Wire Transfer Delays

Contributed by: Jeanette LoPiccolo, CFP®

Clients occasionally request a wire transfer from their Raymond James account. We're delighted to assist, but we want you to be informed about the possibility of an industry-wide delay in the process. While most wire transfers occur promptly on the same day requested, a few are delayed.

Who is impacted?

All financial institutions using the wire transfer system are impacted. 

Why is this happening now?

Recently the federal government and international financial communities have instituted a more comprehensive due diligence review process for electronic wire transmissions, including domestic and international. For Raymond James clients, we have partnered with Citibank to provide wire transfer services. These U.S. federally mandated reviews may cause delays at Citibank as the wire transfer sender or delays at the receiving financial institution.

How long are the wire transfer delays?

We do not have an estimate of how long the reviews might take at the banks, as in some instances, the turnaround times have ranged from several hours (most common) to several business days and, in isolated cases, have run up to several weeks.

I plan to send a wire transfer in the future. What can I do to avoid this?

If you're planning to send a wire transfer in the future and want to avoid potential delays, don't hesitate to contact your Client Service team member. We're here to review your specific situation  and suggest ways to reduce the chance of any inconvenience.

Jeanette LoPiccolo, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® She is a 2018 Raymond James Outstanding Branch Professional, one of three recognized nationwide.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

ATTENTION: Important Information for Owners of Corporations, LLC’s, and Other Business Entities

Contributed by: Michael Brocavich, CFP®, MBA

Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) - Report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN by January 1, 2025

Why was this reporting requirement imposed?

The CTA is mainly an anti-money laundering law and was enacted by Congress to protect national interests and better enable efforts to counter illegal acts. Entities that qualify will have to report information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by January 1, 2025. FinCEN is part of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Who is impacted?

Every corporation, LLC, or other entity created by the filing of a document with a Secretary of State or similar office under the law of a state or Indian tribe.

What information do I need to provide?

To complete the filing through FinCEN, the below information is required:

• Information about the company: Name, EIN, business address, and incorporation date

• Information about the company’s beneficial owners: Name, address, and photo documentation of a driver’s license or passport

What do I need to do?

Report the required information to FinCEN before the January 1, 2025, deadline by using FinCEN’s BOI e-filing website. You are able to report this information directly to FinCEN at no charge, or you can authorize an accountant to file on your behalf.

For those that have created an entity this year, there is a requirement to file within 90 days of creation. 

What resources are available?

The following resources are available through FinCEN’s website:

• FAQs

• Small entity compliance guide

• Quick reference guide

What happens next?

We’re aware of the pending legal challenges related to the CTA, including the recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alabama. Under our understanding, the CTA reporting requirements still stand as-is.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the requirements for your specific situation, we encourage you to consult with your attorney.

Michael Brocavich, CFP®, MBA is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® He has an extensive background in both personal and corporate finance.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Michael Brocavich and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc® Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Q1 2023 Investment Commentary

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

The year has started much stronger than it may have felt so far. Growth-style investments trounced value-style investments as tech names came back into favor. International development beat U.S. while EM equity lagged, which was contributed by a weaker U.S. dollar. Small company stocks lagged large company stocks mainly due to a heavier technology exposure for large company indexes like the S&P 500. In contrast, the smaller company indexes had a heavier weighting in financials. The Morningstar asset allocation category of funds had 50-70% stock and 30-50% bonds, so on average, a 60% stock/40% bond allocation was up about 3.9% in the first quarter of the year.

Speaking of financials, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a lender to some technology companies and startups, became the largest bank to fail since 2008. Signature Bank became the 3rd largest bank to fail within hours of the SVB failure.  

How did they get to the point of failure? SVB was a commercial bank that specialized in servicing the venture capital community. Over the last few years, there has been much activity in venture capital fundraising, and many deposits flowed into the bank in late 2020 and 2021. SVB's balance sheet at this time went from $70 Billion to $200 Billion, while lending was only a fraction of what they did. So they had excess levels of liquidity and took most of that money to purchase treasuries. Their intention was to hold to maturity, so while they didn't have credit risk exposure, they had a lot of interest rate risk. During 2022 they experienced deposit outflows as venture capital companies were experiencing a lot of spending outflows and not as many inflows. At the same time, interest rates increased, causing unrealized losses in these bonds. As money continued to flow out of the bank, this caused a liquidity issue which forced the bank to sell treasuries at a loss to meet withdrawal demands. So ultimately, high amounts of interest rate risk and sector concentration were the main reasons for failure.

