Quiver Financial News

Retirement comes sooner than we think. And, while it’s important that we’re emotionally ready for that moment when it comes, it’s just as important that we’re financially ready.
And that means preparing.
For the vast majority of our lives, retirement is decades away. This makes it easy to put off planning for it until later. Unfortunately, once retirement is on the horizon, it could be too late. While there are some benefits to later-in-life investing, early planning often reaps the best benefits.
The best way to prepare for retirement is to set goals and take action to meet them. However, a middle step often gets forgotten: evaluating retirement readiness.
Evaluating retirement readiness helps us determine whether we’re on track to meet our goals. And if not, it helps us take the necessary steps to fix it.
But first, we have to understand what retirement readiness is and how to evaluate it.
What is retirement readiness?
“Retirement readiness” refers to a person’s ability to support themselves financially once they leave the workforce.
While that’s a simple definition, it insinuates something a little more complex: “retirement readiness” is what someone achieves after setting retirement goals and taking appropriate actions to meet or exceed them.
Someone who is retirement ready can afford the expenses of a comfortable lifestyle without working to earn a regular paycheck. They’ve saved enough throughout the years that their retirement income can cover their bills, hobbies, food, recreational activities, travel costs, and more.
But how does one become retirement ready? And what methods are there for checking your retirement readiness?
What is a RISE score?
RISE stands for “Retirement Income Security Evaluation.” Much like a credit score, it evaluates your retirement readiness and assigns a score from 0-850. A simple online calculator can perform the evaluation for you. All you have to do is input financial information, such as expected Social Security benefits, expected pension, how much savings you have, living expenses, etc. Then, the algorithm crunches the numbers and scores your readiness.
The scores represent a scale of readiness and generally equate to:
0-349: Very Poor
350-649: Poor
650-699: Fair
700-749: Good
750-799: Very Good
800-850: Excellent
Keep in mind that these ranges are open to interpretation.
Several websites offer a RISE calculator tool. An online search can provide options for you to choose from.
How to make sure you’re retirement ready
A RISE score can give you an idea of how ready you are for retirement. However, there are a few steps you can take to:
Create a deeper understanding of your retirement readiness, and
Keep you on track for meeting your retirement goals
Some simple steps you can take to make sure you’re retirement ready include:
Create a budget
Creating a budget is perhaps the most fundamental step to ensuring financial health. That’s why I recommend budgets to just about everyone, not just those using them as a tool to prepare for retirement.
A budget is a complete and honest look at your current financial situation: income, necessary expenses, “fun” lifestyle spending, and any other incoming or outgoing funds. By putting everything into a budget, you can compare how much money you earn/have with how much you need/spend.
When creating a budget, including all income and expenses is helpful. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it can serve as a reminder of what to include. Consider including:
Work/earned income
Other sources of income
Mortgage/rent
Loan/credit card debt repayments
Car payments
Groceries
Health insurance/auto insurance/homeowner’s or renter’s insurance premiums
Retirement plan contributions
Other bills (Phones, internet, TV/cable)
Subscriptions (Streaming services, meal kits, etc.)
Medical expenses
Long-term care expenses
Perform a retirement plan review
Is your retirement plan up to date? While your retirement plan might not need updating often, it’s still helpful to review it annually. When performing an annual retirement review, it’s helpful to check your retirement accounts and any other retirement savings you might have. This can help you:
Ensure you’re on track toward hitting your retirement goals
Determine whether you can contribute more/maximize contributions
Discover if you can save money on management fees
Shuffle your investments to match your goals and risk tolerance level better
Perform annual financial checkups
An annual financial checkup takes a full accounting of your finances to determine the overall health of your current financial situation. This can take a little time and effort, but the results give you a complete understanding of what you have now and what you can expect to have in the future.
The good news is both creating a budget and reviewing your retirement plan are part of an annual financial checkup. So, once you perform those first two steps, you’re already well on your way to a complete understanding of your finances.
Performing checkups like this can help you make adjustments to increase your current and future financial health—including during retirement.
Hiring a financial advisor can help ensure you don’t forget any accounts or income. They can also help explain the process and the eventual findings to you.
Which retirement plan should you choose?
When choosing a retirement plan, you have many options. Each has benefits and disadvantages, so your decision depends on your specific goals. Of course, you can have more than one plan to receive the benefits of each.
As always, I would recommend a retirement plan over a savings account. Though savings accounts come with interest rates that help them grow, these rates typically fall far below inflation. This means that, even with interest, the money in a savings account loses value yearly. However, a financial advisor can help you find alternative accounts that can help you earn more on your cash.
The two most popular retirement plans you can choose from are:
401(k) plans
401(k) plans are popular because they’re simple to set up and are widely available. They’re employer-sponsored plans, meaning many companies offer them to their employees—even those who work part-time. Their simplicity even helps small business owners offer employee retirement plans. All employees have to do is sign up and choose how much they’d like to contribute. Contributions typically get invested into a combination of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax dollars. This offers two immediate benefits:
First, you don’t pay any income tax on your contributions. This helps your account grow more quickly.
Second, this helps lower your taxes each year you contribute to your plan.
Remember that any distributions you take during retirement are considered taxable income. So, you’ll have to pay income taxes on them at the end of the year.
IRAs
IRAs are Individual retirement accounts. There are several types to choose from, with Roth IRAs among the most common.
Roth IRAs are similar to 401(k)s and offer similar investment options. However, there are two primary differences:
First, they’re not offered by employers, so retirement savers must find and purchase a plan independently.
