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The Free Financial Advisor

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Why Are Fixed Expenses Difficult to Reduce?

December 23, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

When you’re making a budget, there are two columns: income and expenses. A large majority of those expenses don’t change from month to month or change very little. These are fixed expenses. If you’re trying to cut costs, you may find that the fixed expenses are difficult to reduce. Why is that? How do you reduce fixed expenses?

We’ll explore the answer to those questions, among others, in today’s post.

Types of expenses

There are two types of expenses. Fixed and variable.

As the names suggest, fixed expenses don’t change or rarely change. Generally speaking, fixed expenses are the largest, recurring expense. Things like your rent or mortgage, utilities, internet, streaming/cable, debt payments, and insurance are all part of your fixed expenses.

Variable expenses, on the other hand, are constantly changing. There isn’t a bill or invoice you get every month. A variable cost is paid by your own directive. Things like groceries, “fun money”, and the like are variable expenses.

Fixed expenses rarely change or vary slightly, and someone or some entity is looking for a payment. Variable expenses constantly change and are voluntarily paid.

Why are they so difficult to reduce?

When you first “sign up” or “agree” to these expenses, more often than not, you’re already shopping for the lowest price for that item.

What else? Internet, streaming, and cable have a pretty standard rate when compared to competitors. Debt payments are structured by the length of the term, interest, and (when referring to credit cards) minimum payments.

Basically, the costs are what they are, and they don’t vary a whole lot.

Methods for reducing fixed expenses

Mortgage payments could decrease if you refinance at the right time. Utilities could go down if usage goes down. Insurance premiums could go down if you mess with coverages and deductibles, but I advise you to talk with an agent first.

Cable/dish generally increases after one year. Often, you get an introductory rate for the first 12 months. If it goes up too much, call and complain or threaten to leave. Normally, they’ll oblige and agree to lower your monthly bill.

If you have a debt to pay and money is tight, talk with your lender or credit card company. Let them know about your situation and they might be willing to work with you.

Related reading:

Financial Mistakes to Avoid

Your Go-To Budget Guide

Save Money on Your Household Expenses

 

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: budget tips, money management, Personal Finance Tagged With: Budget, expenses, fixed expenses, variable expenses

What to do when you are one month behind on your mortgage

December 16, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

What happens when you’re one month behind on your mortgage? Do you go to collections? Does your credit take a hit? What can you do?

We’re going to answer all of those questions in today’s post.

What happens?

First of all, what happens? If you fall behind on your mortgage, there are a few things you need to know.

There’s a grace period. You have 15 days to get a payment in. There’s a standard grace period for your payment to be considered “on-time” and it’s within 15 days of the due date (typically the first of the month.

After the grace period is over and you still haven’t made your payment, then it’s considered late. A penalty will then be assessed to your account, so you’ll have to make the payment plus the late penalty.

We’ve written extensively on this topic, so if you’d like to learn more, click here.

What should you do?

There are several reasons why someone falls behind on their mortgage…especially now with COVID wreaking havoc across the country. You could have lost your job due to cutbacks, or gotten sick, and have been unable to work. You could have lost your spouse/partner due to the virus and thus, have to make payments on your own.

However you got to this point, you need to get on top of the situation.

You need to contact your lender. Fear, anxiety, and judgment influence our behaviors. They might tell you to keep this a secret. You may fear judgment or what they will say, but you need to let them know where you’re at.

 

Steps you can take

Once you let your lender know about the position you are currently in, it’s time to take action. What can you do?

