making the extended deadline October 15th. However, an extension of time to file income tax returns is not an extension of time to pay any taxes that may be due. Instead, taxpayers are required to estimatetheir income, deductions, and credits, even if they do not have all the final numbers available, and if there is tax due, make a payment with their request for an extension.If an extension is filed and the final tax returns are filed after April 15th with a balance due, the IRS and state tax authorities may assess interest on the amount due as well as underpayment penalties. Therefore, it is important to complete as much of the tax return as possible before the April 15th deadline so the tax liability, if any, can be estimated as accurately as possible.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the price of oil per barrel surged in response to the war with Iran. Businesses are understandably hoarding oil, often by buying futures contracts, to ensure they have access to a critical input. This, combined with oil's unique nature that demand often remains steady even when prices rise, makes it a market that is especially volatile in response to an increase or a decrease in the level of supply. The amount of money that can be allocated to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for childcare expenses increased from $5,000 per year to $7,500 per year in 2026. Using this type of plan to pay for childcare expenses on a pre-tax basis is typically attractive for high-income taxpayers who know they will incur childcare expenses within the FSA plan year. Income tax planning often involves balancing many factors that may not be related directly to income taxes. For example, income tax planning following the recent tax law changes may involve increasing income to take advantage of new tax deductions. However, additional income may result inphased-out deductions, credits, or additional costs, such as the Medicare IRMAA (a means-testing surcharge) that increases monthly Medicare premiums for higher-income taxpayers. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - There is approximately one month remaining in tax season. So, if you have not already done so, now is the time to start gathering your tax information and making plans to have your income taxes prepared. Many tax preparers are inundated in late March and early April by clients who delay submitting their tax documentation. If the backlog is too large, the preparer may not be able to play catch-up and may have to put clients on extension. Joel attended an economic update symposium put on by River City Bank. The event features speakers discussing both the local Sacramento economy and the national economy. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, we discuss several new tax deductions available in 2025. In addition, the qualifications and income limits for some existing tax deductions have changed. With so much change, it can be beneficial to review a summary of some of the deductions that may be available and the requirements to be able to qualify for the tax benefit. The increased tax deduction for taxpayers over age 65 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act may create a reason to rethink Roth IRA conversions. The added deduction could cause taxpayers to have more room in lower tax brackets to add income through a Roth conversion that will be taxed at lower tax rates. However, the math is complicated, so it is advisable to consult a tax professional before committing to a strategy. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are a common form of employee compensation in some industries. Under these plans, employees receive shares of stock as part of their overall compensation. The value of the shares when they vest is then taxable to the employee and is subject to income tax withholding, as well as Social Security and Medicare tax withholding. The shares sold to cover these taxes must be reported on the employee’s income tax return. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Non-retirement Form 1099s are often delayed or, if issued on time, subject to later corrections. According to Schwab, this year, the final batch of 1099s was due to be posted by the end of February. Therefore, the most current forms now available should be the final 1099s and can be used to file 2025 income tax returns with little risk of a correction that may require an amended tax return. The markets have already reacted to the recently initiated military activity in Iran. The impact has been felt in the currency markets, commodity markets, and stock markets. While it is still too early to know the overall impact that this increased instability in the Middle East will have on the markets in the longer-term, we have risk management tools in place that are specifically designed to address this type of uncertainty. We will continue to monitor developments closely and make investment changes based on these developments should they become warranted. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, Gold and silver prices increased sharply over the past several years, originally spurred by increases in global central bank buying. These big price increases caught the attention of other investors and market speculators, causing prices to surge to major highs. However, the recent massive selloff in gold and silver may be a sign that the speculative bubble is unwinding. This could make gold and silver far riskier investments going forward, as prices may be dictated by always-changing investor psychology rather than solid fundamentals. The housing market became a strong seller’s market during the COVID years, with bidding wars and all-cash offers the norm. Then the market transitioned into a tug-of-war between buyers and sellers, with the market largely stagnating for the past several years. Now, data suggests that the market is transitioning into a buyer’s market, with buyers able to demand price reductions and better terms from sellers. Starting in 2025, taxpayers may be able to deduct a portion of their overtime pay. In many cases, the amount that is eligible as a tax deduction will be reported in box 14 on a taxpayer’s form W-2 issued by their employer. The deduction is based on the definition of overtime used in federal law, which may differ from state law, so not all overtime listed on a paystub may be eligible for the overtime tax deduction. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Chase was a guest on the  @MagicKeyCast  , a YouTube Channel produced by Jason LaChance, who also produces the Planned Solutions podcast. The Magic Key Cast is Disney-focused, and Chase was on the podcast to discuss the potential business and investment ramifications of the recent Disney leadership shakeup. Schwab has posted many of the Form 1099-Div and 1099-B for non-retirement accounts. However, historically, Schwab has issued corrected 1099s in late February or early March. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the focus begins with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)—a powerful yet often underutilized financial tool. While many people use HSAs like a tax-advantaged checking account to pay current medical expenses, these accounts frequently include investment sub-accounts. Investing HSA funds can support long-term growth, help offset rising healthcare costs, and even serve broader retirement or wealth-building goals. The episode also highlights an important tax law change impacting gambling income. Starting in 2026, gamblers will only be allowed to deduct gambling losses up to 90% of their winnings, meaning at least 10% of winnings will be taxable—even if total losses exceed gains for the year. This change further reduces the financial appeal of gambling by worsening its cost-benefit and tax treatment. Finally, the discussion covers the introduction of Section 530A accounts, commonly known as Trump Accounts, which are now available for children under age 18. These accounts function as investment vehicles with specific rules around access and usage, but unlike custodial Roth IRAs, they do not require the child to have earned income, making them a flexible option for families looking to invest on behalf of minors. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Tax season is here. The IRS is now officially accepting tax returns, but some of the state agencies are not yet ready for filings. In addition, some tax documents are not yet du,e so they may not be available for a few days or even several weeks. However, that does not mean you must wait to getstarted on your tax filings. Daryl, Chase, Carter, and Matt attended the Financial Planning Association of Northern California (FPANC) Winter Symposium. Once again, the FPANC did a great job of putting together a solid slate of speakers. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the US stock market has started the year strong with the S&P 500 returning nearly 1.4% in just 11 trading days. However, the US large-cap index has underperformed foreign stocks, which led major index returns in 2025, and small- and mid-sized stocks, which lagged in 2025 but started 2026 strong with an 8.0% rate of return. The strong returns in the foreign market may be a sign of a continued trend favoring non-US investments, while the strong returns in small/midcap returns may be a sign of a healthy stock market rally in the US. Tax season is not just a time to look backward to the prior tax year, but also a good opportunity to look forward to planning for the current tax year. This may include changing tax withholdings for 2026 to either cover any projected shortfall or to reduce tax withholdings if a large refund is expected. This may be especially important this tax season, as several changes to the tax law may result in larger projected refunds than in the past. Additionally, the new tax law provisions offer tax benefits for some employees who receive tip income and/or who work overtime. However, the reporting requirements for this income do not go into effect until the 2026 tax year. Therefore, employees who believe they may qualify may need to prove their deductions by referencing their pay stubs for the year in addition to their Form W-2. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The new year is a good time for review and renewal. In that spirit, Planned Solutions held an all-hands offsite meeting to discuss our core values and what is important to us going forward. Shannon recently reached an impressive milestone. He has been working with Planned Solutions for 25 years! Needless to say, during his tenure, Shannon has had a big impact on Planned Solutions and is a big reason for the company’s success over that time. