Over the last few days, there has been additional banking volatility following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. In this edition of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Chief Investment Officer Kevin Grogan shares two new recent developments, their impact on market performance, the difference between the crisis of 2008 and now and what the future may hold.
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The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has caused many depositors to question the safety of their money. In this episode of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Head of Investment Research Jared Kizer takes a deep dive into what happened, why it occurred, the response of the Federal Reserve, how the closure may impact the markets and the possible implications for you.
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Recent trends in the housing market have prompted many potential homebuyers to ask: Is now a good time? In the past year, mortgage rates have not only doubled, but they also did so at a time when housing prices had reached historical highs. This combination potentially impacts the home purchasing decisions of millions of Americans. Here’s what to consider when deciding if you are ready to become a homeowner this year.
A Decade of Favorable Rates May be Coming to an End
If you purchased a home over the past two decades, you likely locked in a favorable rate. This is especially true in the years following the 2008 financial crisis and accompanying housing market collapse:
Historical context puts today’s rates in perspective
Think mortgage rates seem high now? When looking at the last decade, or even the early 2000s when they averaged 5% to 6%, sure, they’ve increased. But when viewed from a broader historical perspective, a 7% mortgage rate begins to look much better.
Consider that mortgage rates in the early 1990s were nearly 10%. Or, how about this? In 1981, you may have been signing your name to a contract where you agreed to pay back a mortgage loan with a whopping 18% interest rate.
How rates move from here, and how quickly they do so, is still a matter of debate. But inflation appears to be stabilizing, which has allowed the Federal Reserve to slow the speed at which it increases rates. Still, for new buyers, higher interest rates will have an impact on their budgets and monthly loan payments.
Impact of Mortgage Rates on Payments
When planning for a home purchase, one of the biggest factors buyers tend to consider is “the amount of house” they can get for the money. While the total cost of a house is an important factor, often buyers are more concerned with what they can afford on a monthly basis.
When budgeting using a specific monthly payment, a higher interest rate eats away at the price you can spend on a home because you’ll need to allocate more money each month toward interest, rather than the principal loan payment. The chart below illustrates the impact.
Clearly, higher rates mean potential homebuyers might not be able to afford the same house they could have a year ago. However, for those in this situation, there may still be some options to secure a lower rate.
Opportunities for a Lower Mortgage Rate
Mortgage rates aren’t the end of the story, however. There’s another side to the equation: home prices.
Predicting Housing Prices is a Tough Task
Typically, when interest rates rise, housing prices are expected to go down because the housing stock rises and the market becomes less competitive. This means that your dream home could still be in reach, even with higher mortgage rates. Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus about where things are headed.
Although housing prices have leveled off, or even declined in parts of the country, the recent increase in mortgage rates has not affected prices as much as many expected. Easing inflation and lack of inventory may mean that prices don’t decline as much as they have in past high interest rate environments. The good news is prices have at least stabilized, which could offer some comfort to homebuyers.
So, is now a good time to buy a house?
There are plenty of factors to consider beyond those in this article when deciding whether now is the right time for you to buy a house, such as where you are in your family life cycle. Current mortgage rates aren’t necessarily something that should outweigh all those other considerations.
Rates are higher, but not outside of historical norms. If they were to decline significantly, there would be opportunities to refinance at more favorable rates. And although home prices have increased since the pandemic, they have been stabilizing recently. If you are planning to live in your new home for 10 years or more, you likely won’t be affected by near-term price fluctuations.
In the end, buying a home is often as much of an emotional decision as it is a financial decision. Even if the current market isn’t considered optimal for buyers, it may still be the right time for you. If you’re thinking about buying a new home, consider consulting with your advisor who can help you evaluate your options.
For informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, accounting, legal or tax advice. Certain information is based on third-party data which may become outdated or otherwise superseded without notice. Third-party information is deemed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. By clicking on any of the links above, you acknowledge that they are solely for your convenience, and do not necessarily imply any affiliations, sponsorships, endorsements or representations whatsoever by us regarding third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content, availability or privacy policies of these sites, and shall not be responsible or liable for any information, opinions, advice, products or services available on or through them. R-23-5139
In this installment of the Buckingham Weekly Perspectives series, Chief Planning Officer Jeffrey Levine shares three reasons why you will love the new Social Security Administration website.
