It seems like every end-of-summer brings a similar refrain, just with different details. These past few weeks, we have been “blessed” with:
Iran and nuclear weapons.
Greece, the deteriorating European Union, and signs of serious shakiness in Chinese markets. (Indeed, as I write this on Monday, the Chinese markets have dived 9 percent, and the dollar is taking a tumble too.)
Continued social upheaval at home, and on the border. Prominent public figures caught out in deception and terrible behavior.
Presidential campaign silliness, and the political chaos to which we’re all about to be subjected for the next 15+ months.
And in the middle of it all, we’re all facing our own private fears, struggles and frustrations.
So … may I (once again) remind you of a few things?
Hartz’s Key Reminder #1: What you choose to “ingest” over these next weeks will greatly impact your state-of-mind. Garbage in, garbage out, as they say. And, of course, the opposite is true — when you surround yourself with excellence and clear-eyed determination, you find that your heart and mind carry much greater strength.
Temper your media intake this week, as most of those outlets are (quite literally) merchants of fear.
Hartz’s Key Reminder #2: The financial markets are driven by emotions — and by complicated algorithms that react on a hair-trigger to economic disruptions. Truly, the only thing certain about the stock market is that it’s volatile. So those of you with many assets resting there, don’t make moves out of panic. Sit down to discuss a tax-advantaged strategy … not a knee-jerk fear response.
Hartz’s Key Reminder #3: The only thing you can truly control is yourself. You can’t control the market, you can’t control our foreign affairs (unless, of course, Mr. Kerry or Obama are somehow reading this — perhaps you guys can!), and there’s a real sense in which you can’t even, really, control your salary and income.
So, with those key reminders in mind, here’s what I suggest:
Let’s take a look at how things are set up (tax wise) for you and your family for the rest of 2015. With school coming back, it is the perfect time to carve out some time to take a clear-eyed look at things, and plan for the best tax savings as absolutely possible, and other financial moves.
Call my office this week: (515) 259-7779 (or email me by clicking the button at the top of this page) and request one of our limited 2015 Tax Planning Saver Sessions. During this session, we will analyze your current situation and identify clear action steps for the last quarter of 2015 — designed to save your bottom line hundreds (or even thousands).
You CAN control your tax strategy … and we can help.
Until then…
Ann Hartz
(515) 259-7779
Ann M. Hartz, CPA and Associates, CTRS