YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

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1 YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE December 2014 In This Issue A Net Worth Statement Helps Keep Retirees on Track Your net worth is more than just your income. A net worth statement presents a composite picture "in time" of your overall financial health. Retirement and Health Plan s for 2015 We hope this educational resource proves helpful. We believe an educated investor is a better investor. Please call us if you have questions. The IRS has released the cost-of-living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for retirement and health insurance plans. Earn Tax-Free Income With Municipal Bonds This article shows why municipal bonds are a popular way to earn tax-free income. Your Team at Community Trust Financial Services 101 N. Main St. Versailles, KY severda@ctbi.com

2 2 A Net Worth Statement Helps Keep Retirees on Track A number of planning tools can help retirees monitor their cash flow and make appropriate adjustments in response to changes in income and expenses. Not the least of these is a net worth statement. Taking stock of your assets and liabilities may require a bit of research at first, but the process will get easier each time you do it. By calculating your net worth, you are essentially taking a snapshot of your current financial status. That snapshot can then provide you with the information you need to make important financial decisions. What is net worth? It is more than just your income -- it's your overall wealth. To determine your net worth, just add up your assets and subtract your liabilities. Your assets are everything you own, including the money in your bank accounts, retirement plans, and investments accounts as well as real estate and even possessions such as your car(s) or a boat. Your liabilities are what you owe. This may include the balance on your home mortgage, credit card debt, car payments, and even unpaid taxes. Taking stock of your assets and liabilities may require a bit of research at first, but the process will get easier each time you do it. It's a good idea to review the calculation each year to make sure you stay on the right track. Whether your net worth is higher or lower than you expected really should not be of concern. The main purpose of identifying your net worth is to give you a reference point for assessing your overall financial health. The following worksheet will help you break down your assets and liabilities so you can reach your bottom line. YOUR ASSETS Cash/bank accounts, CDs, etc. 1 $ Vested share of retirement accounts (employer plans, pensions, profit-sharing plans, etc.) $ Market value of investments (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, annuities, etc.) 2 $ Market value of real estate (home, other property) $ Market value of vehicles (car, boat) $ Cash value of insurance policies $ Other (valuables, furnishings, etc.) $ TOTAL ASSETS $ YOUR LIABILITIES Balance due on home or real estate mortgage(s) $ Balance due on loans (car, student, real estate) $ Balance due on rental properties $ Balance due on credit cards $ Fixed monthly payments $ Unpaid taxes $ Other $ TOTAL LIABILITIES $ YOUR NET WORTH (Subtract liabilities from $

3 3 assets) 1 CDs are FDIC insured and offer a fixed rate of return if held to maturity. 2 Investing in stocks involves risks, including loss of principal. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and are subject to availability and change in price. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including loss of principal. Mutual funds are offered and sold by prospectus only. You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, expenses and charges of the investment company before you invest. For more complete information about any mutual fund, including risks, charges and expenses, please contact your financial professional to obtain a prospectus. The prospectus contains this and other information. Read it carefully before you invest. An annuity is a long-term, tax-deferred investment vehicle designed for investment purposes and contains both an investment and an insurance component. They are sold only by prospectus. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuer and do not apply to an annuity's separate account or its underlying investments. The investment returns and principal value of the available subportfolios will fluctuate so that the value of an investor's unit, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original value. Gains from tax-deferred investments are taxable as ordinary income upon withdrawal Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved

