Is Tax Being Withheld From Your PayCheck?

Do you know how much money is being withheld from your pack check? Probably not. In fact, 45% of the people polled by the American Institute of CPAs said they don’t know when they last reviewed the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks.

Truthfully, many people we talk to do not really understand their tax implications nor understand their W-4 forms. Why should you care about your W-4 forms? Because, even though your taxes and filing a tax return may seem daunting, it’s important to remain on top of the situation to know how it will impact your finances. 

You might think that you just owe taxes, but thats not necessarily true. Indeed, the IRS issued 125.3 million refunds for the 2019 year, with recipients getting back an average of $2,535, according to agency data as of Nov. 20.

With the new year approaching, it’s important to become aware of your financial situation so that you can be in good shape come the beginning of next year. 

While tax season can be confusing and stressful, it’s crucial to understand your situation. Consider seeking help from a financial advisor or accountant when it comes to your taxes to help you better understand your withholdings. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Do you Need Financial Therapy to Deal with Money Stress and Budget Fights with a Spouse?

Do you fight about money with your spouse or significant other? Do you have trouble following a budget – assuming you even have one? If so, you might want to consider seeking financial therapy, coaching, or a financial advisor.  

What is financial therapy?

Think of it like psychotherapy. But instead of improving your state of mind it seeks to improve the state of your money. In essence, it’s supposed to help you behave differently, and for the better, when it comes to how you handle your money.

Do you need coaching, not therapy?

Given the year we’ve had with the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to massive layoffs and economic turmoil, it’s not a surprise that money issues may have caused fights between you and your significant other. In some of these scenarios, financial coaching is the way to go. In times that are economically tough, it’s important to tighten up your budget and learn ways to strategically stabilize your financial life. 

Consider meeting with a financial advisor. Here at Sherman Wealth, we challenge our clients to think differently about their money and coach them towards positive financial outcomes. We help our clients avoid making decisions persuaded by behavioral and investment biases, such as selling and buying mutual funds and stocks at the wrong times. Financial coaching will help you learn bucket strategies for savings, the importance of budgeting and ways to strategically build your wealth. If your finances are having a negative impact on your health and relationships, it is key to seek help from a professional in the field. Talking with a financial advisor can help you work through some of those miscommunications and misconceptions towards a positive outcome. 

Where to find help

If you believe a financial coach is best for your situation, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or sign up for a free 30-minute consultation on our site. Our team is happy to help you get your finances on track and get you to a place where you are feeling positive about your financial life. 

The Stock Market Saw a Historic November Rally

November was a big month for the stock market, signaling that Wall Street sees better things ahead for the economy in 2021. Between the coronavirus pandemic, the election, vaccine news, and where we were just nine months ago, it’s hard to believe that our stock market is breaking record highs these days. It will be interesting to see how the November rally holds as we move into December.

 

This month alone, The 30-stock average rose 11.8% in November, its biggest one-month gain since January 1987. Back then, the Dow jumped 13.8%. Just last week the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded and closed above 30,000 for the first time.

 

The Russell 2000 remained up nearly 19% for November, putting the small-cap gauge on track for its biggest monthly gain since its inception more than 40 years ago. It was far outpacing the large-cap benchmark S&P 500, which was up more than 10% and on track for its biggest monthly rise since April, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was up around 11.3%.

And while December is historically a strong month for equities, analysts state that the strength of those November gains suggests a note of caution would be in order. We will continue to monitor how the market plays out this December, but November’s strong rally proves how important it is to stick with your long-term plan. Here at Sherman Wealth, we always encourage you to drown out the noise and biases within the market and stick with your initial plan for the long-term. If you have any questions about your portfolio, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation on our site.

How To Better Your Credit Score At Age 40

Credit score is an essential part of your financial life, setting you up for success in the long-term. Whether you are a recent college graduate, starting your first job, or in your 40’s and a mid-career professional, credit score remains equally as important. While it’s extremely important to save money when you are first starting out, it’s also quite important to know how to spend money and understand the repercussions of not spending responsibly. 

We read an interesting article that reported New Experian data that found consumers between the ages of 39 to 53 (aka Generation X) have a considerable gap in their credit scores when compared to older generations. The credit bureau’s 2020 State of Credit report shows that Gen Xers, with an average credit score of 676, are closer to the scores of Gen Y/millennials (658) and Gen Z (654) than they are to Boomers (716) and the Silent Generation (729).

No matter your age or financial situation, paying your bills on time is a crucial part of building and maintaining solid credit score. Having a good credit score helps you when its time to take out a mortgage, purchase a new car, or get a new credit card with better benefits. 

It’s crucial to make sure you know how to track your payments and and credit score every month. Consider using credit monitoring apps such as Credit Karma that update you with real life changes or sites such as AnnualCreditReport.com to see where your credit stands and ways to improve it.

If you have any questions about your credit score of explaining it to your children or grandchildren, we are happy to help. Please reach out to us with any questions at info@shermanwealth.com or book a free 30-minute consultation here