Ledyard Bank - Insights

> Expiring Provisions of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

December 2024, Advisor Thoughts - The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 included numerous temporary provisions set to expire in 2025 unless Congress intervenes. Although several of these items were discussed on the campaign trail this year, the extension of these expiring provisions remains uncertain, as do the possibilities of additional changes to tax policy. Read more >

> Medicare Changes for 2025 - What to Know

October 2024, Advisor Thoughts - In 2025, several Medicare Advantage plans will no longer be available in New Hampshire, impacting many beneﬁciaries who rely on these plans for their healthcare coverage. Notably, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has announced that it will not offer its Stride℠ (HMO/HMO-POS) Medicare Advantage plan in New Hampshire starting in 2025. This decision means that coverage under this plan will end on December 31, 2024, affecting numerous enrollees who will need to ﬁnd alternative coverage options. Read more >

> Estate Planning Solo: Building Your Financial Support System

September 2024, Advisor Thoughts - Managing your financial affairs independently requires a robust support system to ensure that your assets are handled according to your wishes if you become unable to manage them. Preparing for the unexpected is crucial for everyone since circumstances can change due to age or health issues. Without a proper estate plan, the court will appoint representatives to manage your assets, who may not fully understand your financial goals or personal wishes.

> How Bonds Can Benefit Your Retirement Plan

April 2024, Investment Thoughts - There is much to consider when you are approaching retirement or perhaps already retired. We understand people can be overwhelmed with the many investment options. In this Investment Thoughts, we are taking a dive into the bond market to help you understand how bonds can benefit your investment portfolio.

> Six Common Mistakes People Make When Planning to Enroll in Medicare

April 2024, Advisor Thoughts - Medicare is a vital component of many Americans' healthcare planning as they approach retirement age. It provides essential coverage for medical expenses but navigating the Medicare system can be daunting. Unfortunately, mistakes in the planning process can lead to unnecessary expenses and gaps in coverage. Here are some common errors to avoid when preparing for Medicare.

> Changing Perspectives on Sustainable Investing

April 2024, Investment Thoughts - There has been recent polarizing media coverage of the sustainable investment field and we recognize that this can be confusing. Some reports were positive and noted the growing popularity of this approach. Others highlighted certain marketing practices and political debate on the topic. To help you put this news into perspective, we will review some of the recent headlines and share our thoughts.

> Sustainable Investing Today

November 2023, Investment Thoughts - At Ledyard, we manage a variety of different types of portfolios for our clients, including a dedicated sustainable investment strategy. This strategy continues to grow and gain in importance to our clients in today’s world. Our team has been managing sustainable portfolios for more than ten years. We’ve learned a lot during this time and the field continues to develop.

The objective for our sustainable strategies is to select investments that provide the best balance between financial return and sustainable impact. I wanted to share this educational piece about how we manage our strategy to benefit you.

> Our Initial Thoughts on the Israel-Hamas War

October 2023, Investment Thoughts - On October 7th, Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, invaded Israel by air, land and sea. Israel's Defense Minister called the incursion the worst event for Jews since the Holocaust. Over 1,300 Israelis have died including hundreds of civilians. To put this number in context, given the relative size of Israel’s population, that would equate to roughly 40,000 Americans. In response to the attack, Israel cut off electricity and the flow of food, water and supplies to Gaza. Israel also launched an air strike and is preparing a ground invasion of Gaza to eradicate Hamas that will endanger additional civilians.

This war is a tragic development that is heartbreaking to watch. It is the latest of several geopolitical tensions to accumulate, including the Russia-Ukraine war and strained ties with China. Wars bring a significant amount of uncertainty and it is always challenging to forecast how they will impact the investment landscape. The purpose of this Investment Thoughts is to share some of our initial thoughts on the conflict. Our views are subject to change given the fluidity of the situation.

> WEBINAR on Estate Planning for Business Owners

WEBINAR on Estate Planning for Business Owners, featuring Ledyard's Valerie Nevel, Senior Financial Advisor & Fiduciary Consultant

In case you missed NHBR's fantastic webinar on Estate Planning for Business Owners, you can watch it via the below link. Ledyard's Valerie Nevel covers the essentials of estate planning and how you can effectively improve your financial well-being with proper estate planning.

> The Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee

September 2023, Advisor Thoughts - When establishing a trust, one of the most important decisions the trust creator will need to make is who will be the trustee. A trustee has the responsibility of administering the trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries in accordance with the written terms of the trust. In this piece, Valerie Nevel explains the specific duties and responsibilities a trustee plays and what to consider when choosing one.

