OCTOBER 2024 Newletter: Hurricane Season: What Can We Do to Help?

During this terrible and destructive hurricane season, our hearts are with Florida, North Carolina, the Gulf Coast, and other impacted communities.

Your mind might go to this famous quote by Fred Rogers from television’s Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ’Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’"

Americans everywhere are reaching out a hand of help and reassurance through charitable and humanitarian efforts. We've compiled a few resources for you to check out:

The American Red Crossprovides shelters to affected areas and helps people reconnect with families and loved ones. The Red Cross also runs blood drives nationwide year-round.

World Central Kitchenhas offered tens of thousands of free meals to those in crisis. The charity, founded by chef José Andrés, will set up kitchens in affected areas to feed those affected by the extreme weather events.

TheNorth Carolina Relief Fund, theFlorida Disaster Fund, theOne SC Fundof South Carolina, and that state’sEmergency Management Divisionare local efforts helping with disaster relief. Other organizations include theDepartment of Emergency Managementof Virginia and theEmergency Management and Homeland Security Agencyin Georgia.

We have personally heard from several clients who have been severely impacted by the recent hurricanes. In response, CRF has made a donation to the American Red Cross, with a matching donation anticipated from LPL Financial. We invite you to join us in supporting the recovery efforts and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and complete recovery to all affected areas. Our thoughts are with those directly affected by this disaster and with those who have family and loved ones impacted.

Year-end is approaching!Please see Preparing for Year-End & the 2024/25 Tax Season, where you'll find important deadlines and valuable information to assist you for the upcoming tax season.

Account View has a new, enhanced mobile app experience:

• Account Viewcan be accessed via the "Account Login" menu tab atConcordRiverFinancial.com or directly from your phone's mobile app. To download the Account View mobile app, search for "LPL Account View" at your phone's mobile app store.
• You can nowmake ACH deposits directly from mobile deviceswithout the need to log in to a desktop computer. This convenience eliminates the need to call or email to start deposits, saving valuable time. 
• Interactive visualizationsso you can track the progress of your investments over time, gaining insights with the Asset Allocation feature.
• An ultimate financial overviewwith new powerful tools to manage your portfolio, track market trends, and more.
• Account details at your fingertipswith in-depth analyses, top positions, recent activity, and more, within each account.
• A personalized dashboardto help focus on key investments and metrics, providing a tailored view of your finances. 
  
  

Account View has an expanded integration with WealthVision*

• You can now access anet-worth widgetdirectly on the Account View overview page. This convenient feature allows you to monitor progress toward your financial goals without switching platforms.
• You can now accessWealthVisionvia Account View throughsingle-sign-on, streamlining their experience and eliminating the need to remember multiple login credentials.
  
  

*^{If you do not have access to WealthVision, please contact your advisor so that we can connect this service for you}

In light of the upcoming election, a few observations from LPL Research:

• Election years typically see positive stock market performance, with a summer dip and potential volatility in October.
• The fourth quarter of the last year of the presidential cycle has been positive 83% of the time historically, above average.
• Historical data suggests markets perform well under both parties, with a slight preference for political gridlock. A split Congress has historically yielded higher average returns (+14.9%) compared to single-party control (+8%).
• Consistent long-term investing, regardless of which party controls the White House, has proven more effective than attempting to time the market based on potential election outcomes.

Protect Your Financial Safety in Case of a Natural Disaster

No matter where you live, you should be aware of possible natural disasters in your area and plan accordingly by considering the following tax tips:

• Update your emergency plan.
• Create electronic copies of all important documents.
• Document your valuables. Documenting ahead of time makes it easier to claim insurance and tax benefits if disaster strikes.
• You can call the IRS at 866-562-5227 with any natural disaster-related questions. The agency can provide copied of previous tax returns, order transcripts showing most line items, and more.
• Net personal, casualty, and theft losses may be deductible if attributable to a federally declared disaster.

^{This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.
Tip adapted from IRS}

Do you https?

How can you tell if a website can securely handle your data?Check if it starts withhttps. The added “s” is key here. A website starting withhttpsencrypts the data you put in the website and the data you get from it, so that no one can eavesdrop or tamper with the data flow. If a website doesn’t start withhttps, do not give them confidential info (card details, social security number, address, etc.).

What invention permits you to peer through any wall?

___

Last Month's Riddle:A cat falls into a hole 14.5 feet deep. The cat can jump 3 feet high, but she slides back 1 foot with each jump. How many jumps does it take her to get out of the hole?

Answer:: Every 3-foot jump accompanied by a 1-foot slide equals jumps of 2 feet high each; at that rate, the cat’s seventh jump, starting at 12 feet, will leave her 15 feet above the bottom of the hole so that she may escape.