Topics of Interest Archives

Title	Description
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March 2019	With tax season and springtime comes spring cleaning. To help you with that cleaning, we are once again offering our free shredding service to all clients.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2019	When saving for retirement, you're probably aware of the benefits of using tax-preferred accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2019	It's almost impossible to overstate the importance of taking the time to plan your estate. Nevertheless, it's surprising how many American adults haven't done so.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2018	The biggest names in technology powered stock market gains and bouts of volatility in 2017, and the trend continued into 2018. The S&P Information Technology sector index posted a 13.19% total return from January through July 2018, compared with 6.47% for the broader S&P 500 index.¹
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2018	One of the most confusing Medicare provisions is the prescription drug coverage gap, often called the "donut hole." It may be clearer if you consider the gap within the annual "lifecycle" of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage. This also applies to drug coverage that is integrated into a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2018	One advantage of term life insurance is that it is generally the most cost-effective way to achieve the maximum life insurance protection you can afford. Many people first purchase term life insurance to protect their family's financial interests after a significant life event, such as getting married or the birth of a child.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2018	Greetings, We all have kids, grandchildren, etc in our lives that we love and want to prepare for life. To help teach financial literacy starting with young children, the Money Savvy Pig, a piggy bank with slots for saving, spending, donating and investing is available at www.moneysavvy.com.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - July 2018	Whoopee, you're getting a large income tax refund on your tax return, but is that really a good thing? Read the following article on page 4 regarding large tax refunds. You may be surprised.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - June 2018	Greetings, The following article on the tax changes that went into effect for this year may give you some insight into what has changed. A discussion with your tax accountant may be warranted.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2018	This newsletter may answer some of the questions you've had on taxes after tax reform. It also answers questions you may have had on Social Security. We hope you learn something new after reading through the newsletter. If you still have questions on these topics or questions in general, that's what we are here for. Shoot us an email or give us a call and we're more than happy to answer your questions.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - April 2018	Well, we all hope winter is finally behind us (maybe)!! I'm so looking forward to some warm, sunny days! Just another reminder for clients in the local area - bring your items to be shredded to our Wexford office anytime during office hours on April 23rd through the 27th.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March 2018	Tax season is upon us again. You should have received all of your tax documents by now and be able to file your returns. We know some come out later than expected, but that cuts down on the corrected tax documents that have to be issued.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2018	A new year always seems like a good time to take stock and review your financial situation. If, in doing so, you find you have some questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us, we are always happy to hear from you!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - December 2017	Holiday Greetings! With 2018 fast approaching, we once again have pocket calendars available for clients. If we've sent you one in the past, we have you on our list to send one for 2018 in the next week. If you haven't received a pocket calendar in the past and would like one, please let us know. We all want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and may 2018 be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for you. We appreciate and value you as clients and friends! The NEXUS team - Dick, Dave, Lynn and Wendy
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2017	One of the important things that our clients are concerned about it how their assets will pass on to their heirs. The following article " What You Can Do with a Will " might provide some insight into what a will can do. It is important to have an up to date will. If you have any questions about how your assets will pass on or how to go about updating or creating a will, please give us a call.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2017	The format of our website has changed. For those of you who access your accounts online through our website, the steps have changed a bit. On our home page click the green Account Access global box to the right of the scrolling pictures at the top. On the next page under Account Access click the Investor360 box that takes you to the log in page, then log in as you usually do.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2017	The format of our website has changed. For those of you who access your accounts online through our website, the steps have changed a bit. On our home page click the green Account Access global box to the right of the scrolling pictures at the top. On the next page under Account Access click the Investor360 box that takes you to the log in page, then log in as you usually do.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2017	One of the measures of personal success is happiness. Making others happy is an expression of success, but it's almost impossible to make others happy if you're not happy yourself. A recent article listed some daily habits that claim to make you happier.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2017	We use passwords every day for all the various websites and accounts we have. It's hard to remember them all and to keep coming up with new ones. The link below will help you to see just how secure your passwords are. Enter your password and it will tell you how long it will take a computer to crack your password. You may have to copy and paste the link: https://howsecureismypassword.net/