> Roth IRAs and Roth Conversions

Enjoy tax free income during retirement! Every dollar can matter when you’re retired. A Traditional IRA is the most common retirement planning vehicle; however, another option is a Roth IRA. Roth IRA’s are a retirement planning tool where contributions are made with after tax dollars, making your withdrawals during retirement tax-free. Roth IRA’s are not subject to required minimum distributions, so if you don’t need the money every year, you can let your Roth IRA continue to grow, tax-free.

> Our Thoughts on the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank Closures

We'd like to share some initial thoughts about the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank by regulators. These events have caused considerable share price volatility, particularly among the regional banks. Investors are nervous, and some are experiencing flashbacks from the Global Financial Crisis in the late 2000s. During that period, contagion led to sharp value declines across a wide spectrum of assets. We do not see these recent events as a replay of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

> The SECURE 2.0 ACT of 2022

Happy New Year!!! Each year passes by us all too quick and with the close of 2022 came some significant changes that may impact an individual’s plan for saving for their retirement.

On December 29, 2022 President Biden signed into law (after Congress passed) the ‘Consolidated Appropriations Act (CCA) of 2023.’ - referred to as the ‘Secure 2.0 Act of 2022’. This Act for the most part does not take effect until 2024, so as an individual, you have time to strategize and talk to your Financial Advisor for proper planning to be prepared for retirement. As there are different areas that were changed within the Secure 2.0 Act of 2022, we will highlight below just a few of those areas and how these may affect you as an individual.

> 2022 Tax News and Planning Opportunities

November 2022, Advisor Thoughts - Over the summer the Inflation Reduction Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the current administration. Although most of the provisions affect business taxpayers, there are some items of interest to the individual tax payer.

Our Guide to Riding Out the Bond Market Storm

May 2022, Investment Thoughts - In this piece, we will provide our perspective on the bond market’s performance and explain what we are doing to navigate your portfolios through this period of turbulence.

Do You Have Financial Peace of Mind?

May 2022, Advisor Thoughts - At one point or another, many of us have asked ourselves questions ranging from “Have we saved enough to purchase our first house?” to “Can we afford college tuition?” to “Have we saved enough to retire?” In essence we are asking ourselves, “Am I going to be ok?”

The first step to achieving any of these types of milestones is to develop a financial plan, which does not necessarily have to be complex or time consuming. Financial planning begins with looking at your big picture. Having a good sense of your top goals and their priorities establishes a direction. Advisors can help bring to life your goals by incorporating factors such as cash flow, investment assets, retirement plans, real estate, insurance and taxes.

Tax Considerations for 2022

March 2022 Advisor Thoughts - At the end of 2021, our Tax Services department is now collaborating with Mason + Rich, PA a regional tax advisory firm located in Concord, NH. This collaboration is unique because this relationship allows our clients to have the discussions you normally would with your Ledyard Financial Advisor, as well as have access to the knowledge and expertise of the Mason + Rich team. Debra Curtis, our Tax Planning Associate, will continue to be our clients’ contact providing a consistent level of service here at Ledyard - connecting with our clients, gathering documentation and coordinating the reviewing and signing of tax returns with the Mason + Rich team.

Our Initial Thoughts on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

February, 2022 Investment Thoughts - On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a wide-ranging military invasion of Ukraine. Attacks and explosions have been reported throughout the country, including the capital, Kyiv. Market volatility has increased significantly as investors grapple with the potential implications of the largest war in Europe in over 75 years.

The situation is fluid, making it difficult to judge the impact of this conflict on the world economy and financial markets. We have been in close contact with our network of research providers that specialize in geopolitical strategy. They are helping us sort through the potential implications of this conflict. As always, we are focused on how these developments will impact your investments. While there is more work for us to do, we would like to share some initial thoughts.

Our View of China’s Challenges and Opportunities

December, 2021 - Tiger Head, Snake Tails is the title of a book about China written by journalist Jonathan Fenby. It is a metaphor for what he learned about the country as an author and editor of the South China Morning Post. He suggests that one has to take into account not just the China that hits the headlines, or the top-line economic statistics or the straight-line projections to a future that may or not come to pass, but also a host of down-to-earth factors which actually determine how the country functions and where it is going. Your team at Ledyard has been working to understand these factors because they will help us manage your portfolios.

Withdraw Your Full 401K/403B Right Now...Maybe?

