Medicare Open Enrollment for 2022 Begins October 15

Medicare beneficiaries can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically change. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. The Open Enrollment Period — which begins on October 15 and runs through December 7 — is your opportunity to switch your current Medicare health and prescription drug plans to ones that better suit your needs.

During this period, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
• Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to a different Medicare Advantage Plan
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer prescription drug coverage
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that does offer prescription drug coverage
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D)
• Switch from one Part D plan to another Part D plan
• Drop your Part D coverage altogether

Any changes made during Open Enrollment are effective as of January 1, 2022.

Review Plan Options

Now is a good time to review your current Medicare benefits to see if they're still right for you. Are you satisfied with the coverage and level of care you're receiving with your current plan? Are your premium costs or out-of-pocket expenses too high? Has your health changed?  Do you anticipate needing medical care or treatment, or new or pricier prescription drugs?

If your current plan doesn't meet your health-care needs or fit your budget, you can switch to a new plan. If you find that you're satisfied with your current Medicare plan and it's still being offered, you don't have to do anything. The coverage you have will continue.

Information on Costs and Benefits

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)  has announced  that the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans will be $19,  and the average monthly premium for Part D prescription drug coverage will be $33.  CMS will announce 2022 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs soon.

Where Can You Get More Information?

Determining what coverage you have now and comparing it to other Medicare plans can be confusing and complicated. Pay attention to notices you receive from Medicare and from your plan, and take advantage of available help. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit the Medicare website, medicare.gov, to use the Plan Finder and other tools that can make comparing plans easier.

You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, personalized counseling. Visit shiptacenter.org or call the toll-free Medicare number to find the phone number for your state.

You can find more information on Medicare  benefits in the Medicare & You 2022 Handbook on medicare.gov.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any health insurance concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

Tax Proposals in Congress Not as Bad as Feared

The latest tax bill advanced in Congress is notable in its absence of provisions that were expected to be "game changers" (see below). And that's a good thing for taxpayers.

On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the Congressional House Budget Committee voted to advance a $3.5 trillion spending package to the House floor for debate. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation had previously released summaries of proposed tax changes intended to help fund the spending package. Many of these provisions focus specifically on businesses and high-income households.

Expect these proposals to be modified; some will likely be removed and others added as the legislative process continues. As we monitor progression through the legislative process though, here are some highlights from the previously released proposed provisions worth noting.

Corporate Income Tax Rate Increase

Corporations would be subject to a graduated tax rate structure, with a higher top rate.

Currently, a flat 20% rate applies to corporate taxable income. The proposed legislation would impose a top tax rate of 26.5% on corporate taxable income above $5 million. Specifically:

• A 16% rate would apply to the first $400,000 of corporate taxable income
• A 21% rate on remaining taxable income up to $5 million
• The 26.5% rate would apply to taxable income over $5 million, and corporations making more than $10 million in taxable income would have the benefit of the lower tax rates phased out.

Personal service corporations (professionals providing services as a regular sub-chapter C Corporation, not an S Corporation) would pay tax on their entire taxable income at 26.5%.

Tax Increases for High-Income Individuals

Top individual income tax rate. The proposed legislation would increase the existing top marginal income tax rate of 37% to 39.6% effective in tax years starting on or after January 1, 2022, and apply it to taxable income over $450,000 for married individuals filing jointly, $425,000 for heads of households, $400,000 for single taxpayers, and $225,000 for married individuals filing separate returns. (These income thresholds are lower than the current top rate thresholds.)

Top capital gains tax rate. The top long-term capital gains tax rate would be raised from 20% to 25% under the proposed legislation; this increased tax rate would generally be effective for sales after September 13, 2021. In addition, the taxable income thresholds for the 25% capital gains tax bracket would be made the same as for the 39.6% regular income tax bracket (see above) starting in 2022.

New 3% surtax on income. A new 3% surtax is proposed on modified adjusted gross income over $5 million ($2.5 million for a married individual filing separately).

3.8% net investment income tax expanded. Currently, there is a 3.8% net investment income tax on high-income individuals. This tax would be expanded to cover certain other income derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business for single taxpayers with taxable income greater than $400,000 ($500,000 for joint filers). This would generally affect certain income of S corporation shareholders, partners, and limited liability company (LLC) members that is currently not subject to the net investment income tax.

