MCPS Business Pitch Challenge on March 19th

Brad Sherman is very honored to be asked to judge the MCPS Business Pitch Challenge on March 19th. Students from nine high schools will be participating in this year’s event. As an entrepreneur, Brad Sherman is thrilled to support such a wonderful event promoting leadership, financial literacy and empowerment, and creativity. With the lack of financial literacy around the world, this event is a great opportunity for students to start thinking financially and as an entrepreneur from a young age. 

The event will run from 9 a.m.–noon. Participating high schools are: Montgomery Blair, James Hubert Blake, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, Northwest, Northwood, Paint Branch and Sherwood. Students will pitch their business ideas for a solution to an existing problem, improvement of an existing product, or create a need for a product/service to a panel of local entrepreneur judges.

The Challenge will be aired via the MCPS homepage, the MCPS YouTube channel and MCPS-TV (Comcast 34, Verizon 36 and RCN 89).

Brad, along with representatives from the MCPS Business, Management and Finance Program Advisory Committee will serve as judges, mentors or supporters. The three top winning teams will receive cash prizes.

Please tune in on Friday, March 19th at 9 a.m. as these bright students pitch their business ideas. Check out our blog from the 2019 MCPS Business Pitch Challenge on ways we helped coach the students in preparation for the big event. Support student growth and empowerment by attending this wonderful event. If you have any questions about the event, email ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org or let us know at info@shermanwealth.com and we are happy to connect you with the right contacts. 

 

What You Need To Know About the Third Stimulus Package

On Wednesday March 10th, Congress approved the American Rescue Plan, the third stimulus relief package since the pandemic started a year ago. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act includes measures ranging from stimulus checks to child tax credits, jobless benefits to vaccine-distribution funds, healthcare subsidies to restaurant aid. The legislation is the largest aid package to pass since widespread restrictions tied to the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020.

Here’s what to know: 

  • Federal unemployment benefits of $300 per week have been extended until early September.
  • If you collected unemployment in 2020 or do so in 2021, you do not owe taxes on the first $10,200 in assistance. 
  • Lots of people will receive $1,400 stimulus checks in the coming weeks. Individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and married couples earning $150,000 or less qualify. 
  • Most Americans with kids will qualify for a new child tax credit: $3,600 per year for every child under 6 and $3,000 for each kid ages 6-17. 

Aside from these stimulus bill changes, tax day, April 15th, remains the same. Make sure to file your return on or before that date to avoid penalties. Check out our definitive guide to your 2021 tax return with detailed information on this year’s tax season. In addition, make sure to fund your retirement accounts by this year’s deadline. We will continue to monitor any changes to 2021 filing dates, but we recommend to check with your CPA with any questions on your situation. 

If you have any questions on the third stimulus package and what it entails, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call here.

Where the Market Is A Year Since COVID-19 Began

As we approach the one-year mark since the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) began, we want to reflect on the year that the market has had. Its been quite a wild ride, especially in the past week or so, with the 10-year treasury yield hitting its highest level in one year, reaching 1.619%, to date. We have also seen a great deal of volatility in technology stocks, as they are currently down relative to the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

As we continue to see volatility a year into the pandemic, we want to stress knowing your timeframes, understanding volatility along with time in the market versus timing the market.

Below we have attached a chart from JP Morgan illustrating the difference in return if you were to miss the best days in the market. This chart will help you see the true understanding of sticking to your long term plan.  Check out the video below for Brad’s take on the market in detail, including tax implications, timing the market, and more. Let us know what you think and reach out to us with any questions at info@shermanwealth.com.

https://youtu.be/StB66SVXaIY

30-Year Mortgage Rate Tops 3% for First Time Since July

As we follow up on our previous blog regarding the skyrocketing 30-year treasury yield, we are seeing its impacts on mortgage rates. Last week, the 30-year treasury yield hit its highest level in a year, before the coronavirus pandemic began. As this yield has risen, we have seen subsequent increase in the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage since mortgage rates tend to move in the same direction as the yield on the 10-year treasury. So, Americans who purchased new homes or refinanced their mortgages over the past few months may have done so at just the right moment.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.02%, mortgage-finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday. When rates hit 2.98% in July, it was their first time under the 3% mark in about 50 years of record-keeping, according to Freddie Mac. We will continue to monitor these rates and the impacts they have on other metrics. If you have any questions about refinancing or mortgages, please reach out to us and we will be happy to connect you with a mortgage professional. As always, give us a shout at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here.

