Centara News & Features
Published quarterly exclusively for clients and friends of Centara Capital Management Group, Inc., and Centara Legal Group, APC, this e-newsletter updates readers on the latest news in portfolio management, estate planning, and tax planning strategies.

Market Update
Heavy mergers and acquisitions activity continued for much of the quarter helping push equity prices to substantial gains from March to June. After a slow start to the year, the S&P 500 rose 6.26% in the second quarter as investors decided not to sell in May and go away for the summer. As a result, the S&P and DJIA both hit all-time highs during the quarter. Investors warmed to the idea that the economy continued to grow at a measured pace and inflation remained under control.

Avoid Market Volatility Ruining Your Retirement
You’ve done everything you were supposed to do. You saved, you invested, you diversified, you planned and now it’s time to retire. You worked hard to build a nest egg that you hope will last the rest of your life and still provide a legacy.

The Power of Two: Having a CFP® & CPA Working Together Makes the Difference
Can you afford to retire and still maintain the lifestyle you desire? What is your distribution strategy and is it tax efficient? If you are like most people, you don’t have the answers. This is primarily because we have been conditioned to save and are focused on accumulating assets. However, for millions of Americans the game is changing. 

Back to Basics: Is Your Estate Plan in Order?
The five basic components of an effective estate plan include: Living Revocable Trust, Pour-Over Wills, Financial Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and HIPAA Authorization Forms. If your estate is worth more than $100,000 or if you own real property valued at over $20,000, you must have a living trust in place to avoid probate.

When Should I Call my Legal and Tax Advisors?
At Centara Legal Group, we often receive calls from clients where they begin by saying, “I didn’t want to bother you with this, but I have a quick question.” Or they say “I don’t know if this is important, but …” Of all the work that we perform for clients, we like answering these calls best.

Cash Donations to Charity Now Require a Receipt
Starting this year, you can’t take an income tax deduction for cash gifts to charity unless you have a written receipt from the charity or a bank record, regardless of the size of the gift. In the past, you didn’t need a receipt to deduct small cash gifts to charity or most recurring gifts such as weekly church contributions.

Will Congress Change Estate Taxes?
One question facing the new Congress is whether to change the current estate tax schedule. The existing schedule is rather bizarre and can yield wildly different results depending on the year in which a person dies.