September 17, 2014

Why I Decided to Purchase Earthquake Insurance

September 17, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

The first earthquake I felt in San Diego was on Easter Sunday 2010. While it lasted for just over a minute and didn't cause any major damage in our immediate area, it certainly made me uneasy. It made me aware of how vulnerable we are to the forces of mother nature in our new home. Four years, 2 kids and a dog later, I am reviewing my insurance policies to make sure they are up to date, as I do ever year. Earthquake damage, like flood damage, is not covered through most homeowner's insurance policies. The cost depends on where you live, the type of house you have and the coverage amounts that you select.

We purchased a California Earthquake Authority (CEA) policy through USAA where we also have our Homeowner's Insurance. It costs us a couple hundred dollars per year with a 15% deductible. The deductible is the amount you need to pay out of pocket before getting the money to rebuild. For example, if you are covered for a $400,000 house, you have to pay $60,000 ($400,000 x 15%) out of pocket before the dwelling coverage kicks in.

Since other insurance policies such as home and auto have options for much smaller deductibles (ex. $500 or $1,000), this high deductible may be what makes earthquake insurance unpalatable to some. I think it is yet another good reason to have an emergency cash cushion on hand at all times. The reality is that if we didn't have earthquake insurance, and we experienced earthquake damage, we couldn't afford to rebuild our house without jeopardizing our retirement and children's education. While our house isn't sitting on a fault line as far as we know, we do have faults within close proximity. According to the CEA website, new faults are discovered all the time and no part of California is immune.

In addition to the coverage to rebuild, we are covered for $25,000 (not subject to the 15% deductible) for living expenses while we are displaced and rebuilding. This is essential now that we have children. If school is in session, we can't head back to the east coast to live with family. We can't crash with friends since most of them have at least two kids now and wouldn't have the space to put us up.

I have heard people say they would just walk away from their house if "the big one" came. Even if we were willing to walk away from the equity in our house, which we are not, we couldn't walk away from the mortgage. If we did, it would hurt our credit score and make it hard for us to get another loan in the future.

To get an idea of what earthquake insurance would cost you, check out the CEA website's premium calculator. I also highly recommend reviewing their FAQ page and your own policy disclosures and information to make sure you fully understand it.

Linda Rogers, CFP®, EA, MSBA is the owner and founder of Planning Within Reach, LLC (PWR). Originally from New Jersey, Linda services clients throughout San Diego county and nationwide. She leads the design of PWR's investment portfolios which utilize broad, low-cost investments that integrate environmentally, socially, and governance (ESG) factors.

Planning Within Reach, LLC (PWR) is a fee-only and fiduciary wealth management firm offering one-time comprehensive financial planning, ongoing impact-focused investment management and tax preparation services in San Diego and nationwide. PWR is a woman-owned firm that specializes in busy professionals and impact investors. Planning Within Reach, LLC and their advisors do not receive commissions and do not hold any insurance licenses or brokerage relationships.

September 08, 2014

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September 08, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

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August 04, 2014

Personal Finance For Children

August 04, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

When it is relevant for a client, PWR financial plans include a section on personal finance for children. We compile information from a few sources including Money as You Grow.

Here are some age appropriate activities I started doing with my 3 1/2 year old.

1) Identify what costs money versus what is free. For example, we pay money when we go to the local pool. We don't pay money when we go to the library, park or the beach. Those are free activities.

2) Explain that people can get money by working. Mommy and Daddy go to work to get money. A couple of neighborhood kids were selling snow cones one day - they were working too!

3) There is a difference between what we need versus what we want. We need to buy fruits and vegetables at the store or farmer's market. We don't need to buy lollipops and cookies. Those are special treats we get every once in a while. We need a place to live and a car to drive, but we don't need an automatic bubble maker (yes - these exist!) or a new scooter. Those things are nice to have, and we may want and enjoy them, but we don't need them.

Use these examples or create your own using the Money as You Grow site as a start.

