Windward Passages
January 2018
Bitcoin: Fad or the Future?
 
Windward's  view on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is that investing in these is speculation and not a true investment. There is no intrinsic value, cryptocurrencies don't produce anything, they don't earn anything and don't provide income. Their value is based on what market participants say it is at any point in time. 


Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Impact on Individuals


On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax-cut package that fundamentally changes the individual and business tax landscape. 

 

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Drawings by Carl Richards

We love Carl Richards and his simple, yet clever behavioral finance drawings!  This one is appropriately titled "Confirmation Bias":
 
What can I do to crack down on robocalls?

You may not mind if a legitimate robocall provides a helpful announcement from your child's school or an appointment reminder from a doctor's office. But sadly, criminals often use robocalls to collect consumers' personal information and/or conduct various scams. Newer "spoofing" technology displays fake numbers to make it look as though calls are local, rather than coming from overseas, which could trick more people into answering the phone.


 
Quote
"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffet


Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2018

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans, thresholds for deductions and credits, and standard deduction and personal exemption amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2018.
 

News Around Windward
What's Happening Around the Windward Offices 

Windward celebrated our annual post-holiday party at Top Golf this year. We enjoyed a night of golfing, food and drinks, and excellent company!

We are also excited to announce that Caitlin Kimminau is our new full-time Client Service Specialist at our Overland Park office. We are so fortunate to have such a valuable addition to our Windward team!