June 12, 2020
REMEMBER THE BASICS.
The coronavirus has been a sudden test of our disaster preparedness, and that’s true on the personal financial front as well. During the last ten-plus years we’ve enjoyed an unprecedented economic expansion. If you’re a retiree invested in retirement plans such as a 401(k) and IRA accounts, hopefully you have participated in that growth.
TAKE INVENTORY.
Consider your overall financial position and the stability of your income sources. Where your income comes from does matter in this market. While it’s unclear how long our economy will be on pause, it’s clear investments in some sectors of the economy will be more significantly impacted, at least in the short term, than others. Companies in industries such as hospitality, transportation, and energy have already announced dividend cuts—with more announcements from other industries likely on the way. Income from higher risk bond investments will also be under pressure as default rates increase.
DEFER, DEFER, DEFER.
Because we’re all looking for ways to occupy our minds with something other than pandemic news, how about re-evaluate your budget, taking out items that you can live without. This doesn’t mean we’ll never enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant again, but it does mean we’re getting some forced practice in distinguishing between a want and a need. So, if you don’t have an emergency cash fund to handle unexpected expenses and regularly rely on investment income to make ends meet, prepare to defer as much spending as possible for the near term.
WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
Maybe liquid funds are short. You need to raise cash. Remember—even with the market decline—you don’t want to give up on equities or growth assets in general. In fact, this may be an especially poor time to sell investments that have just declined significantly. Again, take inventory of what you have; attempt to maintain the proportions you were comfortable with before the market downturn. Let’s not miss the rebound when and if the market fully recovers.
WHAT ACCOUNTS ARE YOU SELLING FROM?
Work with your tax advisor to consider if the assets you need to sell should come from your after-tax investments or your retirement plan accounts. The CARES Act recently suspended required minimum distributions from retirement accounts, but that doesn’t mean they’re off limits for distributions. Your tax professional can help you consider if the gains/losses from selling after-tax investments is preferred to the ordinary taxable income generated from retirement plan distributions.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions and other information in the commentary are as of May 1, 2020. This summary is intended to provide general information only, may be of value to the reader and audience, and is reflective of the opinions of Commerce Trust.
This material is not a recommendation of any particular security or investment strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or investment professional. Commerce does not provide tax advice or legal advice to customers, and while we may provide information or express general opinions from time to time, such information or opinions are not offered as professional tax or legal advice. Consult a tax specialist regarding tax implications related to any product and specific financial situation. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed, and is subject to change rapidly as additional information regarding global conditions may change.
Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
REMEMBER THE BASICS.
The coronavirus has been a sudden test of our disaster preparedness, and that’s true on the personal financial front as well. During the last ten-plus years we’ve enjoyed an unprecedented economic expansion. If you’re a retiree invested in retirement plans such as a 401(k) and IRA accounts, hopefully you have participated in that growth.
TAKE INVENTORY.
Consider your overall financial position and the stability of your income sources. Where your income comes from does matter in this market. While it’s unclear how long our economy will be on pause, it’s clear investments in some sectors of the economy will be more significantly impacted, at least in the short term, than others. Companies in industries such as hospitality, transportation, and energy have already announced dividend cuts—with more announcements from other industries likely on the way. Income from higher risk bond investments will also be under pressure as default rates increase.
DEFER, DEFER, DEFER.
Because we’re all looking for ways to occupy our minds with something other than pandemic news, how about re-evaluate your budget, taking out items that you can live without. This doesn’t mean we’ll never enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant again, but it does mean we’re getting some forced practice in distinguishing between a want and a need. So, if you don’t have an emergency cash fund to handle unexpected expenses and regularly rely on investment income to make ends meet, prepare to defer as much spending as possible for the near term.
WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
Maybe liquid funds are short. You need to raise cash. Remember—even with the market decline—you don’t want to give up on equities or growth assets in general. In fact, this may be an especially poor time to sell investments that have just declined significantly. Again, take inventory of what you have; attempt to maintain the proportions you were comfortable with before the market downturn. Let’s not miss the rebound when and if the market fully recovers.
WHAT ACCOUNTS ARE YOU SELLING FROM?
Work with your tax advisor to consider if the assets you need to sell should come from your after-tax investments or your retirement plan accounts. The CARES Act recently suspended required minimum distributions from retirement accounts, but that doesn’t mean they’re off limits for distributions. Your tax professional can help you consider if the gains/losses from selling after-tax investments is preferred to the ordinary taxable income generated from retirement plan distributions.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions and other information in the commentary are as of May 1, 2020. This summary is intended to provide general information only, may be of value to the reader and audience, and is reflective of the opinions of Commerce Trust.
This material is not a recommendation of any particular security or investment strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or investment professional. Commerce does not provide tax advice or legal advice to customers, and while we may provide information or express general opinions from time to time, such information or opinions are not offered as professional tax or legal advice. Consult a tax specialist regarding tax implications related to any product and specific financial situation. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed, and is subject to change rapidly as additional information regarding global conditions may change.
Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
