From The Desk of Jonathan Bloom

Last quarter, we spent a lot of time talking about taxes, reviewing last year’s portfolio performance, and projecting income and expenses for the year ahead. Now, we’re focused on applying that insight to your financial plan and making sure there is alignment. I’m also working with many clients who need to set cash aside for goals and projects they might want to do throughout the new year.

In our case, Jeanne and I set cash aside to remodel our basement, which’ll mostly be for the girls. They are very much looking forward to their kids’ cave. She, the girls, and I will be living in a construction zone for the next few months. Financially though, that extra square footage will affect property taxes. My tax partner, Daniel Seaman, CPA, and I discussed which heating system would give Jeanne and I potential tax credits. So, it’s a good reminder to talk with us any time you engage in a project that has potential tax implications.

Also on the home front, we have been exposing our daughters to the concept of philanthropy and giving back. We are proud that our third grader chose to participate in her school’s Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser, which is sponsored by the American Heart Association. She’s working hard to raise lifesaving donations to help everyone have healthy hearts. Not only is she excited to participate but she’s learning things along the way, like ways to keep her own heart strong and how to save a life with hands-only CPR.

Internally, I’m excited to announce that I’ve brought on Calendly for our group, which makes it a lot easier to book appointments. This gives clients the option to set-up virtual or in-person meetings. I’ve had the opportunity to see more people in person, which is nice.

I look forward to hearing what you think about this new tool:

• Thumbs up – It’s an added convenience.
• Thumbs down – I’d prefer to keep things as is.
• Thumbs ambiguous.

What are your plans as we head into spring? Please reach out to me if you have questions or would like to schedule time one on one.

AAF Wealth Management is a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where AAF Wealth Management and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. This blog is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by AAF Wealth Management unless a client service agreement is in place.