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In this edition of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Head of Investment Research Jared Kizer shares the latest updates on fixed income markets, interest rates and volatility.
The post Recent Bond Market and Inflation appeared first on Buckingham Strategic Partners.
While 529 plans are a popular way to fund expensive college educations, Buckingham Senior Tax Manager Shawn Williamson shares more options that may benefit both students and parents from a tax standpoint.
According to a recent study, a year of tuition, books, supplies and day-to-day living expenses at a four-year university will cost on average $35,551. In addition, the price of college is rising at an alarming 7.1% annually. To combat these soaring prices, many parents prepare for their children’s education by investing in 529 plans. Through this strategy, tuition funds are taken directly out of the plan, and parents avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation of the investments in the educational fund. They may even get a state tax deduction for the contributions.
While many agree that the benefits of the 529 are of great support to parents, there can be a few nuances that affect your tax filings. College tuition can be utilized in four different ways on a tax return:
The same tuition dollar cannot be used twice, but the total tuition paid each year can be split up and used for different purposes. Furthermore, all of those options may be utilized on either the parent’s or the child’s tax return, conditional on the dependency situation.
Higher-income individuals may be able to take advantage of four underutilized opportunities:
Determine if your child should be claimed as a dependent on your tax returns
First, it’s important to establish whether or not your college-aged child should be claimed as a dependent on your tax returns. When married parents have more than $180,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI), they cannot claim the AOTC or the Lifetime Learning Credit. Those with AGI in excess of $410,000 don’t even get the basic $500 credit for dependents older than 17. For parents who do not receive a tax benefit from claiming their child as a dependent and do not qualify for financial aid, it may be more advantageous to remove the child from the parents’ tax return.
A child is classified as independent if they are providing at least half of their own support through working a part-time or summer job or spending their own savings for room and board. They may also be taking out significant student loans in their own name or covering a huge portion of tuition by way of scholarships. If this is the case, the child has an opportunity to claim the AOTC on their own tax return. For the parents, a $2,500 tax credit might be irrelevant, but to a college student it may be a gold mine and at least worth considering.
Have distributions go directly to the school
Parents may pay college costs out of their personal checking accounts and then request reimbursement from the 529 plan later. As a tax professional, I recommend having those distributions go directly to the university. If the costs are reimbursed, the 1099-Q distribution will show up under the parent’s Social Security number (the reimbursement recipient). If the tuition is sent straight to the university, 1099-Q distributions usually show up under the child’s Social Security number (the beneficiary). If the parent is audited, there should be no debate or need for investigation of whether or not the distributions were qualified since they went straight to the school. Also, if the child claims herself or himself, then all of the college-related numbers can go on the child’s return: tuition, scholarships, 529 distributions and the AOTC. If the child happens to have taxable scholarships because their tuition was used to get the AOTC, they will likely be taxed at a much lower rate than the parent (possibly 0%).
Consider using the Lifetime Learning Credit before and after a bachelor’s degree
Since the American Opportunity Credit is only good for four tax years, normally you will want to use it during the child’s full-time pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. However, a lot of students these days are taking classes for college credit during high school. Many taxpayers do not know that they can use the Lifetime Learning Credit to benefit from those early part-time college classes. Likewise, if your child goes on to pursue a master’s degree or takes longer than four years to get a bachelor’s degree, this credit can continue to benefit the parents or the student after the AOTC expires.
Continue investing after your student begins college
Many parents are falsely under the assumption that if the child has already started college, it’s too late to make 529 contributions. In fact, contributions can even be made a week before the distributions are needed. While there is little time to earn tax-free investment growth, you may still be able to get a state tax deduction of 5% to 10%. In that scenario, it is best to invest the 529 contributions in a cash option to avoid the unnecessary risk of short-term loss.
About the author:
As a Senior Tax Manager at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Shawn helps clients with tax planning and reviews returns prepared by the firm. Along with reviewing 20,000 individual and business tax returns in his lifetime, he has authored dozens of tax and finance related articles and has written the book “Big Success in Small Business”. He was named 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business by St. Louis Small Business Monthly.