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, we explore critical financial planning topics that can have a lasting impact on your wealth, legacy, and peace of mind—starting with estate planning, an area where many financial plans fall short. While creating an estate plan can feel time-consuming or costly, failing to plan often results in far greater expenses, court involvement, and stress for loved ones. We discuss why investing time and money in proper estate planning can lead to long-term savings, smoother transitions, and confidence in the event of death or disability. We also reflect on the retirement of legendary investor Warren Buffett, who stepped down from Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. Buffett’s disciplined, common-sense, and fundamentally sound investment philosophy has shaped generations of investors and advisors. In this episode, we examine the lessons his career offers investment managers and individuals who want to build wealth the right way—ethically, patiently, and with clarity. Additionally, we take a closer look at Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) and their evolving role in estate tax planning. While higher federal estate tax exemptions have reduced their popularity, ILITs can still provide meaningful benefits for individuals with potentially large estates. We wrap up with insights from the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board, including important reminders for preparing your 2025 income tax return, gathering essential tax documents like Forms 1098 and 1099, and navigating the growing shift toward online tax forms. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Before preparing your 2025 income tax return(s), it is important to make sure that you have all tax forms and other tax information that you need. In some cases, this may mean being patient until all your investment forms have been issued. In other cases, it may mean being careful to thoroughly go through your mail looking for tax forms. For example, mortgage companies often send out Form 1098, which reports the interest paid during the year, with the monthly mortgage statement. So, it is important to sort through all the pages in the mailing to see if your tax form was included with the most recent statement. Also, more and more companies are posting tax forms online rather than mailing them. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Many financial models are communicated to the public as if they are completely factual. However, the accuracy of these modelsrequires that the assumptions at the heart of these models hold true, which does not always happen. This can cause investors and business decision makers to put too much confidence in the output of financial models because they donot understand the flaws in these models’ assumptions. The future is uncertain; it can be modeled, but the model output is only as good as the assumptions used for the model.There appears to be a divide between how the US economy and financial markets are actually performing and how people feel about it. This has led to a big divergence in quantifiable economic data and the economic survey results that track how people are feeling. The result is headlines, based on survey data results, that paint a very different picture than what economists are actually seeing. The expansion of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 per year to $40,000 per year may change tax strategy for some taxpayers. Taxpayers who have not maxed out the $40,000 limit for 2025 and are likely to itemize their deductions may benefit from paying any state estimated tax payments due before year-end to claim the deduction in 2025 rather than making the payment when it is due on January 15th, 2026.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - As a reminder, financial planners are not allowed to conduct business using mediums of communication that cannot be efficiently captured and archived. This most typically applies to text messages sent to a planner’s personal phone. We agree that this seems excessive given that text messages are a common form of communication, but often, government regulations do not keep up with societal changes. . Cybersecurity is a hot topic as incidents of cybercrime continue to increase. Planned Solutions invests a lot of time and effort to make sure our systems are as safe and secure as possible and to safeguard our clients’ information using industry best practices.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is nothing new. In fact, the term dates back to the 1950s, and many AI solutions have been implemented since then. The difference between then and now is that the capabilities, and therefore the investment in AI, have accelerated, leading to a period of rapid change. This follows the pattern of many other technological advancements, including the internet, which was invented well before the technological capabilities and societal norms were in place to enable mass adoption.Bitcoin prices have declined by 33% from its high in early October. This loss of wealth may be adversely impacting the US stock market as risky investors, those more inclined to invest in cryptocurrencies, may be taking losses on Bitcoin, which causes them to de-risk other assets, including riskier stock holdings. Also, companies that supply cryptocurrency companies or investors may be repricing as well. The annual gift tax exclusion amount remains $19,000 for 2026. This allows anyone to give anyone else a gift up to $19,000 without having to report it. The lifetime gift and estate tax exemption for 2026 will be $15 million per person. This is the total amount that can be gifted (over and above the annual exclusion amount) or left to heirs at death without paying gift or estate tax.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - With the holidays quickly approaching, we want to make sure you are aware of our holiday schedule for this year. Planned Solutions will be closed on December 24th, December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st. Given the above holiday schedule, as well as the holiday schedule of many of the companies that we work with, we ask that any forms or other requests that must be completed before year-end be submitted as soon as possible. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, with the reopening of the federal government, the Department of Labor is once again publishing jobs data. The most recent reports show that the job market remains reasonably strong and may be accelerating after a brief period of weakness earlier in the year. The US economy added 119,000 jobs in September, the unemployment rate ticked up but remains fairly low, and initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, the forward-looking indicator, remain at low levels. The IRS increased the standard deduction that taxpayers are allowed to use to shelter income from taxation for 2026. In addition, the limitation on the amount of State and Local Taxes (SALT) that can be claimed as an itemized deduction was increased. So, going forward, taxpayers will need to pay closer attention to whether they will benefit from claiming the standard deduction or should itemize their deductions. Retirement plan contribution limits will increase in 2026 in most cases. Therefore, those who seek to contribute the maximum amount allowable under the law should make sure to adjust their contributions to ensure that they will contribute the maximum amount by the end of the 2026 tax year. In addition, some new rules for taxpayers age 60-63 will be implemented, which may impact the amount that those taxpayers may contribute for 2026. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - A client recently used Planned Solutions tickets to take his son to the Kings game. His son was excited to see one of his favorite players, Domantas Sabonis, play live. They got there early and were fortunate enough to run into Sabonis coming out of the tunnel. The Kings’ star was gracious enough to take a picture and sign the young man’s hat. What a great heart-warming moment. Go Kings! Carter and Matt both sat for the Certified Financial Planner ® exam recently. After years of studying and hours of preparing for the exam, we are excited to announce that they both passed. Now they just need to complete the required number of hours working in financial planning to fulfill the requirements to hold the Certified Financial Planner ® designation. Great jobguys! To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, with the official government economic data currently unavailable, the private data sources are getting more attention. This includes the ISM reports on the manufacturing and services sectors in the US. These reports show that the manufacturing sector is contracting at a slow pace, while the services sector is growing at a slow pace. Given that the US is primarily a services-centric economy, the whole of this data is slightly positive. However, this data is based on surveys, which have become decreasingly useful over time. The advantages of using a private fiduciary rather than tasking friends or family with the difficult job of overseeing the administration of a trust and/or will have made this option increasingly popular. Private fiduciaries bring a professionalism to the tasks of making financial and health care decisions for an individual without the influence of family dynamics that can sometimes make the process even more difficult. The Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 will be 2.8%, a number in line with the official inflation statistics. However, Medicare premiums will increase 11.6% which means the average Social Security recipient will see their take-home Social Security benefit increase by much less than the 2.8% COLA. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Daryl, Carter, and Matt recently attended a Pension and 401k Seminar hosted by a local Third-Party Administrator. This is an annual event that we look forward to so that we can stay up to date with current Retirement Plan rules and limits. This is the 400th newsletter Planned Solutions has produced since we started publishing our own newsletter in-house over 15 years ago. If you are enjoying the newsletter or have some feedback on how we can improve it, please feel free to let us know. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com ⁠Intro 00:00 Institution for Supply Management Reports 01:46 Private Fiduciaries 11:09 Social Security Updates 16:45 Bulletin Board 19:42