Here Are The Impacts Of The Skyrocketing 10-Year Treasury Yield

Due to tremendous economic aid, interest rates, particularly the 10-year treasury yield, has skyrocketed back up towards where it was a year ago around 1.2%, prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

We have been following this rate quite closely on our instagram handle, @shermanwealth, as we recorded it last week hitting 1.6%. Of course this spike has created tremendous volatility in the housing market in terms of interest rates as well as the stock market in terms of how equities have been priced.

We will continue to follow the 10-year treasury yield closely for you all. Check out the video below for Brad’s take on these interest rates and the effects they are having countrywide. As always, if you have any questions for us, please reach out with questions at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here. 

 

How Millennials Boosted Their Credit Scores in 2020

Millennials have been receiving some hot press recently. Let’s take a look and see what they’re up to. In a recent blog we discussed how despite the pandemic, millennials have doubled their assets over the past four years, topping $10 trillion in assets. As we continued to monitor how America’s young adults are setting themselves up for financial success, we found that millennials boosted their credit score more than any generation in 2020. However, we have also seen how individuals are struggling financially despite a high credit score.

The average FICO Score for U.S. consumers hit a record 710 last year, and millennials led the pack with an 11-point increase, according to Experian’s 2020 Consumer Credit Review.

No matter your age or situation, it’s always important to know your credit score matters. And remember, it’s never too early to start building credit. Consider some of these tips if you are beginning to build your credit: make payments on time, pay in full, and consider utilizing a credit score tracker to ensure nothing falls through the cracks, like an old Verizon bill from college. Tiny unpaid bills such as those can have a lasting effect on your credit score, so make sure you stay on top of your finances and bills. 

It’s also important to note low interest rates and how you can use them to leverage your situation. With a high credit score, you can take advantage of historically low interest rates on all loans, including car, home, and student loans. By putting to use some of the tips listed above, you will have a much easier time with lenders when it comes time to take out a loan. If you have any questions about how to build or maintain a healthy credit score, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute conversation here. 

Here’s How to Track your Expenses in 2021

Staying on top of your finances and tracking your expenses can seem like a daunting task. When your life continues to get busier, it’s often easier to push aside your finances. However, due to the great technological advances in society, you now have access to simpler and immediate tools that will help you manage your overall finances. 

Luckily, there are various ways you can track your own expenses, depending on what works best for your lifestyle. Some consumers like a more hands-on approach in which you log each transaction as it happens, while others prefer creating a spreadsheet to capture a big-picture look at their monthly expenses overall. There are even budgeting apps that automate the process, making it easy to keep tabs on your cash. In one of our previous blogs, we touched on the technologies we provide our clients with that help them see their overall net worth and all the pieces in between in one snapshot. 

Our biggest recommendation in managing your expenses and finances is automation. As mentioned earlier, our world today has made it so simple to have access to your finances at the click of a button. Using software and automating your bank statements and payment schedule, credit cards, and more can not only save you time, but help keep you more organized and on top of your spending. It’s easy to swipe your credit card without thinking twice, but with new features such as purchase notifications, you can see in real time how much you are spending and where your credit card balance lies at all times. 

How you manage your money is a personal decision that only you can make. While some may prefer logging each of their transactions manually, others may like an app that syncs to their accounts and tracks expenses for them. No matter what route you choose, make sure you are setting aside routine time to check on your spending and evaluate your financial progress as you go. If you have any questions on how to better manage and automate your finances or would like a free trial to our technological software, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation on our site. 

 

Here’s How Bitcoin Will Affect Your Taxes

Getting swept up in the crypto-currency craze? Thought so. Since the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the world in March, bitcoin has rocketed towards the sky. Hovering at approximately $5,000 in March, bitcoin broke its record high at $50,000 this week as you can see in the chart below.  