You can negotiate with the lender:

  • Make a plan – If repayment is possible, develop a plan to get there. Review your expenses and income. Can you cut costs somewhere? Can you pick up extra shifts or work overtime? Is there a way to get current on your loan? If not, there are alternative strategies.
  • Have them tack the payment onto the end of the loan – You can’t make it up, so you can ask the lender to extend your term and have them place the payment on the end of your loan. A late penalty will still apply, but you forgo having to “get current”.
  • Refinance – Work with your lender to “restructure” your loan and make it more favorable.
  • Repayment plan – Work with your lender to develop a repayment plan. A repayment plan is a way for you to get current on your loan by making increased mortgage payments over several months.
  • Get assistance – If you’re having trouble communicating with your lender, or they’re not receptive to anything you’ve suggested, it’s time to get some help. Contact a HUD-certified counselor. They can guide you through this process, answer your questions, and go to bat for you.

Falling behind on your mortgage is tough, and it usually comes from unfortunate circumstances. And though the stress is real and the consequences are challenging, there’s at the end of the tunnel. Get your bearings, develop a plan, and take action.

Related reading:

Why Financial Literacy is Important

What you Need to Know About Bankruptcy

 

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: money management

What Happens When Your Debit Card Expires?

December 9, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

Depending on what financial philosophy you subscribe to, a debit card may be your best friend. Paying with a debit card is a surefire way (outside of loans) to make sure you don’t have any debt. But what happens when your debit card expires?

In today’s post, we’ll answer that question, as well as some related questions.

Why do debit cards expire?

The reason debit cards expire is to prevent fraud. Banks and credit unions make you “renew” your card to thwart fraud.

Think about it. When you’re making a purchase online, they ask for various pieces of information. Name, billing address, card number, security code (CVV), and EXPIRATION DATE.

This also gives the card issuer (bank or credit union) the ability to keep their customer’s identity safe. Every few years, cards get more sophisticated and come up with a new feature. Magnetic strip, then chip reader, then contactless.

Your card number shouldn’t change when it is renewed. The only time your number would change is if you cancel your card, due to losing it or someone stealing it (or the number, expiration date, and CVV), and you need your financial institution to issue you a new one.

Your replacement card

When your debit card expires, your replacement card will come in the mail at least one week before your card is set to expire.

Once you receive your replacement card, activate it, and securely destroy your old card. There are a couple of ways to destroy your old debit card.

  • Shred it
  • Cut it up and place pieces of the old card in different refuse bins around your home. Better to even throw out pieces across multiple pickups. One week, throw out a piece. Then throw out more than next week. And so on.
  • For more…read a related post about recycling bank statements.

Word to the wise

Expired debit cards cannot be used to make purchases. If you try, your card will decline. If you have recurring purchases tied to your card, make sure that’s updated with the new expiration date.

Related reading:

The Things You Need To Do to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft from Happening to You

A Deep Dive into Credit Cards

 

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: Banking, credit cards, money management, Personal Finance Tagged With: credit card, Debit card, expiration date, secure disposal

The Best, Low Maintenance Way to Invest 30K

December 2, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

If you’ve been building your savings to start investing and you’ve managed to put aside $30K, you may be wondering what your next step should be. How do I invest 30k? What is the best, low maintenance approach?

Here are some great ways to apply that 30K towards growing your wealth.

Pay Off Debt

First and foremost, use some of the money to pay off any debt you may have. It will save you money in the long-run. If you’re carrying a $10K credit card balance with a 15% interest fee, you’ll be paying an extra $1500/year in interest. That’s money that can be better spent on investments down the road. If you want to invest 30k, first start by getting rid of debt.

Emergency Fund

If you don’t already have one, put some of your money aside in an emergency fund so you know you’ll be able to manage if something unexpected happens. You should have 3-6 months’ worth of expenses put aside in an easily accessible account like a savings account. Just make sure it’s not linked to your debit card so you can’t spend it. The period of time you need to cover varies based on how long you think it would take you to find another job should something happen to your current job.

Earning return

What’s next has all to do with three things: risk tolerance, time horizon, and investment objectives. As a matter of fact, that’s how all of your investment decisions are made.

There are several different vehicles you can utilize, so what I’m going to do is give each vehicle its own section, explain what it is, and then give a little more detail as to when it could be used.