Second, contributions are made with after-tax dollars. While this means you’ll have to pay taxes on your income before contributing it to your plan, distributions during retirement are tax-free.
Though somewhat less common, you can also purchase a traditional IRA. Like a 401(k), contributions to a traditional IRA are made with pre-tax dollars. This offers the same immediate tax benefits as a 401(k).
Performing a rollover
Any time you leave an employer, you risk accidentally abandoning an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This is a common problem and results in a lot of lost income savings every year.
Rollovers can help transfer funds from an old retirement plan to one with your new employer. Because it concerns employer-sponsored plans, performing a 401(k) rollover is most common.
The process for a rollover is relatively simple. First, you contact your previous plan’s administrator and tell them you’d like to perform a rollover. They can either send the money directly to your new plan (a “direct rollover”) or mail you a check for the balance (an “indirect rollover”).
With an indirect rollover, you have 60 days to deposit the total balance into your new retirement plan. If you fail to complete the rollover within this time limit, it becomes an early withdrawal. This makes it subject to income taxes and hefty penalty fees.

In 2019, the U.S. government recognized the importance of helping people save for retirement. They drafted and passed a law designed to help simplify opening and maintaining retirement accounts.
The original SECURE Act expanded American workers’ access to employer-sponsored retirement plans and extended the age requirements for required minimum distributions (RMDs). These small changes help people open retirement plans, increase their wealth-building potential, and get closer to their retirement income goals.
Recently, Congress passed a new version of the act that includes additional changes to further help Americans save for retirement. These major changes affect the rules surrounding RMDs, when they must be taken, and how.
So, let’s look at the top 3 changes in SECURE Act 2.0.
401(k)s, IRAs, and Roth accounts
Before we discuss how SECURE Act 2.0 impacts your retirement, it might be helpful to talk about the different account options.
A traditional 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. You sign up for the account through your employer and make contributions directly from you paycheck. 401(k) contributions usually get invested into a diverse portfolio of stocks, bonds, and index funds.
A traditional IRA is an individual retirement account you open on your own. With the exception of SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, they’re not sponsored by an employer. So, contributions don’t happen automatically. areWhere a 401(k) locks you into choices made by your employer, an IRA offers you a wider array of investment options. This helps you shop around for an account that suits your retirement goals.
Contributions to traditional accounts are made with pre-tax dollars. Because they’re tax deductible, contributions could potentially move you into a lower tax bracket for that year. However, any distributions you take are considered taxable income.
You also have the option of opening either a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k). They work largely the same as traditional accounts. However, contributions to Roth accounts are made with after-tax dollars. While this means you must pay income taxes on them upfront, you can take tax-free distributions.
Because all of these accounts are intended to provide retirement income, any withdrawals made before age 59 1/2 are subject to a penalty fee.
3 Ways SECURE Act 2.0 Changes RMDs
SECURE Act 2.0 offers many benefits for Americans hoping to save for retirement. Some of the newest changes affect the legal requirements surrounding taking distributions.
These three changes help retirees in a couple different ways. First, the changes help retirement savings last longer as life expectancy continues to rise. Second, they help reduce the burden in the event a mistake is made by a taxpayer.
The 3 major changes the SECURE Act 2.0 makes to RMDs are:
Eliminates Roth 401(k) RMDs
Beginning in 2024, those who own a Roth 401(k) will no longer be required to take RMDs.
This hasn’t traditionally been the case. In previous years, a Roth 401(k) was subject to the same RMDs as most other retirement plans. If you reached age 72 and had money in a Roth 401(k), you had to take distributions or be subject to penalties.
However, Roth IRA accounts were not subject to RMDs. Because of this, many of those who owned a Roth 401(k) would roll over their funds into a Roth IRA to avoid RMDs and the penalties associated with them.
Under this new act, that’s no longer the case. By eliminating required distributions, Roth 401(k) savers can experience indefinite investment growth without the added responsibility of performing a rollover or becoming subject to additional penalties.  
Extends the age limits for RMDs
The original SECURE Act extended the age limit for RMDs from 70 1/2 years old to 72. The new 2.0 rules further extend the age limit. However, there might be some confusion over how the new limit works.
This is because the change comes in two tranches. Starting in 2023, RMDs are required starting at age 73. This means that if you turn 73 years old in 2023, you must begin taking distributions from traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts subject to RMDs. However, because the law is still brand new, there’s a grace period. Those turning 73 and above in 2023 have until April 1, 2024 to take their first distribution. This grace period only affects 2023’s RMDs. Every subsequent year, distributions must be made by December 31 of that year.
Please note that if you wait until 2024 to take your first RMD, you must take two distributions within that year. You have until April 1 to take 2023’s distribution. 2024’s distribution must be withdrawn before December 31.
The RMD age limit goes up again 10 years later. Starting in 2033, RMDs will only be required for those 75 or older.
RMD penalty reductions
RMDs are enforced with penalty taxes. Traditionally, failure to take a required distribution resulted in a penalty equal to 50% of the amount not withdrawn. For instance, if you were required to take a $1,000 distribution but only withdrew $500, your penalty would be 50% of the portion you failed to withdraw. In this instance, you failed to withdraw $500 and would have to pay a $250 penalty fee.
SECURE Act 2.0 reduces these penalties.
Under the new law, the penalty gets reduced down to 25% of the amount not withdrawn. However, you do have the opportunity to correct this error for a reduced penalty. If you withdraw the remaining portion within the second year after failing to take the RMD, the penalty gets reduced to 10%. For example, if you fail to withdraw the full RMD amount in 2023, you have until the end of 2025 to complete the distribution and receive a lower penalty.
