Fee-only, fiduciary investment management that tailors unique solutions.
InTrack Investment Management clients and their families know that we are always there to help them navigate change and stay on course to achieving their long-term goals. We do this by integrating our deep understanding of their individual circumstances and values with our expertise in finance, global economics, entrepreneurial ventures, impact investing, and socially responsible investing. While
our ultimate goal is to help them build and sustain wealth, our greatest pleasure is being an ever-present, trusted resource.
03/27/2025
🏠 Do You Know What a Quit Claim Deed Is?
It’s a legal document used to transfer property ownership—but in the wrong hands, it can be a tool for property fraud.
Believe it or not, more and more criminals are filing fake “Quit Claim” deeds to fraudulently transfer property ownership in an attempt to steal homes.
👇 What can you do to help protect against this:
1️⃣ Search “[Your County] Property Fraud Alert”
2️⃣ Register with your name, email, and Assessor Parcel Number (found on your tax bill)
This “Property Fraud Alert” service is designed to monitor official records 24/7 and notify you if any document—like a lien or deed transfer—is filed against your property.
It can’t hurt to take a few minutes to help safeguard one of your most valuable assets.
03/19/2025
⏰ April 15th is around the corner—Have you maximized your 2024 IRA and HSA contributions?
As the April 15 deadline approaches, it’s important to review your retirement savings and understand the potential tax advantages for the 2024 tax year.
Reminder of Contribution Limits:
👉 IRA (Traditional or Roth):
▪️$7,000 for individuals under 50
▪️$8,000 for those 50 and older
👉 Health Savings Account (HSA):
▪️$4,150 for single coverage
▪️$8,300 for family coverage
▪️Additional $1,000 catch-up for those 55+
With just a few weeks remaining, review your contribution status and consult with a financial professional to check whether you’re taking advantage of these opportunities and whether they align with your overall financial strategy.
Once you reach age 73, you must begin taking RMDs from a traditional IRA in most circumstances. Withdrawals from traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.
With a Roth IRA, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.
Once you start Medicare, you can no longer contribute pretax dollars to your health savings account (HSA). Any money withdrawn from your HSA for nonmedical reasons is considered taxable income and faces an additional 20% penalty. This penalty is void after the age of 65; however, it will still become taxable income.
03/14/2025
Did you turn 73 in 2024? Don’t miss your first RMD deadline!
📅 Key Deadlines:
1. April 1, 2025: Final deadline for your 2024 RMD
▪️ 👉 NOTE—Only applies if you didn’t take it in 2024
▪️ Based on December 31, 2023, account balance
2. December 31, 2025: Deadline for your 2025 RMD
▪️ Based on December 31, 2024, account balance
💡 Important Notes:
▪️Applies to traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other tax-deferred accounts
▪️Roth IRAs are exempt during your lifetime
▪️Current employer 401(k) may be exempt if still working
⚠️ Caution: Failing to take the full RMD can result in a 25% penalty on the amount not withdrawn (reducible to 10% if corrected promptly).
An effective RMD strategy is key to optimizing your retirement income. Partner with a financial professional to create a distribution strategy that manages taxes and aligns with your long-term goals.
Remember, once you turn 73, you must take RMDs from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plans in most cases. Withdrawals from these plans are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty if taken before age 59½.
With a Roth IRA, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.
03/10/2025
⏰ Final Reminder: Medicare General Enrollment Ends March 31!
The general enrollment period (GEP) is the chance of enrolling in Medicare if you missed doing so when you first became eligible (the initial enrollment period [IEP]).
🧐 What’s the difference between the IEP and the GEP?
🔹 Initial Enrollment Period (IEP):
▪️Who: New Medicare-eligible individuals (turning 65 or newly disabled)
▪️When: A seven-month window—three months before, the month of, and three months after your 65th birthday
▪️What: Enroll in Part A (hospital coverage) and/or Part B (outpatient care and other medical services), with the option to add Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Part D (Prescription Drugs)
🔹 General Enrollment Period (GEP):
▪️Who: Anyone who missed their IEP and doesn’t qualify for a special enrollment period
▪️When: January 1–March 31 each year
▪️What: Enroll in Part A and/or Part B only. You must wait for the next enrollment window to add Part C/Part D.
✅ Take Action Before March 31st:
1. Review Your Coverage Needs: Decide if you need Part A, Part B, or both
2. Enroll Today: Visit ssa.gov or call your local Social Security office
3. Plan Ahead: Mark your calendar for the next chance to add Part C or Part D
We have some resources at our offices if you have questions about navigating Medicare.
12/24/2024
🎄Merry Christmas to you and your families!
12/05/2024
📢 Important update: The IRS has finalized regulations on the 10-year rule for inherited retirement accounts. Key points to understand:
1️⃣ Two versions of the rule:
➖ If the account owner dies before the Required Beginning Date (RBD), beneficiaries have 10 years to distribute the entire account.
➖ If death occurs after the RBD, beneficiaries must take annual distributions AND empty the account within 10 years.
2️⃣ The RBD is generally April 1st, following the year the account owner turns 73.
3️⃣ Good news: There's a penalty waiver for missed 2024 distributions.
Potential strategies to consider:
👉 Leaving retirement funds to beneficiaries in lower tax brackets
👉 Converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs
👉 Using Qualified Charitable Distributions for those over 70½
👉 Beneficiaries: Think about timing your distributions over the 10-year period to optimize your tax situation.