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - July 2017	Greetings, We hope you are enjoying your summer! If you are planning a trip, don't forget to take our NEXUS traveling towel with you and snap a picture for our website. Speaking of our website, it is getting a face lift which should be released in the near future. The content is the same but it will have a new look. You will still be able to access your accounts online with the link on our home page. If you haven't had a chance, check out our website at www.gonexus.com. Stay cool and dry! The NEXUS team
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - June 2017	Greetings, Happy Father's Day to of you dads, grandfathers, uncles and care givers! We salute you all! We are adding pictures of our clients to our data base. If you have a closeup picture of yourselves, or can take one with your phone, please email it to Lynn at [email protected]. We would like to see your smiling faces when we get into your household on our data base. Great job Penguins in winning back to back Stanley Cups!! We hope you all enjoy your vacations and plans this summer!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2017	Greetings, We would like to salute all you Moms, Grandmothers, Aunts, and care givers out there. Have a wonderfu Mother's Day!! The NEXUS Team
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - April 2017	Tax season is over, the weather is getting nice and spring has sprung. It s time again for our free shredding program for those of you in the Pittsburgh area. Bring your shredding to our Wexford office anytime during business hours from April 26th through May 4th . We are again using Shred-it for safe, certified on-site shredding. Enjoy this nice time of the year. Get out, take a walk and smell the roses! You will be glad you did. GO PENGUINS!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March	Once tax season is over, you might have files and documents that you would like to have safely shredded. Well, it's time again for our annual free client shredding program. Bring your shredding to our Wexford office anytime during business hours from April 26th through May 4th. We are again using Shred-it for safe, certified on-site shredding. It's a good time to do some spring cleaning (or maybe winter cleaning with this crazy weather!) for all your financial documents. Look for a future notice listing how long you should retain documents to help with that spring cleaning.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2017	Many of you are still waiting for your 1099's for your non-qualified accounts so that you can do your taxes. Most will not be mailed until February 18th. Commonwealth holds off issuing them so as not to have to issue corrected 1099's if mutual fund companies reclassify income. A few won't be produced until after February, but preliminary tax statements will be available online beginning February 18th.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2017	Hard to believe it's 2017 and another year has rolled by! It's almost like watching the miles on your car's odometer keep rolling over. If you like to keep track of retirement figures and tax numbers, one of the articles in our newsletter lists 2017's key numbers. We wish you all a happy, healthy and we hope prosperous 2017!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - December 2016	Once again we are offering our 2017 pocket calendars for those of you who use it. We will mail it automatically in the next week or so to those who have received them in the past. If you haven't received them in the past, just let us know and we'll get one out to you. We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family. May 2017 be a healthy, prosperous year for you all!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2016	Take a look at the year-end financial checklist in the article on page 2, "Are You Ending 2016 Healthy, Wealthy and Wise?" We are always here to help if you have year-end questions or concerns. It's a good time to review everything before the end of the year.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2016	Health care coverage is something we all have to think about, but even more so after retirement. One of our articles in this month's newsletter considers health insurance options when retiring early. If you're on Medicare, October 15 through December 7 is Medicare's open enrollment period to change your existing coverage. Another article addresses this. If you need some assistance in discussing health care coverage options, give us a call.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2016	The featured article in the latest Time magazine, "The Exercise Cure" by Mandy Oaklander, stresses the importance of exercise for your general health. "If there were a drug that could do for human health everything that exercise can, it would likely be the most valuable pharmaceutical ever developed." With cooler temperatures and lower humidity, it's the perfect time to get out and start walking. Try taking a brisk walk every day and see how much better you might feel!
