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PRESS RELEASE – Now offering DFA funds through LPL Financial

Santa Barbara Advisor, Janet Barr, completed training with Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) to offer DFA Funds through LPL Financial

Santa Barbara area Advisor Janet Barr, MS, ChFC, CLU is now among a limited group of advisors nationwide offering Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) mutual funds through LPL Financial. DFA funds are not available directly to the retail investor and are not available through most financial advisors or registered investment representatives or their firms.
LPL Financial can now approve advisors directly to gain access to DFA funds through the Dimension Models in Model Wealth Portfolios. Advisors approved by LPL Financial will benefit from a unique educational and business support system including access to DFA’s secure website, Advisory and Brokerage Consulting Services support, marketing materials and tools and special advisor training.

Barr has been approved with LPL Financial and DFA and has completed the two-day training directly at the headquarters for Dimensional Funds in Santa Monica. Financial advisors must meet certain stringent requirements to qualify to offer DFA funds to their clients, including specific criteria in regard to the advisor’s knowledge of capital markets, experience, training, and professional credentials. Advisors seeking approval to use the dimensional models must:
• Submit a statement of using passive investment strategies
• Demonstrate focus on fee-based asset management
• Have at least one major professional designation
• Make a commitment to allocate the majority of client assets to DFA
• Have at least 25 Million in assets under management.
• Know how to integrate DFA into a practice using tools and resources sponsored by LPL Financial and DFA

For more information about DFA call (805) 965-0101 or visit www.janetbarrcfs.com.
Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Janet Barr, MS, ChFC, CLU
Collaborative Financial Solutions
(805)-965-0101
http://www.janetbarrcfs.com/

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Consumer Alert – Payroll Tax Cut Extended to End of 2012

If you work in a job that’s covered by Social Security, your employer normally withholds 6.2% of your wages to pay for the Social Security portion of federal employment (Federal Insurance Contributions Act, or FICA) taxes (assessed on wages up to the taxable wage base of $110,100 in 2012). Your employer has to pay the same amount–6.2% of your wages up to $110,100 (in 2012). You and your employer also each contribute an additional 1.45% of your compensation (with no limit) for the Medicare portion of the FICA employment tax.

If you’re a self-employed individual, you have to pay both portions of each tax. Normally, that means you would pay 12.4% for the Social Security portion of your self-employment tax, and 2.9% for the Medicare portion of your self-employment tax.

Legislation in late 2010 extended multiple expiring tax provisions. The legislation also created a temporary one-year payroll tax cut in the form of a 2% reduction in the Social Security portion of the FICA employment tax. That means for 2011, if you were an employee, you paid Social Security tax at a rate of 4.2% (instead of 6.2%). If you were self-employed during 2011, you paid the tax at a rate of 10.4% (instead of 12.4%).

In late December 2011, legislation extended the 2% reduction through February 2012 to give parties time to reach a broader agreement. Subsequent discussion and compromise resulted in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, signed into law on February 22, 2012. This new legislation extends the 2% Social Security payroll tax reduction once again, this time to the end of 2012.

You don’t have to do anything to get the benefit of the payroll tax deduction–the Social Security portion of your payroll tax should simply continue to be withheld at the lower rate. It’s also worth noting that the lower rate will have no effect on your future Social Security benefits.

The tax information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified financial planner.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2012.

New 401(k) Plan Disclosure Rules

As 401(k) plans have become more popular, plan participants have become increasingly responsible for making their own retirement savings decisions. The Department of Labor (DOL) has become concerned that participants in self-directed 401(k) plans (those that allow participants to direct the investment of their own accounts) might not have access to, or might not be considering, information critical to making informed decisions about the management of their accounts–particularly information on investment choices, fees, and expenses.

As a result, in October 2010, the DOL issued new regulations that require self-directed 401(k) plans to provide detailed information to participants about the plan and its investments, on a regular and periodic basis, so that participants can make informed investment decisions. Some information must be provided on an annual basis, and some information must be provided quarterly. For most plans, the initial annual disclosure must be furnished no later than August 30, 2012. The first quarterly statement must be furnished no later than November 14, 2012 (for July through September).

What’s changing?

If you’re currently participating in a 401(k) plan, chances are you’re already receiving similar information as a result of an earlier set of DOL regulations. However, employer compliance with the older regulations was voluntary, whereas the new disclosure rules are mandatory for all self-directed 401(k) plans. Even participants in plans that previously complied with the earlier disclosure rules will see some changes when the new regulations take effect. For one, you’ll receive more detailed information about investment fees and expenses. Another change is that plan investment information must be provided in a chart, so that you’ll be better able to compare investment alternatives. And plans will no longer be required to automatically provide a prospectus, although one must be provided if you request it.

Which plans do the new rules apply to?

These new disclosure rules apply to 401(k) plans and other plans that allow participants to direct their own investments, but they do not apply to IRAs, SEPs, or SIMPLE IRA plans. They also do not apply to plans that are not covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), including governmental plans, owner-only plans, certain 403(b) plans, and certain church plans.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

The tax information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified tax advisor.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2012.