What about contagion? It's important to remember that banks do fail almost every year. Usually, they are caused by Fraud or mismanagement. But there are times when something bigger is going on that can cause multiple banks to fail. In the chart below you can see the largest amount of failures happened in the 1980s due to the farm crisis, oil prices, and the S&L crisis. The great recession was another big wave of bank failures.

Source: https://www.bankingstrategist.com/history-of-us-bank-failures

In the case of the most recent failures, the government acted quickly over the weekend to create policies to back-stop banks that may need to sell treasuries to meet customer withdrawals. These policies allow banks to take cheap loans backed by those treasuries for a short term to meet depositor withdrawal demand if needed without booking losses.

Are my deposits with you covered by FDIC? We diligently review FDIC coverages for our clients. If you're unfamiliar with the Raymond James Bank Deposit program, here is a primer. One account at Raymond James through the Raymond James Bank Deposit Program (RJBDP) can provide up to $3,000,000 ($6,000,000 for joint accounts) of total FDIC coverage. Raymond James does the work behind the scenes as available cash is deposited into interest-bearing deposit accounts. RJ uses a waterfall process to ensure higher cash levels for clients than the traditional limits. With the Raymond James Bank Deposit Program, uninvested cash is deposited into interest-bearing deposit accounts at up to 20 banks, providing this increased FDIC eligibility.

Raymond James will deposit up to $245,000 ($490,000 for joint accounts of two or more) in each bank on a predetermined list. Another way to qualify for more coverage is by holding deposits in different ownership categories (account types such as an individual account, a trust account, and an IRA all qualify for their own FDIC coverage).

Is my money safe in Raymond James Bank? Questions about how Raymond James is positioned in this stressed environment? Watch this video.

Cash management is a much more active process than in the past. Short-term treasuries, Certificate of Deposits, and money market mutual funds offer attractive rates for the right investor. While these options don't carry FDIC coverage, they shouldn't be ignored. Talk to your advisor to explore what might be right for you if you're carrying large cash balances at your bank with no immediate need of utilizing the cash.

The U.S. government is close to its limit (Debt ceiling), where it can no longer borrow additional funds. Several months ago, Congress had to begin using "extraordinary measures" to fulfill some obligations, and the clock is ticking for them to be able to come to an agreement and raise the debt ceiling so that spending can continue without pause. Estimates show these measures run out as early as June. The issue is typical (see other times when the debt limit was raised in the graphic below), but a divided Congress can make the issue more contentious. The main holdup is that Republican opponents want to see spending cuts before the ceiling is raised, and spending cuts are not easy for anyone to agree upon. 

https://www.pgpf.org/analysis/2023/01/debt-ceiling-update-whats-at-stake

Expect volatility as deadlines to meet obligations approach and the market's price is in more uncertainty. The direct impact and potentially biggest worry for investors is the risk of the U.S. government defaulting on its Treasury debt. Additional pain in the form of spending cuts would have a direct economic impact, with uncertain outcomes and hard decisions being made on where to cut the spending. There is no way to predict the future, but history as a guide would suggest a deal is reached and the ceiling is once again raised as it has been every other time the issue has come up in our lifetimes. We lean on diversification, conservative portfolio positioning, and a sound financial plan during times of uncertainty, and we're always here to answer any questions you might have on the topic.

Is ESG Investing Political? Check out our upcoming webinar on April 19th!

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®, is a partner and Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® She chairs The Center Investment Committee and pens a quarterly Investment Commentary.

Any opinions are those of the Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. There is no assurance any of the trends mentioned will continue or forecasts will occur. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Past performance is not a guarantee or a predictor of future results.

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® Named to Forbes list of “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” for second year

Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

For the second year in a row, Nick Defenthaler, CFP® has been named to the Forbes list of “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors.” The list, which recognizes advisors from national, regional and independent firms, was released online July 25, 2018.  

“I’m ecstatic to once again be recognized as one of the top next generation financial planners in the country.  It’s truly a privilege to serve such amazing clients and to be surrounded by an incredible team of professionals here at The Center.” Defenthaler said. 