Earning this lower penalty requires additional paperwork. To qualify for the 10% penalty, you must submit Form 5329 with a written explanation.
Other SECURE 2.0 Changes
In addition to changes to RMDs, SECURE 2.0 offers additional benefits to American retirement savers. Some of these other changes include:
Increased catch-up contributions
Catch-up contributions increase contribution limits for those nearing retirement. This helps ensure build up your retirement savings to meet your goals in those last, crucial working years. These increased contributions are currently limited to $7,500 for those 50 or older. Beginning in 2025, those ages 60 to 63 may increase their annual contributions to $10,000.
The IRA catch-up limit of $1,000 remains unchanged.
However, all catch-up limits (including for IRAs) will be indexed to inflation, meaning they could go up every year.
Roth employer match
Previously, employer match programs have been limited to traditional, pre-tax contributions. However, SECURE 2.0 will allow employers to offer after-tax matching contributions to their employees’ account balance. While employees will carry the tax burden of these Roth contributions, it can help lower their income tax bill when they take distributions during retirement.
Automatic enrollment
Starting in 2025, SECURE Act 2.0 requires employers with new 401(k) and 403(b) plans to automatically enroll their employees into the plan. This will help more workers begin saving for retirement. However, employees will have the ability to opt out of retirement plans if they wish.
Additional contribution match
The law adds an additional matching contribution of up to $2,000 for qualified savers. Qualifying for this extra benefit depends on your age, tax filing status, and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for the tax year.
No maximum age for IRA contributions
Previously, Americans older than 70 1/2 years old could no longer contribute to their IRA plans. Under SECURE 2.0, anyone contribute to their IRA no matter their age. IRA contributions are still limited to $6,500 for those younger than 50 or $7,500 for those over 50. Those who earn less than that in a year can contribute an amount equal to their earned income.

The News loves to tie anything to fear and they also love making things up.  Get the real scoop on what is going on in our economy by subscribing to our channels.  We give it to you straight.
Toxic treasuries are a made up thing.  Just because banks own treasuries doesn't make them toxic.  It is how they are held and length of maturity during a rising rate that can cause problems.
Not intended to be investment advice. Advisory Services offered through Quiver Financial Holdings, LLC 949-492-6900 www.quiverfinancial.com
 

Financial checkups are crucial for setting and meeting our financial goals. Unfortunately, it’s one task forgotten by many year after year. While reaching your goals without a checkup is possible, the chances go way up when completing annual financial checkups.
Think of it this way: we all understand that remaining healthy is crucial for a long, healthy life. While diet and exercise help, regular doctor visits keep us updated on how our bodies are doing and what we should do to maintain or improve our health.
Financial checkups work much the same way. By consulting with a professional, we can maintain a stable financial status and provide for our future financial needs. We can also learn how close we are to reaching our goals and what actions we should take to ensure we do.
If you’ve never performed a financial checkup or don’t know how, that’s okay! To help, we’ll outline what a financial checkup is, how to perform one, and how they can help.
What is a Financial Health Check-up?
A financial health checkup is an assessment of your various financial assets and holdings. It reviews your income, expenses, debts, budgets, credit score, and assets to determine where you stand financially and whether you’re on track to meet your financial goals.
By performing an annual financial checkup, you can determine which of your financial habits work best, where you can improve, and whether to reevaluate your long-term goals.
How to Perform a Financial Health Check-up
A financial checkup consists of reviewing all financial holdings and assets. There’s no one way to perform the checkup, but having a plan or checklist can help ensure you’ve covered all your bases. While you can perform a checkup independently, hiring a financial advisor can help ensure a thorough assessment, explain the findings to you, and suggest a course of action for future financial well-being.
When performing a financial health checkup, consider these steps:
Consider major life changes
Financial health can fluctuate with events in your personal life. These can be events that incur a significant financial burden or offer you an unexpected windfall. Alternatively, the changes can offer more subtle changes to your daily budget, income, or expenses.
These should be changes that have occurred since your most recent financial checkup. Consider changes such as:
Marriage/divorce
Having a baby
Major purchases: house/car/etc.
Change of job: promotion/demotion/layoff/etc.
Retirement
Receiving an inheritance
Changes to your health
Review income and expenses
Create a detailed list of income and expenses. This can help you understand whether you’re living within your budget.
If you have more money coming in than going out, that’s great! Earning more than you spend is essential for saving money and ensuring financial health.
If you earn less than you spend, you can determine which expenses are essential, which you can do without, or whether to take action to increase your income.
Affordable budgeting software exists to help you maintain and reassess your budget regularly. Alternatively, you can create a budget with free spreadsheet options like Google Sheets.
Assess your debt
Assessing your total debt is essential for understanding your current financial situation. Listing all debts can help you determine how much you owe and create an approximate payback timeline. It would also help to consider the interest rates tied to each debt. This way, you can prioritize which to pay down first or which should be refinanced.
This can also help you craft a more accurate budget that prioritizes those debts against the rest of your spending.
Consider debts such as:
Mortgages
Personal/student/auto loans
Credit card debt
Healthcare/medical debt
Review retirement savings
Retirement is probably the most long-term savings goal you have. And, because it affects your income once you’ve stopped receiving a regular paycheck, it’s crucial that you meet your goals. Remember that Social Security benefits only cover a fraction of retirement expenses, so you’ll likely need other sources of income.
