Money Talks

There's several advantages to maintaining good credit, and it's important to review your credit report periodically to ensure that the information it contains is accurate. Today, in between your personal finance questions, Dr. Nancy Lottridge-Anderson, President of New Perspectives, Ryder Taff, portfolio manager and Kevin Farrell discuss credit. Email the show: money@mpbonline.org.

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2023. We’ll talk today about information you might need for this new year. We learn about new tax amounts; ways to save money, ways to get back lost money, and ways to win money. Our experts take questions concerning personal finance.2023$66,000 - Defined contribution plan (401k, 403b) total limit per participant $66,000 - SEP IRA contribution limit $22,500 - 401k, 403b, 457 contribution limit (Salary deferrals)$7,500 - 401k, 403b, 457 catch up$6,500 - IRA contribution limit$1,000 - IRA catch up $15,500 - SIMPLE IRA contribution limit$3,500 - SIMPLE IRA catch up$27,700 - Standard deduction (MFJ)$20,800 - Standard deduction (Head of Household)$13,850 - Standard deduction (Single, MFS)$44,625 - Taxable income limit for 0% long-term capital gains (single)$89,250 - Taxable income limit for 0% long-term capital gains (MFJ)$17,000 - Gift tax exclusion $Unlimited - Brokerage account contribution limit$160,200 - Social security wage base (No longer pay social security tax after this)The amount of your taxable Social Security benefits depends on your combined income or the sum of:50% of all your Social Security benefits for the yearThe adjusted gross income (AGI), which is your total income minus adjustments to that income, such as deductions and exclusionsTax-exempt interest income, such as interest received on municipal bondsUnearned / Earned incomeStrategies for minimizing taxesRegistration is now open for the 10th Annual College Savings Mississippi Art Contest. The contest will run from January 1 through February 28. Students from across Mississippi will be competing for over $3,000 in Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) scholarships by submitting an original piece of art based on the theme, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” https://treasury.ms.gov/artcontest/The weather and other operational delays and cancelations that occurred at the end of December and the beginning of January show the importance of knowing your rights and keeping receipts. Southwest airlines has a website where you can make claims due to flight cancellations. We’ll have a link to their website and also the US Department of Transportation’s website where you can learn more about your customer rights. https://www.southwest.com/traveldisruption/ https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard  The United States Postal Service filed notice of Mailing Services price changes to take effect January 22, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail® Forever stamp from 60 cents to 63 cents. https://faq.usps.com/s/article/2023-Postage-Price-Changes

ENCORE FROM 03/29/2022At Money Talks we can’t give you money but we can remind you that you might save money by planning ahead. Compounding interest, buying in bulk, watching for sales are all ways that might put you in a better financial position. We’ll discuss saving money by planning ahead today. We’ll also take your general personal finance questions.In the news: job rate, yield curve.Income Tax payments and filings are due Monday, April 18th this year. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes https://blog.taxact.com/planning-next-years-taxes/Have a bank account. The fastest way for you to get your tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit.Consider adjusting your withholding if you owed taxes or received a large refund last year.Take action when life changes occurDecide if bunching deductible expenses can help you.Try to match major deductions to high-income years.Contribute to an IRA for next year now.Atlantic and Gulf hurricane season starts until June 1st. Now is the time to prepare disaster supplies.https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/is-it-safe-to-reuse-plastic-water-bottleshttps://www.ready.gov/kit5/8/2018 Money Talks: Financial First Aid Kit http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/5cd31f1533f6c1be55607d8403/30/2021 Preparing for Emergencies http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-prepare-for-emergencies9/7/2017 Money Talks: Emergency Financial Preparedness http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/5cd31f1633f6c1be55607da4Rotate your disaster kit’s non-perishable food in your regular pantry so you don’t let food expire and go to waste.Reuse water jugs, safely by washing between uses. We can have a link on how to do this.Watch for sales at the grocery store and stock up when regularly used items have lower prices.Keep your generator maintained or buy one if you think you might want one during a disaster.Keep your vehicle’s fuel topped off.Families can lock in tuition rates and prepay their child’s tuition and fees. Currently for newborns who would enter college in 2039, parents could pay $38,812 one time or pay $395 monthly for 4 years of university tuition.Treasurer David McRae was a guest on Money Talks September 15th of 2020 and discussed this and our other college savings program. http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-treasurer-david-mcrae