Greetings from Arrivity® Financial Planning!

We hope this finds you well as the year end approaches.

It’s our mission to help our clients navigate their path in the financial world. We believe financial planning is not a one-time event. It should be ongoing throughout life’s many changes.

We value our relationship and want to remind you that we’re here for you and your family whenever you need financial guidance. To stay connected, we’ve teamed with a writer who is bringing us some topics we think you’ll find interesting. We’ll be sending our new newsletter to your inbox monthly.

In our premiere piece, “Visioning Your Road to Retirement,” you’ll find thought-provoking questions to help you envision your future and suggested steps to get you moving in that direction. We hope it is helpful for you or someone you know!

Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

Your Arrivity Financial Planning Team
(formerly Goddard Financial Planning)

Visioning Your Road to Retirement

By Liz Behlke

The expected path isn’t everyone’s path.

When I started getting into memoir writing, I began to imagine a post-retirement career as a Personal Historian – using my skills to help others document their lives. I mentioned this to a mentor who said, “Well, it’s not like you’re going to quit your job and write for a living.” Not long after, I did just that.

When I was an executive, retirement was pretty straight forward: Work to a certain age, take the pension, then stop working. It’s certainly what my parents assumed I would do. But the closer I got to it, the more creative my thinking became. Why wait until a specified age to enjoy life? When corporate life started to be less rewarding, I took the leap. Now that I’m working for myself, I have a new vision of what the road to retirement will look like. And I feel like there are many more options – for today and for when I reach “that age.”

What will you do when you retire?

I recently came across an article listing 120 things one could do in retirement, and another that outlined 49 retirement ideas. I hope people my age don’t feel like they have to pick from a list in order to design life after a career. In fact, if you begin to envision your retirement well in advance, you can start lining up your finances and other resources to support your plan.

Today there are so many options for retirement: For some it may mean moving to a warm locale, pursuing hobbies, and traveling. But other people may want to keep working, start a business, or learn a new skill. And, of course, there are those who decide to leave 9-to-5 life early and pivot to something they find more fulfilling. The great thing is that none of these are bad options. What allows you to turn your vision into reality is a solid financial plan so you can see how different decisions will impact future financial scenarios.

Mapping out retirement

An honest discussion with your financial planner can help you explore retirement options and see how you’re going to get from here to there. Your financial plan will take into account current and future assets as well as obligations like education for the kids. A clear picture of all your finances can be your roadmap, and you may find out that you don’t have to wait until a certain age to start doing more of what excites you.

The planning process is a great way to clarify your thinking and discuss scenarios with your spouse or partner. Some people are surprised to find out that their family members have completely different ideas about what retirement looks like – and when it will happen. We’ve included some questions below to get your thinking started, as well as action steps you can take right now.

It can be scary to diverge from the expected path. I’m not going to tell you it was easy for me, but a roadmap can help you make decisions and turn possibilities into reality. Your financial plan can be a guide that leads you into retirement with confidence.

When is the last time you reviewed your financial plan? Your Arrivity financial planner can help you map out the future no matter where you are in the journey toward retirement.

Questions for visioning your retirement

• What excites you most about your work: the people, productivity, or the problem solving?
• Is there something you would do regardless of whether or not you got paid?
• Who are the people you want to spend time with when you’re no longer with work colleagues?

Action steps

• If you haven’t yet envisioned what your retirement looks like, consider writing down your ideas as a list or journal.
• Another way of gathering ideas is to collect articles or photos in a folder and review them when you need inspiration.
• On the practical side, gather all your financial accounts, insurance, and social security statements in one place so your financial picture isn’t a mystery.

Please contact us at 206.217.2583 or info@arrivity.com if we can assist you or someone you know with financial planning.

Liz is a Late Boomer in the sandwich generation who started an independent writing and brand consulting practice after years as a senior marketing executive. She lives in Seattle, Washington. Her mother lives nearby and her daughter comes home during college breaks.

The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Liz Behlke and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful. 

Washington State recently passed the Long Term Care Trust Act. Starting January 1, 2022, all W-2 income in WA State will be taxed at 0.58% to fund this new program. Prompt attention may be required for those who are working and already have a private Long Term Care Insurance policy or those who are working and are interested in purchasing long term care insurance. Please read below for additional information.

As of 4/12/2021, this is what we know:

Who will pay?

• The LTC Trust will be funded by a 0.58% payroll tax on all W-2 income beginning 1/1/2022.
• There is no cap on wages used to calculate the tax.
• W-2 income includes company stock awards.
• Self-employed persons and independent contractors are excluded, but can “opt-in”.

What are the benefits of the WA LTC Trust Plan?

• Beginning 1/1/2025, eligible WA residents may receive up to $100 per day for long term care services. Maximum lifetime benefit is $36,500 (365 days).
• Current daily cost in Seattle – Home care (8hrs) ~$220, Assisted Living ~$224, Nursing Home ~$400.

Who will benefit from the Plan?

