Black Diamond is coming your way.
Starting this week, we’re updating our investment reporting platform to a new system called Black Diamond. With Black Diamond, you’ll have access to view your allocations, activity summary, quarterly performance reports, and much more.
You’ll receive an email from Annex and Black Diamond tomorrow, January 24, with a username and secure link to create a password to log in at any time. Once you receive the email, please click the link and follow the directions from Black Diamond. After tomorrow, you’ll have seven days to complete your login. Afterwards, you’ll be able to access Black Diamond from the Client Center, located in the upper right-hand corner of our website.
We’re excited for you to see Black Diamond!
1 | Week In Review
With the NASDAQ down in correction territory, many experts are debating what’s driving volatility – a flagging economy, high interest rates, or some other force. Some believe the markets are simply shifting from tech to other areas. Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Derek Felske discuss.
2 | Poll
How Much Money Does A Household Need To Work With A Financial Advisor?
A recent survey, called the Consumer Financial Behavior Study, found that a household with $1.2 million in assets reported higher levels of happiness when working with a financial advisor compared to those who didn’t have an advisor.
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3 | Client Exclusive
What Can Writing Do For You?
Pick up a pen, start writing!
When most of us envision a writer or our favorite authors, we find it hard not to think of someone huddled up in a quirky little office with paper everywhere and perhaps a cat napping in the sun coming through the one window in the room. And that these are the only people who can write. But the truth is, we’re all writers. Writing is putting thoughts on a page. Maybe not all of us can spin a story to last 400 pages, but most of us write in some form on a daily basis.
There are two types of people out there: the ones who actually enjoy translating thoughts into words, and those who, well, don’t. For some people, it comes naturally, and words flow out easily. For others it feels forced, or they just don’t want to put much into it and it is what it is.
For those who are in that second category, or even people in the first who are looking for even more reasons to write, research shows that writing has benefits for the mind and the body that can outweigh the sinking feeling you might get when you have to write up a presentation or write an email to a relative who wants to know how your last six months has been.
Writing can help clear your mind. Writing things down, whether it’s day- to-day thoughts, things you want to learn about, or your to-do list for the weekend, can help to unclutter your mind. We’re busier than ever these days and our attention gets pulled in enough directions to split our concentration and ability to focus. Take some time to pour everything that’s running through your head onto paper. With each stray thought you put onto paper, you can close one “mental tab” (like on a web browser!) and help declutter your mind.
Writing reduces stress. Writing, whether it’s the next great American novel, or your grocery list for the next week, allows your mind to focus on one single task. Taking the thoughts swirling around in your head and putting them on to paper requires concentration, and we all know it’s difficult to be thinking about multiple things at the same time. When we feel overloaded with thoughts, it causes stress from jumping from one thing to the next without resolution. Giving your brain the chance to focus on one thing only, and one thought as a time as you write, will give your brain the break it likely needs. You may get double the impact if you directly write about things that do stress you out. Writing out how you’re feeling and what the situation is can help bring you awareness and perspective to the situation once you see it with your eyes rather than just thinking about it.
Writing helps you practice communicating clearly. A lot of us could use practice honing our communication skills, whatever level they may be at. In the spirit of continual improvement, writing every day can help to sharpen your skills. Whether it’s expanding your vocabulary, honing grammar skills, or getting creative with metaphors, all these things can help to improve how you communicate in everyday life, outside of the journal you keep in your bedside table. Writing consistently can also help the “it sounded better in my head” syndrome, where your thoughts are well formed internally, but struggle to come out fluidly on paper when you need them most. Like every skill, it becomes better with practice. The good thing about this is reaping the other benefits at the same time!
Writing causes you to slow down. This may be our favorite reason. Writing takes longer than thinking – our hands can’t move as fast as our brains think and sometimes that’s okay. Sitting down with a pen and paper is such a novel concept in today’s technological world. It can be a breath of fresh air to take an hour to write a well thought out letter to a friend. After that hour, you’ll likely be able to think more clearly, feel better and less stressed, and also satisfied in your accomplishment. Slowing down allows you to refocus your mind on what’s important, what should be taking up your time and mental capacity and gives yourself a break.