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

A bank product with a specified interest rate and a specified maturity. CDs are used to hold money for a specified period of time in a virtually risk-free fashion. More about CDs.

You’ll choose a CD for two reasons. The first is if you want a safe, federally insured vehicle to stash away some cash. The other reason is if you do not want to touch that money for a specified period. For example, you’re going to buy a house in three years and you don’t want to jeopardize that down payment. You buy/invest in a 3 year CD. At the end of year three, you’ll get back your principal (what you put in) and some accrued interest. Early withdrawal penalties apply.

Savings/Money Market Accounts

Typically used for your emergency fund. Easily accessible, and able to earn a little interest.

That’s pretty much it when it comes to these accounts. The interest they offer will be (not always) pretty low, but, like the CD, it offers a very safe place to store your cash until you need it. Unlike the CD, however, there are no early withdrawal penalties.

Qualified accounts

Basically any retirement account. Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and employer-sponsored plans (401k, Simple IRA, etc.). There are contribution limits associated with these accounts.

With these accounts, as I said, contribution limits are something to pay attention to. With your Traditional and Roth IRA, there’s a $6,000 contribution limit ($7,000 if you’re 50 and older). 401ks have a limit of $19,500 (25,500 for 50 and older). Simple IRA limit is $13,500 ($16,500 for 50 and older).

This is a long term investment solution, as early withdrawal penalties apply. There are several ways to “exempt” yourself from that penalty, however, such as a first home purchase. For an extensive list of these exemptions, click here.

These accounts are also called “tax-advantaged” accounts because, as the name suggests, there are tax advantages. You either lower your taxable income with your contributions or have the ability to withdraw the funds “tax-free” (barring an early withdrawal penalty, of course).

Non-Qualified Accounts

Brokerage accounts or any investment vehicle that doesn’t have any tax benefits. Meaning, you pay taxes on any capital gains and dividends you receive. No contribution limits.

Honestly, the only advantage to these accounts is there is no contribution limit. For example, if you’ve maxed your contribution for your employer-sponsored plan and your IRA, then you can dump the rest of your money here.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Accounts specifically designed to help you with your medical expenses. Money that you contribute to this account is “tax-free” or “tax-deductible”, which means it lowers your taxable income. Also, the funds, if used for qualified medical expenses, are tax-free.

With some, not all HSAs, you can invest what you’ve contributed. So if you have 30k to invest, I’ll point you to the below section to help with that. There are contribution limits with the HSA, however, so keep that in mind.

Asset allocation

After you’ve selected an investment vehicle (this section does not apply to CDs, savings accounts, or money market accounts), it’s time to invest your capital.

Asset allocation is my preferred method to invest, and I’ve written extensively on it here. So if you want to invest 30k, here’s what you need to ask yourself. How long until I need these funds? What is my ultimate goal for these funds? What am I willing to lose?

If your time period is less than 5 years, ignore this section and stick your money in a savings account or a CD. The risk/reward is unfavorable in this scenario.

If you have, ideally, 10+ years, then you have some options. The next question is about risk tolerance. What kind of portfolio are you comfortable with? Using the stocks/bonds/cash breakdown, are you a 60/40/0 type of person? Maybe you’re quite tolerant and prefer an 80/20/0 approach.

For those of you that are not tolerant of risk and/or you have a shorter number of years until you need to access these funds. Your portfolio should start at 50/50/0, and then adjust as you see fit. The cash portion in this breakdown should be used as investable cash for when you see a buying opportunity and/or funds you’ll need access to in the near future (unriskable capital).

Risk Tolerance

If you really want to know what your unique risk tolerance is, take our quiz!

I know I didn’t really give a concrete answer to what’s posed in the headline, but that’s the thing about investing – it’s incredibly personal. You need to do what’s best for you.

If time is on your side, max your retirement contribution, then put the rest in a savings account until next year. At that time, max it again.

