Retirement Viewpoints - December 2016

Retirement Viewpoints
The 515 Hamilton Group at Morgan Stanley
December 2016
Season's Greetings
Wealth Management
515 W Hamilton St., 7th Floor
Allentown, PA 18101
•••
Patricia Peoples ChFC®, CLU®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Vice President
Financial Advisor
[email protected]
NMLS: 1285326
Phone: 610-398-6505/ 800-433-4200
Philip Segal RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manger
[email protected]
NMLS: 1270161
Phone: 610-391-6331/ 610-433-4200
Duane Peoples
Financial Advisor
[email protected]
NMLS: 1462320
Phone: 610-398-5404/ 800-433-4200
Our website:
http://www.morganstanleyfa.com/515
hamiltongroup/index.htm
houses the
Allentown
Phantoms
hockey
team
December
is the time
for us to reflect
on the
pastand
yearthe
and
Lehigh
Valley
Steel
Hawks
indoor
football
team.
prepare for the next. We can look back at the good things that have
happened which we can be thankful for. We can make resolutions and
plans to
theof
coming
learned something
All
this, year,
plushopefully
dozens having
of restaurants
places from
us inour
mistakes,
and
come
to
accept
some
of
the
things
we
cannot
change.
the
middle of one of the biggest urban development projects
For the 515 Hamilton Group it was a year of building our team,
in
meeting with clients, and helping them to achieve their goals and
the country.
objectives. 2016 saw us hold several educational and entertaining
meetings and events and we are looking forward to holding many more
Each of your financial advisors will retain their
such events in 2017. To keep up with our planned events, watch your
direct
email and check our website. It was also a year of movement, as we
phone
numbers,
while
toll free Allentown.
number will
be 800relocated
to our new
officesour
in downtown
This places
us in the
433center of much of the action in the city's renewal and revitalization.
4200
our fax
number
Withinand
a couple
of blocks
of or will
officebe
are610-395-0694.
the Allentown Art Museum,
We
welcome
you
to
visit
us
at
our
new
locationHotel.
Symphony Hall, the PPL Center, and the new
Renaissance
We have seen the development (still going on) of several new
apartment buildings, new restaurants, and new office space, all of which
are bringing new vitality to an area that has long been in need of growth
and improvement.
On a personal note, the Peoples family is thankful that their
children are working hard and growing in positive ways. Their son Craig
has hit his stride at Grove City College as a finance major managing his
part time job as a youth group leader while earning good grades. Their
daughter Grace, a sophomore at Central Catholic High School is saving
towards her first car with a part time job at Youell’s Oyster House and
keeping up her studies, social life and sports. They are looking forward to a
special family vacation together to Mexico.
The 515 Hamilton Group at Morgan Stanley
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Retirement Viewpoints
This was a year that Phil and his family moved into a new home that will more easily accommodate him, his
wife and mother-in-law, as well as their cat and dog. And, it is still in Bethlehem, which was recently recognized by
Money Magazine as number one in the Northeast on its "Best Places to Retire" list. But, Phil has no immediate
plans to retire. In fact, his target date is June 30, 2049 the month he'll reach 100, but he does want to finish out the
month. The Segal family also welcomed a new grandchild, Audrey, who is now six months old, adorable, and rapidly
preparing for college. She makes a wonderful addition to her sister and cousins.
Looking Back, Looking Forward:
As this is written in late November, the markets have been reaching new all-time highs as investors can
now look beyond the elections and prepare for a new year, a new Congress, and a new administration. While we
don't pretend to know what the future will bring, we can hope that our leaders will bring wisdom and sober
reflection to the challenges and decisions they will face.
Planning for future success, can involve making and sticking to resolutions. Among those we recommend you
consider in the financial realm are:
1) Make a list of income and expense items (we can help with this)
2) For improved money management, plan to use Morgan Stanley's online services. We'll be happy to help
you with this, including registering, accessing research reports, paying bills, and reviewing your transaction
confirmations and statements,
3) Try to spend less than you earn (As Ben Franklin famously wrote, "A penny saved is a penny earned").
4) Set long term goals such as a successful retirement, education for your children and grandchildren, travel,
or gifting to those charities that are meaningful to you (more on this later).
5) If you want to learn more about investing and finance, be sure to attend some of our educational programs
and read books that can make them easy to understand.
6) Plan to work with us to review or discuss some of the following: Required Minimum Distributions,
beneficiaries in your retirement accounts, powers of attorney, up to date wills and estate plans, income
taxes (and any changes that may affect your portfolios), titling of assets, charitable gifting issues, income
needs. Naturally we'll be happy to discuss these issues with you and your attorney and accountant.
515 Hamilton Group at Morgan Stanley
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Retirement Viewpoints
Charitable gifting ideas:
December is the time of year we consider making charitable gifts to our churches, synagogues, schools, or other
favorite causes. The simplest way to do this is to donate cash or write a check. But, for some of us there are other
methods that may be more tax efficient (check with your tax advisor). For example, if you donate appreciated
securities that have long-term gains, you can deduct the current value of the security without paying long term
capital gains taxes. Also, you can make donations from your IRA to a charity (up to $100,000) without reporting the
donation as income. There is no tax deduction for this, but it may impact your other taxable income in ways that
can reduce either taxes or Medicare costs. In either case, we are ready to help you make charitable contributions
directly from your accounts to your favorite recipient.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan
Stanley or its affiliates. All opinions are subject to change without notice. Neither the information
provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Past
performance is no guarantee of future results.
Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
(“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private
Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice and are not “fiduciaries” (under the
Internal Revenue Code or otherwise) with respect to the services or activities described
herein except as otherwise agreed to in writing by Morgan Stanley. Individuals are
encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors regarding any potential tax and
related consequences of any investments made under such account.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley") its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private
Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation
and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and
other legal matters.
CRC 1654901
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC
515 Hamilton Group at Morgan Stanley
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