Washington County Weekend Post

4 • W a s h i n g t o n C o u n t y P o s t R e t a i l • 3 - 2 6 - 1 7 C ome tax time, many people work to locate tax breaks. While this is always a smart financial move, a little-known way to help build your net worth is to keep taxes top of mind throughout the entire year. Reducing taxes means you keep more of what you earn, according to Nick Holeman, a financial planning expert at Betterment.com. "You can't control the stock market, but you can control some of your taxes," Holeman said. "Knowing how your investments affect your tax bill can help you save money not just on April 15th, but for years to come." Check to see whether your long-term investment strategy is running efficiently with these tips from Holeman. Invest your tax refund: One smart place to invest your tax refund is in an IRA. Normally, investors might divert a portion of the refund into this account as part of a well-rounded investment strategy and claim the deductions for next year's tax time. Invest your refund, and you may get a portion of that back in tax savings. Stay in the habit of investing that refund if you can and watch those small returns add up over time. Think several moves ahead: Investing is complex and from time to time you will have to sell some of your investments; everybody does. It might be to rebalance your portfolio or maybe your goals have changed and your investments no longer match their intended purpose. Still, smart investors need to think ahead before blindly selling parts of their portfolio. This is because selling could potentially lead to taxes. By carefully choosing which investments to sell, you can help minimize that hefty tax consequence. One way to do this is to partner with an investment company that has the tools to make this information easy to access and understand. Betterment. com, for example, offers Tax Impact Preview, which lets investors see estimated potential tax on a sale before making the trade. If you don't think the pros outweigh the cons, don't do it. R e o r g a n i z e y o u r investments: Another way to potentially leverage even small tax advantages into long-term growth is to build your portfolio like an energy- efficient engine, built to run for more miles with less need to refuel. You can help accomplish this by reorganizing your portfolio. Move inefficient investments like international stocks and other assets that are taxed more often into a tax- deferred account, such as an IRA or a Roth IRA. That way, you can enjoy the high growth for less tax. Then, move less-taxed assets, such as municipal bonds, into taxable accounts. Benefit from losses: Help keep your portfolio in balance by selling off the laggards and replacing them with a similar investment. You can receive a tax deduction from your losses that can help cancel out the taxes you owe on assets that have gains. This is done automatically for investors at many automated services through a strategy called tax loss harvesting. Smart investors should always remember that investments involve risk and may result in loss. Give to a worthy cause: While it's important to secure your future, many investors see community support as an important goal. Consider donating a to a nonprofit organization in your community. Not only are you helping to improve the quality of life in your locale, you can potentially claim a deduction from your income tax. It can pay to do the right thing. Secrets smart investors use year-round to save on their taxes (BPT) Financial News Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states. Thrivent Financial representatives are licensed insurance agents/producers of Thrivent. For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures. 29027B N1-16 It means having confidence that your financial bases are covered. And, that you've prepared for many of retirement's uncertainties—and opportunities—so you can live life to the fullest. Let Thrivent Financial help you retire fearlessly. Contact us today! WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RETIRE FEARLESSLY? Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota Thrivent.com • 800-847-4836 West Bend Group 810 East Paradise Drive West Bend, WI 53095 262-338-7770 Not all team members may be appropriately licensed to provide all products and services or licensed to do business in all states. *Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. Insurance offered through Reis Financial Services, LLC which is not affiliated with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Timothy M. Reis*, LUTCF Financial Advisor 4524 Dollar Drive, West Bend, WI (262) 338-0018 www.reisfs.com We offer... ❖ 401k rollover advice ❖ Tax Deferred Programs ❖ Financial review and second opinions 253624003 RETIRING SOON? CHANGING JOBS? RETIRED? We offer... ❖ Retirement/Investment programs ❖ Personalized Estate Analysis Reis Financial Services FREE Internet Gateway with order Installed Tax Included $ 945 • Two-Sided Pre-Finished Galvanized Steel • R-10 Insulated • 5 colors to choose from • Other Sizes Available • 2000 Garage Doors in Stock Special! - Take down and haul away old door for FREE! 16x7 SAVE $ 240 16'x7', 25 Gauge . . . Non Insulated Steel $ 745 NOW 12645 W. Townsend (2 blocks N. of Burleigh, enter off 124th St. only) Free Estimate 262-338-0906 Monday - Friday 7am-5pm www.lifetimedoor.net 254625001 Lifetime Door Co. TRUCKLOAD SALE on Garage Doors & Door Openers Full Year Warranty, parts and service on installed operators. Model 8365 $ 345 Installed Tax Included ORDER A LIFTMASTER 1/2 HP GARAGE DOOR OPENER & GET 2 REMOTES & KEYPAD. Community Calendar Friday, March 24 West Bend Where: Senior Center, 2378 W. Washington St. Call: 262-335-4498 What: Enhance Fitness When: 8:45 a.m. Cost $2 or monthly pass What: Chorus When: 9:30 a.m. Cost: Free Call for next practice time What: Beginner Pickleball When: 10 a.m. Cost: $1 What: Open Gym/Walking When: 12:30 p.m. Cost: $1 or fitness pass What: Greed When: 1 p.m. Cost: $1 What: Wii Bowling When: 1 p.m. Cost: $1 What: Advanced Pickleball When: 1:30 p.m. Cost: $3 or punch card West Bend What: Washington County Separated, Divorced and Widowed men and women meeting Where: Kettle Moraine YMCA, 1111 W. Washington St. When: 6:30 p.m. Info: Provides a means to share ideas, concerns, support, love and fellowship from a Christian perspective. Pot luck dinner. Contact: Mary at 262-334- Calendar continued on page 5 THRESHOLD ANNUAL REPORT INSIDE ✔ Automotive ✔ Classified ✔ House & Home ✔ Retail Partial Distribution INSIDE INSIDE INSIDE INSERTS INSERTS INSERTS INSERTS

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