If time isn’t your friend, a CD isn’t a bad idea. As I said earlier, paying down/off debt is incredibly worth it. That’s an automatic 15% return on your money if you pay off your credit card. Money that can be used more effectively going forward.

Read our articles, ask for advice, and do what’s best for you. That’ll help you answer the question: how do you invest 30k?

 

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: Investing, money management, Personal Finance, risk management, successful investing, tax tips Tagged With: Debt, emergency fund, invest, investing

Why Understanding Your Paycheck Stub Is Important

November 25, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

Understanding your paycheck stub is essential. Your paycheck stub is included when you get paid. Whether you do direct deposit or get paper checks, the pay stub will show important information about your pay.

There are several key pieces to the paycheck stub – gross earnings, taxes, deductions, and net earnings. There are also other, seemingly, unimportant things on your paycheck. The information included on a paycheck stub include:

  • Hours works
  • Wages earned – gross and net
  • Overtime
  • Benefits – i.e. health insurance premium payment, retirement plan contributions
  • Taxes – federal, state, fica (social security 6.2, medicare 1.45, and .9 surtax if you earn over $200,000
  • Year to date info – hours, wages, taxes, benefits, etc.\
  • Personal information – name, address, social security number
  • Date of pay period
  • Pay rate
  • PTO, sick days, vacation days

Why is understanding your paycheck sub so important?

A pay stub is a way of keeping accurate records. It shows what employees worked, what they were paid, what taxes were taken out, retirement contributions, etc.

Because it’s your responsibility to report and address discrepancies. If you think you got paid less than you were supposed to or worked more than what’s reported, you need to bring that up. If your deductions (retirement plan contributions, taxes, health insurance premiums) appear to be less or more than you assumed, you need to bring that up.

Why are those things important?

  • What you earn is what allows you to afford to live. If you worked more or worked overtime, and it wasn’t reported correctly, your paycheck can suffer.
  • Taxes are incredibly important – if you expect to get money back on your tax return, but come to find out they weren’t withholding enough, you can end up owing instead. Your withholdings are very important to understand.
  • Health insurance premiums – if you’re not paying enough, your policy can cancel due to non-payment. What happens then? You go to the doctor and pay through the nose because you don’t have coverage?
  • Retirement plan contributions – If they “contribute” too much, you will have less on your check. If they “contribute” too little, your nest egg will suffer.

Paycheck stubs are incredibly important. They help you and your employer keep track of pertinent information, like taxes, health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, and your salary. Make sure you understand it and make sure you address any sort of discrepancy. That’s your responsibility.

Related reading:

Paycheck Stubs

Three Accounting Tools Every Small Business Needs

Does Health Insurance Affect Your Taxes

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: Insurance, money management, Personal Finance, Retirement, Tax Planning Tagged With: deductions, earnings, paycheck, paycheck stub, salary, taxes

What Happens if Debt Is Sold to a Collection Agency?

November 11, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

When debt is sold to a collection agency, it’s incredibly common to get upset and/or worried. Odds are, you’ll start getting calls, emails, and text messages about you paying what’s owed.

In today’s post, we’ll discuss what leads to debt going to collections, what to do, what the collections agency can do, and what happens to your credit.

Why does debt go to collections?

Debt goes into collections when you’re behind a certain period of time (usually 30+ days) on your payment.

The lender will either use their own debt collectors or hire a third party to collect. What might also happen is your debt is sold to a collection agency, where they buy the debt from the lender (at a reduced amount than what you actually owe) and then attempt to collect on that amount.

Mortgages

With regard to mortgages, there are certain time periods to keep in mind:

  • 1 – 15 days – Typical grace period. Your payment must be paid in this period.
  • 16 30 days – You’ll start getting reminders, and you’ll likely pay a small late fee. No damage to your credit.
  • 31 – 59 days – Reminder calls and letters will increase. Your credit will reflect your current late status and your credit score will fall.
  • 60 – 90 days – The reminder calls and letters will stop. Someone from your lender will come to your house.