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, even with the federal government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the September inflation data. The headline inflation rate rose slightly from 2.9% in August to 3.0% in September, but continues to show signs that inflation has stabilized in the 2-3% level. The impact of tariffs remains uncertain as the annual numbers are low but recent months have been elevated. Shelter prices show the opposite, with higher annual numbers but lower monthly numbers in consecutive reports. Despite a high level of political, economic, and financial uncertainty, US businesses continue to report strong earnings. Second-quarter earnings increased 11%. So far, 85% of companies that have reported for the third quarter have beaten their earnings expectations. Now, analysts estimate that earnings will increase 18% year-over-year in the third quarter. Medicare open enrollment started on October 15th and runs until December 7th. This is the time period that individuals can make changes to their Medicare insurance plans. Those who are happy with their current plan do not need to take any action. Those who are not happy with their current plan because they want to see different providers, had a change in their health status, or want to switch to a lower cost plan, should take action to review their options during open enrollment. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Chase and Daryl attended the Financial Planning Association of Northern California Winter Symposium. This year, the program consisted of a presentation on the costs of aging and how to prepare clients for those costs, a panel discussion on the benefits of working with a private fiduciary, and the need for succession planning within financial planning firms. Matt traveled to Philadelphia to attend an in-person program to prepare him to take the Certified Financial Planner exam. This is after Carter attended a similar event in Southern California. With the exam date in November approaching quickly, they are both cramming to be as prepared as possible. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Gold prices have surged in recent years, causing some to ask: What is driving the increase in prices? While there is no single factor alone that is driving the demand for gold, there are several possible reasons why gold prices have increased. These trends may also reverse, which could make buying gold at such elevated levels very risky, as many of the investment manias of the past that led to sharp increases in prices also led to equally sharp corrections.The US government is entering its third week of the government shutdown. So far, the impact of the shutdown has been fairly limited, with some areas impacted more than others, but the impact will likely grow if the shutdown continues. Most important are the upcoming payroll deadlines for the military and other federal workers, which make up a meaningful amount of US employment and consumer spending.Recent tax law changes include a provision that will allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in interest on a loan for the purchase of a new vehicle. However, vehicles must meet the provisions of the law to qualify. In addition, higher-income taxpayers will not be eligible, as the deduction begins to phase out at higher income levels.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament was once again a big success! The tournament was full of new twists, including a professional long driver on Hole 15 that helped raise additional funds for cancer charities. The dinner was great as always, and the staff at Rancho Murieta Country Club did a great job of making everyone feel welcome.More importantly, this year we raised over $10,890 for cancer charities, bringing our cumulative total to $189,199. We would like to thank everyone who supported the event this year, and in past years, by attending the tournament, bidding on auction items, and contributing to cancer charities.We look forward to next year, when hopefully we will be able to continue to grow the tournament and the donations raised for cancer charities.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Labor market data has been questioned recently, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics announcing that it is having difficulty obtaining the necessary data and has been forced to make significant revisions to past data. However, there are other data sources that economists and financial analysts can utilize to gain a better understanding of the labor market's health. While these other sources have their flaws as well, the preponderance of the evidence appears to point to a fairly healthy and stable labor market in the US.Financial planning can be a very long journey as it often takes many years, or even decades, of consistent saving, investment, and debt payments to reach long-term financial goals. This can make progress appear slow at times and become disheartening when it feels like the finish line is still so far away. For this reason, it is important to track progress to see the cumulative success over time and celebrate small wins along the way.The IRS recently issued new guidance that suspends the implementation of a new rule until 2027. The rule in question will require higher-income savers who are eligible for the catch-up contributions for those age 50 and over to make their catch-up contributions to the Roth plan. So, the delay of implementation will give savers one more year of potential tax deferral on their catch-up contributions and will give businesses more time to make sure their 401 (k) plan is ready for these changes.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -Planned Solutions recently did a two-day workshop with consultant Lori Frasier. The first day of the workshop was focused on helping team members understand each other’s personality types and preferred communication methods.Planned Solutions sponsored the Future Foundation of Sacramento Charity Golf Tournament recently.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

