Thanksgiving To-Do List
Terry Savage
11/23/05 - 08:26 AM EST
After you've devoured the turkey and settled down on the couch to watch football, you'll still be left with a long, lazy weekend.
Put the time to good use as we enter the final weeks of the year. Instead of rushing out to shop, here are seven suggestions for reorganizing your finances to enter the new year in better shape.
Check your 40l(k) statement. If you haven't contributed the maximum to get the free money from the company-matching contribution, ask your human resources department to take a larger deduction out of your next paycheck. And while you're at it, increase your contribution rate for next year. For 2006, you can contribute up to $15,000 to a 40l(k) or 403(b) plan. And if you're over 50, you can make additional "catch-up" contributions of $5,000.
And if you're self-employed, set up a Keogh plan. As with an IRA, you can still make contributions until April 15 -- but you
must establish a Keogh plan by Dec. 31.
It's also the perfect time to take another look at the investment allocations within your retirement plan. You can get a free one-year trial for the FinancialEngines.com advisory service by clicking on the icon at my
Web site. They'll give personalized advice on which funds you should use to meet your retirement goals.
Start tax planning. Take a look at the investments you hold outside your retirement plans. You're likely to get big tax distributions from mutual funds this year -- both short- and long-term gains -- since the market is up sharply from its October 2002 lows. Don't be surprised by these distributions; instead, plan to sell some of those stock losers you've been holding. The losses you claim on your tax form can offset the funds' capital gains.
The dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax still exists -- making it dangerous to give blanket advice on "bunching" tax deductions in one year. So check with your accountant before he or she gets busy with holiday events. Maybe you'll be able to convince your boss to delay your year-end bonus until 2006, or maybe you should pay your state income tax estimate before year's end. It all depends on your tax situation.
Use your flex-spending plan. You have a couple of weeks to spend the money you put aside in your company flex-spending plan. If you can't squeeze in doctor visits, there are many ways to mop up that excess cash. Go to Drugstore.com for a list of supplies that are eligible for medical expenses. A plethora of items qualify, from stop-smoking aids to foot care!
You can also go to 1-800Contacts and purchase next year's supply of contact lenses. They'll even give you a coupon for money off your next order.
Plan charitable giving. Avoid the year-end rush to make contributions and take tax deductions. This year there's a greater incentive to give -- an increase in the amount that can be deducted on cash contributions to charity, as a result of Hurricane Katrina. But check out your charity first. GuideStar.org is a helpful site to see how much any charity spends on fundraising expenses compared with the amount that goes directly to beneficiaries.
If you can't think of an appropriate destination for your charitable urge right now, but do want to get that tax deduction, use one of the popular charitable gift funds such as those run by Fidelity and Vanguard. You'll get an immediate tax deduction and a chance to let your money grow tax-free, and you can ultimately designate any recognized charity as a recipient.
Give money to your kids. Well, not actually. You don't have to hand over cash! But you can contribute to a 529 College Savings Plan for a chance at tax-free investment growth that can be withdrawn for any college expense, at any school, in any state. The money can be shifted between your children if one gets a scholarship, for example. For details and to compare state plans, go here .
You also could set up a "Uniform Gifts to Minors Act" account at a bank or brokerage firm. The setup allows for a tax-free gift of up to $11,000 per year. (In 2006 it will be $12,000.) But be warned that if you apply for financial aid for college, this money held in a child's name weighs seven times more heavily against you in the financial aid formula.
Evaluate your life insurance. Now that you're as stuffed as the turkey, it's time to think about your heart and your health! Go to a Web site such as AccuQuote.com to check the prices of term life insurance. They've dropped sharply in the past year. You might want a 20-year level term, which could be converted into a cash value policy in the future. But don't give up your old policy until you're sure you qualify for a new one at premium rates.
Help Mom, Dad and grandparents with Medicare Part D. As noted in a recent column and headlined in the newspapers in recent weeks, the signup for Medicare's new drug benefit is off and running. Or crawling. The government expects seniors to use its comparison tool to choose the plan that will save the most. But they need help! Tell your older loved ones to get a list of their prescriptions and dosages, and help them through the process. You'll find it a great antidote to the tryptophan-induced post-turkey drowsiness.
Of course, there's a lot more you could do this weekend that revolves around money. You could sit down with the whole family and determine how much you're going to spend on each other for holiday presents. You could even start making a budget for 2006. But I don't want to push my luck here. Just pick one or two of the above -- and remember to offer help drying the dishes.
