Mark Delgadillo: Year-End Investment Moves Can Pay Off
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/103012_mark_delgadillo_year-end_investment_moves/
By Mark Delgadillo for Crowell, Weedon & Co.
What’s on your end-of-the-year to-do list? Shopping for gifts? Making travel plans? Hosting a party? What about spending some time with your investments?
Conducting a review and making important strategy decisions before 2012 comes to a close can help you get your portfolio on the right track for 2013.
Review, reassess, rebalance
Review your portfolio to see if investments are performing as you expected when you chose them and to help ensure your asset allocation hasn’t strayed from your risk tolerance comfort zone.
From year to year, various asset classes may perform differently in response to market and economic conditions. If one asset class now represents a greater percentage of your portfolio than you intended, consider rebalancing to bring your portfolio back to its original mix.
Also consider whether your time horizon, risk tolerance or goals have changed since you chose your investments. If so, rebalancing can bring your investment mix more in line with your current thinking.
Hold on for a better tax deal
Before you sell an investment, consider how long you’ve owned it. Gains on investments held longer than one year generally qualify for long-term capital gains tax rates when you sell. Currently, the capital gains rates on most long-term investments are 15 percent for most taxpayers and zero for those in the lowest two tax brackets (in 2012). Gains on assets held for one year or less are taxed at your regular income-tax rate, which could be as high as 35 percent. The rate differential may make a significant difference in your tax bill.
Fund your retirement
You may be able to deduct all or a portion of contributions you make to a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) by April 15, 2013, on your 2012 income-tax return. Talk to your tax advisor about the deduction requirements. Your financial professional can provide investment options that fit your personal financial situations.
— Mark Delgadillo is a financial advisor for Crowell, Weedon & Co., 111 W. Micheltorena St., Suite 200, in Santa Barbara. He can be reached at 805.618.3160, or click here for more information.
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