Read more on this subject, here.

What to do when your debt is sold to a collection agency

Don’t ignore it. The best thing you can do is get ahead of it. Gather information about the debt in question. Have them send it to you in writing.

Contact the creditor. Dispute it if you believe there are inaccuracies, or if it’s just not your debt. If it is your debt and everything is accurate, try to negotiate with the lender – they prefer to receive some of what you owe!

If the collection agency is harassing you, submit a request in writing for them to stop.

What if you’re at your wit’s end and don’t know what to do? Hire an attorney. All correspondence, going forward, has to go through them. If anything, get a consultation from an attorney (which is often offered for free) and see what they recommend.

What can they do?

When it comes to collections and the law, there are a few things they can do and several things they can’t do. If you want to know more about that, click here.

Your credit

There are two important things to know when it comes to collections and your credit report.

  1. A collection (or a charge off) hurts your credit score. Not only that, but your payment history (number one factor when calculating your score) will no longer be 100%, and that’s damaging as well.
  2. A collection will stay on your credit report for 7 years. You can implement strategies to improve your score, but you’ll only be able to do so much while that collection is on there.

Having a debt sold to a collection agency isn’t the end of the world. There are several things you can do to rectify it, dispute, or recover from it.

Related reading:

What You Need To Know About Bankruptcy

Deep Dive Into Credit Cards

What Affects Your Credit Score

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: credit cards, credit score, Debt Management, money management, Personal Finance Tagged With: credit, credit score, Debt, Debt Collectors

What Are The Different Types of Wealth?

September 30, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

types-of-wealth

 

Most people think “lots of money” when they hear the term wealth. Though that is part of the basket, we’ll call it that today, it’s not the only part of the wealth equation.

There are four different types of wealth: financial, social, time, and health.

In today’s post, we’ll go over each, what they consist of, and what you can do to get more.

Financial

We’ll tackle this one right away; this is The Free FINANCIAL Advisor, after all. Financial wealth is what everyone has in mind when the term wealth is used.

Whether that means investments, savings, disposable income, no debt, what have you. Financial wealth implies that you don’t have to worry about your finances and you can now spend on things that matter to you.

To improve your financial wealth, there are a few things you can do:

  • Eliminate your debt – Debt costs you money, both in interest and opportunities. Opportunities to invest and/or to free up your time (more on that in a bit).
  • Invest – stock market, direct lending, real estate, or hard assets (precious metals, art, ect.).
  • Spend wisely – Keep a budget, review your expenses, and monitor your spending.

In my opinion, financial wealth is the least important of the four types of wealth we’ll discuss here. My explanation is in the “conclusion” section.

Social

There are two ways you can look at Social Wealth. One way is status – your social hierarchy and social class. The other way (and how I look at it) is your connections and relationships.

Unfortunately, social hierarchy is important in today’s society. People higher up in the ranks tend to have better connections and job opportunities. I’m not discounting its importance but underlining how integral good relationships are to your life.

We’re social creatures. We evolved this way. That’s why we care what people think, and that’s why we need to nurture our friendships. Healthy relationships help us live longer, happier lives.

Do you want to improve this? Communicate with people that align with your values. Tell people what they mean to you. If you love your buddy, tell them you love them.

This brings me to the next type of wealth.

Time

We truly do not know when our time will run out, for you or for me. That’s why it’s so incredibly important to make the most of it.

Using your “financial wealth” to free up your time is a great way to “create” more of it. Would rather spend time with your family and not cut the grass? Pay someone to do it for you.

Time is our most precious, yet our most wasted resource. We always think, “maybe tomorrow” or “I’ll do it next week”. Next week might not get here. If it crosses your mind, take action.

I elaborate on this in last week’s reflection

Health

I can’t decide if time or health are the most underappreciated forms of wealth. Time is the most finite of resources, but I feel like health is an afterthought, in most cases.