Consider how much you’ll need to sustain your lifestyle during retirement. It’s important to review all financial accounts designed to provide retirement savings. This includes savings accounts, investment portfolios, and retirement plans. Assess how much you have saved, your growth rates, and whether you’re on track to meet your goals.
Consider reviewing every retirement plan you have, including:
Traditional and Roth 401(k)
Traditional and Roth IRA
Simple IRA
403(b)
Check your credit report
Your credit score can give you a quick assessment of your current finances. Of course, this depends on how accurate your credit report is! Consider checking your credit report for any inaccuracies that could affect your score. An inaccurate credit report could impact your ability to get a loan, the terms of those loans, and the interest rates offered to you.
The three major credit report agencies are legally bound to give you one free report each year. Many websites are available where you can access these reports, with some allowing you to check them regularly at no charge.
Understanding your credit score and which factors are impacting it can help you prioritize which debts to pay down, whether to refinance a loan, or whether to consolidate.
If you do find any inaccuracies, you can contact the credit bureau to have them corrected.
Assess your insurance
Insurance needs can fluctuate. When assessing your finances, you should ensure your insurance coverage meets your needs. This is important for two reasons: first, it helps protect you against unexpected financial hardships. Second, it helps ensure you can afford all your insurance premiums.
Track all your current assets and whether they are or should be insured. Keep in mind that many assets legally require insurance.
Consider:
Health insurance (Including for yourself and your family)
Homeowner’s/Renter’s insurance
Auto insurance
Disability insurance
Long-term care insurance
Life insurance
Review estate plans
No matter the size of your estate, it’s important to plan for what happens in a worst-case scenario. Luckily, your financial checkup has given you a complete understanding of your finances and assets! Consider how those assets impact your will and who you might choose to be your executor, trustee, and any beneficiaries.
Consider your taxes
It’s likely that your employer withholds more than enough to cover your income taxes. However, that’s not a given. The IRS offers a free tool to calculate your optimum withholding amounts to ensure you don’t receive an unexpected tax burden at the end of the year.
But it’s just as important to consider any other tax burdens you might have. Consider items such as estate taxes, property taxes, and gift taxes. This can help you save enough throughout the year to ensure you have enough to cover your taxes.
Reassess your goals
Once you fully understand your finances, you can determine whether your goals need amending. Your financial goals may fall short of your needs. Alternatively, you might not be as close to meeting your goals as you’d assumed.
A financial advisor can help you determine more accurate goals and develop a plan for meeting them that you can follow.
Benefits of a Financial Check-up
A deep understanding of your finances offers many benefits. Performing a checkup annually brings those benefits to you every year. This way, you can keep up with your financial situation and make the most of the benefits available.
Some of the most important benefits of a financial checkup include the following:
Improved Financial Health: A financial health checkup can help you identify areas of weakness in your finances and take steps to improve them. This can help you achieve financial stability and security.
Better Financial Planning: By reviewing your finances, you can set goals for the future and develop a plan to achieve them. This can help you make better financial decisions and avoid financial stress.
Improved Credit Score: Checking your credit report and correcting errors can help improve your credit score, leading to lower interest rates on loans and credit cards.
Increased Savings: By reviewing your savings and investments, you can identify ways to increase your savings, create an emergency fund, and achieve your financial goals faster.
Reduced Financial Stress: Knowing where you stand financially and planning for the future can reduce financial stress and anxiety.
Retirement Readiness: A financial health checkup can help you identify areas where you need to save more, what debt could impact your retirement, and whether you can further optimize your contributions to retirement plans.

Recap from our Next investment wave.
 
Short Term vs. Long Term
Oil prices have plunged by approximately 40% from their 2022 highs, causing doubt among many investors in the oil market bull thesis.  
The recent crude price decline reflects a tug-of-war underway between bullish structural factors and bearish temporary factors, causing us to ask, is this a buying opportunity within a longer-term structural bull market or the beginning of significantly lower oil prices led by reduction of demand as a result of a looming recession?
In the short term (1 week to 2 months), the tea leaves that many oil traders watch, like oil inventories, refining margins, and whether oil prices are in contango or backwardation do appear to give the impression that oil prices in Q1 of 2023 will be flat or possibly down slightly.  
Strong sentiment, increasing demand, geopolitics, and most importantly, supply-side issues that will take many years to fix.
Sentiment – Wall Street is Bullish
Many Oil market analysts believe oil prices are going higher.  For example, Jeff Currie, the global head of commodities for Goldman Sachs, has a $110 forecast for Brent Crude in 2023, while rival investment bank Morgan Stanley agrees, expecting Brent to top the $110 level by the middle of 2023.  
These analysts note several catalysts as dynamics in demand, supply, and geopolitical circumstances arise.
Demand Dynamics
Morgan Stanley probably summed up the demand dynamics best by stating, “We remain constructive on Oil prices driven by recovering demand from China reopening and aviation recovering amidst constrained supply due to low levels of investment, a risk to Russian supply, the end of SPR releases and slow down of U.S. Shale.”  
Being one that has traveled quite a bit the past few months, I can personally attest to the recovery in aviation as each and every airport I have been through has been very busy.  
While the airports and roads seem just as busy as they were prior to the Pandemic, it also seems China could be the biggest catalyst in 2023, as highlighted by the Wall Street Journal “The pent-up demand from China is going to be enormous,” according to comments by Energy Aspects director of research Amrita Sen.  Continuing with “China could swing demand by at least a million barrels a day, and that could easily make the difference between an Oil forecast of $95 to $105 versus $120 to $130.”