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2016	If you are thinking of retiring in the next few years, it might be a good time to talk to Dick or Dave about your retirement plans. They can discuss the feasibility of your retirement and help you positoes delivery of health care in the United States compare to that of other nations?
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - July 2014	The release in April of the long-awaited report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has spurred renewed discussion of ways to combat climate change and its effects.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - June 2014	You probably didn't notice, but when the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2013, a number of popular tax benefits, commonly included in the list of provisions referred to as "tax extenders" expired.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2014	It's easy to take Social Security for granted when retirement is years away, but with 94% of the U.S. workforce covered by Social Security, it's likely that this program will play a role in your financial future, perhaps even sooner than you think.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - April 2014	After more than five years of unprecedented support for the economy, the Federal Reserve Board has begun to reduce its purchases of bonds.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March 2014	Spring training is a tradition that baseball teams and baseball fans look forward to every year.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2014	The word "millionaire" typically conjures up images of a lavish, jet-setting lifestyle, but behind the scenes, that may not always be the case.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - December 2013	December and January are the perfect months to look back at what you earned, saved, and spent during the past year, as W-2s, account statements, and other year-end financial summaries roll in.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2013	As the end of the 2013 tax year approaches, set aside some time to evaluate your situation.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2013	You might not enjoy sitting down to do year-end investment planning, but at least this fall you can make plans with greater certainty.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2013	It's almost impossible to overstate the importance of estate planning, regardless of the size of your estate or the stage of life you're in.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2013	Though a market downturn generally isn't fun for most people, its timing can have a greater impact on some investors than on others.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - June 2013	If you're like most people, you probably evaluate your portfolio in terms of its return. However, return isn't the only factor you should consider; also important is the amount of risk you take in pursuing those returns.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2013	The federal government's income-based repayment program (IBR) for student loans allows qualified borrowers to tie their monthly federal student loan payments to their discretionary income.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - April 2013	After threatening to go over the fiscal cliff, the gift tax, estate tax, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax have come in for a soft landing. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA 2012), enacted on January 2, 2013, permanently extended the $5 million (as indexed) gift tax and estate tax applicable exclusion amount and GST tax exemption.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March 2013	The rising costs of food, gas, electricity, and health care can strain anyone's budget. The situation is even worse if your living expenses increase while your income stays the same, because your purchasing power will steadily decline over time. That's why cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, are especially valuable to retirees and others living on fixed incomes.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2013	The due date for 2012 federal income tax returns is April 15, 2013. Whether you're preparing your own taxes or paying someone else to do them for you, you'll want to start pulling things together sooner rather than later. That includes gathering a copy of last year's tax return, W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2013	Interest rates at historically low levels are great for those looking to refinance a mortgage or borrow money to start a business. However, people who rely on their investments for income have sought out a variety of alternatives to rock-bottom yields on U.S. Treasuries, including high-yield bonds. If you're considering investing in high-yield bonds--sometimes called "junk bonds"--yield shouldn't be the only factor in your decision.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2012	The phrase "fiscal cliff" has been used to describe the unique combination of financial realities scheduled to take effect in 2013: expiring tax breaks; the imposition of new taxes on high-income individuals; and automatic deficit-reduction spending cuts.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2012	Investment planning at the end of 2012 revisitsissues that have complicated the planningprocess for the last two years--tax cutextensions and spending cuts designed toreduce the U.S. budget deficit.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2012	Breaking Down the Taxpaying Population: Where Do You Fit In?
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2012	What's the future of the federal estate tax? All we know is that no one knows for sure; it's all speculation.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - July 2012	Imagine playing a complicated game, but the rules of the game are changing, and the new rules have yet to be announced. That's what income tax planning is like this year. In fact, if there was ever a year to spend some quality time with your financial professional, this is it. Here are a few items to discuss.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2012	We are pretty well aware of the taxes we must pay as U.S. citizens; income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and gift and estate taxes, to name a few. We can easily see these taxes on our pay stubs, tax bills, and sales receipts. But there are other taxes imposed on us that you may not be aware of.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - April 2012	As part of a last-minute agreement ending August's debt ceiling standoff, legislation was signed into law calling for the creation of a deficit reduction "supercommittee."