Nick specializes in working with clients who are closely nearing retirement or currently retired.  He has a passion for helping clients throughout the retirement transition and working with them to develop a sound, tax-efficient retirement income and portfolio decumulation strategy.  In addition to meeting with clients, Nick is the Director of The Center’s Financial Planning Department, a member of the firm’s Operations Committee as well as a frequent speaker and writer on various financial planning and investment related topics.

 Email Nick to set up an initial meeting.  Learn more about our process here.

The Forbes ranking of “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors,” developed by Shook Research, Data as of 3/31/2018 SHOOK Research considered advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years relevant experience. Advisors have built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criteria because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. This ranking is not indicative of advisor’s future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients’ experience. Out of 5,832 advisors considered, 1000 made the final list in 2018.Center for Financial Planning, Inc. is a wealth management and financial planning registered investment advisor located in Southfield, Michigan. Founded in 1985, the firm has ten financial planners and 29 total team members who work with more than 900 clients; the firm manages more than $1.1 billion in assets under management. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Center for Financial Planning, Inc. is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Jeanette LoPiccolo, CRPC® Branch Professional of the Year

Contributed by: Lauren Adams, CFA®, CFP®

The Center is thrilled to announce that our very own Client Service Manager, Jeanette LoPiccolo, was recognized as one of three Outstanding Branch Professionals at the 2018 Raymond James National Conference. Raymond James’s 1000+ branches had the opportunity to nominate candidates for the award, and Raymond James chose Jeanette from among this elite group.

As you can see from this nomination form excerpt, we are very lucky to have her as part of our team:

“Jeanette is the consummate service professional.  She combines superior technical ability with genuine care for clients. Jeanette consistently anticipates client needs and is always looking for WOW moments. 

Jeanette is a true joy to have on our team. Her knowledge and skills are extremely deep, and our whole team benefits from her leadership and example. From securities based lending to K-1 procurement to cost basis issues, she is adept at nearly every complex operational area available. And, if she ever does not know the answer, she is the first to volunteer to find out and report back to the group. She is always willing to help newer coworkers and assist with a complex problem.

She is a wonderful example of our firm’s Core Value of Continuous Learning and Personal Growth. In addition to holding her securities licenses and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation, she is preparing to take the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam this fall.

On top of all of this, she is a champion for our firm’s charitable causes, organizing team-wide volunteer days, company matching activities, and community sponsorship events.”

Please join The Center Team in congratulating Jeanette on this well-deserved award!

Lauren Adams, CFA®, CFP® is Director of Client Services at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

The RJFS Outstanding Branch Professional Award is designed to recognize support professionals in RJFS branches who contribute to the success of their advisors and teams. Each year, three winners are selected and recognized during this year's National Conference for Professional Development. To be considered for this award, Branch Professionals must have been affiliated with Raymond James for at least one year and could not have won the award in the past.

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Get to Know Jacki Roessler, CDFA® Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Contributed by: Jacki Roessler, CDFA®

Financial errors in divorce are unfortunately as common as the divorce rate in the United States. Several factors contribute to that today including the increase of “grey divorce” (divorce over the age of 50), tax law changes just put into effect by the current Administration, as well as complications in the way we save for retirement and local housing market value fluctuations.

However, none of the above factors are as significant as the real issue for most errors, which is the underlying emotional currents that impact divorce settlements. After all, these aren’t simply business entities breaking up. The break-up of a marital estate is fraught with emotional factors that impact a couple’s ability to make sound financial decisions.

That’s where a divorce financial advisor comes in. CDFA’s, or financial professionals who have received specialized training in the financial and tax aspects of divorce, may be an invaluable member of any team of divorce professionals. Working hand in hand with attorneys, CDFA’s guide clients to make decisions based on black and white numbers, projections and sound financial information - not psychological attachments to the house or the pension. 

I’ve been privileged to work as a CDFA for over 24 years, and it’s just as rewarding today as when I first received my designation.  Often, clients will come to me with a plan in mind. They’re determined to keep their home. They are on the fence about returning to the job market because they’re not sure how much income they need to target. Most often, they’ve received a settlement from the other side and didn’t know how to evaluate it. “Is this a good deal for me?” is the most common concern I hear. Once we work on their post-divorce budget and review long-term financial projections together, they have clarity. It allows them to make a decision based on a position of knowledge. Even if they can’t afford to keep the house, they feel empowered having that information today. Also, focusing on the “business” side of the divorce is often good therapy to get their mind focused on the positive aspects of the new life ahead of them.