“Prior to the pandemic, China was the world’s third-largest consumer of liquified natural gas, second-largest oil consumer, and largest electricity consumer. Resumed manufacturing activity and overall energy use in China could help offset fears of recession-driven demand destruction” 
While demand seems poised to increase through 2023 (assuming there are no or low recession effects), it is the supply dynamics that seem to be part of the thesis that may cause a longer secular bull market in fossil fuel prices.
Supply Dynamics 
Due to poor energy policies of the past, there have been supply-side issues building for many years, and those issues don’t look to be changing anytime soon.   We see a future in which oil supply is constrained for years, necessitating higher prices and lower demand than would be possible during the oil market of the past decade, when supply was abundant. The bull case for oil rests on the constrained supply outlook, which will be evident in a supply deficit that surfaces whenever prices are low and the quantity of oil demanded by consumers ticks above the level of available supply.
Most oil companies plan to keep a relatively firm lid on output and investment spending for new production.  For example, Chevron plans to boost its capital budget by 25% next year to $17 billion; most of that increase is due to inflation and a ramp in lower-carbon investment spending.  Likewise, ExxonMobil plans to boost capital spending to $23 billion from $22 billion. However, it expects its production will remain flat on a per-day basis.  
Without a major demand disruption due to a large recession, demand seems poised to rise amid continued tight supplies. 
Geopolitics
The geopolitics of Oil has always been a hotbed of debate and speculation, and now it seems that many past issues are approaching an inflection point over the next 5-7 years.  
In our opinion, one of the cornerstones of Oil influence is the Saudis, so let’s start the geopolitical discussion there.  For decades Saudi Kings maintained political balance by doling out vital power positions to separate, carefully chosen successors. Positions such as Defense Minister, the Interior Ministry, and the head of the National Guard. Today, Mohammed Bin Salman controls all three positions. Foreign policy, defense matters, oil and economic decisions, and social changes are now all in the hands of one man.   The 2017 coup and rise of prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) was significant in that MBS was backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a fund comprised of trillions of dollars supplied by globalists Carlyle Group (Bush Family), Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and Blackrock.  MBS gained the favor of the globalists for one big reason. He openly supported their “Vision for 2030”, a plan for the dismantling of “fossil fuel” based energy and the implementation of carbon controls.  In exchange for their cooperation, the Saudis are given access to ESG-like funding as well as access to AI advancements.
Also note, over the past few years, relationships between Saudi, Russia, and China have grown very close.  Arms deals and energy deals are becoming the mainstay of trade, and this has also led to a quiet distancing of the Saudis using U.S. dollars to trade oil.  Recently, the dominoes seemed to have been set with Saudi Arabia announcing at Davos that they are now willing to trade Oil in alternative currencies to the dollar. 
Not to mention from an age perspective, the current Saudi regime is at an age they could be viewing the next few years as their last hoorah to make as much money as they can from traditional energy sources before the world evolves and incorporates more and more energy alternatives.
Conclusions
The importance of the Saudi announcement and willingness to trade oil in alternative currencies to The Dollar, along with the continued strengthening alliance between East vs West, can not be overstated; this is the beginning of a global shift in reserve currencies similar to when The British Sterling imploded many decades ago which resulted in the rise of The Dollar to take its place as the “global petro currency.”
The consequences of this could be very devastating to the US economy. The ability to defer inflation by exporting it overseas is a superpower only the US enjoys. Currently, the Fed can print money perpetually if it wants to in order to fund the government or prop up US markets, as long as foreign central banks and corporate banks are willing to absorb dollars as a tool for global trade. If the dollar is no longer the primary international trade mechanism, the trillions upon trillions of dollars the Fed has created from thin air over the years will all come flooding back to the US through various avenues, and hyperinflation (or hyperstagflation) could be the result.
The effects of the dollar decline may not be immediately felt or become obvious for another year or two. What will happen is consistent inflation on top of the high prices we are already dealing with. Meaning the Federal Reserve will continue to hold interest rates higher, and prices will barely budge, or they may climb in spite of monetary tightening.
All the while, the mainstream media and government economists will say they have “no idea” why inflation is so persistent and that “nobody could have seen this coming.”
While this can sound dire and cause you to reach for a bottle of ludlum to numb the pain, there are and will be significant investment opportunities for those that are savvy enough to see the changes that are taking place in front of us.
If you are curious to know how your portfolio can Catch The Next Investment Wave in Energy and Currencies, click here to start a conversation.
Lastly, who knows what the introduction of #ChatGPT could have on the financial industry and its predictive capabilities for oil pricing.

Are you concerned about what to do with your money or investments with bank failures, fear of recession, and the anticipated dethroning of The U.S. Dollar appearing to be in our future? Get prepared and find potential investment opportunities by watching this short excerpt discussing the trends in Gold from Quiver Financials March 2023 Livestream, where we discuss: - If Gold will be an investor safe haven amid bank failures and corporate bankruptcies. - See how Gold has performed since 2016 to gain insight into where prices may be headed in 2023 - Hear how to manage the risk of investing in Gold and avoid buying too late Not intended to be investment advice.
Quiver Financial is an investment advisory registered with the State of CA and is CA Insurance Licensed. Advisory services offered through Quiver Financial Holdings, LLC. www.quiverfinancial.com 949-492-6900

Auto-enrollment offers a simple and streamlined method to start saving for retirement. It’s typically tied to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to increase the number of participants.
Those who offer auto-enrollment typically want to help ensure that as many people save for retirement as possible. Programs like this are primarily aimed at those who don’t normally think about saving for retirement: younger workers and those who believe they can’t afford to do so.
