Monthly Archives: March 2021

Gamification of Trading

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The suicide of a 20-year-old experimenting with trading on the Robinhood platform
has many calling for new regulations on trading. I think new regulations on the “Robo”
interfaces are required but not on trading. Robo platforms, like Robinhood, provide a
software interface that makes trading more like a game.

Brokerage firms have been on a serious race to engage directly with the young and the
inexperienced. Robinhood, E-Trade, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, Interactive
Brokers, Fidelity, Merrill Lynch, and many others have all embraced commission-free
and zero-minimum balance trading on platforms that focus only on the upside
of trading. These platforms are more reminiscent of an animated game than a
serious financial transaction. Even those who have managed to make a little money on
day trading often fail to understand that there are tax consequences. They usually
reach out for assistance when they receive from these brokerage firms an unexpected
1099 with a large tax liability.

It is clear that what we need is more clarity on what is a game and what has real life
consequences.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

The American Rescue Plan of 2021: Highlights

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The details of the American Rescue Plan 2021 are still being processed BUT we know
that it doesn’t include RMD relief for 2021 nor increased minimum wage. It does
provide both 2020 and 2021 tax filing items. Below, I’ve outlined those that I found
most significant so far.

  1. “Stimulus Checks” For individuals: $1,400 per eligible individual for
    all dependents with stricter phaseout that start at $75K for individuals and at
    $150K for those married filing jointly (MFJ). File early if your 2019 tax filing
    does not qualify you for this stimulus.
  2. Expansion of Child Tax Credit: It provides an increased amount of child
    tax credit for those under $150K (MFJ) AND an increase to $400K (MFJ) in
    earnings for the base credits. In 2021 there should be an opportunity to
    receive more child tax credits for up to $400K.
  3. Extension of Unemployment Compensation: An additional weekly
    $300 Unemployment benefit was added, and coverage was extended until
    September 6th, 2021.
  4. 2020 Tax-free Unemployment Insurance income: For those receiving
    Unemployment Insurance in 2020, up to $10,200 of those earnings will be
    tax-free.
  5. Increased Premium Credit Assistance: Healthcare premium assistance
    extended from 2020 through 2021 with higher earnings.
  6. Tax Credit for Employers to cover COBRA for 3 months: Any
    employee involuntarily laid off will have free full COBRA coverage for 3
    months by the employer who will receive credits for paying their COBRA.
  7. Tax-free student loan forgiveness for the future – if a student loan is
    forgiven by 2025, it will be tax-free.

It will take time to distill what will be relevant for 2021 taxes particularly since we are
all still trying to understand and work through CARES 2020 tax rules and implications
for 2020. For now, it makes sense to slow down the 2020 tax filing and
ensure that your CPA is aware of all of the CARES 2020 and TARP 2021
rules before filing – luckily, we all now have until May 17th.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

Resilience of Leaders

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Resilience is a required skill that is learned and leads to tangible results for all of us
and particularly for small business owners. It is during a crisis that a resilient leader
will be able to take calculated risks and think outside the box to create opportunities
and forge new ways to meet new challenges. It takes an immense amount of grit and
dedication to try new things and to find a new way particularly when things don’t work
out as expected. A resilient leader will always find a way to move forward. I was
encouraged to read a recent survey (The American Psychological Association (APA)) of
1,000 business owners which found that 61% are optimistic about business in 2021
(Millenia optimism was even higher at 75%). The resilient optimism of entrepreneurs
is inspiring. Here are takeaways from resilient entrepreneurs during this crisis:

Revisiting definition of success: I always encourage everyone to know their
definition of success and not let it be defined for them. The pandemic has caused many
to rethink their goals in life and what they find is truly valuable to them. For some, this
is about how they live each day and for others it is about their legacy. Your definition of
success allowed you to make tough decisions with confidence. It should allow you to be
at peace regardless of the outcome.

Changing what your business does: The pandemic has forced change or
disruptions that have illuminated a new path for some businesses. The American
Express Entrepreneurial Spirit Trendex found that 76% of businesses have already
pivoted or made a change and 73% of those that pivoted say they will change again in 2021.

Resilience allowed many to keep those things they most valued while making
essential changes. In some cases, new businesses were started and in others a new way of doing the same business was developed.

Changing the tools used: It is important that a business be aware and ready to
implement useful tools when appropriate. A study from Google and the Connected
Commerce Council found that 75% of business owners are using more digital tools
since early 2020. Among those who use these tools, the majority project less revenue
loss and more business revenue. These tools do require an investment of time to
evaluate since there are too many technology tools were the hype exceeds the
deliverable.

Starting a new business: According to the increase in Employer Identification
Numbers (EINs) applications in quarter 3 of 2020, we have a dramatic increase in new
businesses compared to 2019. Entrepreneurs are starting new businesses at record
speeds. Resilience and optimism are essential characteristics of entrepreneurs who
take the financial and personal risks to create, organize and operate a business.

Pausing your business: For some businesses, temporarily ceasing operations has
been hard but a necessary financial decision. It takes a lot of courage to go down this
road either to allow for an easier exit to meet personal goals or, more often, to allow
the business to restart and survive once it is reshaped to meet the new challenges.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com