4 4 Retirement and Health Plan s for 2015 The IRS has released the cost-of-living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans. The table below compares both the retirement plan and health insurance plan limits for 2013 through On January 1, 2015, the maximum contribution limits for 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans increases to $18,000. Retirement Plans (k), 403(b), 457(b)(2) elective deferrals $17,500 $17,500 $18, (k), 403(b) "catch up" contributions for ages 50+ $5,500 $5,500 $6,000 SIMPLE plan elective deferral $12,000 $12,000 $12,500 SIMPLE "catch up" contributions for ages 50+ $2,500 $2,500 $3,000 Defined contribution plan maximum $51,000 $52,000 $53,000 Defined benefit plan maximum $205,000 $210,000 $210,000 Maximum includible compensation $255,000 $260,000 $265,000 Highly compensated employee $115,000 $115,000 $120,000 FICA taxable wage base $113,700 $117,000 $118,500 Health Insurance Plans Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limit -- individual $3,250 $3,300 $3,350 HSA contribution limit -- family $6,450 $6,550 $6,650 HSA "catch up" contributions for ages 55+ $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Minimum deductible for high-deductible health plan (HDHP) -- individual $1,250 $1,250 $1,300 Minimum deductible for HDHP -- family $2,500 $2,500 $2,600 Maximum out-of-pocket for HDHP -- individual $6,250 $6,350 $6,450 Maximum out-of-pocket for HDHP -- family $12,500 $12,700 $12,900 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution limit $2,500 $2,500 $2,550 1 The Internal Revenue Service Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved

5 5 Earn Tax-Free Income With Municipal Bonds Like other bonds, municipal bonds may react to changes in interest rates. Many analysts recommend holding short- to intermediate-term bonds because they may be less vulnerable to changing interest rates. Municipal bonds, frequently issued by state or local municipalities, are a popular way to earn tax-free income and, if income is reinvested, to achieve tax-free compounding of returns. In general, the interest paid on municipal issues is exempt from federal taxes and sometimes state and local taxes as well. However, it is important to note that gains and losses realized in conjunction with municipal bonds investments are subject to tax. Also known as "munis," these fixed-income investments can provide higher after-tax returns than similar taxable corporate or government issues. Types of Municipal Bonds The most common type of municipal is called the general obligation (GO) bond. These bonds are not tied to a particular community project and the issuer is obligated to make interest and principal payments on time, which makes them one of the least risky municipal investments. Consequently, they also have relatively low yields. Another type of bond is the revenue bond, which is backed only by the revenue expected to be generated by the facility being built. Other types include special tax bonds and industrial revenue bonds, as well as variations on the general obligation bond. Municipal Bonds in Your Portfolio Municipal bonds usually have a yield several percentage points below the yield of corporate bonds of comparable maturity. This means that a municipal bond can provide the same after-tax yield as a taxable bond paying a higher interest rate. If you are in a high tax bracket, the benefits of using municipal bonds within your bond allocation are impressive. For example, if your income tax rate is 28%, a municipal bond paying 6% interest is actually a better investment than a taxable bond paying interest at 8.3%. Factors Affecting Municipal Bonds As with any investment, municipal bonds present certain risks. Like other bonds, municipal bonds may react to changes in interest rates. Many analysts recommend holding short- to intermediate-term bonds because they may be less vulnerable to changing interest rates. Municipal bonds also pose credit risks, as became apparent when Orange County, California filed for bankruptcy in Another consideration is the potential for future changes in tax laws. Some of these risks are lessened by purchasing shares of a municipal bond fund, which is inherently diversified. Additionally, you should be aware that municipal bonds involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Fixed-income investments are subject to various risks, including changes in interest rates, credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, political events, tax ramifications, and other factors. This is not an offer or solicitation for brokerage services or other products or services. Municipal bonds are not an obligation of the U.S. government. Municipal bonds and the funds that invest in them continue to offer many investors higher after-tax yields than could be earned on comparable taxable investments. Because of this important benefit, you may want to consider whether an allocation within your portfolio is suitable given your situation Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Compliance Tracking # This article was prepared by Standard & Poor's Financial Communications\ Tracking # Exp. 11/16/2011

6 The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. The financial consultants of Community Trust Financial Services are registered representatives with and Securities are offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. Not Bank/Credit Union Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Guaranteed Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency May Lose Value Not a Bank Deposit This newsletter was created using Newsletter OnDemand, powered by Wealth Management Systems Inc.