Recently, SECURE Act 2.0 has created legal provisions to help more Americans prepare for a secure retirement. For instance, it helps incentivize small businesses into offering a sponsored retirement plan by providing tax credits for adopting a 401(k) program. Why? Because 74% of small businesses still don’t offer their employees retirement plans!
But the law also includes an auto-enrollment mandate slated to take effect in the next few years.
So, what is auto-enrollment? And, more importantly, how does it impact your retirement?
What is auto-enrollment?
Auto-enrollment is a process where employees are automatically enrolled into a company’s benefit plan, like a 401k or other retirement plan. Typically, these plans are “opt-in,” meaning that new hires decide for themselves whether they’d like to enroll.
But with auto-enrollment, all new hires would instead have to “opt out” if they’d prefer not to participate in the benefit plan. Otherwise, they’re automatically enrolled in the program. This enrollment can happen immediately or after completing a probationary period, lasting anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
Who does auto-enrollment affect?
Currently, auto-enrollment only affects employees at companies that have an auto-enrollment program.
However, the SECURE Act 2.0 will increase the number of affected workers. The law is designed to help workers save for retirement and includes many helpful provisions. One of those provisions mandates auto-enrollment in retirement plans. Starting in 2025, companies starting a new 401(k) or 403(b) plan will be required to automatically enroll their employees into retirement plans with a minimum contribution rate of 3% to 10%.
This affects businesses that start new 401(k) and 403(b) plans after December 29, 2022.
What are the advantages of auto-enrollment?
401(k) accounts already have many benefits for employees. Initiating an auto-enrollment program can provide additional benefits by simplifying the process right from the start. Some of the most important benefits of auto-enrollment include the following:
The possibility of increased participation. Studies have shown that auto-enrollment has shown to increase participation in benefits programs.
Creating default savings for employees. By auto-enrolling employees into a retirement savings plan, employers help ensure that workers create a “rainy day” fund.
Creates simplicity. Auto-enrollment is a convenient way for employees to enroll in a benefits plan.
Are there any disadvantages to auto-enrollment?
Of course, automatically enrolling in a program can also have disadvantages. Although you can choose to opt out, you could feel that it removes a little bit of your autonomy. It’s a personal choice whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Some common disadvantages to auto-enrollment include:
Reduced flexibility. Some employees may have changing needs, and auto-enrollment may not accommodate these changing needs within a workforce.
Limited employee knowledge. Some employees may not fully understand all their options or all the implications of enrolling in a benefits plan or know they have options.
Ineffective automatic contributions. The optimal contribution amount differs for each employee. For many, the default rate might be either too low or too high. With a streamlined process, they could end up with contributions that don’t suit their needs or lifestyle.
Why choose a 401(k)?
Understanding how a 401(k) can help you is an important first step for retirement saving. For one, it helps you understand what options are available and why you might want to look them over when encountering automatic enrollment.
It also helps you understand why SECURE Act 2.0 focuses so much on trying to help as many people enroll in such programs as possible.
Some of the common benefits of a 401(k) include the following:
Traditional 401(k)s are tax-deferred
Contributions to traditional 401(k) plans are made with pre-tax dollars. This means you don’t need to pay taxes on the money you contribute to your account. This is also true of traditional IRA accounts. However, once you withdraw money from your account, it becomes taxable income.
Please note that Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s are the opposite. Employee contributions are made with after-tax income. Whenever money is withdrawn, it will be tax-free. However, employees who make hardship withdrawals from either type of account before age 59 will be charged a 10% penalty fee.
Employer match programs
Employer matching programs are exactly how they sound—employers offer to match contributions made by their employees. It’s up to each business whether they offer this program and how much to contribute.
Most businesses only match up to a specific contribution amount. For instance, if you contribute 5% of your salary, your employer might offer to match the first 3%. They can also use a more staggered approach, offering to match 100% of the first 3%, then 50% of the following 2%.
Employer contributions come with their own annual limits. Because of this, they don’t count toward the employee’s annual contribution limit. These limits change every year. Your individual 401(k) contribution limit for 2023 is $22,500. However, employer contributions can add an additional $43,500 to the account. That makes the entire employer/employee combined contribution limit $66,000 for the year.
Diverse investments
A typical 401(k) portfolio usually consists of diverse investments. Often, these are a combination of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. These investments are customizable to each plan owner’s needs and risk tolerance. A financial advisor can always help you determine what investments suit you best.
Don't be fooled by #AI and #ChatGPT.  These will not take the place of a financial advisor any time soon.  Please consult with a professional when it comes to investing.

With Inflation sticking around higher for longer and the recent news of bank failures, 2023 is starting off with a bang for investors. We discuss this and more in this edition of Quiver Financial's Market Minutes From The Boardroom where we cover some of the most popular questions we are hearing from our clients and family office investors like:
- How will the recent banking crisis impact me?
- How much higher can interest rates go, and what should I do with my bond investments?
- How are geopolitical conditions going to impact the markets in the near future?
- What is a bear market rally and what should I be doing NOW to protect my investments?
- Should I be concerned about the geopolitical environment and how may it effect Oil and Gold prices or The U.S. Dollar?
Like to save time? Chose the subject you want to hear about and scroll to the time stamp below.
00:00 Introduction
01:29 A Lot Has Happened Since December Why isn't The Stock Market Lower?