Jacki Roessler, CDFA® is a Divorce Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

Awards & Inspiration at the RJ Women’s Symposium

From helping families prosper to the art of negotiation, the 20th annual Raymond James Women’s Symposium was packed with great insight and inspiring speakers. Marilyn Gunther, Melissa Joy and Laurie Renchik recently traveled to St. Petersburg, FL for the opportunity to take part in thought-provoking education sessions and mingle with other women advisors in the Raymond James family.

The trip this year was especially exciting because The Center’s own founding partner Marilyn Gunther received the Raymond James Network for Women Advisors 2014 Women of Distinction award.  She was presented with the award by the President of Raymond James Financial Services at an opening night awards dinner.  This award is given to women advisors with Raymond James who are exceptional in both their professional and personal contributions.

These are our Top 5 ideas we brought back to Michigan:

1. Susan Bradley from the Sudden Money Institute talked about recognizing the role of money in all of the transitions of life.  We have come a long way from thinking about money as the accumulation and distribution phase.

2. The number of RJ upper management team attending was an acknowledgement of the increasing and effective role of women advisors and women leaders.  We have a long way to go, but it is a start.

3. Author and former sports agent Molly Fletcher shared her insights about the art of negotiating with an emphasis on belief in what you do and not being afraid to ask the tough questions.

4. In the workshop, “The Estate is Set, But Are Families Prepared?” we learned more about helping families thrive and prosper from one generation to the next with family meetings designed to help prepare the next generation for financial and non-financial aspects of wealth transfer.

5. On the topic of Women and the World of Finance, Sallie Krawcheck drew on her Wall Street experiences as well as current research to illustrate how companies that embrace gender diversity on their boards and in management often see improved performance and profitability as a result.   

Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed web sites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any web site or the collection or use of information regarding any web site’s users and/or members. C14-038768

The Center Wins Our Coolest Award Yet

We made Crain’s List’s coolest places to work list!  Crain'sCool Places to Work recognition program honors employers that go the extra mile to make employees feel appreciated — as judged by the employees themselves.

The program was open to Michigan businesses, nonprofits and government entities. An organization must have at least 15 employees at a Michigan location to be considered.

Harrisburg, Pa.-based research businessBest Companies Groupgathered data and conducted surveys on each organization to create the final rankings. The rankings are divided into three groups according to organization size, as measured by employee count.

Best Companies ranked 75 companies to receive the badge of Cool Place to Work. We took honors in the category for 15 – 49 employees. 

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Curtain Call

 The Center's Team enjoys sharing their knowledge with the press to help stories come to life, share facts and bring important topics to the forefront.  We are also honored when we are recognized by media and publications for our work and service to our profession. Here's what's new:

Forbes

Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD: Tim was quoted in Forbes online on October 15, 2014 in an article titled, "After-tax 401 (k) Rollovers, Advanced Version" by Ashlea Ebeling. A14-034515

Nasdaq.com

Melissa Joy, CFP®: Melissa was quoted on Nasdaq.com in an article titled, “3 Tax-Sensitive Investment Strategies to Implement Now” on September 15, 2014 by Steve Nicastro. C14-032886

Our Workplace Wellness is Award-Worthy

Did you know we hold meetings while walking and when we’re working at our desks, we might be standing instead of sitting? It’s all part of our commitment to keeping The Center team healthy. That commitment has led to a 3rd healthy workplace award in less than a year. This time, we’re being recognized in Corp! Magazine’s online publication as one of Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness. For Partner and Financial Advisor Sandy Adams, keeping our constant focus on health is one thing that makes The Center a great place to work.

For me, staying healthy and active gives me the energy and positive attitude to best serve my team and our clients. The Center is committed to helping our team stay healthy by providing us with education on health and wellness, providing equipment like standing desks and balance balls for alternative seating, and by encouraging standing or walking meetings.”

The Best and Brightest in Wellness awards will be handed out at a gala on October 2nd. The selection was based on an assessment by the wellness systems firm Wellco. We won this award based on criteria like wellness policies, healthy work environment, senior leadership support of health initiatives, and motivation.

Earlier this year we won a Healthy Workplace Award from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. And last December The Center was recognized as one of Michigan’s Healthiest Employers by Priority Health, Crain’s Detroit Business and MiBiz. In 2007, we launched an initiative to shape up our office. Looks like we’re on the right track.