Your body and your mind have to be a priority. Watch what you eat, take walks, exercise, journal, meditate, speak with a therapist. Whatever you need to do to be mentally and physically healthy, I promise you, it’s worth the time/money/energy.

Conclusion

If I had to rank these types of wealth in order of importance, I’d go time, health, social, and financial. Your rankings may differ, as this is my personal opinion.

Without time, you have nothing. If you have the time, focus on your health and your relationships. If you don’t have either of those, having money doesn’t mean a darn thing.

Related reading:

The Psychology of Money

Ways to Increase Your Wealth

What Are The Levels of Wealth?

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: Feature, money management, Personal Finance, Psychology Tagged With: finance, health, social, time, Wealth

What Are The Levels Of Wealth?

September 16, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

levels-of-wealth

There are several different ways to view wealth and the “levels” associated with it. Some people like to rank it in three tiers: not concerned with debt, not concerned with restaurant prices, and not concerned with spending on vacation.

I think this is a good place to start, but it can leave out some pretty important details.

In this article, we’ll break down our five levels of wealth, what they mean, and how you can identify where you sit.

Levels of wealth

As I mentioned in the introduction, we identified 5 levels of wealth. Below lists what those levels are, the details about them, and identifying characteristics.

  • Pay off debt and save
    • You can pay your bills. You may be paycheck to paycheck, depending on what you think that means, but you’re not falling behind. Liabilities are becoming less of a burden and your net worth is improving.
    • Development of habits – saving money and paying off debt. You’re probably wary of how much you spend on certain items, groceries, for example.
  • Increase savings and use investment vehicles
    • Your goals of paying off “high-interest” debt and establishing an emergency fund have been met. Your attention shifts to planning far ahead. Retirement savings and investing are your focus.
    • Saving at least 15% of your income for retirement and future goals. Automation implementation. Tracking net worth. Probably a little less concerned about your day to day spending.
  • Feeling comfortable and spending changes
    • You’re much less concerned about your discretionary spending. Though you’re less willing to spend money on stuff and more willing to spend money on experiences, and/or you’re encouraged to spend money on things that will create memories.
  • Financial freedom
    • You exceeded your goal net worth or nest egg number. Daily spending and discretionary purchases don’t register. You’re not concerned with how much you spend in most cases. Make sure, however, that how much you spend and how much you have actually makes sense from a mathematical perspective. There’s nothing worse than thinking you have more than you actually do. 
  • Philanthropy
    • One thing to keep in mind: make sure you are making memories and creating quality experiences before you get to this point, as well as after you get here. Time is limited. Make the most of it.
    • The quality of the experience matters more than the price. You shift your focus to using your wealth for good. How can you spend to make the world a better place?

What this all means for you

There are three things I would like you to walk away with from this article.

The first two steps in climbing the wealth ladder:

  1. Discern what level of wealth you are looking for, and what it specifically looks like for you. Everyone has different values and different wants, that means what your Financial Freedom looks like will differ from what Jane Smith’s level will look like.
  2. Craft a plan to get to your desired level. Figuring out what you want and what it looks like is great, but a goal without a plan or action is just a dream. Make it a reality.
  3. Financial wealth is great but should be viewed as a tool. It can also be viewed as a relief or peace of mind when you get to YOUR level. However, time is our most precious commodity. Truly wealthy individuals realize this truth and orient their lives accordingly.

Related reading:

Why Financial Literacy is Important

Your Wealth: What You Shouldn’t Do

Ways to Increase Your Wealth

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: Debt Management, money management, Personal Finance Tagged With: finance, levels of wealth, Wealth

When are Per Diem Payments Taxable?

September 2, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

per-diem-tax

 

Per diem payments are used when businesses have employees that travel. These payments are designed to relieve the employee from certain costs associated with traveling. Particularly meals and incidentals (ground travel, laundry, room service, etc.), and lodging.

This is great for both the business and the employee, but there are certain situations when per diem payments are taxable. In this article, we’ll explore exactly when an employee will pay per diem tax.