07:45 Markets Performance So Far This Year
11:08 There is a Good Lesson For Investors Here
13:03 Gold - The Charts and Fundamentals
17:10 Gold, Oil, Saudis and Digital Dollar
19:07 The U.S.Dollar - The Charts and Fundamentals
22:30 The Stock Market - Bear Market Rally or New Highs?
28:00 Oil and Energy - New Bull Market?
33:40 What Can Investors Possibly Do Now
37:36 What Are Toxic Treasuries
40:04 Bank Failures - What You Should Look For in Your Bank
42:27 Get A Free Portfolio Analysis
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Quiver Financial Holdings, LLC. www.quiverfinancial.com 949-492-6900

I’m sure it must seem odd that a wealth management company would be talking about the weather. Believe it or not, the weather can significantly impact the stock market and your investments. 
Weather affects many aspects of your life—from travel plans to whether you’ll run errands, the types of insurance you purchase for your home and vehicle, and where you move once you reach your retirement age. If you live in California, you might have heard of the IRS pushing the due date for tax returns a whole six months because of the weather!
In short, weather affects the way we invest our time and money. And investors are no different.
How weather affects investments
The impact of weather on investments will depend on various factors, including the type of investment, the severity and duration of the weather event, and the ability of companies to adapt to changing conditions. Investors should consider the risks and opportunities associated with weather-related events when making investment decisions.
Overall, the weather has two primary types of effects on investments: direct and indirect.
Direct effects of weather on investments
Direct effects of weather on investments can be seen in industries such as agriculture and energy, which are particularly sensitive to weather conditions. For example, a drought or a flood can affect crop yields, leading to lower revenues for agricultural companies and potentially causing commodity prices to rise. Similarly, extreme weather events like hurricanes or winter storms can disrupt energy production, transportation, and distribution, leading to higher prices for energy commodities. This could cause a drop in the stock prices of energy companies, and their investors could lose money.
Indirect effects of weather on investments
Indirect effects of weather on investments can also occur, as weather can influence consumer behavior and overall economic activity. For example, severe weather events can disrupt travel and tourism, leading to lower revenues for companies in the hospitality and entertainment sectors. Extreme heat or cold can also affect consumer spending patterns, as people may be less likely to go out and shop or dine in certain weather conditions.
In addition, weather-related news coverage can impact investor sentiment and market volatility. For example, suppose a severe weather event is expected to impact a major economic region. In that case, it can lead to increased uncertainty and volatility in the stock market, as investors may be unsure about the potential impact on earnings and overall economic growth. Some banks also increase their interest rate spread following disasters related to climate change.
How do I make investment choices based on the weather?
Investing based on weather requires careful analysis and research. Here are some strategies that investors may consider when looking to invest based on weather:
Invest in weather-sensitive industries
As mentioned earlier, agriculture, energy, and insurance industries are susceptible to weather conditions. Investing in companies that operate in these industries may provide exposure to the potential opportunities and risks associated with weather-related events.
Follow weather patterns
Tracking weather patterns can provide insight into related risks and opportunities. For example, if a drought is expected, investing in companies specializing in drought-resistant crops or irrigation systems may be a way to profit from the situation.
Analyze historical weather data
Examining historical weather data can also provide insights into related risks and opportunities for certain industries or companies. For example, if a company has experienced significant losses due to weather-related events in the past, it may be vulnerable to similar events in the future.
Consider climate change
Climate change is expected to impact weather patterns and potentially create new investment opportunities and risks. Investors may want to consider investing in companies working to address climate change or developing technologies to adapt to changing weather patterns.
Set time horizons
A “time horizon” is the period of time you expect to keep the investment. Generally, the longer the time horizon, the more risk you can undertake. Understanding time horizons can help you leverage time to your advantage.
As you research, you can move your investments around to various stocks, bonds, index funds, and mutual funds. Those interested in low-risk earnings on their cash might even open a high-yield savings account. Each of these investment options might be impacted differently by the weather. By diversifying in this way, you can use time horizons to help meet short-term and long-term goals.
For instance, you might move some short-term investments away from companies likely to see losses from the coming weather. You can then put that money into companies that might benefit greatly from the coming weather for potential short-term gains. But you might also choose to keep some long-term investments in those companies that expect losses and ride out the risk.
Invest in ESG funds
The S&P 500 index offers an ESG fund option. “ESG” stands for “Environment, Social, and Governance” and focuses on companies that meet certain sustainability criteria. It works much like the OG S&P 500, so investing in this fund can offer you the benefits of investing in sustainability-forward businesses with relatively low risk. Some companies are now offering ESG investment options for some of their retirement benefits. So, consider researching or asking about your options if this interests you.
Seek professional advice
Investing based on weather can be complex and requires specialized knowledge. Seeking advice from a professional financial advisor who specializes in weather-related investing can help investors make informed decisions. If you have a brokerage account, you can speak to your broker about your concerns for advice or ask them how the weather and climate change impacts the way they invest your money.
Take steps to mitigate risks
It’s important to remember that investing involves risks and that past performance does not indicate future results. Before making any financial decisions based on the weather, investors should:
Conduct thorough research
Consult with a financial professional
Create specific financial goals and investment objectives
Carefully consider their risk tolerance level
Also think about how #AI and #ChatCPT can have on your ability to research and invest with weather.  This is something we are keeping a close eye on as well.

Layoffs rocked workers across all sectors in 2022. The tech world was hit especially hit hard, with companies like Amazon, Twitter, Meta/Facebook, and DoorDash reporting mass layoffs. Business and professional jobs saw significant layoffs, as well—2.12 million throughout the year. Some companies, such as AMC Networks, have announced plans to lay off employees soon.
