Making Cents Newsletter - November 16, 2009

YOUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL TO-DO LIST

Things you can do before and for the New Year.

The end of the year is a good time to review your personal finances. What are your financial, business or life priorities for 2010? Try to specify the goals you want to accomplish. Think about the consistent investing, saving or budgeting methods you could use to realize them. Also, consider these year-end moves.

Think about adjusting or timing your income and tax deductions. If you earnings increased substantially, and you have the option of postponing a portion of the taxable income you will make in 2009 until 2010, this decision can bring you tax savings. You might also consider accelerating payment of deductible expenses if you are close to the line on itemized deductions – another way to extend further tax savings.

Max out your IRA contribution at the start of 2010. If you can, do it early. The sooner you make your contribution, the more interest those assets will earn. For 2010, the contribution limits are unchanged for both traditional and Roth IRAs: $5,000 if you are age 49 and below, $6,000 if you are age 50 and above. Remember that you can still make an IRA contribution for the 2009 tax year through April 15, 2010.(source)

While we’re talking about maxing things out, don’t forget your 401(k), 403(b) or Thrift Savings Plan if you are still working. You can contribute up to $16,500 to these plans in 2010, with a $5,500 catch-up contribution also allowed if you are age 50 or older.(source)

Consider a Roth IRA conversion for 2010 (see this Money Cents Newsletter for details). Next year, anyone may convert a Roth IRA. The $100,000 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) ceiling that often prevented conversion in the past will be gone - forever. The MAGI phase-out limits for contributing to Roth IRAs will be $167,000 for joint filers and $105,000 for single filers in 2010, but if your MAGI will exceed those limits, you may still contribute to a non-deductible traditional IRA in 2010. Then consider immediately rolling it over to a Roth.(source)(source)

More good news: if you do a Roth conversion during 2010, you can choose to divide the taxes on the conversion between your 2011 and 2012 federal returns. This nice opportunity won’t be available if you make a Roth conversion in 2011.(source)

Another detail to remember: in 2009, withdrawals from a traditional IRA may be used to fund a Roth IRA. (This relates to the 2009 suspension of Required Minimum Distributions.) So even if you don’t want to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth account, you may still fund a Roth IRA using a withdrawal from a traditional IRA through the end of this year (provided your 2009 MAGI is $100,000 or less).(source)

Be sure to consult a tax or fee-only fiduciary financial advisor before you arrange a Roth conversion or make any IRA moves. You will want see how it may affect your overall financial picture. The tax consequences of a Roth conversion can get sticky if you own multiple traditional IRAs.

Should you take a distribution from your IRA this year? It’s an interesting question. Barring an act of Congress, RMDs will be back for 2010. If you think taxes will be higher next year, you could opt to take a distribution before the end of this year to lower your IRA balance as of the end of 2009. As RMDs are based on an IRA’s value as of Dec. 31 of the previous year, taking a distribution in 2009 will reduce a 2010 RMD.(source)

If you have any income from self-employment (Schedule C), consider setting up a retirement plan (such as a SEP-IRA) to expense pre-tax dollars and lower your tax bill. 

Consider matching capital gains and losses (Schedule D) in existing investments. By doing so, you reposition your portfolio to a tax-neutral position. Consider rebalancing your portfolio to meet your target asset allocation. 

Consider tax loss harvesting. You can use exisiting losses to offset capital gains up to $3000 of capital losses to offset ordinary income. Capital losses can be carried forward for use in future years when you might be harvesting gains. A tax loss is a useable and valuable tool in your tax planning. 

If you think capital gains rates are likely to increase next year, you may be better off taking capital gains before year-end 2009. 

If you are age 70½ or older, you may want to make an IRA charitable rollover. It will lower your 2009 IRA balance and your 2010 RMD. The sun is setting on this tax break: the IRA charitable rollover option is currently set to expire at the end of 2009.(source)

You may wish to make a charitable gift before New Year’s Day. If you make a charitable contribution this year, you can claim the deduction on your 2009 return.

You could make December the “13th month”. Can you make a January mortgage payment in December, or make a lump sum payment on your mortgage balance? If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, a lump sum payment can reduce the home loan amount and the total interest paid on the loan by that much more. In a sense, paying down a debt is almost like getting a risk-free return.

If you have already met your health insurance deductible this year, schedule needed or elective medical appointments to be done before year-end. By doing so, you delay the time until you have to meet your deductible limit during 2010. 

Use any available funds remaining in your 2009 Flexible Spending Account. These can be stretched to the first quarter of 2010. File claims for 2009 Flexible Spending account. Make an estimate of the amount to be withdrawn for the 2010 Flexible Spending Account. Using pre-tax dollars to pay for these items is a huge benefit, be sure to take advantage of these opportunities for both medical and dependent care. 

Consider making year-end charitable contributions of personal property, such as clothing and furniture. Be sure to make a good inventory. Get a receipt for the donation. The charity won't assign an amount to the contribution, you will have to do that which is why a good inventory is necessary. 

Review your credit report for inaccuracies and accounts which should be closed, but remain open. All US citizens are eligible for a free credit report from each of the reporting agencies annually. Access yours through this link: www.annualcreditreport.com

Are you marrying next year, or do you know someone who is? The top of 2010 is a good time to review (and possibly change) beneficiaries to your 401(k) or 403(b) account, your IRA, your insurance policy and other assets. You may want to change beneficiaries in your will. It is also wise to take a look at your insurance coverage. If your last name is changing, you will need a new Social Security card. Lastly, assess your debts and the merits of your existing financial plans.

Are you returning from active duty? If so, go ahead and check the status of your credit, and the state of any tax and legal proceedings that might have been preempted by your orders. Review the status of your employee health insurance, and revoke any power of attorney you may have granted to another person.

Don’t delay – get it done. Talk with a qualified fee-only fiduciary financial CFP® or CPA today, so you can focus on being healthy, wealthy and wise in the New Year.

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