Skip to main content

Category: Guidance

Managing Your Finances After a Job Layoff

 

Layoffs are often stressful for everyone involved: company officials, the workers who retain their jobs, and especially the newly unemployed.

The experience for workers, however, can be particularly devastating. The emotional effects of a layoff may include anxiety, shock, irritability, anger, frustration, sadness, fear, loss of enjoyment or appreciation, feelings of worthlessness, loss of self-esteem, and shame.[i]

Physical reactions may include fatigue, headaches, weight loss or gain, sleep problems, upset stomach, muscle pain, or nausea.

Others, on the other hand, may feel a sense of liberty if they found their job onerous or unproductive.

Layoffs also often alter the attitudes or behaviors of remaining workers.[ii] While those who retain their employment may view their job situations with optimism over the possibility of new career opportunities, others seem to hold a dimmer and sometimes gloomier opinion of their long-term financial security. With altered work environments, employees who keep their jobs may feel a shift in the workplace atmosphere.

Looking Ahead

If you’ve been recently laid off from your job, you need to take certain steps to ensure both your financial and emotional health remains intact.

Here are six steps to consider:[iii]

  1. How much are you spending not just on regular budgeted expenses like mortgage and car payments, but on everyday items? Examine your grocery bill, your utility and insurance payments, and the other smaller expenses.
  2. Postpone the big expenditures. You may want to wait to buy a new car or that big-screen TV. Look into consolidating credit card debt into a single, low interest rate loan.
  3. Talk about your severance package. Many new workers discuss severance packages at the start of employment. It’s still not too late to broach the subject with your former employer.
  4. Use the available programs. The government and community organizations provide assistance for people who have lost their jobs. Take advantage of whatever services are available, especially unemployment compensation and career development services.
  5. If during your search you can’t find your dream job or even full-time employment, take part-time work in the interim. The job will allow you to generate income as you continue looking.
  6. One of the most important habits to develop during this time in your life is proper money management. Getting your finances and your budget in order is important as you look for work and for the future. Proper financial planning will equip and prepare you to maintain a steady course through life.

If you would like to discuss your current financial needs, we’re happy to talk. Please contact us (800) 929.1001 or contact us through our website.

Investment advisory services are offered through CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, an independent registered Investment Advisory firm. Information provided by sources deemed to be reliable. CapSouth does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.  This material has been prepared for planning purposes only and is not intended as specific tax or legal advice.  Tax and legal laws are often complex and frequently change.  Please consult your tax or legal advisor to discuss your specific situation before making any decisions that may have tax or legal consequences.

This article contains external links to third party content (content hosted on sites unaffiliated with CapSouth Partners). The policies and procedures governing these third party sites may differ from those effective on the CapSouth company website, as outlined in these Disclaimers. As such, CapSouth makes no representations whatsoever regarding any third party content/sites that may be accessible directly or indirectly from the CapSouth website. Linking to these third party sites in no way implies an endorsement or affiliation of any kind between CapSouth and any third party, including legal authorization to use any trademark, trade name, logo, or copyrighted materials belonging to either entity.

[i] https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/faculty-staff-help-center/resources/work-related/coping-emotional-impact-layoff

[ii] https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-employees-respond-to-change-after-layoffs-1918585

[iii] https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/manage-your-finances-when-unemployed

The Importance of Setting Financial Goals

We should understand the value of setting financial goals. Goals serve as stepping stones to achieving your dreams. Saving for retirement is a top priority for many people since some analysts suggest you may need as much as $1 million to retire comfortably.[i]

But what about those intermediate goals, the ones you set along the way to retirement? Are you setting aside adequate money to build those funds?

Here are some intermediate goals you should consider as you make your way to retirement:

Build an emergency fund.[ii]

Experts say you should accumulate three months of living expenses. If you have $4,000 in monthly expenses, for example, you should shoot for $12,000. Six months is even better. That would come to $24,000 in your emergency fund. The ideal goal is to have 12 months covered.

Eliminate debt.[iii]

This is a lofty and worthy goal, especially since many Americans are living beyond their means. The average American household debt is $137,063, while the median household income is $59,039. Analysts warn that debt, especially with credit cards, is a disaster waiting to happen. “We simply can’t keep taking on credit card debt forever without it causing major problems,” said Matt Schulz, CreditCards.com’s senior industry analyst. “This record [debt] probably won’t be a major tipping point, but it likely isn’t too far off.”[iv]

Start planning early for retirement.

That may seem similar to the goal of implementing a responsible retirement strategy. But this one instills the importance of retirement saving into your financial planning. Unanticipated circumstances may derail an otherwise well-designed retirement strategy. Financial setbacks, ill health, or family challenges may require you to put on hold budget priorities. The adage applies. It’s better to plan early and be overprepared than to let life catch you by surprise.

