Planned Solutions

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...

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 t...

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...

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 tri...

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 A...

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...

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 coopera...

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 s...

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...

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 strate...

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 mar...

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...

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...

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. Meanwhil...

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...

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 distor...

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 fundame...

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...

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...

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...

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 attent...

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, c...

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...

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...

Welcome to the⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ @plannedsolutions ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Incorporated Podcast. In this episode we discuss America’s housing market is facing a new challenge. Homeowners who locked in low mortgage rates, either by buying or refinancing during the low-interest rate period of the pandemic, are hesitant to give up their low-rate mortgages causing them to stay put. This has reduced the number of homes for sale, es...