News and Events

In the news

January 26, 2012: While 2011 offered little relief for embattled investors, there are reasons for optimism in the new year. See this issue of American Funds' publication, The Long View.

December 6, 2011: A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a traditional IRA or a qualified retirement plan (such as a 401(k), 403(b), and self-employed plans) after the account owner reaches the age of 70½. The last date allowed for the first withdrawal is April 1 following the year in which the owner reaches age 70½. Read more in our Learning Center about RMD’s or calculate your distribution.

December 5, 2011: Year-end tax planning checklist: Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different categories, such as “Filing Status” or “Employee Matters,” for ease of reading. When year-end approaches, it might be wise to review each suggestion under the categories that may apply to you.

• Filing status and exemptions
• Family tax planning
• Employee matters
• Business income and expenses
• Financial investments
• Personal residence and other real estate
• Retirement contributions
• Charitable donations
• Itemized miscellaneous and medical expenses

November 26, 2011: Join WHP Financial this year in giving thanks to local small business owners!  The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. According to the Small Business Association office of Advocacy, small firms:

• Represent 99.7% of all employer firms.
• Employ about half of all private sector employees.
• Pay 43% of total U.S. private payroll.
• Have generated 65% of net new jobs over the past 17 years.

This year, join WHP Financial and other small business supporters by shopping at your favorite local stores to help fuel the economy. When we all shop small, it will be huge!

October 2, 2011: Financial Planning Week is introduced by Judy C. Hagar, CFP^® as President of the Financial Planning Assoc. of San Diego in today's Union Tribune newspaper.  Read her remarks and learn about the free events available to residents of San Diego city and county during this week.  Ms. Hagar will be joined by another partner at WHP Financial, Scott H. Wolters, CFP^® as volunteers answering questions during the Personal Finance Hotline call-in event on Wednesday, October 5th from 6-8 p.m.  Callers to (619) 293-2700 will be able to ask these and other Certified Financial Planner™ professionals questions about financial issues such as debt management, retirement or college planning or strategies for improving personal finances.   

October 1, 2011: Financial Planning Day is Saturday, October 8, 2011.  Get complimentary financial advice from experts: WHP's Judy C. Hagar, CFP^® and Jeremy Kovacevich, CFP^®, will be among the professionals volunteering their time and expertise to work on-on-one with attendees. The advice will be offered on a no-strings-attached basis and planners will not give out business cards or sell financial products or services. The event will also feature workshops on topics such as Managing Your Money in Hard Times, and Forging Your Financial Future.  Organized by the City of San Diego in partnership with the Financial Planning Association of San Diego, the event is part of a national initiative—a first-of-its kind collaboration between city governments and thousands of financial planners nationwide. The local event will be at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There’s ample free parking. Register at www.FinancialPlanningDays.org/SanDiego or call 877-861-7826. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

Financial Planning Association of San Diego is not affiliated with SagePoint Financial, Inc.

September 1, 2011: September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers has been designated as the 2011 LIAM spokesperson. Learn how life insurance made a huge difference in his life. To view the video click here.

September 1, 2011: Given the scary headlines lately, with the markets going up and down, and the recent dysfunction in Washington D.C. we wanted to provide some perspective on the situation. Click here to read the article.