New qualified business income deduction limit. A deduction is currently available for up to 20% of qualified business income from a partnership, S corporation, or sole proprietorship, as well as 20% of aggregate qualified real estate investment trust dividends and qualified publicly traded partnership income. The proposed legislation would limit the maximum allowable deduction at $500,000 for a joint return, $400,000 for a single return, and $250,000 for a separate return.

Retirement Plans Provisions Affecting High-Income Individuals

New limit on contributions to Roth and traditional IRAs. The proposed legislation would prohibit those with total IRA and defined contribution retirement plan accounts exceeding $10 million from making any additional contributions to Roth and traditional IRAs. The limit would apply to single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately with taxable income over $400,000,  $450,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, and $425,000 for heads of household.

New required minimum distributions for large aggregate retirement accounts.

• These rules would apply to high-income individuals (same income limits as described above), regardless of age.
• The proposed legislation would require that individuals with total retirement account balances (traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, employer-sponsored retirement plans) exceeding $20 million distribute funds from Roth accounts (100% of Roth retirement funds or, if less, by the amount total retirement account balances exceed $20 million).
• To the extent that the combined balance in traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and defined contribution plans exceeds $10 million, distributions equal to 50% of the excess must be made.
• The 10% early-distribution penalty tax would not apply to distributions required because of the $10 million or $20 million limits.

Roth conversions limited. In general, taxpayers can currently convert all or a portion of a non-Roth IRA or defined contribution plan account into a Roth IRA or defined contribution plan account without regard to the amount of their taxable income. The proposed legislation would prohibit Roth conversions for single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately with taxable income over $400,000, $450,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, and $425,000 for heads of household. [It appears that this proposal would not be effective until 2032.]

Roth conversions not allowed for distributions that include nondeductible contributions. Taxpayers who are unable to make contributions to a Roth IRA can currently make "back-door" contributions by making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA and then shortly afterward convert the nondeductible contribution from the traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. It is proposed that amounts held in a non-Roth IRA or defined contribution account cannot be converted to a Roth IRA or designated Roth account if any portion of the distribution being converted consists of after-tax or nondeductible contributions.

Estates and Trusts

• For estate and gift taxes (and the generation-skipping transfer tax), the current basic exclusion amount (and GST tax exemption) of $11.7 million would be cut by about one-half under the proposal.
• The proposal would generally include grantor trusts in the grantor's estate for estate tax purposes; tax rules relating to the sale of appreciated property to a grantor trust would also be modified to provide for taxation of gain.
• Current valuation rules that generally allow substantial discounts for transfer tax purposes for an interest in a closely held business entity, such as an interest in a family limited partnership, would be modified to disallow any such discount for transfers of non-business assets.

Notable Absence of Certain Provisions

As mentioned above, what was just as notable is that many feared changes to longtime rules were not included in the proposal:

• No increases to the current estate and gift tax marginal rates
• No changes to the current step up basis regime at death
• No limitations on like-kind exchanges
• No required realization of gain on gifts or at death
• No required realization of gain on assets held in trust, partnership or non-corporate entity after being held in trust for 90 years
• The top capital gains rate for high-income taxpayers going up to "only" 25% instead of the expected 39.6%

Of course, things are quite fluid and much will change before the ultimate passage of the final tax bill. We're following developments closely and will post and send updates as things approach passage.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

Protecting Your Digital Information & Yourself from Ransomware

In a meeting with President Joe Biden last week, business leaders from major technology and insurance firms committed billions of dollars to beefing up cybersecurity defenses desperately needed after several high profile hacks into major infrastructure and technology platforms this year. This is long overdue given the lax approach taken over the past several years by most major firms.

On May 7, 2021, the Colonial Pipeline, which carries almost half of the East Coast's fuel supply from Texas to New Jersey, shut down operations in response to a ransomware attack. A ransomware attack is where a hacker latches on to your computer or network, locks you out and threatens to delete or make your data public if you don't pay a ransom (see below). Colonial paid a $4.4 million ransom not long after discovering the attack, and the pipeline was reopened within a week. While there was enough stored fuel to weather the outage, panic buying caused gasoline shortages on the East Coast and pushed the national average price of gasoline over $3.00 per gallon for the first time since 2014.⁽¹⁾

Ransomware is not new, but the Colonial Pipeline incident demonstrated the risk to critical infrastructure and elicited strong response from the federal government. Remarkably, the Department of Justice recovered most of the ransom, and the syndicate behind the attack, known as DarkSide, announced it was shutting down operations.⁽²⁾