The national inflation rate was 2.9% year-over-year in August. The higher-than-desired inflation rate was primarily due to stubborn services prices, especially shelter prices, rather than goods prices, which include the volatile food and energy categories. Other goods were up just 1.5% showing the year-over-year impact of tariffs was likely limited, although the category did increase 0.4% in the month of August showing a possible acceleration in goods inflation may be starting. A report by Fidelity shows that the number of people with a 401(k) balance of $1 million or more reached an all-time high of 595,000. The average age of a 401(k) millionaire is 59 years old, and the average amount of time participating in the plan is 25 years. This shows that the 401(k) can be a valuable retirement savings tool, especially for those who start early and continue to contribute consistently for many years. In 2017, the TCJA expanded the qualified use of 529 Educational Savings Plans to include certain K-12 expenses up to a limit of $10,000 per student. The OBBB Act, passed this year, expanded the ability to use 529 plans in two ways. The annual limit that can be used for K-12 education was doubled from $10,000 to $20,000. The expenses that are allowed as qualified educational expenses were also expanded to include many ancillary items and services that may be incurred. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - We are now taking registrations for our annual charity golf tournament. The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf TournamentDate: Friday, October 10, 2025Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course7000 Alameda DriveRancho Murieta, CA 95683Time: 1:00pm shotgun start (boxed lunch included), 5:30pm receptionTo subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

The long-awaited Jackson Hole speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell gave the markets the news investors were hoping to hear. In the speech, Chairman Powell noted weakness in the US labor market and subdued inflation more broadly. The Fed is concerned about the risk of tariffs creating a one-time increase in the prices of some goods, but may err on the side of caution by lowering interest rates to promote economic growth and full employment due to the belief that the inflationary impacts may be contained..Of the four inputs to economic growth: land, labor, capital, and productivity, the US is facing some constraints and is counting on an unproven opportunity. The reduction in the labor force due to decreased immigration and the constraints to capital from high interest rates may stifle growth. Land is abundant but less important. Therefore, productivity through technological innovation, such as AI, may become the most important..To follow up on some of the tax law changes in the recently passed tax and budget bill, there are a number of changes to the tax deductibility of charitable contributions taking effect in 2026. One change is that it will be easier for some taxpayers to deduct small amounts that they contribute to charity. However, higher-income taxpayers may have their deduction limited, which could offset any additional benefit. .Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -We are now taking registrations for our annual charity golf tournament. .The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament.Date: Friday, October 10, 2025Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course7000 Alameda DriveRancho Murieta, CA 95683 .Time: 1:00 pm shotgun start (boxed lunch included), 5:30 pm reception. .To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ .Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠ .Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

The stock market has done well so far this year, but with that has come an increase in speculation that makes the market appear riskier. This year, there have been a number of companies that have gone public for the first time and experienced a big surge in their stock price in the first few days of trading. The speculative meme stock has also reemerged this year. Finally, the amount of money borrowed to invest in stocks, generally a speculative investment activity, surged in June to a new all-time high.So far, the increase in tariffs, which are basically a tax on imported goods, has not led to an increase in consumer prices. This has puzzled economists who expected that at least a portion of the increase in costs would be passed on to consumers. However, a new theory and new data show that due to the complexity of trade law and existing trade agreements, the actual tariffs applied may be lower than previously announced.The US government has shifted policy from focusing on taxing imports into the US in the form of tariffs to taxing US exports to certain countries. While this may bring in additional funds to help improve the US deficit, it could also set a dangerous precedent in which the most successful US companies have restricted access to foreign markets that don’t originate from the destinationmarket, as has been the case in the past, but rather from the country of origin. This could reduce new companies’ ability to access capital to grow.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -As the labor market tightens, fraudsters have found a new way to steal job hunters’ personal information. It is now estimated that millions of jobs posted online are “ghost jobs.” Ghost jobs are job postings where there is no actual job available. Those who have received an email from Planned Solutions recently will likely notice an addition at the bottom of the email. As a reminder, please do not attach documents or send information via email if it contains personally identifiable information (including social security numbers, bank information, account numbers, etc.). Please get in touch with our office, and a secure link can be provided. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Plan... ⁠Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