This follows 2021, which saw 17 million layoffs across all industries.
Many of those who experienced a layoff or separation from their job quickly scrambled to ensure they could afford food, bills, and other necessities. 46% of those polled reported feeling unprepared for layoffs or separations.
Today, we’re talking about the financial steps you should take when impacted by a layoff, and how to keep your retirement savings intact even during the worst circumstances.
Create a budget
When facing any financial hardship, it’s important to take a full inventory of your current monetary situation. Create a detailed budget that includes such items as:
How much accessible cash you have in your checking and savings accounts
Your total monthly expenses—bills, necessities (food, gas, etc.) subscriptions
Debt repayments—loans, credit cards, etc.
Any additional income you might receive
When creating a budget, try to gain an understanding of how far you can stretch the money you currently have. If you can, cut any unnecessary spending.
The problem with early retirement withdrawals
Part of the goal is of creating a budget is to avoid dipping into your retirement savings. While making withdrawals from your 401(k) or other retirement plans might eventually become necessary, it should be a last resort.
This is because making early withdrawals from your 401(k) can come with a few big disadvantages.
First, withdrawing money from your 401(k) before you turn age 59 1/2 can come with heavy penalties—up to 10% of your withdrawal!
Second, there’s opportunity cost. Because retirement plans are investment accounts, they’re designed to grow over time. Once you take money out, you lose the opportunity for that amount to grow and build more wealth. It’s difficult to recoup this kind of loss and it can greatly affect your retirement.
Avoid abandoning your 401(k)
Whenever you change employment—regardless of the reason—you risk abandoning your employer-sponsored 401(k). Abandoned 401(k) plans are a common problem that leads to a lot of lost money: according to Capitalize, there was over $1 Trillion lost to abandoned 401(k)s as of 2021 (one of many shocking 401(k) stats)!
The best way to avoid abandoning your retirement plan is taking control over it as soon as you can. Odds are, one of two things will happen to your retirement funds after your employment ends. Either:
Your account closes, and they send your money to you
Your account remains open and stays with your former employer
Under the best circumstances, your former employer’s retirement plan offers varied and unique investment options that grow in ways that suit your needs. If that’s true, you might choose to keep your 401(k) with them. However, you risk forgetting your plan exists or worse—your former employer going out of business. Additionally, the company could change the rules associated with your plan, making it more difficult to maximize your contributions or access your account.
Usually, you’ll want to take your retirement savings with you. Luckily, there’s a simple process to roll over your 401 k from your previous employer to a new plan.
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Performing a 401 k rollover
There are two methods for performing a 401k rollover: direct and indirect. The primary difference between the two is whether you take control of the money before rolling it over into your new account.
Whichever method you choose, you must perform the rollover within 60 days of closing your account. If you don’t rollover your funds before the grace period ends, it becomes income and you’ll be required to pay taxes on it at the end of the year.
Before performing a rollover, it’s important to make sure you have a new 401(k) account. If you’ve found new employment, you can likely enroll in a new plan when you begin work. Otherwise, you can search online for a new plan that fits your needs and retirement goals.
Method 1: Direct rollovers
Direct rollovers are ones where your money goes directly from your old plan to your new one. You can contact your previous plan administrator, provide them with information about your new plan, and have them transfer it directly.
Sometimes, your previous plan administrator won’t be able to send it directly to your new one. Instead, they’ll liquidate your account and mail you a check for the full amount. In that case, you’ll have to use the second rollover method.
Method 2: Indirect rollovers
In an indirect rollover, you become the middleman. Your account is closed and you receive a check for your full amount. It becomes your responsibility to send the funds to your new plan.
To do so, we recommend contacting your new plan administrator and following their instructions for depositing the money into your account.
Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)
Traditional 401(k)s are often the default option when you sign up. The contributions come directly out of your income before you pay tax on it. This technically lowers your year-end income, potentially lowering your annual tax. However, once you make any withdrawal (including distributions once you retire), it’s considered taxable income.
Roth 401(k)s are another popular option. They feature post-tax contributions. So, though you must pay tax on your income before you contribute, you can receive tax-free distributions once you retire.
When you perform a rollover, you can choose to roll your traditional 401(k) into another traditional 401(k), a Roth 401(k), a Traditional IRA, or a Roth IRA. If you have a Roth 401(k), you can only roll it into another Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA. Each comes with their own tax requirements and investment choices, so consider shopping around.
Rolling over a traditional account into a Roth account is called a Roth conversion and comes with rules and limitations. We recommend speaking with your financial advisor before changing account types so you can better understand any tax obligations or other penalties doing so might incur.
Apply for unemployment
Unemployment insurance can replace much of your lost income following a layoff. Each state has their own requirements for how to apply, so it’s best to search online for your local rules and regulations. Most states allow you to apply online.
There can sometimes be a wait for your application to be accepted or for checks to arrive, so it’s best to apply for unemployment benefits as soon as possible.
Find health insurance
If you’ve lost your health insurance because of a layoff, consider finding a replacement healthcare plan—even if you don’t currently have any medical expenses. Medical emergencies are often expensive. And, without insurance to protect you, an emergency could quickly deplete your savings.
Luckily, there’s a public marketplace for health insurance options. You can browse online to find a plan that fits your budget and comes closest to meeting your medical needs. Dental and vision plans are also available and can be found by performing a search online.
#Disney announced today they plan to layoff 7,000 workers.  Is #AI taking over jobs?  Students are using #ChatGPT in schools.  Will this impact future employment numbers?