November, 2021 Advisor Thought - Most people don’t think about rolling over their 401k/403b qualified plans until they change their employer or retire. However, these accounts are often your largest investable assets. Did you know most qualified plans allow employees to roll over their funds while they are still working for that company?

7 Signs to be Aware of to Protect You and Your Loved Ones from Scams

October, 2021 - This Advisor Thought discusses how elder financial abuse is becoming an increasingly growing concern among our older generation. The accumulated wealth of this older generation places them at risk for financial abuse. They are frequently prime targets for scam artists, telemarketers, family members and others seeking to take large sums of money. Learn how to become fully aware of the signs of financial abuse.

The Potential for Inflation and What We Are Doing About It

In this Investment Thoughts, we will discuss various elements of inflation. We will also explain how we have positioned portfolios to help protect you if inflation rises faster than expected.

ESG: Three Letters That Are Changing the World

This article will offer an introduction, describe our ESG strategies and consider future trends. Along the way we hope to demonstrate the value of integrating life goals, investing and financial planning.

The New Hampshire Trust Advantage

Planning for your legacy is important, but more than half of Americans don’t have a will. If you have spent years building up your wealth, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to give some thought as to what kind of legacy you would like to leave.

Investment Considerations for a Post-Pandemic World

In this Investment Thoughts I will examine how the pandemic has changed the economy, market leadership and the behavior of consumers and companies. These changes are important because they influence how we are positioning your portfolios.

A Matter of Style

We believe the value style of investing will regain some of the prominence it lost over the past dozen years. By adding more of these investments to portfolios we hope to enhance your returns.

Preparing for the Future with International Investments

After such a strong run, it is likely that balanced portfolios will produce lower returns in the decade ahead. We believe investing in international stocks will enhance returns and be part of the solution to this problem.

Mind the Plumbing

With so much ominous news in the headlines, some may not have noticed that the bond market bounced around much more than normal. We would like to share our thoughts with you about this, because bonds are an important part of most client portfolios.

Through the Storm United

Investors are understandably nervous about the markets, their own physical health and the health of their loved ones. We are committed to helping our clients navigate through this challenging environment.

Talking Crude

Oil, boil, toil and trouble; a witch’s brew in the global oil and gas markets has been provoked by Saudi Arabia after a failure amongst OPEC members and Russia to agree production cuts to stem weak oil prices. We wanted to reach out to you with our thoughts about this event which are more nuanced than was the market reaction to the news.

Our Thoughts on the Coronavirus and Recent Market Volatility

The spreading coronavirus (COVID‐19) has taken the world by surprise and has led to significant market volatility. We are sending you this letter because we wanted to share our thoughts.

Stepping Into the New Decade With Our Sleeves Rolled Up

Many of our clients have asked why the markets were so strong given all the worrisome news about the slowing economy, trade war, quarrelsome politics and flat corporate earnings. I would like to share our thoughts on these great questions.

A Biden Tax Hike?

President‐Elect Biden has released an income tax plan that seeks to roll back the 2018 Trump tax cuts to the extent they benefited high income taxpayers. In looking at the details of the plan, the most significant tax increase would be on those with incomes higher than the $400,000 as currently being reported.

Retirement Accounts: Recent Changes & The Best Ways to Adjust Your Strategies

Normally people who have Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) must take a required minimum distribution (RMD) beginning when they are age 70 ½. The SECURE and CARES Acts adopted by Congress this year changed that requirement in a couple of significant ways.

Guidelines for a Healthy Diet

We all know the importance of a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains keep us healthy and fit. We strive to reduce the amount of sugar and fat we eat. When investing, it is also important to watch what we consume. There is a tremendous amount of information available to investors today. While some of it can nourish our investment decisions, much of it is just empty calories or worse, junk food. It is fortuitous that we can improve the quality of the information we consume by following the guidelines of good nutrition. By doing so, we believe we make better investment decisions for you.

Congratulations for staying on track!

April 2019, INVESTMENT THOUGHTS - Spring has finally arrived, and it is rejuvenating to feel the warmth of the sun after the long winter. As the days have grown brighter, so has the investment environment, giving us another reason to be grateful. Remarkably, this year’s stock market performance has been a mirror image of last year’s fourth quarter, when the S&P 500 Index fell nearly 20%, unsympathetically hitting its low on Christmas Eve. Since then, the equity market has rebounded sharply and is now near last October’s all‐time high. More >

How We Build Better Portfolios with Exchange Traded Funds

Investment Thoughts - In this piece, we will provide our perspective on the bond market’s performance and explain what we are doing to navigate your portfolios through this period of turbulence.

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