We have already reviewed several of the new tax code provisions from the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). To expand the review to be more comprehensive, we are including a review of three additional provisions: the no tax on overtime, the deduction for auto loan interest, and the expanded deductions for charitable contributions for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the US economy added just 74,000 jobs in July. At the same time, the Bureau revised down its job growth numbers for May and June by 225,000 jobs. This means the US economy added just 107,000 jobs in the past three months, a low average of just 36,000 jobs per month. The new tax law promised to eliminate taxes on Social Security income. That did not happen, but a compromise was reached to give seniors (those over age 65) a larger standard deduction of up to $6,000 per taxpayer. However, the new deduction comes with income limits. Single taxpayers with income over $75,000 will begin to have the deduction reduced, while married taxpayers with income over $150,000 will not be eligible for the full deduction and may have it reduced to zero.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The second of our two summer interns from 2024 has officially joined the Planned Solutions team. Matt Young finished his degree from Oregon State this past semester, took some time off between school and joining the workforce, and officially joined Planned Solutions on July 30th. Matt will be joining his counterpart, Carter Osborne, in studying for the Certified Financial Planner exam, learning how to apply the knowledge and skills they learned in college to real-world situations, and supporting the financial planners in the office through a paraplanner role.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 Jobs Data and Drama 01:10 Increased Standard Deduction for Seniors 12:02 Increased Standard Deduction for Seniors 17:56 Bulletin Board 22:36 Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

The IRS has released its recent "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams that taxpayers should be aware of. This year, the list once again includes scams in which criminals attempt to impersonate the IRS or other tax authorities to get access to taxpayers’ private financial information. In addition, misleading or false tax advice being spread on social media has led many taxpayers astray by convincing them that they can file incorrect tax returns in an attempt to claim credits or deductions that don’t exist or that they do not qualify for. The US inflation rate ticked up in June. However, the main reason that inflation increased was not the expected impact of tariffs being passed on to US consumers. In fact, the cost of goods had a very minor impact on inflation. Instead, it was housing that continues to be the primary cause of US inflation, accounting for about half of the overall inflation rate The new tax and budget bill that passed Congress and was signed by the President will increase the allowable deduction for State and Local Taxes (SALT). Before the passing of the bill, the deduction for SALT was limited to $10,000, making it so that many taxpayers did not have sufficient deductions to itemize their tax deductions. However, the SALT deduction limit has been increased to $40,000, which may benefit taxpayers with large state income tax and/or local property tax bills. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - We are now taking registrations for our annual charity golf tournament. Giveaways for thetournament are being delivered daily, and we are gathering donations for the silent auction. Wehope you will be able to attend (either golf or the reception) or donate to a cancer charity to supportour efforts.The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf TournamentDate: Friday, October 10, 2025Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course7000 Alameda DriveRancho Murieta, CA 95683Time: 1:00 pm shotgun start (boxed lunch included), 5:30 pm receptionAll profits go to cancer research and education. You can help by attending the tournament ordonating. Not golfing? Bring friends and attend the reception.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 The IRS Dirty Dozen 01:27 Inflation Ticks Up in June 13:04 SALT Deduction for 2025 19:03 Bulletin Board 25:44 Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

One of the common financial dilemmas in financial planning is whether the best strategy is for an individual to focus their free cash flow on paying down debt or investing for their future. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but rather a large number of factors that should be considered in order to make an informed decision. Therefore, it is recommended that Individuals discuss these questions with a knowledgeable professional in order to weigh all the pros and cons of each option. The US jobs report shows that the US economy added 147,000 non-farm jobs in June. This total was better than expected and in line with the average over the prior 12 months. The same industries that have led job creation over the prior 12 months continued to fuel job growth in June, showing persistent trends in the labor market. In addition, the unemployment rate declined from 4.3% in May to 4.1% in June. The two most often overlooked parts of an estate plan are the financial and health care power of attorneys (POAs). However, these are arguably the most important documents included in an estate plan, as they will have an impact on an individual while they are still alive, rather than dealing with their affairs after death, like a will and trust. For this reason, it is important to pay special attention to the terms of the POAs and update them regularly if things change. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Voice deepfakes happen when a hacker takes a recording of your voice, clones it, and then manipulates it. Unfortunately, hackers now have more access than ever before to our voices through videos, FaceTime chats, Zoom meetings, etc., that can be saved on any of our devices. This type of manipulation can happen to anyone, including financial professionals and their clients. At Planned Solutions, Inc., we take cybersecurity and your privacy seriously. Over the years, we have enhanced our processes and procedures to make sure your information is safeguarded. As part of our policies, we do not accept trade or distribution requests via email or text message. In addition, we will always call you to obtain a verbal confirmation of the request to make sure it is actually you making the request. In some instances, we may even request additional information or verification if the request seems out of the ordinary scope of our relationship. Keep in mind that the risks are constantly evolving, and we are working hard to stay current and adjust accordingly. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 Pay Down Debt or Invest for the Future? 01:17 US Job Market Remains Strong 12:20 Power of Attorney 20:48 Bulletin Board 24:53 Planned Solutions, Inc.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates multiple times in late 2024 but has since paused on the path toward its stated goal of normalizing interest rates. Given the uncertainty from the impact of changing fiscal and trade policies, it may have been prudent for the Fed to hold interest rates steady while waiting to see the impact of the policy shift. However, the data from the first five months of this year has held steady and become more supportive of a resumption of the Fed’s previous interest rate policy, increasing the odds of a July cut. Investors are always looking for an edge in the competitive world of investing. One of the tools that investors have added to their toolkit is monitoring betting markets where betters can make bets on economic and financial events. These markets tend to be very accurate as the “wisdom of the crowd” tends to create a market that assigns odds of an event occurring that are difficult to beat, as all relevant information is priced in. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a very valuable tax benefit for those who are paying college tuition costs for a beneficiary. However, not everyone qualifies as the benefit is phased out and then eliminated for those in higher income tax brackets. Therefore, it may be beneficial for taxpayers to plan ahead to see if they can reduce their taxable income to qualify to claim the tax credit. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - We will soon be sending out the registration forms for our annual charity golf tournament. We are busy ordering the giveaways for the tournament and gathering donations for the silent auction. We hope you will be able to attend (either golf or attend the dinner) or donate to a cancer charity to support our efforts. The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament Date: Friday, October 1o, 2025 Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course 7000 Alameda Drive Rancho Murieta, CA 95683 Time: 1:00pm shotgun start, 5:30pm dinnerAll profits go to cancer research and education. You can help by attending the tournament or donating. Not golfing? Bring friends and attend the dinner. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 The Federal Reserve’s Dilemma 01:25 What the Betting Markets Tell Us About the US Economy 12:31American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) 19:00Bulletin Board 23:26 Planned Solutions, Inc.

There is a lot for investors to be worried about in the current investment environment as US trade policy, deficit spending, and interest rate policy all have investors on edge. However, the stock market has “climbed the wall of worry” in recent months, as data has shown that some worries have not materialized and others were not as severe as expected. As a result, the S&P 500 regained the key level of 6,000 in early June. This could be a key point of delineation for future market moves. The US Government borrows money by issuing Treasury bonds in regular auctions. These auctions are a way to set interest rates and secure the funding that government needs to refinance maturing debt and pay for deficit spending. These auctions are usually quite routine but recently they have demanded more attention from investors as limited demand for Treasury bonds has caused interest rates to rise higher than expected. The May jobs report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the US labor market remained strong in May. The US economy added 139,000 jobs for the month and the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%. So far, the job losses predicted from government efficiency efforts and the uncertainty around trade policy have not materialized. However, future jobs reports will likely be scrutinized closely for signs of a slowing US economy. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Daryl recently attended the 53rd FPA Norcal Conference in San Francisco, a local conference where financial planners from across the nation gather to learn about new financial planning strategies, practice management topics, and share best ideas with colleagues. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 US Stock Market Regains Key Level 01:25 Treasury Auctions: The New Market Indicator 13:37 US Labor Market Remains Strong 19:14 Bulletin Board 23:49 Planned Solutions, Inc.

