Slide 1 Understanding money matters and managing your cash flow are an integral part of any sound financial management strategy. Effectively managing your cash flow can free up capital to save and invest assets you can put to work helping you pursue your financial goals.
Slide 2 This firm provides a wide range of services with the primary commitment of helping our clients pursue their unique financial objectives. We want to help you develop an overall strategy tailored to your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
Slide 3 This firm is dedicated to helping individuals evaluate their financial situations. We want to provide people with tools that can help them make informed decisions. We offer informational material on a wide range of topics because we understand that individuals have diverse financial needs. If you have any questions or concerns during the course of this presentation, we invite you to take advantage of our complimentary consultation. During the consultation, we can discuss your questions and begin the process of helping you develop a financial approach that will address your individual needs. Keep in mind that the information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult a professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.
Slide 4 It s made of simple linen and cotton paper, it doesn t weigh much or take up much space, but printed money is a major part of our lives. According to the most recent figures available, in 2014, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed roughly 25 million pieces of paper currency every day with a face value of $560 million. How much of that money is going into your savings and investments? Money is one of the things we think about every day, even many times a day. But while we may think about it, talk about it, and worry about it, we sometimes fail to take the time to manage our cash effectively. Every successful investor knows that management of cash assets is key to a sound strategy. To begin with, you ll want to understand how time may influence your ability to reach your goals. Next you ll also want to take a look at your financial profile and examine your credit standing, your cash holdings, and whether it is time to rebalance your cash portfolio. Source: U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 2015
Slide 5 Why is it so important to manage cash effectively? One reason is that it can free up assets for you to save and invest. Successful investors understand the value of having time on their side. They know that investing early gives their money the best opportunity to grow over time. This video illustrates how. The rate of return on investments will vary over time, particularly for longer-term investments. Investments that offer the potential for high returns also carry a high degree of risk.
Slide 6 Once you understand the role time plays in your long-term investment outlook, you can be better prepared to make wise decisions when it comes to cash management. Having a good handle on how your credit score can affect your purchasing power could also help. There can be a correlation between your credit score and the rates you may be charged for any type of installment debt. And a higher credit score has the potential to add up to real savings over time. In one example, let s consider a $400,000 loan with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. An individual with a credit score of 620 could qualify for a mortgage interest rate of 5.83%. At that rate, the mortgage may carry a monthly payment of $2,354. Let s see what may happen if the person s credit score is above 760. With that credit score, the individual could qualify for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate of 4.24%. The monthly payment would be $1,966. That s a difference of nearly $388 per month, or over $4,600 per year. Over the life of that mortgage, that difference adds up to nearly $140,000 more than a third of the cost of the home. Just because of a credit score.
Slide 7 One of the goals of a sound financial strategy is to find the appropriate mix of investments. At the bottom of our illustration are cash alternatives, which have low risk but also offer the lowest potential return. As you move higher up the illustration, each section represents the opportunity for higher potential return, but also carries higher risk. The reason why cash alternatives are at the foundation of a well-balanced portfolio is that cash alternatives allow you to meet short-term and unpredictable expenses. Having cash and cash alternatives also may allow you manage other investments rather than selling at what could be an inopportune time. Keep in mind that allocating your assets among different investments is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not eliminate the risk of loss if security prices decline. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 8 One effect of the financial crisis of 2008-2009 was that Americans broke a long-term trend of low personal savings and increased the amount of money they saved. As the chart illustrates, total household debt rose continuously from early 2004 until it peaked in 2008. During that time of financial turmoil, the personal savings rate as measured by the Federal Reserve started to climb steadily. In 2012, personal savings reached over 9% of disposable household income. Later, as the economic recovery gained some momentum, personal savings once again slowed. Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2016; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2016
Slide 9 A closer look at the chart shows that, though America s personal savings rate climbed higher during the recession, the rate of savings in the U.S. has trended lower as the economic environment has improved. This pattern of spending during good times and saving during bad times is understandable, but a better approach is a steady, consistent program of saving. Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2016; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2016
