Del Monte Group

Good news for 65+ people and 75 and older who don't live in long-term care facilities are in Phase 1B of Tier 1, the second group of county residents eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Phase 1A included health care personnel and residents and employees of long-term care homes and people in those categories can still make vaccination appointments. The county extended the vaccinations to those at least 65. Click on the link below and make a reservation for your COVID-19 vaccination. Schedule online here: https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx

Congress is considering changing some key provisions relating to IRAs and other retirement plans. Here are some of the big ones: No Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) until age 75. No RMDs if the participant has a total of less than $100,000 in all retirement plans. Tax-free charitable contributions up to $100,000 per year could be made at any age directly from retirement plans, including employer plans like 401ks. Increase catch-up contributions to 401ks and 403bs to $...10,000 per year for participants over age 60. These are still only under consideration, but there appears to be bipartisan support. We will continue monitoring these developments and let you know when they are enacted. https://am.jpmorgan.com//congress-changes-to-retirement-/

DOW 30,000! Here we are, folks! Now what? Richard Del Monte discusses the all-time high in the stock market today (yep, you read that right) and what investors should do now. http://ow.ly/b95u50Cu0r2

https://financeinsights.net/aKV3SxDMtO4gbfl3JqSwbNv

One of our clients just saved over $100/mo on their current medicare plan! Prices change, shop your plan by December 7!

Did you get a copy of our brand new Medicare guide? Open enrollment starts on October 15 - be sure to price out your plan!

Dreading this pandemic winter? Here’s an interesting article on how to make it through this upcoming winter! http://ow.ly/xcjt50BXNrb

Did you know that Medicare plan pricing changes every year? Open enrollment starts October 15 - click to check out our brand new guide and price out your plan, even if you are already on Medicare!

If you have been laid off but still have money in a Dependent Care FSA, check with the plan administrator to see if they have a "termination spend down provision" in the plan. This would allow for the funds to be withdrawn so that you don't forfeit the money! http://ow.ly/8XYF50BQpxN

Medicare beneficiaries may or may not soon be receiving a $200 drug discount card in the mail. President Trump announced this one-time benefit yesterday as a way to gin up support from senior citizens. The $6 billion in funding for the cards is to come from a Medicare trust fund established for new initiatives. There isn’t much more information available to back up the President’s claim, so I wouldn’t be budgeting for this money quite yet. But be on the lookout for more details to see if it really happens. http://ow.ly/ugRS50BBBzV

Here's our CEO and partner, Richard Del Monte, on diversification! "In my 35 years as an investment advisor, I have heard nonsense like this many times. Truth: Equity (stock) markets are always priced to provide a reasonable risk-adjusted return. Usually this is 9-12% per year, but in scary markets it can go much higher, making buying then very smart. I've only seen one decade during my career where the S&P 500 lost money, but if an investor also held small and international stocks, their returns would have been 7% per year instead of zero. A great reason to stay diversified!" http://ow.ly/IWDP50BsXmv

In case you missed this last week, financial planner Chris Hughes discusses his take on the election and the markets.

Feeling the negativity in the news this week? We’ve got you covered with this great reminder from Richard Del Monte, our founder. http://ow.ly/6Wkb50BiuR2

With stocks again hitting all-time highs, here are some very important insights about how to be truly successful at stock market investing. We embrace and employ every one of these in our firm. http://ow.ly/Sh9g50BbPe0

Our wealth advisor, Chris Hughes, on investing during election time! https://www.facebook.com/3606494/videos/10108295135793207/?extid=33fucsnEUWeatUEM

Here’s a good read on why we should be optimistic about the future, if history is any guide! http://ow.ly/1abi50B5NyC

Good news for student loan borrowers! Feds extend federal student loan payment and interest accrual moratorium until 12/31. Even though this comes from Trump's executive order, the WH says there is broad statutory authority for the education secretary to act. There is also bipartisan support in Congress, making a court challenge unlikely. http://ow.ly/NTEm50B4LvF