The Department of Homeland Security issued new regulations requiring owners and operators of critical pipelines to report cybersecurity threats within 12 hours of discovery, and to review cybersecurity practices and report the results within 30 days.⁽³⁾ On a broader level, the incident increased focus on government initiatives to strengthen the nation's cybersecurity and create a global coalition to hold countries that shelter cyber criminals accountable.⁽⁴⁾

Malicious Code

Ransomware is malicious code (malware) that infects the victim's computer system, allowing the perpetrator to lock the files and demand a ransom in return for a digital key to restore access. Some attackers may also threaten to reveal sensitive data. There were an estimated 305 million ransomware attacks globally in 2020, a 62% increase over 2019. More than 200 million of them were in the United States.⁽⁵⁾

The recent surge in high-profile ransomware attacks represents a shift by cyber-criminal syndicates from stealing data from "data-rich" targets such as retailers, insurers, and financial companies to locking data of businesses and other organizations that are essential to public welfare. A week after the Colonial Pipeline attack, JBS USA Holdings, which processes one-fifth of the U.S. meat supply, paid an $11 million ransom. ⁽⁶⁾ Health-care systems, which spend relatively little on cybersecurity, are a prime target, jeopardizing patient care.⁽⁷⁾ Other common targets include state and local governments, school systems, and private companies of all sizes.⁽⁸⁾

Ransomware gangs, mostly located in Russia and other Eastern European countries, typically set ransom demands in relation to their perception of the victim's ability to pay, and high-dollar attacks may be resolved through negotiations by a middleman and a cyber insurance company. Although the FBI discourages ransom payments, essential businesses and organizations may not have time to reconstruct their computer systems, and reconstruction can be more expensive than paying the ransom.⁽⁹⁾

Protecting Your Data

While major ransomware syndicates focus on more lucrative targets, plenty of cyber-criminals prey on individual consumers, whether locking data for ransom, gaining access to financial accounts, or stealing and selling personal information.

Most people don't know that before becoming a full time financial planner, I spent about twelve years working for major consulting firms helping with deployment of software, hardware and networking equipment, so I know a few things about data security (where do you think the "geek" came from in my moniker?)

Here are some tips to help make your data more secure: ⁽¹⁰⁾

Use strong passwords and protect them. An analysis of the Colonial Pipeline attack revealed that the attackers gained access through a leaked password to an old account with remote server access.⁽¹¹⁾ Strong passwords are your first line of defense. Use at least 8 to 12 characters with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Longer and more complex passwords are better. Do not use personal information or dictionary words and use different passwords for different web sites.

One technique is to use a passphrase that you can remember and adapt. For example, Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water could be J&jwuth!!2faPow (please don't use this example as your password!). Though it's tempting to reuse a strong password, it is safer to use different passwords for different accounts. Consider a password manager program that generates random passwords, which you can access through a strong master password. My personal favorite that I've been using for over 15 years is RoboForm, but most well-known password managers do a good job (if you click on the link and subscribe to RoboForm, we'll both get an extra six months added to our subscriptions). Whatever you do, don't share or write down your passwords.

There are no easy answers. Be careful when establishing security questions that can be used for password recovery. It may be better to use fictional answers that you can remember. If a criminal can guess your answer through available information (such as an online profile), he or she can reset your password and gain access to your account.

Take two steps. Two-step authentication, typically a text or email code sent to your mobile device, provides a second line of defense even if a hacker has access to your password. If your device is lost or stolen, immediately call your carrier and lock or wipe your device before they can hijack your accounts. Most devices can be wiped remotely or be set to automatically erase themselves after a set number of failed attempts.

Think before you click. Ransomware and other malicious code are often transferred to the infected computer through a "phishing" email that tricks the reader into clicking on a link. Data thieves have become adept at creating fake e-mails that look 100% legitimate, so you must be vigilant.

If you hover with your mouse over most internet links, you'll see exactly where they'll take you, and it's not necessarily the site that's displayed in the text. Never click on a link in an email or text (or a photo) unless you know the sender, are expecting it, and have a clear idea where the link will take you. Even then, you can't be sure your friend's or relative's e-mail account has not been hacked and a seemingly innocent attachment or link is laced with malware.

Install security software. Install antivirus/anti-malware software, a firewall, and an email filter — and keep them updated. Old outdated antivirus software won't stop new viruses. If your computer, laptop or other devices don't have extra security software, you shouldn't be online. Period. And no, in my opinion, Microsoft Defender is not sufficient to protect your PC. The old thought that Apple Mac devices are safe from vulnerability is no longer true; though safer than PC's, they are prime targets for malicious attacks as well.