Money Matters:Your Cash Flow Statement Slide 10 For that portion of a portfolio that must be liquid, most investors consider one or more of the four placed. Each has drawbacks and advantages. Traditional bank savings accounts are both guaranteed, up to certain limits, by the FDIC. Generally, they offer a modest return but you can withdrawal money at any time. However, you may be subject to a fee if you exceed a financial institutions monthly limit on transfers and withdrawals. Certificates of deposit (CD) are time deposits offered by banks, thrift institutions, and credit unions. They may offer a slightly higher return than a traditional bank savings account, but they also may require a higher amount of deposit. With a CD, your principal is locked. If interest rates rise, you may not be able to take advantage of the higher rates until the CD matures. An early withdrawal penalty may apply. Bank savings accounts and CDs are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. Money market funds typically pay dividends, which may be greater than the interest rate offered by bank savings accounts or CDs. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. Money held in money market funds is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. It s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. Mutual funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. Treasury bills are actually debt-based instruments investors lend money to the U.S. government and are paid a specific rate of return. Treasury bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. If a Treasury bill is sold prior to maturity, there is the opportunity for a capital loss or gain, depending on the interest rate environment.
Slide 11 Cash alternatives offer low risk, low potential returns, each of these investments may be vulnerable to taxes and inflation. It works like this. Let s assume you invested $10,000 in a CD earning 1%. After one year, your account would be worth $10,100. After taxes on the interest are paid, the account would be worth $10,075. Then you need to account for the effects of inflation. Assuming a 3% rate of inflation, the account value would actually be the equivalent of $9,775. If you aren t careful, you can actually lose purchasing power with your low-risk, low-potential-return investments. This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments.
Slide 12 Interestingly, many investors move in and out of cash alternatives depending on the volatility of the market. This chart shows the pattern that unfolded in the wake of the recession that began in 2008. The yellow line on this chart shows the performance of the Standard & Poor s 500 stock index, generally regarded as representative of the U.S. stock market. Beginning in mid-2008, the markets experienced a steep drop that lasted right through to March 2009. The market then began a slow and steady advance. The green line shows the total funds invested in money market mutual funds one of the cash alternatives we re talking about. As you can see, it rises in a near mirror-image of the stock market line. That means as the market crashed, investors moved their capital out of stocks and into money market funds. Then when the market began to recover, they slowly began moving back. Though this response to financial instability is understandable, it is driven by emotion and may not benefit the investor. A better approach to consider is to have adequate savings on hand at all times and to consider investing the surplus in a balanced portfolio for the long-term. Money held in money market funds is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. The Standard & Poor s 500 Composite Index (total return) is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. Actual results will vary. Sources: Investment Company Institute, 2013; Thomson Reuters, 2013.
Slide 13 At any stage in life, it is wise to reserve enough cash on hand to cover your expenses in three areas: First, you should be able to replace your income for a short period of time in the event of job loss or a loss of investment income. A good rule of thumb is to have enough on hand to replace your income for three to six months. Or consider setting aside a fixed dollar amount, based on your individual situation. Second, you should make allowance for emergencies that may occur, such as a catastrophic illness or an accident. And third, you should have some cash on hand for upcoming large expenses, such as a wedding or an extended vacation. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 14 It would be nice if we could fill out a simple form and determine how much in savings is right for everyone. But each situation is unique, and you may have special considerations that will affect your savings portfolio. After you have made a list of your outgoing expenditures and then narrowed that list down to those that are absolutely necessary, you will have a starting figure for your savings. Then ask yourself the following questions. First, how many sources of income does our family have? If you are a two-income family, the chances that both of you will lose your source of income is less than if you are a one-income household. Next, are you paying off some debt? If so, you may want to keep a lower amount in your emergency fund and work to pay down that debt first. Next, do you have special circumstances that require extra cash in emergencies? For example a dependent parent or a child with health concerns may require additional emergency reserves. The liquidity of your investments can affect your savings portfolio. If you have investments that are easily accessible, you may need less in your savings portfolio. If, on the other hand, most or all of your investments have little or no liquidity, your savings portfolio should be adequate to meet your needs, perhaps for a longer period of time. Finally, examine your own comfort level. For some people, that may require a larger dollar amount than for others.
