The first month of 2021 is behind us and no one will ever say it was boring. Despite the upheavals in our democracy and the ongoing pandemic, parts of the stock market set new record highs in January. President Biden’s stated aim of vaccinating 200 million Americans against COVID by summer would be a great leap forward in fighting the virus. The sooner Americans are vaccinated, the sooner we can get back to some state resembling normal and get the economy on track for growth.
Our first article this month examines what the recent addition of Tesla to the S&P 500 suggests about indexing. We next consider the tax benefits of funding your IRA, and then consider the steps you need to take to make sure that your valuable possessions are appropriately insured. A pair of articles examines possible tax increases under the Biden administration, and we end on a festive note with some ideas that can sweeten your Valentine’s Day celebration.
In the months ahead, we’ll continue to offer perspective and guidance to help you achieve your financial goals. We’re honored to be your trusted partner and we’ll continue to do our very best on your behalf.
Articles of Interest
Tesla’s Charge Reveals Weak Points of Indexing
The addition or deletion of stocks to an index is typically a routine affair, but S&P’s recent announcement that Tesla would be added to the benchmark S&P 500 Index has gotten a lot of attention. This is no surprise, given that Tesla is the largest company to ever join the index, and it became the sixth-largest company in the S&P 500. The impact of this change and subsequent activity in the stock bring to light certain shortcomings in indexing that our investment approach is designed to help mitigate.
Fund Your IRA, Cut Your Taxes: There’s still time to make a 2020 IRA contribution and lower your tax bill
Ready to tackle your 2020 tax return? Make sure you haven’t overlooked one important way to cut your tax bill – funding a traditional IRA. You can make an IRA contribution for the 2020 tax year right up until you file your return, due on April 15, 2021. In the right circumstances, you can even deduct your IRA contribution from your taxes for 2020. As always, we’d be happy to discuss this further with you.
How to Make Sure Your Most Valuable Possessions are Fully Insured
If you have items at home valued in four figures or more, make sure they’re fully covered by your homeowner’s insurance. You can even add coverage for accidental damage. Start by documenting all valuable items and check their values against your current policy’s limits. If you own items over the limit, you can add a rider to assure they are fully covered.
With Higher Taxes Possible, Here’s What to do Now
It’s yet unknown how many of President Biden’s anticipated proposals to raise taxes will become law in these politically-charged days, and the timetable for any increases is opaque. Still, this is a good time for a strategy review, especially for those families with significant assets. The estate tax may change under Biden, too, which could potentially affect far more households.
26 Valentine’s Desserts That Have Us Seeing Red
How can we make Valentine’s Day special this year? Demonstrate your devotion with a red-tinted treat made (or purchased online) with your own two hands or show how much you care with a top-rated Valentine’s Day dessert. To avoid the “crowds,” you can always enjoy a romantic dinner right in the comfort of your own home
Symmetry does not provide tax or legal advice and nothing either stated or implied here should be inferred as providing such advice. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions.
Symmetry Partners, LLC is not affiliated with any firm mentioned in this material.