Medicare Open Enrollment Period Starts Sooner and Ends Earlier

What is the Medicare open enrollment period?

 The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year Medicare plans typically change what they cost and cover. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. The open enrollment period is your opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription drug plans to better suit your needs.

When does the open enrollment period start?

This year, the Medicare open enrollment period begins earlier than in prior years. Open enrollment starts on October 15 and runs through December 7 (previously, open enrollment ran from November 15 through December 31). Any changes made during open enrollment are effective as of January 1, 2012.

What should you do?

Now is a good time to review your current Medicare plan. There are some factors you may want to consider as part of that evaluation. For instance, are you satisfied with the coverage and level of care you’re getting with your current plan? Are you able to see the medical professionals of your choice, or are you restricted as to the staff and facilities you’re able to use?

Are your premium costs or out-of-pocket expenses too high? For example, Medicare Part B and Part D premiums can increase if your income exceeds a certain level. On the other hand, if you have a Medigap or Medicare Supplement plan, you may find that your out-of-pocket costs are increasing due to co-payments and deductibles. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part C plan, those benefits and costs may change as well.

Has your health changed, or do you anticipate needing medical care or treatment? Now is the time to determine if your current plan will cover your treatment and what your potential out-of-pocket costs may be. If your current plan doesn’t meet your health-care needs or fit within your budget, you can switch to a plan that may work better for you.

Where can you get more information?

Determining what coverage you have now and comparing it to other Medicare plans can be confusing and complicated. Pay attention to notices you receive from Medicare and from your plan, and take advantage of help available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or by visiting the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov. Your financial professional can also help you find the information you need to make decisions about Medicare.

Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2011.
 

The U.S. Debt Limit: Questions and Answers

As August 2 approaches, you’ll likely hear increasingly urgent debate over the nation’s debt ceiling. That’s the approximate date by which the Treasury estimates it will no longer be able to borrow under the current $14.3 trillion limit. Treasury officials have warned that if the Treasury can no longer borrow money, the U.S. might default on its existing obligations–in other words, be unable to make payments it already owes, whether those be for Treasury securities or government programs.

President Obama, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have warned that not raising the debt limit would have severe consequences. Leaders of both parties have said that the issue must be addressed, and have put forward proposals for tying any increase to tackling the country’s budget deficit. However, they differ on how to begin to reduce that deficit.

While the debate is taking place right now, here are some answers to frequently asked questions that might help you understand the issues involved.

What is the debt ceiling?

The debt ceiling represents a limit on the amount the U.S. Treasury is allowed to borrow to manage the national debt (the total amount currently owed by the U.S. government). Before World War I, Congress often approved the terms of individual debt instruments issued by the Treasury to pay for spending authorized by Congress, including maturities, interest rates, and the types of financial instruments used. Eventually, members decided in 1939 to set an overall limit on the total amount the Treasury could borrow to pay the nation’s bills without congressional authorization.

An increase in the debt limit does not authorize additional governmental spending; only Congress can approve future spending. However, Treasury officials have said that if the limit is not raised, the government would not be able to pay bills that have already been incurred. According to the Congressional Research Service (an arm of Congress), the debt ceiling has been increased 78 times since 1960 (10 times just since 2001), under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

The national debt has two aspects. Debt held by the public occurs when investors buy debt instruments sold by the Treasury to finance budget deficits and pay bills; it represents almost two-thirds of the current debt. Debt held by government accounts is created when the Treasury borrows from government accounts such as the Social Security, Medicare, and Transportation trust funds.

What would happen if the debt ceiling isn’t raised?

There’s no way to know the precise or full impact, since a default on the country’s obligations is unprecedented in U.S. history. However, the Treasury is responsible for payment of a broad range of obligations that include not only Treasury bonds, notes, and bills, but also Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the current national debt, and tax refunds, to name only a few.
Technically, the $14.3 trillion ceiling was exceeded in May. However, the Treasury has been able to use certain accounting measures to temporarily extend the nation’s ability to borrow.

Bond rating agencies have already warned that an interruption in or curtailing of payments owed by the U.S. government would harm the nation’s credit rating, which is currently among the highest in the world. If that happened, or if the country actually had to default or restructure payment schedules, greater uncertainty about the United States’ ability to pay its bills would mean that both domestic and foreign investors would likely demand higher interest rates for buying Treasury securities.

Those higher interest rates would increase the country’s borrowing costs, making the national debt problem even worse in the long term. They might also result in higher interest rates for other, nongovernmental loans such as mortgages, which some observers worry could hamper economic recovery. And even if there were technically no default, the mere absence of an agreement that addresses the issue before August 2 would likely raise the global anxiety level substantially.

Haven’t we survived government shortfalls in the past?

Governmental funding gaps have occurred more than a dozen times in the last three decades, according to the Congressional Research Service. The most recent was in 1995-1996, when the failure of the Clinton administration and the Republican-led Congress to reach agreement on a spending bill led to a temporary government-wide shutdown. However, never in the country’s history has it failed to pay its legal obligations–one reason why Treasury securities have historically been considered one of the safest investments in the world.

Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2011.