Client resources & news
December 14, 2021
Client
On behalf of Blattel & Associates, I'd like to thank you for supporting our annual Holiday Magic Toy Drive. Thanks to your generosity, we collected nearly 100 large bags and boxes full of toys. In addition, donors placed more than 50 orders via the Amazon wishlist.

I also want to thank every business that helped collect toys, including Cutter & Company, Dudas Fitness, Rosciglione Bakery, and Thies Farm & Market. A special thank you to my family—my wife for her impressive bargain hunting skills, my grandkids for helping fill and load bags, and my children for supporting this special cause that's so close to my heart.

This year, Employment Connection will distribute toys to nearly 200 needy and unhoused families in the Greater St. Louis area. Sal Martinez, CEO at Employment Connection, was onsite loading the delivery truck and was overwhelmed by your generosity.

Once again, please accept our heartfelt thanks and appreciation! Do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone (636) 397-8303 or email info@blattels.com with any questions or concerns. We wish you and your families all the best this holiday season!

Happy holidays,


December 18, 5-7pm

Our team's favorite (& easiest!) holiday recipes

Check out Bob's movie corner for his favorite holiday films
Office Updates

Our offices will be closed December 24, 27, 31, and January 1 for the winter holidays. Note that our office building will also be inaccessible December 28-30, but we'll still be answering phones those days.

Reminder: We kindly request that you wear a mask during office visits. Note that most client meetings are currently scheduled as online meetings unless otherwise requested.
Kincaid's Corner

Earlier this year, Scott Kincaid was diagnosed with leukemia, and is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant.

Because the out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatments are overwhelming, his friends have started a fundraising campaign on behalf of Kincaid's family.

Important Dates
Year-End Reminders
Please allow for extra time to process your requests as the holiday season will affect timing on withdrawals and other transactions. Also, there are deadlines prior to December 31 for certain activities to be reported for the 2021 tax year e.g. clients with ETF strategies at SEI need to complete all distributions and Roth conversions by December 17.

Capital Gains
If you check your account this week, you may notice your balance fluctuating. Every year, investors viewing accounts on any cap gains Ex-Date will see a temporary drop in account value roughly by the amount of gains that were distributed (plus or minus market activity for that day). Please note that this investment value will again ‘become whole’ the following day when gains are reinvested and additional shares are purchased automatically (as many investors have the reinvestment of dividends and cap gains set up on their account).

For most SEI accountholders, the Ex-Date is December 15, with the “Pay Date” being the following day or December 16. We expect capital gains to be generally higher this year since the markets performed well. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding capital gains.

Contributions to IRAs & Roth IRAs
In 2021, you can contribute a maximum of $6,000 ($7,000 if you are age 50+). Remember, you must have taxable income to contribute to an IRA. However, if you are married and filing jointly, you can each make contributions—even if only one of you is working. Consult a tax advisor to learn how your deductions may be affected by employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)
If you are 72+, you must take a RMD from your traditional IRA (not Roth) by 12/31. Please verify that you've taken your RMD from any IRAs that we don't manage. Contact your accountant regarding your specific situation as we do not render legal, accounting, or tax advice. 
Resources
Market Update
A more benign reassessment of the possible economic risk posed by Omicron sent stocks sharply higher last week. Read more market & economic insights.

Market Commentary
Global equities started November on promising footing, then treaded water before declining sharply during the last week. Read more in SEI's Monthly Market Commentary.

Holiday Scams
Stay a step ahead of cybercriminals this season by being aware of these scams. Read more in Morgan Stanley's "Five Holiday Scams to Avoid".
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