Examine your insurance needs.

Life happens. And insuring yourself against worst-case scenarios is very important. Here are five policies you should consider having:[v]

  1. Long-term disability insurance allows you to maintain your current lifestyle if you become disabled.
  2. Life insurance may ensure your family’s financial needs are met if you or your spouse dies. A good way to estimate your coverage levels is to determine how long you’ll work and how much you’ll make per year. Add burial costs into your calculations.
  3. Health insurance is a must as medical costs continue to rise. Hospital visits, surgeries, and other treatments can rise quickly into the 5-digit cost range.
  4. Homeowner’s insurance will help you replace your house and its contents after a disaster. Check with local builders to get estimates on square footage construction costs.
  5. Automobile insurance is required in many states. Crashes can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Costs in damage and liability can be considerable.

If you would like to discuss your current financial needs or review your current policies, we’re happy to talk. Please contact us 800.929.1001.

Click here to read more  about setting financial goals.

Investment advisory services are offered through CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, an independent registered Investment Advisory firm. Information provided by sources deemed to be reliable. CapSouth does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.  This material has been prepared for planning purposes only and is not intended as specific tax or legal advice.  Tax and legal laws are often complex and frequently change.  Please consult your tax or legal advisor to discuss your specific situation before making any decisions that may have tax or legal consequences.

This article contains external links to third party content (content hosted on sites unaffiliated with CapSouth Partners). The policies and procedures governing these third party sites may differ from those effective on the CapSouth company website, as outlined in these Disclaimers. As such, CapSouth makes no representations whatsoever regarding any third party content/sites that may be accessible directly or indirectly from the CapSouth website. Linking to these third party sites in no way implies an endorsement or affiliation of any kind between CapSouth and any third party, including legal authorization to use any trademark, trade name, logo, or copyrighted materials belonging to either entity.

[i] https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/how-to-figure-out-how-much-money-you-need-to-retire.html

[ii] https://www.thebalance.com/how-much-should-i-have-in-my-emergency-fund-2388353

[iii] https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/11/18/a-foolish-take-heres-how-much-debt-the-average-us-household-owes/107651700/

[iv] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-consumer-debt-is-at-a-record-high-havent-we-learned/2017/08/11/5c7bee6e-7e13-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html?utm_term=.e0f142779450

[v] https://www.investopedia.com/insurance/insurance-policies-everyone-should-have/

Valuable Credits Available for Certain Small Businesses*

Valuable Credits Available for Certain Small Businesses*

The IRS is reminding small business owners who provide health insurance coverage to employees about the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.[i]

The agency provides tax relief for some small businesses who want to claim the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit but have faced difficulty finding coverage in the Small Business Health Options Marketplace. Notice 2018-27[ii] provides small businesses with guidance in calculating the tax credit.

Small businesses qualify for the credit by providing their employees with qualified health plans from the Small Business Health Options Program[iii] (SHOP). The credit may only be used for two consecutive tax years.

The credit is available to businesses that first claimed the credit offered through the marketplace but were unable to find SHOP Marketplace coverage in their area.

The IRS states: “Under the relief, the employer can claim the credit for health insurance coverage provided outside of a SHOP Marketplace for the remainder of the credit period if that coverage would have qualified under the rules that applied before January 1, 2014.”

Other details may apply, and you can find more information on the IRS website.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

Tip adapted from the IRS.gov[iv]

Investment advisory services are offered through CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, an independent registered Investment Advisory firm. Information provided by sources deemed to be reliable. CapSouth does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.  This material has been prepared for planning purposes only and is not intended as specific tax or legal advice.  Tax and legal laws are often complex and frequently change.  Please consult your tax or legal advisor to discuss your specific situation before making any decisions that may have tax or legal consequences.

This article contains external links to third party content (content hosted on sites unaffiliated with CapSouth Partners). The policies and procedures governing these third party sites may differ from those effective on the CapSouth company website, as outlined in these Disclaimers. As such, CapSouth makes no representations whatsoever regarding any third party content/sites that may be accessible directly or indirectly from the CapSouth website. Linking to these third party sites in no way implies an endorsement or affiliation of any kind between CapSouth and any third party, including legal authorization to use any trademark, trade name, logo, or copyrighted materials belonging to either entity.

[i] https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/small-business-health-care-tax-credit-and-the-shop-marketplace

[ii] https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-18-27.pdf

[iii] https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/provide-shop-coverage/shop-marketplace-overview/

[iv] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-guidance-for-small-businesses-about-valuable-credit

Help us keep you informed!

Let us do the work and keep you updated! Sign up for the CapSouth financial updates.

You have Successfully Subscribed!