• Only qualified Washington residents¹ who, at the time of the claim², paid the tax for either a) 3 years within the last 6 years, or b) for a total of 10 years, with at least 5 years uninterrupted.

What can you do (e.g. how to opt-out of the tax)?

• For those with an existing private long term care insurance policy:
  • Apply for an exemption from the payroll tax with the employment security department (“ESD”) from October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022.
  • Provide the approval letter from ESD to your employer.
• For those without an existing private long term care insurance policy:
  • Purchase a qualified long term care policy by November 1, 2021.
  • Apply for an exemption from the payroll tax with the employment security department (“ESD”) from October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022.
  • Provide the approval letter from ESD to your employer.

Sample premiums for a private policy

Coverage includes $3,000 per month, 2 year benefit period, 3% compound inflation rider:

If you are interested in exploring your options for a qualified long term care policy, or a hybrid long term care / life insurance policy, please start by contacting an insurance professional (see our Recommended Resources) to determine your eligibility, and to obtain a quote. If you still have questions on whether a private policy is right for you, contact Arrivity Financial Planning to set up a consultation.

¹ Must reside in the State of Washington. Any person that moves out of the State of Washington for 5+ years will forfeit all benefits and taxes paid.
² A qualifying claim requires that an individual needs assistance with a minimum of 3 of 10 Activities of Daily Living (“ADLs”): medication management, personal hygiene, eating, toileting, transferring, body care, bathing, ambulation/mobility, dressing, and cognitive impairment.

Your financial plan is a roadmap for achieving your personal goals. As you follow your plan, making adjustments along the way, you may one day decide to head in an exciting new direction. That is all part of the journey.

As a company, we have reached a similar intersection – a time for our firm to forge a different path. Today, we are announcing our new name and logo:

Arrivity™ Financial Planning

Since 2004, Goddard Financial Planning has helped hundreds of people like you plan their financial futures. Now, with more planners to serve the Pacific Northwest and beyond, we are changing our name to Arrivity Financial Planning – a reflection of our commitment to the very best client-centered services.

Whether you have had a financial plan for a few months or a few years, whether it was created under the name Goddard or Blue Canoe, you remain a valued client. Take a look at our new website: www.arrivity.com and let us know if there is anything we can do for you or a friend.

We will be in touch with more information over the coming weeks, including our new email addresses. Our current Goddard email addresses will remain active for some time, so rest assured that you will still be able to contact us when you are ready for an annual review or a plan update.

Goddard Financial Planning remains “open for business” albeit in new configurations with the team working remotely. We are busily working with clients who need help navigating the current landscape. Note that currently e mail is our preferred means of communication. While we strive to respond to client inquiries within 24 hours, that is not always possible based on our workloads. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this unique time.

We wanted to communicate with clients about the recent Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Recovery Act (CARES), which was passed into law on March 27, 2020. While the changes cover a broad array of topics, here are several items we think could have the largest impact on our clients:

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Waived for 2020

We expect this provision to impact a significant number of clients. 2020 RMDs are waived for IRAs and most 401(k)/403(b)/457 plans. This also applies to Inherited IRA RMDs. If you have already taken your 2020 RMD from an employer-provided plan, it may be possible to roll back the distribution if you don’t need the money. This roll back feature does not apply to an inherited IRA Required Minimum Distribution.

Small Business Owners may be eligible for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program

If you qualify as a small business owner, you may be eligible for various programs including the Paycheck Protection Program. A business is eligible if it has less than 500 employees and it can also include independent contractors and sole proprietors. The maximum loan amount is 2.5 times your average monthly payroll costs for the previous year. If you are interested in learning more, visit the Small Business Association website or inquire with your current bank. This provision is time-sensitive, and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Stimulus payments

Stimulus payments will be coming to some of our clients and are based on the adjusted gross income on your most recent tax return. Payments of $1,200 (single/head of household filers) and $2,400 (joint filers) will be sent to eligible taxpayers. An additional $500 payment is made for each dependent child. Payments begin decreasing if the AGI on your tax return exceeded $75,000 (single), $112,500 (HOH), or $150,000 (joint). The payments will be sent automatically, so if you are eligible, there is nothing you need to do in order to receive the payment.

Some retirement plan distributions for COVID-19 related reasons are not subject to penalty

Distributions from qualified retirement plans (such as IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457s) received during 2020 of up to $100,000 for COVID-19 related purposes are allowed without a 10% penalty for pre-59 ½ distributions. These distributions will be taxed evenly over 3 years beginning with year of distribution and may be recontributed within 3 years. Related purposes include a COVID-19 diagnosis for you, your spouse or dependent, and financial hardship as a result of business closures, reduced work hours, lay off, furlough, lack of childcare or other factors as determined by the Treasury.

To evaluate whether any of these changes might impact your plans immediately or as part of your next Annual Review meeting. Consider the information in this newsletter to be an initial interpretation of the CARES law and not personalized advice.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting, please reach out to info@arrivity.com.