The House of Representatives recently passed a budget/ tax bill that would make the 2017 tax cuts permanent as well as eliminate taxes on tips for some taxpayers and eliminate tax on overtime income. In addition, the bill will increase and make permanent the estate tax exemption and extend tax breaks for small businesses. However, the bill is projected to increase the US budget deficit by $4.3 trillion over the next ten years, which has drawn the disapproval of Republicans in the Senate and the financial markets. The interest rates offered on Series I Bonds change every six months. This includes the fixed rate paid on new bonds and the inflation rate paid on new and existing bonds for the following six-month period. As these rates change it can make existing bonds (bonds issued in the past) less attractive and new bonds more attractive. For this reason, it is important to review the options available regularly. Many prospective homebuyers are holding out for a period when home prices may be more affordable due to lower prices, lower interest rates, or a combination of the two. But these two considerations are not equal. The “Date the Rate, Marry the House” strategy highlights the fact that buying a home is a long-term commitment while a mortgage may be a short-term commitment. Therefore, finding the right home should be the priority over the mortgage rate which may be refinanced in the future.Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - It is graduation season at Planned Solutions. Carter graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Financial Planning. After a short vacation to celebrate he will now be working full-time going forward. Matt Young also graduated from Oregon State University. He plans to travel with his family over the summer and study for the Certified Financial Planner® exam. Currently, the plan is that his start date will be August 4th. The Planned Solutions team is growing with the addition of two bright and motivated young men.Chase and Michele also have graduates in their family who completed high school this year and will soon be moving out to attend college. Chase’s oldest will be attending Sacramento State University to major in Engineering while Michele’s oldest will be attending San Diego State University.To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 House Passes Budget/Tax Bill 02:02 Reviewing Series I Savings Bonds 14:48Date the Rate, Marry the House 19:25Bulletin Board 26:12Planned Solutions, Inc.

The prospect of paying for higher education can be daunting. To lower the overall after-tax cost, it can be advantageous to incorporate tax planning to find ways to use funds that will be tax-advantaged. This may include claiming tax credits, using accounts that have special tax benefits for education savings, or accessing retirement accounts penalty-free. After a tumultuous April, following the April 2nd announcement of a shift in the US tariff policy, the US stock market has rebounded, erasing the post-April 2nd losses. However, the market remains down slightly for the year and down 6% from its all-time high in February. In addition, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how trade negotiations will proceed and the impacts it will have on global trade. The State of California tax agency (the Franchise Tax Board or FTB) has increased its efforts to combat tax-related identity theft. As a result, the FTB is issuing far more Information and Document Requests this tax year to confirm the identity of taxpayers before processing their tax returns and issuing their refunds. These requests are not an audit, but taxpayers must take them seriously nonetheless as their tax return will not be processed until the requested information is submitted. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Schwab has identified a new twist on the "smishing" fraud threat which is being used by fraudsters hoping to capitalize on market volatility and investor emotion to steal funds and data.As a reminder, do not respond to any text messages that purport to be from Planned Solutions or Charles Schwab. If you receive a message and are unsure, please call our office at our main number: 916-361-0100. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 The US Economy Contracted in Q1 but It’s Complicated 01:27 US Stock Market Regains Pre-Tariff Levels 14:08 FTB Information and Document Request 17:53 Bulletin Board 21:24 Planned Solutions, Inc.

With the tariff announcement on April 2nd, many investors have rethought their investment strategy and changed their focus from US stocks to other stock, commodity, or currency asset classes. This has created volatility within the financial markets as investors attempt to discern the potential future winners and losers from the trade war. However, it is important to remember that it is still early, and the initial responses may not indicate the longer-term implications. The prospect of paying for higher education can be daunting. To lower the overall after-tax cost, it can be advantageous to incorporate tax planning to find ways to use funds that will be tax-advantaged. This may include claiming tax credits, using accounts that have special tax benefits for education savings, or accessing retirement accounts penalty-free. Variable annuities are complex savings and investment vehicles that come with some unique benefits but also have some drawbacks. Among these drawbacks are high fees, lockup periods, and less favorable taxation in the long term. Therefore, investors should ensure they understand all the pros and cons of purchasing a variable annuity and weigh their options against other investment options. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - This year Planned Solutions will be breaking up into small teams to examine different areas of our business to uncover ways that we can better systemize some processes, address areas were better organization will allow us to be more proactive in meeting our client’s needs, and ways we can improve our communications so that our clients are informed about any changes that may be occurring. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 The Winners and Losers So Far from the Trade War 01:40Funding College 11:55Variable Annuities 16:10Bulletin Board 21:10Planned Solutions, Inc. https://www.plannedsolutions.com/

The US negotiating strategy when it comes to tariffs started as a valid game theory strategy to achieve fairer terms of trade with our trading partners. However, the current policy seems to have deviated from the optimal strategy into a territory where the optimal strategy for our trading partner is to continue to escalate tariffs in retaliation to the US policy of competition, rather than cooperation. Taken to its logical end this could lead to tariff rates so high that they don’t just raise prices but effectively put a ban on foreign imports. The recent increase in US bond yields may be a signal that US trading partners are selling US government bonds in response to the trade war. This could lead to a scenario where the US economy enters a recession due to supply chain disruptions, while at the same time interest rates increase rather than decrease as they do in recessions, making it more challenging for the economy to return to growth. Target date retirement funds are sold as an easy retirement accumulation vehicle that takes very little thought or monitoring. However, while these funds can be somewhat effective during the retirement accumulation phase,their generic asset allocations often are not a good fit for savers or retirees who do not fit the cookie cutter assumptions that were used in creating the target date funds. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - It is important to remember that investment strategies involve altering investment risk in different market environments to preserve capital during difficult markets. For example, the trend following risk management model used by Planned Solutions is an investment strategy designed to reduce risk when the market enters a negative trend to preserve capital and have proceeds available to buy at more attractive prices should the market decline continue. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 Negotiating Strategies and Tariffs 01:07 Trade War and Interest Rates 13:01Target Date Funds Upon Retirement 20:35Bulletin Board 27:17Planned Solutions, Inc.

Periods of market volatility can be stressful, and studies show that stress can cause long-term investors to make poor short-term decisions that hurt their long-term performance. In some cases, one poor short-term decision could put long-sought-after financial goals at risk. Therefore, it is valuable to know how to take a different perspective on short-term market volatility to make it easier to stay grounded and objective during periods when stock market prices appear erratic. Diversification has long been a tenet of investment strategy. Yet in the past few years it has actually paid to be less diversified as long as the portfolio was concentrated into the largest growth stocks on the US stock exchange. However, so far in 2025 there are signs that this trend may be reversing as value stocks have outperformed growth stocks and foreign stocks have surged while US stocks have slumped. Variable annuities can be a complex and confusing investment vehicle. This is especially true when it comes to the rules around taxation and the distribution options for the annuity contract beneficiaries. Therefore, it is very important for annuity owners and anyone considering investing in an annuity to make sure they have a full understanding of the potential income tax and estate planning drawbacks of annuities. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - As a reminder, taxpayers are allowed to file for an automatic extension of time to file their personal income taxes if they are unable to complete their tax returns by the April 15th deadline. This extension gives taxpayers six additional months to file their taxes, making the extended deadline October 15th. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action.Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights- is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 How to Deal with Market Volatility 01:07 Benefits of Diversification 13:19Inherited Annuities 18:24Bulletin Board 23:19Planned Solutions, Inc.