Slide 15 Finally, you should consider the cost of traditional savings. For example, some investors who bought 3-year Treasury bills in 2006, when they were yielding nearly 5%, were faced with a decision about whether to reinvest their money in these cash vehicles in 2009, when they were offering only 1.4%. This graph shows the steady decline in the rate of return offered by 3-year Treasuries between 2006 and 2012. Since then, they have rebounded, but only slightly. These low rates of return are causing some investors to reexamine cash alternatives and allocate more cash to higher risk investments with a higher potential rate of return. The market value of a bond will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. As rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls. If an investor sells a bond before maturity, it may be worth more or less than the initial purchase price. By holding a bond to maturity, an investor will receive the interest payments due, plus their original principal, barring default by the issuer. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk. Source: Thomson Reuters, 2016.
Slide 16 It is important not to confuse savings with investments. Many people do this without realizing it. Savings should be in cash and cash alternatives, which are considered safe, liquid, and easily accessible for emergencies. An investor s portfolio should be balanced in order to receive the best possible return with the lowest possible risk. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 17 In this illustration, an investor may have too large of a portion of his or her assets in cash alternatives. The money is in low risk, low return investments, however that money is not safe from taxes and inflation. These factors cause some investors to reconsider their mix of investments; that is, some investors may want to pursue investments that have higher risk with the potential for higher return. One of these options may include a fixed-interest investment. A fixed-interest investment may have penalties for early withdrawals and other restrictions, so it is important to have adequate savings on the foundation level. This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 18 Without a definite plan, it is easy to let emotion cause us to jump to higher risk and higher potential return. Ron and Susan have $150,000 in CDs. As these reach maturity, they decide to take $100,000 and divide it between three stocks, looking for higher potential returns but perhaps not understanding the higher risk involved with stock-related investments. Ron and Susan need to understand that past performance does not guarantee future results. Cash alternatives, fixed interest, bonds, and stocks can be important parts of a balanced portfolio. But before you jump, consider your individual situation and understand the risks. This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 19 In another example, Bob and Lydia have $150,000 in savings invested in a CD. When the CD matures, they sit down with an investment professional and calculate their savings needs. They find that a savings portfolio of $75,000 is adequate to meet their income needs in case of an emergency. After some consultation they decide to place the remaining $75,000 in a fixed-interest investment. This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments. The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund or other cash alternative. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 20 Taking control of your money is a life-long process. Here are some questions that arise at different stages in life: Anthony and Selena, a two-income couple with school-age children, ask, How much money do we need in savings to safeguard our current lifestyle? Dave and Christine, a couple nearing retirement, want to know, Is there a better place than a savings account to keep our reserve? What should we do when our CD matures? Rebecca is a single parent and small business owner. She asks, How much investment liquidity do I need in order to protect my interests? Isaac likes to do research online. He asks, In an environment of low interest rates, should I be taking more risk? The answers to these, and other concerns, will vary with each individual situation, and can all be addressed in a review. The FDIC insures bank savings and checking accounts up to $250,000 per depositor per institution in principal and interest. However, other cash alternatives, such as money market funds, are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it s possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.
Slide 21 There are a number of strategies you can use to find your appropriate mix of cash alternatives. And that s where we come in. We specialize in helping people just like you set up strategies that help them pursue their financial objectives. If you are ready to take a fresh look at your portfolio, take advantage of our complimentary consultation and schedule a review today.