The attached link is to an article in the Journal of Accountancy that is a good reminder to those individuals involved with non-profit organizations.

www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2019/sep/not-for-profit-board-oversight-201922017.html

Summary:

• Recruit board members with the time and skill sets that contribute to a well-rounded board
• Train members on their roles and responsibilities
• Take good minutes
• Set the yearly board calendar appropriately
• Address board members who aren’t performing or contributing

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Stephen Covey identifies key habits successful people share to achieve their goals.  Here is my attempt to drill these habits down for investors.

Habit 1: Be Proactive (Be Ready for Financial Emergencies)
About 47 percent of respondents in the Federal Reserve’s 2014 household survey said they wouldn’t be able to cover an emergency $400 expense without selling something or borrowing money.  So start by setting aside money for an emergency fund before saving for retirement.  In a financial emergency, too many people tap into their retirement fund early and pay a penalty.  (And your credit card is not your emergency savings fund!)

As we enter the final 3 months of the tax year, here are a couple of strategies to consider with your non-retirement investment portfolio.

Yahoo! Finance Financially Fit section recently had an article talking about the habits of wealthy people based on financial planner Tom Corley’s book, Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.

The tricks of the wealthy are:

The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 imposes a Medicare contribution tax of 3.8% on unearned income of individuals, estates, and trusts. The net investment income tax applies to most trusts and estates beginning January 1, 2013. Trusts that are treated as business entities, certain state-law trusts, tax-exempt trusts, and grantor trusts are exempt from the tax.

One of the questions at last night’s Panel of Professionals hosted by KFNN Radio 1510 asked if investors should be concerned private equity firms are beginning to purchase fixed annuity companies. Bloomberg Businessweek had a story on it this morning. Fifteen percent of the fixed annuity market is handled by Wall Street-backed insurers, so you (and regulators) should be concerned.