1 | Week In Review

CPI Jumps Higher – Will Investors Stay In The Markets?

CPI jumped higher this week, and analysts expect PPI to make another big increase. What does this level of inflation mean for the markets, and are investors seeing a buying opportunity or a reason to get out? Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Derek Felske discuss.

2 | Poll Recap

Why Do Some Women Start Planning Their Financial Future Later Than They Should?

Women are outliving their male counterparts by 6-8 years, and many wind up as caregivers for ailing parents or significant others. Yet, studies show women tend to start financial planning later than they should.

Why? In our recent poll we asked readers their thoughts on this.

The majority of readers (78%) answered “all of the above”:

• Historically, women have tended to wind up as caregivers of people instead…
• Women have tended to wait until a major incident happens to start financial planning
• In the past, many women tend to let their partner do the financial planning
• Women recently have begun to have more of a say in financial planning

While the next most-popular answer was “In the past, many women tend to let their partner do the financial planning,” it turns out poll-takers agreed. There’s no simple answer. As social mores and expectations change, women have a lot on their plates and tend to put their own needs last.

Annex Wealth Management’s Director of Client Learning & Development, Deanne Phillips, CFP®, CDFA®, ABFPsm discusses breaking this cycle and encourages women of all ages that it’s never too late to start financial planning:

3 | Client Exclusive

Who’s On Your Team?

This week we’re starting a new Client Exclusive series called “Who’s on Your Team?” where we’ll spotlight various Annex employees and get to know who they are both inside and outside of Annex!

Our first subject is the man behind the radio microphone that many have heard but not so much seen or gotten to know: Danny Clayton.

How did you get into the radio world?

For context, I’m 61—so I grew up in the golden era of Top 40 radio. The radio bug bit hard at 6 years old growing up in the Twin Cities. We moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when I was in elementary school. I had this huge Panasonic tube radio I’d use to listen at night to stations all around the country on AM ‘skip’—but once I found WLS in Chicago and my favorite DJ of all time, John ‘Records’ Landecker, I probably never moved my dial. He was my hero—and still is.

My first radio job began the day after my sophomore year of High School ended. I was 15 and hired by a station where they apparently had no problem hiring incredibly bad beginner DJ’s. I’d ride my bicycle in the dark to get to work where I did Saturday and Sunday morning news and then came back later to do the night shows.

Tell us about your career before Annex.

My parents had moved to Central Wisconsin during my freshman year of college, so I wound up there working at a local radio in Stevens Point during the summers. It was no ordinary station—it was a fertile breeding ground for young radio guys, and I was in hog heaven. The station won small market station of the year numerous times and some very talented people moved on to bigger things.

After leaving college, I worked there for a bit then moved to Madison. After that, I joined WKTI in Milwaukee for a 17-year run where I was on-air, a music director, and finally, a program director. When that ended, I worked for 6 years at a contemporary Christian station which was an absolute blessing. I miss that station every single day.

I left radio when that station was sold and worked for an entrepreneur who formed a music incubator with a goal of developing bands and songwriters. I was the general manager and worked with a country band and traveled with them on 30+ dates. The music biz is a tough one.

Jumped back into radio to do a morning show on a Milwaukee FM station—but was asked to do Saturday mornings on the legendary WTMJ. One of those shows was ‘Money Talk’ by Annex

Wealth Management. I’d known Dave Spano in the 80’s but rekindled a professional relationship. 4 years ago, I joined Annex fulltime to work on our radio content.

Is there anything that you’ve learned since working at Annex that you have been able to share or apply outside of the radio studio?

SO much. I was taught to ‘pay yourself first’ by my parents but didn’t receive much guidance beyond that. My investment and retirement planning was all self-directed and I did the best I could, but now that I’m on the inside and see what we do—and how we do it—I’m blown away at how comprehensive our services are. I’m a client as well.

Favorite radio story?

Probably too many. I’m not easily star-struck but spending quality time with many of the singers and bands that I loved was a real perk of my position. I spent an afternoon hanging out with Jon Bon Jovi before his band took off and hit the big time. We just sat on the hill at Alpine Valley and talked about our dreams for hours. Sitting with Styx’ lead-singer Dennis DeYoung for 2 hours was an experience—I’d listened to their music ALL the way through high school, and I kept pinching myself in my office as it was happening. It’s funny, some of the biggest stars were the coolest while some of the minor, one-hit wonders were complete jerks.

Have feedback, an idea you’d like us to write about, or a story to share? Send us an email at cl************@*********th.com.

4 | Did You Know?

You can take Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) throughout the year.

You can indeed take your RMD at any time throughout the year either in a lump sum or split through systematic payments. Often people like to replicate a” paycheck” and receive their RMD monthly, or even quarterly. Call or email your Wealth Manager or Client Service Manager for assistance if you’d like to set up automated payments, or if you’d like to take a distribution.

An RMD applies to pre-tax retirement plans such as: Traditional IRAs, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), and more. You must take your first required minimum distribution for the year in which you turn age 72 (70 ½ if you reach 70 ½ before January 1, 2020).

5 | Ask Annex

Ask Us A Question!

6 | Financial Fact

56% of women leave financial planning and investment decisions to their husbands.

healthyrich.co

7 | Annex Radio

Events & Webinars

Annex Wealth Management has always been committed to client growth and education. Planning and saving can be demanding. We’ve found that when our clients master key concepts, it often enhances working together to reach their goals. Because these are not sales presentations, our clients benefit from a truly informative experience.