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - March 2012	This year's election chatter is sure to include a healthy dose of tax talk. To keep up, here are five terms you should know.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2012	When markets are volatile, sticking to a long-term investing strategy can be a challenge. Though past performance is no guarantee of future results, it might help you keep the ups and downs in perspective to see how recent market action compares to previous market cycles.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2012	Each new year brings the chance for a fresh start, and the opportunity to improve your financial picture. As you make financial resolutions for 2012, looking back at what happened last year can help you make some positive changes this year.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - September 2011	Investment planning at the end of 2010 was complicated by uncertainty over whether existing tax rates would be extended. This year, it's the congressional "supercommittee" charged with tackling the country's deficit financing problem that's the source of uncertainty. Even though you may not be sure how the committee's work might ultimately affect you, here are some factors to keep in mind as you plot your year-end strategy.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - August 2011	If you're the parent of a high school student who's looking ahead to college, it's important to have a grown-up conversation with your child about college expectations.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - July 2011	When a crisis creates uncertainty, markets often become volatile, especially when the scope of the disaster isn't clear.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - June 2011	Though it may seem as if the ink has barely dried on your 2010 federal income tax return, the end of 2011 is now visible on the horizon. Here are some things to consider as you take stock of your current tax situation.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - May 2011	There's been much debate in investing circles over the last year about whether inflation or deflation represents a more likely threat to the future of the U.S. economy.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - February 2011	You don't have to pay more in tax than you have to. That means taking advantage of every deduction and credit that you're entitled to. You also need to recognize potential opportunities to save. So here are a few things to keep in mind this filing season.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - January 2011	Roth conversions, mortgages, and health-care reform were a few of the most talked about topics in 2010. Here's a look at five topics you're bound to hear about in 2011.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - November 2010	Currently, there is no estate or generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax for 2010, but both taxes are scheduled to be reinstated in 2011, with a $1 million estate tax exemption, a GST tax exemption of about $1,340,000, and a top rate of 55%.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter - October 2010	If you're currently enrolled in Medicare, you've probably begun receiving information about your coverage. That's because the annual enrollment period for Medicare runs from November 15 through December 31.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter-September 2010	If you're considering investing in green technology hoping to make another kind of green--the folding kind--you'll need to deliberate carefully.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter-August 2010	The tax code allows IRAs to be created as trust accounts,custodial accounts, and annuity contracts. Regardless of the form, the federal tax rules are generally the same for all IRAs.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter-July 2010	The year was 2001. The top marginal federal income tax bracket was 39.6%, and the tax rate that applied to most long-term capital gains was 20%.
What You Should Know about Inherited IRAs	The rules governing inherited IRAs can be complicated. Here are the major issues.
Roth IRA Conversions–Planning for New Opportunities	With the lure of tax-free distributions, Roth IRAs have become popular retirement savings vehicles since their introduction in 1998. But if you're a high-income taxpayer, chances are you haven't been able to participate in the Roth revolution. Well, that's about to change.
Nexus Financial Monthly Newsletter–February 2010	Filing your taxes may be a dreaded chore, but receiving your refund is a wonderful reward. What you do with a refund is up to you, but here are some ideas that may make your tax refund twice as valuable.
Nexus Financial Monthly–March 2010	Recent changes to the first-time homebuyer tax credit mean you might be able to benefit from the credit, even if you're not actually a first-time homebuyer.
Nexus Financial Monthly-April 2010	If you're helping your parents and trying to meet your own children's needs while looking ahead to your own retirement, you're part of what's called "the sandwich generation."
Summary of New Health Care Form Law	Recently, two pieces of legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law.