These changes may impact your long-term financial and estate strategies. It might be time to review your approach to see if it aligns with these new regulations and optimizes your legacy goals.
Some housekeeping items to remember: Once you reach age 73, you must begin taking Required Minimum Distribution (RMDs) from a traditional IRA in most circumstances. Withdrawals from traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.
Questions about how this impacts your specific situation? Let's discuss. 👇
11/11/2024
Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served our country.
Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication. Your courage and service inspire us all.
10/31/2024
Happy Halloween from our team to yours!
Taking a moment to wish all our clients, colleagues, and connections a safe and enjoyable Halloween.
10/21/2024
🤔🤔 Ever thought, "If only I'd known how this would turn out, I would've done it differently"?
Thought this decision-making hack from entrepreneur Uri Levine was pretty interesting:
Ask yourself: "Knowing what I know now, would I do something different?"
Levine focused on the importance of making tough decisions early, saying that many start-ups fail because leaders avoid hard calls, like fixing communication issues.
At work, it might help you:
🤔 Decide if it's time to let underperforming assets go
🚀 Choose to take on a big change management project
🔄 Determine if you should implement a new technology system
As a financial professional, there are times when I use this approach to guide my clients. Reflecting on what I know now helps me make aligned decisions for their financial futures.
Bottom line: Insights from our experiences are invaluable. What decision are you facing right now? Maybe this approach can help you navigate it.
10/16/2024
Are you someone who owns an S&P 500 index fund? Perhaps it is part of your company-sponsored retirement plan.
Keep this in mind: The S&P 500 has changed since 2023, with large-cap technology stocks playing a larger role in index performance.
In fact, technology and financial stocks make up roughly 40% of the S&P 500, up from less than 15% in 2023, according to a July 2024 report in the Wall Street Journal. Tech stocks alone represent about 30% of the index! 🚀
🔍 Other Insights for the WSJ report:
➡️ Increased Sensitivity: The index is now more sensitive to interest rates due to its tech and financial stock concentration.
➡️ Global Correlation: There's a higher correlation with other global indexes, which some investors may be overlooking.
➡️ Implications for Diversification: The S&P 500 offers some diversification, but it may be more limited at this point. Remember, diversification is an approach to help manage, but not eliminate, investment risk if security prices decline.
➡️ Past Performance: The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged index that is considered representative of the overall 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.
If the S&P 500 is part of your investment strategy, you may want to take a closer look at the index. Connect with us if you need help.
10/09/2024
🚨 Are You Doing These to Protect Your Identity?
In today's digital age, identity theft is a major threat. Take a moment to check if you're taking these steps to help safeguard your personal and financial info:
✅ Freeze your credit: Prevent unauthorized access to your credit report by freezing your credit
✅ Don’t let your mail sit uncollected for too long. Don’t give thieves time to steal sensitive documents from your mailbox.
✅ Consider shredding documents with personal information. A household shredder can be used on documents with personally identifiable information.
✅ Opt out of prescreened credit offers: Manage the risk of fraud.
✅ Use unique passwords: Don’t use the same password for your accounts.
✅ Bypass the PIN at the gas pump. Use your zip code instead of your PIN, if possible.
✅ Safe disposal of digital devices. Properly disposing of old digital devices is a key–but often overlooked–part of identity theft.
✅ Consider identity theft protection services for added security.
If you suspect identity theft, watch for signs like unexpected bills or loan denials. The next step to consider is placing fraud alerts or security freezes on your credit reports.
Protecting your identity is crucial for financial health. Stay vigilant and implement these measures. If you have concerns, reach out. We're here to help provide you with information that can help improve your personal finances. 💼💡
10/07/2024
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month! 🖥️🔒
In this increasingly digital world, protecting your online presence is CRITICAL!
Are you doing all the following:
🔒 Using strong, unique passwords—and considering a password manager
🔒 Consider asking the credit bureaus to help monitor and/or freeze access to your credit
🔒 Enabling two-factor authentication where available
🔒 Staying alert for phishing attempts and scams
🔒 Keeping software up-to-date
Can you check the box for each of these?
Staying safe and taking precautions can help put you in a better position in the event of a cyber attack.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when InTrack Investment Management posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
The first thing we like our clients to know is that our approach to investing their assets is consistent, patient, and prudent. We believe that good investment management can bring clarity to a cloudy day. After listening to our clients' financial wants and needs, we deliver to them the best course of action and discuss our management plan until they feel fully comfortable and at ease.
There are Always Opportunities
In any business and economic climate, there are investments that provide stability and long-term growth. We believe the economy will continue to provide unprecedented opportunities through biotechnology, electronic commerce, and wireless communications, to name a few. Also, we look for companies across all industries that have proven financial track records and the ability to efficiently move product or service innovation to the consuming world markets.
Socially Responsible and Impact Investing
We are interested and experienced in socially responsible and impact investing. While this is not the primary focus of our investment strategy, it is one that several of our clients are passionate about and that we research, monitor, and invest in when appropriate. The good news is that personal values and financial growth do not have to be mutually exclusive. Companies can be screened based on their environmental, social, and governance positioning. With diligence, research, and laser focus, it is possible to identify companies that meet our criteria for performance and for their ability to make a positive impact on societies around the world.