Back up your data. Back up regularly to an external hard drive. For added security, disconnect the drive from your computer between backups. Backing up to an online service is a great idea, but your backup might also be infected or affected by malware or ransomware. Only an offline backup, when disconnected at the time of infection, is safe. Never attach the external drive to restore data until you're sure the threat or malware is 100% removed and the device is safe.

Keep your system up-to-date. Use the most recent operating system that can run on your computer and download security updates. Most ransomware attacks target vulnerable operating systems and applications. Fortunately, for better or worse, Microsoft Windows has made is nearly impossible to avoid installing periodic security patches.

Avoid Public Networks for Sensitive or Financial Transactions. Using public Wi-Fi networks is a prime gateway for malware and ransomware attacks. Networks with names like "Free Public WiFi" are meant to lure you in and install Trojan horses onto your device. If you have to type in a password to access an online resource, then you probably don't want to do this on a public network (or at least use a password manager to log you in so your keystrokes aren't tracked). Virtual private network software/services are also a help here.

Secure your entry points. This month alone, my home network router blocked over 4 million port scans and thwarted 75 live threats. If you don't know what this means, then you need a home network security geek or the help of your internet service provider to help you beef up the security of your home network.

Your home network router/switch probably came with a factory set password which is widely known and easily accessed. Changing the default device password is the easiest way to reduce your vulnerability to an outside attack. Most modern day routers come with more user friendly instructions and software on how to disable your guest network and beef up home security. There's no need to broadcast your WiFi network name to your neighbors, so that should be turned off, or you might as well call your home WiFi network "HACKERSWELCOME".

If you see a notice on your computer that you have been infected by a virus or that your data is being held for ransom, it's more likely to be a fake pop-up window than an actual attack. These pop-ups typically have a phone number to call for "technical support" or to make a payment. Do not call the number and do not click on the window or any links. Instead, try exiting your browser and restarting your computer. If you continue to receive a notice or your data is really locked, contact a legitimate technical support provider, but definitely not the one listed in the pop-up window.

For more information and other tips, visit the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency website at us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/tips.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

^{(1) (2) (11)} Vox, June 8, 2021

⁽³⁾ U.S. Department of Homeland Security, May 27, 2021

⁽⁴⁾ The Washington Post, June 4, 2021

⁽⁵⁾ 2021 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report

⁽⁶⁾ The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2021

⁽⁷⁾ Fortune, December 5, 2020

⁽⁸⁾ Institute for Security and Technology, 2021

⁽⁹⁾ The New Yorker, June 7, 2021

⁽¹⁰⁾ Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, 2021

Update on the Enhanced Child Tax Credit

Earlier this year in April, I wrote about the changes Congress made to the child tax credit that will benefit many taxpayers. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act that was enacted in March 2021, the child tax credit:

• Amount has increased for certain taxpayers
• Is fully refundable (meaning you can receive it even if you don’t owe the IRS any taxes)
• May be partially received in monthly payments

The new law also raised the age of qualifying children to 17 from 16, meaning that more families will be able to take advantage of the credit for at least one year longer.

The IRS will pay half the credit in the form of advance monthly payments beginning July 15. Taxpayers will then claim the other half when they file their 2021 income tax return.

Though these tax changes are temporary and only apply to the 2021 tax year, they may present important cash flow and financial planning opportunities today. It is also important to note that the monthly advance of the child tax credit is a significant change. The credit is normally part of your income tax return and would reduce your tax liability. The choice to have the child tax credit advanced will affect your refund or amount due when you file your return. To avoid any surprises, please get in touch with us if you're concerned.

Qualifications and how much to expect

The child tax credit and advance payments are based on several factors, including the age of your children and your income.

• The credit for children ages five and younger is up to $3,600 –– with up to $300 received in monthly payments.
• The credit for children ages six to 17 is up to $3,000 –– with up to $250 received in monthly payments.

To qualify for the child tax credit monthly payments, you (and your spouse if you file a joint tax return) must have:

• Filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and claimed the child tax credit or given the IRS your information using the non-filer tool
• A main home in the U.S. for more than half the year or file a joint return with a spouse who has a main home in the U.S. for more than half the year
• A qualifying child who is under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number
• Income less than certain limits (see below)

You can take full advantage of the credit if your income (specifically, your modified adjusted gross income) is less than $75,000 for single filers, $150,000 for married filing jointly filers and $112,500 for head of household filers. The credit begins to phase out above those thresholds.

