2020 Retirement Calendar

December 20, 2019

2020 Retirement Calendar

Weekly Update – December 25, 2019

The New Year marks the opportunity for a new beginning. It’s a time to reflect, refresh, and recommit. A great way to start may be with solid financial resolutions that can help you reach your goals. You can start by making a list, but the key is creating actionable steps and sticking to them. Below are important deadlines to help you stay on track.

January

1^st:Medicare Open Enrollment period begins. During this time, you’ll have a one-time opportunity to switch plans or return to Original Medicare¹
1^st:Medicare General Enrollment period begins. If you delayed enrollment, you can sign up for Medicare Parts A and/or Part B and coverage will be begin July 1^st1
15^th:Deadline for Q4 2018 estimated tax payment²

February

Begin organizing your 2018 taxes
1^st – 28^th: Medicare Open Enrollment Period continues
1^st – 28^th: Medicare General Enrollment Period continues

March

31^st: Deadline for Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
31^st: Deadline for Medicare General Enrollment

April

1^st: If you turned 70 ½, this is the last day to withdraw your first IRA required minimum distribution (RMD) to avoid a hefty tax penalty³
15^th: Deadline for taxes or apply for an extension
15^th: Deadline for payment for Q1 estimated taxes²

June

15^th: Deadline for Q2 estimated tax payment²

September

15^th: Deadline for Q3 estimated tax payment²
30^th: Deadline for determining designated beneficiaries of an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan⁴

October

15^th: Deadline for extended individual tax returns
15^th: Medicare Open Enrollment period begins and ends December 7^th

November

1^st – 30^th: Medicare Open Enrollment Period continues
1^st – 15^th: Open Enrollment Period for individual health insurance⁵

December

7^th: Medicare Open Enrollment Period ends
15^th: Deadline for Open Enrollment for individual health insurance
31^st: Deadline for stocks, RMDs, itemized deductions, and gifts to count for 2020 taxes

As we approach a new year, it’s a great time to reflect on this year’s finances and to also be prepared for what’s to come in 2020. Call us at 651.414.0016 (Woodbury Office) or 715.808.8981 (Hudson Office) , we can help you prioritize and plan to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Paleo Chili

This hearty and filling recipe is a different take on chili. It’s packed with veggies, but still possesses all of the classic chili flavors that even non-paleo diners will enjoy. More importantly, it’s low-carb and healthier!

Here’s what you’ll need:

3 slices bacon, cut into 1/2″ strips
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 lb. lean ground beef
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (28-oz.) can fire-roasted tomatoes
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Sliced jalapeños, for garnish
Sliced avocado, for garnish
Freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish

Directions:

In a large pot over medium heat, cook bacon. When bacon is crisp, remove from pot with a slotted spoon. Add onion, celery, and peppers to pot and cook until soft, 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
Push vegetables to one side of the pan and add beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains. Drain fat and return to heat.
Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes and broth and bring to a simmer. Let cook 10 to 15 more minutes, until chili has thickened slightly.
Ladle into bowls and top with reserved bacon, jalapeños, cilantro, and avocado.

Recipe adapted from Delish⁶

Play Smarter, Not Harder

If you’re trapped inside this cold winter season but still want to work on your game, focus on strategy and think about those mistakes you always seem to make. Chances are, with a little troubleshooting, you can avoid these mistakes next time you’re out on the green. Here are some common problem areas and how to fix them:

Instead of aiming for the pin on the green, aim for the flat part of the green. Most greens are designed with trouble spots right around the hole, so if you aim right for the flag and miss it, you’ll be stuck with a tricky short game shot.
Imagine your target as the bullseye on a dartboard. There’s a reason why the pros are often quoted saying “aim small, miss small.”
Know the course you’re playing. This includes knowing what’s in play, any potential hazards, and more.

You can get better at your game without even hitting the course by simply thinking about your strategy.

Tips adapted from Golf Tips Magazine⁷

Spice Up Your Health

The flavor of cinnamon evokes the holiday feeling in many of us. It’s one of the flavors of the season that adds an exotic flair to just about any dish. Aside from elevating our taste buds, it also holds many medicinal purposes:

It’s loaded with antioxidants that protect your body from oxidative damage from free radicals
It has anti-inflammatory properties to help your body fight infections and repair tissue damage
It may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing levels of cholesterol
It can lower blood sugar levels by decreasing the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal
It may protect against cancer by reducing the growth of cancer cells
It fights against bacterial and fungal infections with its antimicrobial effects

Tips adapted from Healthline⁸

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This document is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. One should consult a legal or tax professional regarding their own personal situation. Any comments regarding safe and secure investments and guaranteed income streams refer only to fixed insurance products offered by an insurance company. They do not refer in any way to securities or investment advisory products Insurance policy applications are vetted through an underwriting process set forth by the issuing insurance company. Some applications may not be accepted based upon adverse underwriting results. Death benefit payouts are based upon the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. The firm providing this document is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any other government entity.

¹https://www.medicareresources.org/faqs/when-is-the-next-medicare-open-enrollment-period/#dates

² https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-planning-and-checklists/important-tax-deadlines-dates/L7Rn92V1d

³ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/rmd-april-1/

⁴ https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/03/091003.asp

⁵ https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines

⁶ https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25351108/paleo-chili-recipe/

⁷www.golftipsmag.com/instruction/strategy-troubleshooting/play-smarter-golf-right-now/

⁸ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon#section12