Recent stock market volatility has been unnerving as investors attempt to price in the uncertainty of future economy and financial data given several recent changes in the economic and market environment. Making intelligent investment decisions when hard data is largely absent is always difficult. However, there are some tools, such as trend-following models, that have proven to be helpful during periods of uncertainty and therefore should be given more emphasis when determining investment strategy. After increasing slightly in January, the rate of inflation declined in February due to a decline in energy prices and a long-term downward trend in the rate of inflation on services. This report confirms that the long-term trend of declining inflation rates remains intact. However, tariffs may create some challenges in upcoming reports as they could push goods inflation above the important 2% level. When an individual sets up a revocable trust, often the first step is to transfer the ownership of a primary residence into the name of the trust. However, this can create issues if the insurance policy covering the home does not include the trust as a secondary insured. Therefore, it is best practice to add the trust to the homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure a smoother process should there be an insurance claim.Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Several clients have asked if we will be sending out one of our special reports or white papers addressing the current state of the US economy and financial markets. While addressing periods of economic and market turbulence is a normal part of our process, this time it is very difficult to do because there is a lack of hard facts. We read the financial news and monitor incoming economic and financial data regularly and update our strategy accordingly. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 Trend Following During Market Uncertainty 01:19 Inflation Moderated in February 13:49 Insuring a Home in a Revocable Trust 18:28Bulletin Board 20:14Planned Solutions, Inc.

Renting is often viewed as throwing away money rather than building equity in an asset. However, when transaction costs, tax laws, and the prioritization of longer-term financial goals are considered, renting may be the better strategy for some people. Therefore, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of renting versus buying, both in the short-term and long-term, to determine the right strategy that will make the most financial sense. The most recent US consumer inflation report showed that prices increased slightly on a year-over-year basis in January. However, the data shows that the inflation rate is still on its moderating long-term path as services prices continue its slow, long-term decline. Meanwhile, goods prices increased some in January but remain within a reasonable band of 0-2% inflation rates. A new rule has gone into effect that requires entities to report their beneficial ownership to the Department of the Treasury. If you are a control person of an entity that is used for business or as an investment holdings company, you need to be aware of the March 21st deadline. If you have questions about the filing process, feel free to contact our office, and we can walk you through the process. For Planned Solutions tax clients with entities that we are aware of, we will be reaching out to discuss this issue. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - We have been talking to a lot of clients who may be eligible to receive increased benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act. The current understanding is that someone who is already receiving benefits will automatically have their benefits adjusted. However, those who are notreceiving benefits will need to contact the Social Security Administration to apply for their newly eligible benefits. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 When Renting Makes Sense 01:19 Inflation Ticks Up in January 13:49 Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements 18:28Bulletin Board 20:14Planned Solutions, Inc.

The Federal Reserve paused its rate cuts recently as the rate of inflation has stubbornly oscillated above the Fed’s 2% target rate. Added to the Fed’s concerns about the uncertainty of the future path of inflation is the unknown impact that tariffs may have on end-consumer prices and an increase in short-term consumer inflation expectations. So far, this data appears to have impacted the bond market with US long-term interest rates nearing a 10-month high, but the US stock market has been impacted very little. The US Government finances have been headlining the news lately. While the methods have been hotly debated, having the spotlight on the US deficit will hopefully be a good thing as the current $2 trillion federal deficit is likely double the long-term sustainable level. In addition, the high levels of government borrowing are likely pushing up borrowing costs for US businesses and consumers. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) which are medical savings accounts that allow those with high-deductible health insurance plans to save for future out-of-pocket medical expenses, have become more and more popular over time as individuals see the benefits of having more control over their health costs. For 2025 the contribution limits to these medical savings accounts have increased by $150 for those with individual plans and $250 for those with family plans. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Schwab is issuing 1099s for non-retirement accounts in three batches this year. The first batch, which only included the most basic tax reporting, was issued on January 31st. The second batch, which includes a much larger percentage of all the 1099s that will be issued, was mailed and posted online on February 14th. The final batch, which will likely include just a small number of accounts with unusual transactions, will be mailed and posted on February 28th. So, all 1099s should be available in February with the vast majority available by mid-February. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Intro 00:00 Tariff and Inflation Uncertainty Put the Fed on Pause 01:35Government Debt Sustainability and Crowding Out 13:46Health Savings Account (HSA) Limits Increase in 2025 22:00Bulletin Board 20:14 Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how The IRS has announced several provisions to provide tax relief to those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfire disaster that started on January 7th. The IRS will allow victims an automatic extension of time to file their income tax returns, make certain tax-deductible contributions, and make tax payments that would normally be due in 2025. In addition, some penalty relief is available for those who access retirement funds early.The release of a China-based AI model calledEver since the Secure Act created the option for IRA owners to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), this option has become more and more popular. Originally, the law allowed an IRA owner to contribute up to $100,000 to charity using QCDs. However, this amount was indexed for inflation, so it increases over time. For 2025, the increased limit for QCDs is $108,000 per taxpayer, per year.Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board -Carter Osborn recently joined the Planned Solutions team. Some may have met Carter when he To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro 00:00Los Angeles Wildfire Tax Relief 01:18AI Market Panic 09:40Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) LimitsIncrease 17:35Bulletin Board 20:13Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how The Social Security Fairness Act has changed how Social Security benefits are calculated for individuals who had years of employment not covered by Social Security (did not pay Social Security taxes while working). This change also impacts those eligible for survivor or spousal benefits under a spouse’s record. Those who may be impacted should contact the Social Security Administration to determine what they need to do to increase their benefits. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html Depending on who an individual listens to, the current market cycle may be very long and nearing a downturn, or it’s the beginning of a new growth cycle with additional strong returns anticipated. Arguably, the few Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) over the past three years make a case that the growth cycle is in its early stages and is unlikely to peak until after the IPO market heats up. Individuals who file to collect their Social Security retirement benefits before their full retirement age will receive reduced benefits compared to those who delay collecting. In addition, those below full retirement age are subject to the Social Security Earnings Test which will reduce their benefits for the period if their earnings from working exceed $23,400 in 2025. If the earnings test is exceeded benefits may be suspended or may need to be paid back. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - There are a couple of annual tax filings due January 31st that some taxpayers need to be aware of. The first is Form 1099-NEC which reports amounts of $600 or greater that a business paid to an individual (does not apply to payments made to corporations or other entities). Also, some taxpayers may need to file Form 1098, which is also due by January 31st. This form reports the interest received on a seller-financed mortgage. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Stock Valuations and Growth Rates 01:20 Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Risk 10:57 Review Memberships to Manage Expenses 17:35 Bulletin Board 22:07 Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how large company US stocks appear historically expensive when the price is compared to the earnings the companies generate. However, the historical earnings growth rate for those stocks has been quite high, which may justify the high valuations should those earnings growth rates continue. Meanwhile, the valuations for foreign, small, and mid-sized US companies are starting the year at more reasonable levels, even with their lower expected earnings growth. Also, The expanded Electric Vehicle Tax Credit under The expanded Electric Vehicle Tax Credit under The new year is a good time for Spring cleaning, which can include cleaning up your budget. One budget category that has increased substantially for many households is memberships and subscriptions. Memberships and subscriptions may include gym memberships, subscriptions to streaming entertainment, the monthly fees paid to apps on a phone, and subscriptions to publications. Reducing these costs, especially for services that are rarely used, can add up to real savings over an entire year. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Before preparing your 2024 income tax return(s) it is important to make sure that you have all To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Stock Valuations and Growth Rates 01:18 Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Risk 11:28 Review Memberships to Manage Expenses 15:55 Bulletin Board 22:10 Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how with the start of a new year many people will reach an important date or milestone that will impact their financial situation. So, as we prepare for another year, we have outlined a few of the most common dates or ages that may affect financial planning options and opportunities for the coming year. Of course, this list is not comprehensive as many people will have additional dates that impact their specific financial situation. Also, both houses of Congress recently passed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. This bill will increase Social Security benefits for workers who did not pay Social Security taxes on a substantial portion of their earnings and will also eliminate reduced payments for spousal and/or widow(er) payments. It is projected to cost the already underfunded Social Security program $200 billion. The annual gift tax exclusion will increase from $18,000 in 2024 to $19,000 in 2025. This is the amount that an individual can give to another person(s) without having to file a gift tax return and without reducing the amount that they can give tax-free during their lifetime, or leave to their heirs tax-free after death. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Charles Schwab recently sent an alert, which we forwarded as an e-mail blast, warning clients about an active “Smishing” campaign. Smishing occurs when a nefarious actor sends fraudulent text messages with a false account alert in an attempt to route an individual to an incorrect internet link where they are encouraged to enter their account login and password. These text messages have several red flags. One, they are originating from international phone numbers. Two, they list links to a website that, at first glance, may look like it’s Charles Schwab’s website, but in fact, is slightly different. Three, Schwab does not notify clients via text message, so just the form of communication should be a reason to disregard it. If you receive one of these text messages do not respond and do not click on the link. If you have concerns about your account, please contact our office directly. The Social Security Administration recently announced that it will be sending $1,400 payments to over one million taxpayers who were eligible but did not properly apply for the Pandemic stimulus checks in 2020. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Upcoming Important Dates and Milestones 01:53 Social Security Fairness Act 13:51 Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Increases 18:35 Bulletin Board 22:57 Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how Tariffs are a tax on imported goods, the cost of which Also, After a weak October, the US jobs market data bounced back in November calming fears that the economy was slowing, and the job market was weakening. Instead, the narrative appears to be that hurricane Helene and the Boeing strike distorted the October jobs report making it an anomaly. Sales of digital assets, such as Bitcoin, are subject to the same capital gains rules as other assets. However, the reporting of these gains can be much more difficult as there are generally no capital gain and loss reports issued to Bitcoin owners. However, this income must be reported correctly as it is an area of emphasis for the IRS and can result in serious penalties, including the possibility of jail time if it is omitted from an income tax return. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - As a reminder, financial planners are not allowed to conduct business with mediums of communication that cannot be efficiently captured and archived. This most typically applies to text messages sent to a planner’s personal phone. This has been an area of emphasis for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has levied fines from $250,000 to millions against financial firms whose employees have answered text messages from clients. We agree that this seems excessive given that text messages are a common form of communication, but often government regulations do not keep up with societal changes. As a result, it is important that clients not send text messages to any Planned Solutions employees unless it is of a personal nature and does not reference any business issues. Due to the high risk of large fines, Planned Solutions employees may not be able to respond to client text messages or instructions which could lead to a poor client service outcome. The best way to contact us remains to be by e-mail or telephone. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Tariffs and Inflation 01:17 Jobs Bounce Back in November 12:43 IRS and Bitcoin Income 16:46 Bulletin Board 22:15 Planned Solutions, Inc.