June 25, 2014

Buying Raw Land

June 25, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

Purchasing raw land is different than purchasing a property with a house already on it. While it can be appealing to start with a blank slate, it can also come with a lot of frustrations if you are not prepared. Here are some tips:

1) Learn as much about the property as possible.

Look at SunCalc.net to get an idea of the property’s sun exposure throughout different times of the year. Review the USDA soil maps here to understand the type of soil on your land and surrounding properties. Speak with neighbors about the property to get their opinion.

2) Find a friend or real estate agent with a lot of experience.

You need someone who is familiar with the zoning laws, rules and restrictions unique to the area. You also want to make sure there are no easements and nothing preventing you from doing what you want to do with the land (such as build a home or farm).

3) Understand that you have different loan options

While many people put 20% down on their primary residences, land loans may require 30% or more. They also have a higher interest rate than your typical mortgage loan because vacant land is considered riskier.

4) Getting water and utilities can be expensive.

If you are purchasing land in a rural area, you will need to get clear on the logistics of getting water and utilities to your property. For water, you may need to drill a well. The cost associated with this will depend on how deep they have to drill and the type of soil. A "perc test" will determine if a septic system can be installed in an appropriate location.

Purchasing land requires a lot of due diligence to make sure it doesn’t become a money pit. Even with asking all the right questions, there can be surprises. Planning ahead and working with trusted professionals can make the process go smoothly.

June 09, 2014

Evaluating if Pet Insurance is Right for Your Family

June 09, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

Most of us think of our pets as part of our family. As such, we care for them when they are sick or injured as we would any family member. While we know that the human members of the family should have medical insurance, we may not think about it for our pets. That begs the question, should you obtain insurance for them? Well, it depends. Insurance is just one way to manage risk. Here are some tips for evaluating the decision.

Determine if you can self-insure. We decided to self-insure our dog when we found him 4 ½ years ago. Instead of paying $50 / month ($600 / year) for a comprehensive insurance policy, we put that amount into a separate pet account each month. The money in the account is used only for pet expenses. His bills have averaged $400 / year so I now have a cushion in the account. If something were to happen to him, I still have this savings that I can use towards another pet or unrelated expenses.

Decide if you would be prepared for larger costs. The automatic savings plan works for a fairly healthy pet without major expenses. If our dog had a serious illness or injury, our pet account funds wouldn’t have been sufficient. That is where the emergency fund comes in. An emergency fund is a pot of liquid assets or cash that is set aside for emergencies. These can include a disability or job loss. You could choose to also make this fund available for unexpected pet costs while you are getting started with your pet account. If you don’t have an emergency fund, insurance may be a better option for you while you create one.

Determine what your limits are. If you are willing to pull from savings for unexpected pet expenses, decide what your limit would be. You don’t want to be faced with an emotional decision with an already sick or injured pet. Would you do anything to save your pet even if it meant putting them through a painful, risky treatment that cost $10,000? You may not want to deplete your savings leaving you vulnerable to falling into debt.

Review insurance policy specifications and cost. As with all types of insurance, there are multiple tiers and limits on benefits. If you decide to obtain insurance, review the list of items covered, deductibles, copays, premiums and benefit maximums.

As more and more procedures and medications become available for pets, questions regarding pet insurance will likely increase. Self-insurance has worked for me. What has worked for you? Email me with your experiences: linda@planningwithinreach.com.

April 22, 2014

Tip for Nannies

April 22, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

I had the pleasure of speaking with the Networking Nannies (@NNSocal) here in San Diego this April. One of the participants had a great question - is it risky for me to use my employer's credit card? What if they don't pay their bill? Does that affect my credit score and can creditors come after me? That led me to do a little research. The reality is that today's nannies do much more for their employers besides childcare. They go grocery shopping, pick up dry cleaning and take the kids on fun outings. They engage in multiple transactions per day so it makes sense that employers want to add their nannies to their card. There are two ways to do this: Authorized User and Joint Account Holder.

Authorized users can use the owner's account but do not share any of the responsibility to pay off the card. Credit is not affected positively or negatively.

Joint Account Holders are equally responsible for the balance of the account and legally liable for the amount due.