With the increase of interest in meme stocks and crypto-currency in recent months, we want to bring light a facet of these stocks that you may not be thinking about. With tax season beginning as discussed in our previous blog, you should take a second to look at the tax implications involved with bitcoin and meme stocks. If you are to get swept up in day trading on Robinhood or other platforms, you should know the difference between short and long term tax rates. It’s important to note that some of these alternative coins cannot convert to cash, which could cause some complications when it comes to your taxes. 

No matter what asset class you are investing in, keep in mind that it’s either most tax efficient in a retirement account or to hold onto for more than a year. If you are day trading or thinking for the short term, be very aware of the tax implications and how that affects the overall return of said investment.  If you do not plan on selling your investments or are thinking about selling, it is important to understand  these tax implications as well. As always, make sure you understand the risks involved before investing  and only risk what you can afford to lose. When listening to the media and the Dave Portnoy’s of the world, it’s easy to swept up in the hype; however, these influencers do not usually discuss the serious tax surprises that these investments can have. Sherman Wealth is charitably inclined, and if you are as well you might want to consider setting up a donor advised fund or donating your gains right to charity if you are sitting on gains before selling. 

While it may be exhilarating and increasingly popular to get involved with meme and heavily shorted stocks, keep in mind the complications and volatility involved. At Sherman Wealth, we always encourage you to keep a diversified portfolio that will benefit your financial future and goes along with your individual risk tolerance and financial plan. If you have any questions about anything discussed in this blog or need help finding the right tax professional to help you with your tax return or discuss donating assets to charity, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a 30-minute consultation here. 

 

Tax Filing Season Is Here

Tax filing season officially begins February 12th, so make sure to get your documents and files in order! We know tax season can be daunting; however, submitting your tax return to the IRS as soon as you are able may be extra crucial this year. 

That’s because the coronavirus pandemic has led to changes in the tax code that will impact individual returns and refunds.

The season is also shorter than usual this year. The IRS will start accepting and processing tax returns on Friday, Feb. 12, and so far, has made no indication that it will also delay the April 15 filing deadline — an additional incentive to be on top of filing taxes, especially if you’re going to work with a tax preparer. Keep in mind that prior to filing your tax return, you should contribute to your retirement accounts, IRA, and Roth IRA’s depending on your income and if you qualify. For more details on whether you qualify, check out the link here. 

That’s because the coronavirus pandemic has led to changes in the tax code that will impact individual returns and refunds. The season is also shorter than usual this year. The IRS will start accepting and processing tax returns on Friday, Feb. 12, and so far, has made no indication that it will also delay the April 15 filing deadline — an additional incentive to be on top of filing taxes, especially if you’re going to work with a tax preparer. 

There’s no benefit to waiting on getting your tax return this year. Make sure to get organized and file your documents as soon as you are ready to. If you have any questions or need help finding a tax professional please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a 30-minute consultation on our site here.

 

Has COVID-19 Impacted Your Relationships?

COVID-19 has impacted our lives in so many ways. Work, relationships and finances have been taken for a whirlwind by widespread job loss and stay-at-home orders. 

Due to the global pandemic, relationships have shifted: Couples and singles alike are focusing increasingly on financial stability and transparency.

In a recent Personal Capital survey conducted by The Harris Poll*, nearly 2 in 3 Americans (61%) told us that the COVID-19 pandemic has made financial stability in a partner more important to them.

Financial stress affects couples in different ways. According to our survey, however, men feel the impact of financial stress in a relationship slightly more than women. They have also noticed that they are talking more about money with their partner, and — either in conversation or in private — they’re more likely to have contemplated a prenup. However, they don’t value financial stability as much as women do.

As a third party and fiduciary advisor, we can help drive a a big-picture money discussion, helping find a balance and strategy that both parties are comfortable with. 

We recently published a podcast with psychotherapist David Pearl about tips and ways to have those uncomfortable conversations with your significant other. In all, personal finance is just that — personal. When discussing it with a partner, it can feel vulnerable, and you can feel anxious or uneasy. However, don’t let those feelings distract you from having a productive and transparent conversation. Consider discussing with a financial advisor to help spark those conversations and find a happy medium when it comes to your finances. If you and your partner would like to discuss with us, please book a complimentary 30-minute consultation here.