We may be biased, but we’re all for more writing. The benefits it provides as well as the creativity it can enhance are reasons enough for us. We hope you try it out, and can experience some of these great benefits that help to bring life back into focus and give your mind a beneficial way to recharge. Have an idea you’d like us to write about, or a story to share? Send us an email at cl************@*********th.com.
[1] https://www.sparringmind.com/benefits-of-writing/
[2] https://www.thisiscalmer.com/blog/benefits-of-writing-for-depression-anxiety-stress#:~:text=A%20study%20by%20APA%20showed,the%20positive%20as%20a%20result.
[3] http://www.edutopia.org/blog/writing-executive-function-brain-research-judy-willis
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4 | Did You Know?
Where Are My Tax Documents?
Your custodian will gather all the required data from all fund companies and create your 1099 statements. A 1099 statement is generated if you have one of the following: sales proceeds in a non-qualified account, or a distribution from a qualified account (IRA).
These statements are generated throughout January and February, and the custodian (TD Ameritrade, Schwab or Fidelity) mails the statements to our clients at that time. You can also view your 1099 statements once they are available if you have online access at TD Ameritrade, Schwab or Fidelity. Most clients report receiving their 1099 statements in late February.
If you have any questions please contact your Wealth Manager or Client Service Manager.
Thank you! Annex Wealth Management
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5 | Ask Annex
“Do you have a reference guide for taxes?”
– Tom
This week’s Ask Annex response was prepared by Joseph Maller, CPA:
Our tax reference guide is one of Annex Wealth Management’s most popular annual publications. In it, we provide tables of Federal tax rates for various circumstances, from Head of Household to C corporations.
If you have questions or seek insight into your tax plan, set up a time to talk to a member of our tax team. We would be happy to help.
Download the Tax Reference Guide Here
– Joseph Maller, CPA® | Manager, Annex Tax Services
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6 | Financial Fact
Women are adding to their assets at a rate of $5 trillion per year, globally.
Boston Consulting Group, Women in Wealth, Managing the Next Decade of Women’s Wealth, 2020.
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7 | Annex Radio
Top Stories: Jobless Claims, Crypto.com, Housing Market
Top Stories: Microsoft, Peloton, Crypto.com
Beyond Savings Bonds: Smarter Ways To Gift Money To Grandchildren
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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.
WEBINAR | Annex University: Social Security Basics
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST
Social Security is a milestone – you’ve worked hard to get here! Navigating the labyrinth of Social Security information can be daunting. As your financial planning firm, we know this can be difficult. Because we know how complex Social Security can be, we are inviting you to a workshop on some general Social Security concepts.
If you have not yet begun to collect Social Security (SS), this informative session is for you. We will cover:
- What does it mean to collect SS early?
- What are the rules for spousal benefits?
- How do you start collecting your SS benefits?
- How is SS taxed?
R E G I S T E R →
WEBINAR | Annex University: Medicare Basics
Thursday, February 10, 2022
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST
Medicare enrollment is a milestone for each of our clients.
We understand the complexity and anxiety that can go with making a selection, and Annex Wealth Management is here to help.
We will help you:
- Understand your healthcare needs as you reach Medicare age
- Approach Medicare enrollment with confidence
- Navigate Medicare’s complicated rules and deadlines
R E G I S T E R →
WEBINAR | Annex University: Estate Planning Basics
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CST | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST
Because we know how complex Estate Planning can be, we are inviting you to a workshop on some general Estate Planning concepts.
We will discuss:
- The various documents that are key elements of every estate plan
- Reasons you should do estate planning
- Lifetime planning and asset distribution planning at death
- Should I avoid probate and if so, how
- How do beneficiary designations and asset titling impact an estate plan
- Who should I name as fiduciaries
- How to communicate with family about your estate plan.
R E G I S T E R →
Annex’s Women & Wealth Retreat: Sedona, AZ
Monday, April 25th to Friday, April 29th, 2022
R E G I S T E R →
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