While the cost of higher learning is at record levels, there are several ways to fund your child’s education while receiving tax benefits. If you need assistance with this complicated issue or have questions, reach out to your advisor.
For informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Certain information is deemed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Third party information may become outdated or otherwise superseded without notice. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nor any other federal or state agency have approved, determined the accuracy, or confirmed the adequacy of this document. R-23-4998
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At Lauterbach, we understand the importance of incorporating a safe fixed income investment strategy into your portfolio. In this edition of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Chief Investment Officer Kevin Grogan shares our philosophy on fixed income investing, why it’s important to deemphasize credit risk and a historical examination of taking such risks.
The post Emphasizing Safety on the Bond Side of the Portfolio appeared first on Buckingham Strategic Partners.
With so many people in need, financially supporting non-profits is more important than ever. In this edition of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Chief Planning Officer Jeffrey Levine shares three reasons why donor advised funds are a great way to support your favorite charities while still receiving a tax break.
The post Donor Advised Funds appeared first on Buckingham Strategic Partners.
The strong emotions associated with the death of a spouse can become even more amplified by the overwhelming host of financial issues that need to be addressed. Where does one start?
Losing a spouse is a life-changing event that married couples unfortunately need to be prepared for. Since survivors are faced with the daunting tasks of dealing with strong emotions while addressing immediate needs, oftentimes finances are put on the backburner. These are the times when your wealth advisor and other estate planning professionals can provide support. I have helped many clients navigate the financial complexities that occur after the death of a spouse, and my goal is not only to help manage necessary housekeeping tasks, but also to empower the survivor who may have never handled these important matters before.
If you are in this position, it can be difficult to know where to start, what needs to be done and the timeline for settling an estate. While many concerns don’t need to be addressed immediately, I often recommend that a helpful starting point can be in accessing all safety deposit boxes to secure essential documents and review the financial wishes of your spouse.
Next, it is important to reach out to your accountant, financial planner and/or attorney to let them know of your spouse’s passing. Oftentimes , you can inform the professional you are most comfortable with, and they will notify the others. This team of trusted professionals will be able to handle many necessary tasks and provide guidance. The first thing they will likely do is prepare a list of items to be completed by each family member, along with a timeline to help guide and set priorities. The team may also start gathering and organizing the documents you will need in the coming weeks.
If feasible, I recommend meeting with your team in a comfortable space such as your home or their office. It may be beneficial to have a close family member or friend join the meeting for support. Having multiple sets of ears listening to the conversation can be extremely helpful and make the process feel less overwhelming.
It is perfectly normal to not know what to ask or expect during that initial meeting. While your advisor will welcome all questions, here are some considerations to begin the conversation:
After the meeting, both you and your advisors will have a clearer outline of the next steps needed.
While the list of things to accomplish may seem lengthy, approaching them one at a time at a manageable pace can help you from feeling overwhelmed. Lean on your professionals to help guide you.
For additional resources, I encourage you to review our detailed What to do After the Death of a Loved One and Personal Document Checklist pieces. From record maintenance to insurance issues, these handy documents can help you maneuver through the red tape and paperwork.
The difficult emotions associated with the death of a spouse are often even more intensified by the overwhelming host of financial issues that need to be addressed. If you need assistance navigating this challenging time or have questions, reach out to your advisor.
About the author:
As a wealth advisor, Jada Diedrich spends time getting to know clients personally and professionally. She feels forming strong relationships enhances her ability to help clients define and achieve their goals. Away from Buckingham, she is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
For informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, accounting, legal, or tax advice. Certain information is based on third party data which may become outdated or otherwise superseded without notice. Third party information is deemed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nor any other federal or state agency have approved, determined the accuracy, or confirmed the adequacy of this article. R-23-4997
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The arithmetic of active management is a simple investment concept that can be used to enhance portfolio performance. In this episode of Buckingham Weekly Perspectives, Head of Investment Research Jared Kizer explores this idea, explains the two types of investors and shares the possible costs of active management.
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