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how the stock market rallies this year and last were led by a relatively small number of large, growth, tech companies in the first half of the year. Then in the second half the market rally broadened as small and mid-sized companies, as well as value stocks, took the lead fueled by improving fundamentals and better valuations, especially when compared to the stocks that had large gains that exceeded their sales, earnings, and cash flow growth. Also, Social Security benefits are subject to federal income taxation depending on the taxpayer’s total income. Low-income taxpayers may pay very little, or no tax, on their Social Security income. As the reportable income increases, more of the Social Security income will become taxable, causing the taxpayer to pay a higher effective tax rate than would be expected based on their federal tax bracket. Black Friday, historically the nation’s biggest shopping day, has come and gone. Many retailers have a whole bag of tricks that they use to get sales and, in some cases, to increase the sales prices over other options. Therefore, it is important have a budget for holiday spending, a strategy for comparing prices, and the patience to avoid the marketing that retailers use to get customers to buy now and think later. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - With the holidays quickly approaching, we want to make sure you are aware of our holiday schedule for this year. November 28th Closed November 29th Closed December 24th Closed December 25th Closed January 1st Closed Given the above holiday schedule and the holiday schedule of many of the companies we work with, we ask that any forms or other requests that must be completed before year-end be submitted as soon as possible. If any paperwork or requests come in close to the end of the year, we will try to process the forms or fulfill the requests but cannot guarantee that they will be completed in time due to factors beyond our control. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 What are the FACTS as the Stock Market Rally Broadens 01:12 What YOU need to know about Social Security Taxation 14:03 Are YOU saving money during Black Friday Shopping 19:42 Bulletin Board 23:49 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how the US presidential election was recently decided, causing many Americans and political pundits to examine the result and its potential causes. However, looking beyond the US borders, it becomes apparent that the shift in the political tide is not just limited to the US. The US election reflects a global trend of voter frustration with inflation causing them to shift away from the party in power. Also, The US stock market increased in value following the US Presidential election. However, not all sectors or industries participated to the same extent, with some stocks declining in value due to higher policy risk. In contrast, others increased based on an expectation that they would benefit from future policy changes. As well, The IRS has announced another round of inflation adjustments for 2025, this time focusing on the contribution limits and income thresholds for retirement plan contributions. This year the inflation rate was sufficient enough to increase contribution limits for 401k plans, but the limits for IRAs and the catch-up contribution limits allowed to those age 50+ will remain unchanged. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The holidays are a popular time for charitable giving. However, few people give much thought to how they give, which means they may be missing out on potential tax savings. Ever since the 2017 Tax Act, which increased the amount of the standard deduction, many taxpayers do not have enough itemized deductions to be able to take advantage of their charitable contributions. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Inflation and Politics: The Correlation 01:12 Post-Election Stock Rotation 11:14 2025 Retirement Contribution Limits 16:58 Bulletin Board 24:14 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss how Direct indexing has become more and more popular as advancements in technology and decreasing trading and custodial costs have made these strategies more competitive. In some cases, direct indexing can lead to better tax outcomes or could better meet investor preferences to hold or avoid certain securities. However, there are also some negative implications, including increased complexity that may offset the benefits. Also, the Earnings season is off to a strong start. With roughly one in four S&P 500 companies having already reported, more than three out of four companies have beat analysts’ estimates, with only 19% falling short. Third-quarter earnings are expected to increase nearly 13% from the same quarter a year ago. As well, Some employer-sponsored 401k plans allow participants who have reached age 59.5 to access their 401k funds through an inservice distribution. This allows participants to move their 401k funds into another plan or an IRA while still employed and participating in the 401k plan. This option can be attractive for some employees due to its greater flexibility, but all of the pros and cons should be weighed before making a decision. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The IRS Standard Deduction for 2025 will increase by $800 for Married Couples to $30,000, by $400 for Single Filers to $15,000, and by $600 for Head of Household filers to $22,500. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Is Direct Indexing Worth It 01:39 Earnings Season Update 17:01 401k In-Service Distributions 20:02 Bulletin Board 22:29 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss The trustees of the Social Security benefit program recently released their report for 2024. As in the past, the trustees are sounding the alarm about the future funding of Social Security benefits as program revenue is expected to fall short of outflows, causing its limited reserves to dwindle over time. Therefore, the trustees recommend that Congress act sooner rather than later to gradually implement changes over time to fill the gap in funding. Also, The Inflation Reduction Act expanded the federal tax credits available to homeowners who do energy-efficient home improvements. However, many homeowners are finding after the fact that their expenditures do not qualify because the materials do not meet the proper energy rating standard. Therefore, if the tax credit is a key to doing a project, it is important to check these details before proceeding. As well, Credit card rewards can be a valuable benefit as some cards offer generous cash-back or discounts that can be used to fund other expenses. However, as these benefits accrue, they do not increase in value like other savings, so their value is eroded by inflation over time. For this reason, it is often best to use the credit card benefits as they accrue rather than using them as a savings vehicle to cover larger future financial goals. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament was once again a big success! This year we raised over $10,444 for cancer charities bringing our cumulative total to $178,309. We would like to thank everyone who supported the event this year and in years past by attending the tournament, bidding on auction items, and contributing to cancer charities. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Social Security Trustee Report 01:20 Home Energy Efficient Tax Credit Details 13:02 Spend Credit Card Benefits 18:08 Bulletin Board 22:42 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement was popular several years ago, but many adherents found it to be too difficult to achieve or that it came with downsides that were not worth the effort in the long run. Now a new version of the FIRE movement, called Coast FIRE, is gaining attention as it better balances needs today with the desire for increased financial freedom in the future and maybe attainable for more people. Also, A recent court ruling may make buying or selling real estate a bit more complicated. The courts ruled that the old structure in which the seller paid both the buyer’s and seller’s agent's commission created potential conflicts of interest and constituted monopolistic behavior. Now buyers will be required to negotiate the compensation with their agents rather than depending on the seller to pay the agents’ commission. As well, Gold has become a popular investment recently due to the perceived economic and political risk that many people feel. However, there are several downsides to owning gold, including the lack of cash flow or liquidity, the higher income tax rate, and the risk of theft. In addition, gold has historically offered lower returns and higher price volatility than other investment vehicles such as stocks. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Daryl recently volunteered at Sac State providing coaching and guidance to their Financial Wellness Peer Financial Coaches. The Financial Wellness Program at Sac State is a program created to promote and assist students with money management. The income tax return deadline for those who filed for an automatic six-month extension is October 15th this year. Therefore, anyone who has not yet filed their income taxes should start working on them very soon. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Coast FIRE Movement 01:20 Changes to Real Estate Commissions 10:32 Is Gold a Good Investment? 16:47 Bulletin Board 22:08 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @plannedsolutions ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode, we discuss the rate at which prices were increasing has eased but many households are still feeling the pinch from inflation. One of the factors that explains why some households are feeling more of the pinch than others is that inflation has not been evenly distributed across all goods and services. Instead, certain categories have experienced higher inflation than others so the mix of a given household's normal spending will have a big impact on their individual inflation rate. Also, The costs of adding a teen driver are often far more than most parents anticipate. There are the obvious costs of an additional vehicle, higher insurance premiums, and increased fuel costs. However, there are also the higher costs that often come with the increased freedom that teens can enjoy when they are able to drive themselves. These include higher household food, entertainment, and shopping expenses. As well, The Social Security Administration is updating its website which will require long-time users who registered under the old system to update their accounts. Setting up access to a Social Security account before it is needed is good policy as other forms of accessing Social Security information, such as calling or visiting a local office, can lead to long delays in accessing information that may be needed to file for benefits or file tax returns. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament Date: Friday, October 11, 2024 Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course 7000 Alameda Drive Rancho Murieta, CA 95683 Time: 1:00pm shotgun start, 5:30pm dinner You can register by visiting: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/plannedsolutionsgolftournament2024 All profits go to cancer research and education. You can help by attending the tournament or donating. Not golfing? Bring friends and attend the dinner. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Inflation Is Cooling, But Many Households Still Feel the Pinch 01:55 The True Cost of Teen Driving 09:58 New Social Security Website 15:44 Bulletin Board 18:48 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  @plannedsolutions  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode we discuss how in an effort to safeguard taxpayer financial information, the IRS has made it more difficult for taxpayers and their appointed professionals to access information stored by the IRS. This is especially true after a taxpayer has passed and a fiduciary has become responsible for their income taxes and the taxes owed by a trust or estate. Therefore, it is important to complete the proper forms and submit them to the proper agency to gain access to needed tax records. Also, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is set to sunset at the end of 2025. One of the provisions of the Act that will expire at that time is the double estate tax exemption equivalent which doubles the amount that an individual can shelter from estate and gift taxes from roughly $7 million to $14 million. Therefore, some people may find that estate and gift tax planning could become a greater consideration in the coming months. As well, The often-overlooked part of an estate plan is the Pour-Over Will. Basically, a Pour-Over Will is a catch all that captures any assets that were not reregistered to the trust and do not have beneficiary designations. The Pour-Over Will makes sure those assets are transferred to the trust so they are not orphaned in the estate settlement process. However, Pour-Over Wills do not have the same benefits of a trust as the assets transferred do not avoid the time and cost of probate. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The summer months have come to an end and therefore we at Planned Solutions are saying goodbye to our summer interns. Both Carter and Matt are returning to college for their senior years with Matt returning to Corvallis, the home of the Oregon State Beavers, and Carter leaving for a study abroad semester in Thailand through Sacramento State University’s International Exchange Program. The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament Date: Friday, October 11, 2024 Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course 7000 Alameda Drive Rancho Murieta, CA 95683 Time: 1:00pm shotgun start, 5:30pm dinner All profits go to cancer research and education. You can help by attending the tournament or donating. Not golfing? Bring friends and attend the dinner. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro 00:00 Acting as a Fiduciary with Tax Agencies 01:44 Double Estate Tax Exemption Expiration 11:03 Pour Over Wills 15:50 Bulletin Board 21:48 Planned Solutions, Inc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @plannedsolutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode we discuss A combination of government mandated financial literacy classes and increased access to financial resources online has resulted in a rise in financial literacy among young adults. This has made today’s young adults better prepared to navigate the complex financial world by making well-informed decisions. However, there are still things that parents can do to supplement their kids’ financial education, so they are prepared to excel financially. Also, For homebuyers, the decision to take out a fixed rate mortgage versus an adjustable-rate mortgage can be a big one. Fixed rate mortgages offer more stability and predictability which can make them attractive over long holding periods. Meanwhile, adjustable-rate mortgages typically start at lower rates but may adjust upward or downward in the future and may be more beneficial for shorter holding periods. As well, Now that they IRS has clarified the rules related to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)and the 10-year distribution period for IRAs, it is important to understand the exception to this rule. One important exception relates to beneficiaries who are not the decedent’s spouse and are less than 10 years younger than the deceased account owner. This often applies to friends, siblings, or other family members who are beneficiaries of an IRA. Plus a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - When it comes to protecting our identity and finances many people tend to not understand the difference between a financial fraud and a financial scam. However, the difference between fraud and a scam can have large implication over whether the victim may be able to recover some or all of their funds. Chase was recently a presenter at the Financial Planning Association’s Far West Roundup,which is a conference held at US Santa Cruz, targeting practitioners who are new to the financialplanning industry. The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament Date: Friday, October 11, 2024Location: Rancho Murieta Country Club – North Course7000 Alameda Drive Rancho Murieta, CA 95683Time: 1:00pm shotgun start, 5:30pm dinner All profits go to cancer research and education. You can help by attending the tournament or donating. Not golfing? Bring friends and attend the dinner. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast) please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Personal Finance Review is published and distributed biweekly by Planned Solutions, Inc. for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified financial planner before taking any action. Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279?ref_=ast_author_mpb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Rise in Financial Literacy Among Young Adults 01:31 Adjustable-Rate Mortgages 15:07 Eligible Designated Beneficiaries 22:06 Bulletin Board 25:30 Planned Solutions, Inc.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.plannedsolutions.com/⁠⁠⁠