Therefore, if you are a Nanny being added to your employer’s card, make sure you are being added as an Authorized User to protect yourself.

April 05, 2014

Are you eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit?

April 05, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

If you paid for higher education costs in 2013, be sure to speak with your tax preparer to see if you may benefit from this credit.

What is it?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) modifies the Hope Tax Credit. It allows you to take a tax credit for qualified higher education costs including tuition, certain fees and course materials. See IRS Publication 970 for a complete list. It does not include room & board.

How much is it?

The credit amount is 100% on the first $2,000 of expenses and 25% of the next $2,000, so $2,500 max per year.

How long can I use it?

For four years! This is better than the Hope credit that could be used only for two years.

What exactly is a tax credit?

A tax credit reduces your tax liability dollar for dollar. It is preferable to a “deduction” which reduces your taxable income.

Can anyone claim it for higher education costs for themselves or a dependent?

If you are filing singly, your modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) has to be less than or equal to $80,000. For married folks filing jointly, the number is $160,000. After these income levels, the credit starts to phase out until it is no longer available.

How do I claim the credit?

Complete form 8863 and attach it to the 1040 when you file your tax return.

What if I only used 529 plan money for education expenses?

You can’t double dip. That is why I recommend that my clients use their own funds for the first $4K to make sure they can take advantage of the credit, then 529 funds after that.

Source: http://www.irs.gov/uac/American-Opportunity-Tax-Credit:-Questions-and-Answers

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/college-finance/3-ways-make-529-plan-work-1.aspx

March 02, 2014

Using a 529 Plan to Help a Grandchild Pay for College

March 02, 2014/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

When grandparents want to help pay for a grandchild’s education, they can choose a method that is just as beneficial to them as it is to their grandchild. With smart planning, grandparents can save taxes using a tax-preferred vehicle like a 529 plan. If they choose a 529 plan, it is important to understand the implications of having grandparents as owners instead of the child’s parents. Tax-deferred 529 plans have an account owner and a beneficiary. Typically, a parent is the account owner and a child is the beneficiary. This allows the parent to retain control over the account, preventing the child from making poor decisions with the money, like buying a new car. When determining financial aid eligibility, it is usually better for a parent to be the owner of the 529 account. While this calculation can get complicated, in general, parents are expected to contribute 5.64% of their eligible assets annually towards their child’s tuition. Retirement assets are not counted. The student is expected to contribute 20% of her assets. This is why it is typically recommended to spend down the child’s assets first, if they have any. Grandparents’ assets don’t count at all. So why would you not have the grandparent set up a 529?

The catch is this: If a distribution is taken from a grandparent owned 529, the distribution amount needs to be reported as income on the student’s financial aid form the following year. This can reduce the student’s financial aid amount by up to 50% of the distribution amount. So if $10K was distributed, the aid amount can be reduced by as much as $5K. If financial aid is not a possibility in your situation, this nuance doesn’t matter. If it is a possibility, hold off on taking distributions from a grandparent owned 529 until the last FASFA form is filed, typically the middle of the student’s junior year.

Another way for grandparents to contribute is to simply gift money (within gifting limits) to the parents to be used for college. It will affect the aid amount since it is the parent’s asset as discussed, but not by much. Here are some more pros and cons to having a grandparent owned 529. Be sure to consult with your financial and tax advisor to understand what is best for your specific situation.

October 22, 2013

Advisor Spotlight: Kylie Fletcher

October 22, 2013/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

Ms. Fletcher is the Founder and Principal Attorney at Fletcher Law in San Diego. She serves clients throughout California in the area of Estate Planning. I recently had Kylie answer some frequently asked questions.

Linda Rogers: What is the biggest mistake that families with young children make with regards to their Estate Planning?