Two types

There are two types of per diem payments, meal-only, and meal and lodging. The names imply their use. One pays for meals, the other pays for meals and lodging.

It’s important that we specify the meals must be “non-entertainment related” meals.

Stipulations

As with many parts within the tax code, per diem rules are very specific. Meals and lodging have different rates.

Also, different cities have different rates. These differences are typically relegated to “big cities” and “small cities”, with bigger cities getting the larger rates. This is referred to as the high-low method. Businesses may also make payments based on the state in which you travel.

The per diem payments must be equal to or less than the federal allowable limit (depending on what method is selected). The employee is responsible for filing an expense report within 60 days. The expense report needs to include, date and location of the trip, purpose of the trip, and lodging receipts (if the meal-only option is selected).

You’re not allowed to “transfer credits”. What’s meant by this is if you use less on your lodging than is allotted, you can’t use the excess on food, or vice versa.

Tax Consequences

As I mentioned in the introduction, per diem payments can have tax consequences.

  • If per diem payments over the limit are taxable on the employee’s wages
  • If an expense report isn’t filed, or the filed expense report doesn’t include the required information, those per diem payments become taxable to the employee.
  • If the employer allows you, the employee, to keep whatever you don’t spend.

If you travel for business and receive per diem payments, just make sure you keep good records, and you hang onto your receipts. It’s better to have too much information than not enough.

Related reading:

Some Often Overlooked Tax Deductions for Busines Owners

Top 5 Overlooked Tax Deductions You Should Be Using

Why Financial Literacy is Important

 

*Be advised: Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax advice. Please consult a tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: business planning, money management, Personal Finance, Tax Planning, tax tips Tagged With: per diem, Tax, travel

How to Make a Legally Binding Promissory Note

August 19, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

legally binding promissory note

A legally binding promissory note is used when lending money. It’s a document that states the parties involved, how much is being lent, any pertinent financial information, and signatures by the involved parties.

The agreement must be clearly defined so that no argument can be made.

Four parts

There are four integral parts to a legally binding promissory note.

  • Parties – individuals or entities involved in the transaction. A party must be of legal age and of sound mind capable of entering into a transaction.
  • Promise – Defines what is agreed upon. It defines the amount to be paid and should also include a paid off date.
  • Sum certain – Specific financial information including, exact amount, pay off date, interest, amortization, penalties, and when those penalties must be assessed.
  • Signatures – to be signed by all parties involved.

These four parts must be included and clearly defined, otherwise the agreement might not be enforceable.

Once the promissory note is signed and has all the necessary parts in it, it becomes legally binding. Once legally binding, all parties involved must meet their part of the agreement.

Promissory Note Uses

Essentially, a promissory note is used when lending/borrowing money. Mortgages, car loans, student loans, personal loans, and business loans all use promissory notes to legally enforce that the borrower must pay back the loan, plus interest, in a specified period of time.

Different kinds

There are two different types of promissory notes, simple and demand.

A simple promissory note is one scheduled, lump-sum payment on a specified date.

A demand promissory note is when the lender asks for payment to be made. Normally, there is a reasonable amount of time needed between ask and delivery.

Collection

More often than not, the borrower will abide by the terms of the promissory note and pay on time. If they don’t, however, there are a few things you can do.

Talk to them. Make sure they are doing okay. Send them a written reminder. If need be, you can send one at 30, 60, and 90 days. If they’re in a tight spot, see if they can make partial payments.

A legally binding promissory note is a very important document. Make sure you include all four parts to make it enforceable and legally binding. Might not be a bad idea to have an attorney take a look at it before you enter into the agreement.

Related Reading:

What You Need to Know About Bankruptcy

How to Answer a Civil Summons for Credit Card Debt

Jacob Sensiba
Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry.  His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management.  Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Filed Under: money management, Personal Finance, risk management Tagged With: binding, legal, legally binding, lending, note, promissory note

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