Kizer & Associates

08/19/2024

The ’s next moves are in focus. Join CIO Gene Goldman, CFA, on this week’s episode of as he discusses what we can expect to learn from the Fed’s meeting minutes and Chair Powell’s upcoming Jackson Hole speech, and the potential impact on future rate decisions.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

08/19/2024

Are you taking full advantage of your workplace benefits? Are health savings accounts (HSAs), 401(k)s, disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) offered by your workplace?

Here's a quick breakdown:

HSA: Triple tax-advantaged account for qualified medical expenses. Your contributions are pre-tax and grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals for qualified expenses are tax-free. If you spend your HSA funds on non-qualified expenses before age 65, you may be required to pay ordinary income tax and a 20% penalty. After age 65, you may be required to pay ordinary income taxes on HSA funds used for non-qualified expenses. HSA contributions are exempt from federal income tax; however, they are not exempt from state taxes in certain states.

401(k): Retirement savings plan with pre-tax contributions and potential employer matching. We can help individuals determine a contribution amount that fits their situation. Once you turn 73, you must take the required minimum distributions from your 401(k). Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty if taken before age 59½.

Disability Insurance: Income replacement if unable to work due to illness or injury—a safety net designed to help you and your family. Disability obligations are dependent on the issuing company’s ability to make claim payments.

FSA: A way to use pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses. Unlike an HSA account, you may have to spend your FSA funds before year-end, adhering to the “use it or lose it” rule. There are some exceptions.

Don't miss out on these valuable resources! Understanding and maximizing your benefits can help your financial situation.

Need help navigating your workplace benefits? Let's connect. We might be able to offer some insights and help create a personalized strategy aligned with your financial goals. 🤝

08/16/2024

The alarming rise in elder financial exploitation (EFE) is reaching new heights, with adults aged 60 and over reporting more than $1.6 billion in losses per year due to scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

What's even more concerning is the increasing sophistication of scams fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). 🤖

Scammers are now using AI-generated voices and deep fake videos to impersonate loved ones, government officials, and even celebrities, making distinguishing reality from fiction more challenging than ever.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released its Financial Trend Analysis in April 2024. It focused on patterns and trends identified in Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) data linked to Elder Financial Exploitation (“EFE”).

Key findings include:

▪️ Banks filed 72% of all EFE-related filings.
▪️ 80% of EFE-related filings involve transferring money to a stranger for a promised benefit that the older adult does not receive.
▪️ 20% of EFE-related BSA filings involve theft, where a trusted person steals from an older adult. Unfortunately, 40% of elder theft reports named the elder adult’s children as the perpetrators.
▪️ Perpetrators mostly rely on approaches that minimize direct contact with bank employees, including previously compromised usernames and passwords, guessing passwords, or phishing emails that elicit replies containing sensitive information.

We all have a role in helping protect our seniors from financial exploitation.

Be sure to take proactive steps to help educate and protect your loved ones. Let us know if you’d like to discuss ways to potentially safeguard their financial well-being.

08/15/2024

Read the August issue of Financial Watch here: https://bit.ly/financialwatch-aug24

08/14/2024

Frequent flyers, this one's for you! 📱

If you have an iPhone, Google has made it super easy to get up-to-the-minute updates on flight status—there is no need to use a flight tracker app or go to the airline’s site.

Just text yourself your flight number (like AA1234), and it will appear in your messages as a hyperlink.

Click on the link and select “flight preview” to get all the info you want.

Thought it was a pretty good hack I hadn’t heard about. Hope it’s helpful. 😎

08/13/2024

Read the latest issue of Retire Wise here: https://bit.ly/retirewise2-aug24

08/12/2024

are trying to figure out how much the will cut rates in September. Join CIO Gene Goldman, CFA, on this week’s episode of as he lays out the data we’ll receive between now and then and how it could help determine that cut.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

08/11/2024

Happy !

Watching my children grow up is one of the greatest joys in life and a source of so much pride (and maybe a little stress, too!). I want nothing more than to see them succeed in life and be prepared for life's challenges.

As a financial professional, I'm passionate about helping families empower their children for a bright future, and I thought I’d share some ideas that can build the foundation for long-term success:

▪️ Consider Opening a Savings Account Together: Make saving a tangible concept by
opening a joint savings account and setting small goals.
▪️ Involve Them in Budgeting: Discuss household expenses in an age-appropriate way and allow them to participate in making budget decisions.
▪️ Lead by Example: Demonstrate healthy financial habits like responsible spending and bill paying. Talk openly about your financial goals.
▪️ Encourage Earning: Earning money, whether through chores, allowances, or a part-time job, teaches valuable lessons about work and responsible spending.
▪️ Start Conversations Early: The earlier you discuss money with your children, the more comfortable they may manage money as adults.

Building a solid financial foundation starts at home! If you're looking for more resources or insights, feel free to message me.

08/09/2024

As summer winds down and college move-in day approaches, it's important to think beyond the dorm room essentials.

Here are three key areas you might want to address before your student heads off to campus:

1️⃣ Legal Authorizations: Once your child turns 18, they're legally an adult. Consider establishing a Power of Attorney (POA) if you want to continue to play a role in their healthcare and finances. Also, a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) authorization can help if you want access to their academic records. Having these documents in place may allow you to step in if needed.

2️⃣ Allowance and Financial Responsibility: Have a candid conversation about budgeting and financial responsibility, including credit card use. Determine an appropriate budget, and don’t forget to decide whether they can continue to use your accounts for things like Amazon and Uber.

3️⃣ Out-of-State Insurance Coverage: Review your health insurance plan and check to see if it covers your student's location. Explore renters insurance if they'll be living off-campus. If they're leaving their car at home, you might be eligible for a modified insurance rate.

These are important topics to discuss as your children leave “the nest.” If you have any questions, please reach out. We can work with your legal professional to help your family get the appropriate documents in place.

08/08/2024

With the Summer Olympics in full swing, it's hard not to be inspired by the athletes' dedication and preparation. 🏊‍♂️🏆

Just like swimming legend Mark Spitz, who famously said, "If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail," success in any field–including finances—requires preparation!

Don't be a spectator in your financial future. Now is the time to strategize and equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to pursue your goals.

A little preparation today can help you tomorrow!

08/07/2024

Here’s another observance you might have missed—this week is National Simplify Your Life Week. Who knew?

It made me think about organizing and cleaning out some of our closets and maybe even tackling the garage (who doesn’t love a clean garage?). But more importantly, it’s also a good reminder that your finances can become cluttered and unorganized just as easily as your home.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to simplify your financial life:

Review your budget: Take a close look at your income and expenses to see where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back.

Consolidate accounts: Combining multiple accounts or credit cards can make tracking your spending and managing your money easier.

Automate your finances: Consider setting up automatic bill payments and savings transfers to help take the guesswork out of monthly finances.

Declutter your wallet: Get rid of old receipts, unused gift cards, and expired coupons to create a more organized and streamlined wallet.

If you're looking for guidance on consolidating and organizing your finances, we can offer a few tips.

08/05/2024

Market risks were high leading into the sell-off, but now investors may be overlooking a decent servicing PMI reading. Recession risks may be overblown. The latest market commentary from discusses this trend and what it could mean for future investing. Read more:

In this commentary we discuss the continued selloff in U.S. equities. Market risks have been rising and now recession fears stoked by a labor report are causing market volatility. Investors want an intra-meeting rate cut from the Fed but may not get it. We continue to think this pull back could be s...