Kylie Fletcher: Often, young parents avoid estate planning because they believe that they are young and healthy and need not be concerned yet. Sometimes, they feel they can’t afford an attorney. However, estate planning is a vital part of caring for your young child. Doing nothing can be a very serious and costly mistake.  The most important part of an estate plan for young parents is naming a guardian for their children. The guardian is the person who will care for the children who have not reached the age of majority before both parents die. Select someone you trust to raise your children and determine if that person is agreeable before finalizing your will. When selecting a guardian, consider the age of the person and whether they will be able to provide adequate care. Name a secondary guardian in the event that the primary guardian is unable or unwilling to serve.

Linda Rogers: For children under 18, do you recommend a Trust be listed as the contingent beneficiary (assuming the primary beneficiary is the spouse) as opposed to the children themselves?

Kylie Fletcher: Yes. If the child is still a minor when the parent dies, the court will usually get involved, especially if the inheritance is significant. Minor children can be on a title, but they cannot conduct business in their own names. When the owner’s signature is required to make a sale, refinance or transact other business, the court will have to get involved to protect the child’s interests. When the court is involved things move slowly and can become very expensive. Every expense must be documented, audited and approved by the court and an Attorney will need to represent the child.

If you establish a Trust as the contingent beneficiary, a person you select, not the court, will be able to manage the inheritance for your minor children until they reach the age(s) that you determine. A Trust can accommodate each child’s needs and circumstances and protect your children’s inheritance from the courts, irresponsible spending and creditors (even divorce proceedings).

Linda Rogers: Can you give us examples of plans that you have seen parents use to stipulate how children will receive an inheritance upon their passing?

Kylie Fletcher: Often parents worry about leaving money to their children. They want their children to have enough to do whatever they wish, but not so much that they will be lazy and unproductive. Therefore, parents who create estate plans usually create a Trust to hold assets for their children. Below are two very common planning options:

Option #1: Lump Sum

Parents will create a Trust to hold assets for children until they reach a certain age. Once the child reaches a designated age (usually 25, 30 or 35 years old) he or she will receive a lump sum payment.

Option #2: Installments

Many parents like to give their children more than one opportunity to invest or use the inheritance wisely, which doesn’t always happen the first time around. Installments can be made at certain intervals (say, one-third upon your death, one-third five years later, and the final third five years after that) or at certain ages (say, age 25, age 30 and age 35).

To learn more, Fletcher Law is hosting a Special Needs and General Needs Seminar on Sunday, November 10th from 9:30am to 11:00am at Pump It Up in Sorrento Valley. Child Care will be provided. Contact Kylie if you are interested in attending.

October 08, 2013

Making the Most of your Holiday Budget

October 08, 2013/ Planning Within Reach, LLC/ Linda Rogers

Holiday spending tends to be a budget buster. It is just like our tendency to overdo the dessert table, knowing we have the New Year around the corner to start over with a “blank slate”! Here are some tips to keep costs in check. Set a holiday budget for the year – This should include gifts, decorations, and extra babysitting time for the holiday parties. You do not want to rack up credit card debt. The goal is to spend within your means while not feeling deprived.

Break it down - List everyone you have to buy for and decide on gifts and amounts for each. Remember, it is not about the amount. I have a few friends who give $5 Starbucks cards for special occasions. It is perfect! I can treat myself to a cup of coffee and biscotti on them.

Save the list – Keep the list of gifts given so you don’t repeat gifts. Nobody wants to be the Aunt or Uncle who gives a scarf every year!

Go creative with wrapping – Use repurposed gift-wrapping or boxes. My husband is a pilot and has a lot of leftover aeronautical charts. We use them as wrapping paper. It sounds strange but it looks great and people love it! The dollar stores also have some great holiday boxes in different shapes and sizes.

Encourage wish lists – My family does this through Amazon but you can do it through many retailers. It is the same concept as a registry. It gives the gift giver the opportunity to choose something within his or her budget that the recipient would actually like.

Join in on big-ticket items – Dinners out, golf lessons and zoo or museum memberships for the family are all things people can chip in for and give as a group.

Bonus tip: I asked some of the best gift-givers I know how they always come up with such a thoughtful gift. Their response – they write down ideas throughout the year as they come to them! Try it. It is sure to make holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable.

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