Higher-income families (e.g., married filing jointly couples with $400,000 or less in income or other filers with $200,000 or less in income) will generally get the same credit as prior law (generally $2,000 per qualifying child) but may also choose to receive monthly payments.

Taxpayers generally won’t need to do anything to receive any advance payments as the IRS will use the information it has on file to start issuing the payments.

IRS’s child tax credit update portal

Using the IRS’s child tax credit and update portal, taxpayers can update their information to reflect any new information that might impact their child tax credit amount, such as filing status or number of children. Parents may also use the online portal to elect out of the advance payments or check on the status of payments.

The IRS also has a non-filer portal to use for certain situations.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

Inflation: Transitory or Here to Stay?

From leading indicators to business surveys to initial unemployment claims, the economic message is clear: The 2020 COVID-19 recession is over! Although the NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) has yet to make their official announcement, my bet is that the recession ending point is backdated all the way to last autumn, or even earlier. That's how economics often works… with perfect 20/20 hindsight.

As the economy’s emergence from pandemic restrictions exceeds widespread forecasts and expectations, so do underlying pressures in other areas vital to the stock market’s outlook. And with the combination of a potential valuation bubble on Wall Street and corresponding housing bubble on Main Street, investor sensitivity to interest rates has never been higher.

In April 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.8%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12 months, the increase was 4.2%, the highest year-over-year inflation rate since September 2008 (4.9% over prior 12 months). By contrast, inflation in 2020 was just 1.4%. ⁽¹⁾

The annual increase in CPI-U — often called headline inflation — was due in part to the fact that the index dropped in March 2020, the beginning of the U.S. economic shutdown in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the current 12-month comparison is to an unusual low point in prices. The index dropped even further in April 2020, and this "base effect" will continue to skew annual data through June. ⁽²⁾

The monthly April increase, which followed a substantial 0.6% increase in March, is more indicative of the current situation. Economists expect inflation numbers to rise for some time. The question is whether they represent a temporary anomaly or the beginning of a more worrisome inflationary trend.

Measuring Prices

In considering the prospects for inflation, it's important to understand some of the measures that economists use.

CPI-U measures the price of a fixed market basket of goods and services. As such, it is a good measure of prices consumers pay if they buy the same items over time, but it does not reflect changes in consumer behavior and can be unduly influenced by extreme increases in specific categories.

In setting economic policy, the Federal Reserve prefers a different inflation measure called the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, which is even broader than the CPI and adjusts for changes in consumer behavior — i.e. when consumers shift to purchase a different item because the preferred item is too expensive. More specifically, the Fed looks at core PCE, which rose 0.7% in April and 3.6% for the previous 12 months, slightly lower than core CPI but much higher than the Fed's target of 2% for healthy economic growth. ⁽³⁾

A Hot Economy

Based on the core numbers, inflation is not yet running high, but there are clear inflationary pressures on the U.S. economy. Loose monetary policies by the central bank and trillions of dollars in government stimulus could create excess money supply as the economy reopens. Pent-up consumer demand for goods and services is likely to rise quickly, fueled by stimulus payments and healthy savings accounts built by those who worked through the pandemic with little opportunity to spend their earnings. Businesses that shut down or cut back when the economy was closed may not be able to ramp up quickly enough to meet demand. Supply-chain disruptions and higher costs for raw materials, transportation, and labor have already led some businesses to raise prices. ⁽⁴⁾

According to the April Wall Street Journal Economic Forecasting Survey, gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 8.4% in the second quarter of 2021 and by 6.4% for the year — a torrid annual growth rate that would be the highest since 1984. As with the base effect for inflation, it's important to keep in mind that this follows a 3.5% GDP decline in 2020. Even so, the expectation is for a hot economy through the end of the year, followed by solid 3.2% growth in 2022 before slowing down to 2.4% in 2023. ⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾

Three Scenarios

As investors have become increasingly concerned about inflation, the Federal Reserve has given countless reassurances that current pricing pressures will be “transitory” and short-lived. Yet mounting evidence has seemingly turned this debate into the Fed versus the World.

Will the economy get too hot to handle? Though all economists expect inflation numbers to rise in the near term, there are three different views on the potential long-term effects.

The most sanguine perspective, held by many economic policymakers including Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, is that the impact will be short-lived and due primarily to the base effect with little or no long-term consequences. ⁽⁷⁾ Inflation has been abnormally low since the Great Recession, consistently lagging the Fed's 2% target. In August 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that it would allow inflation to run moderately above 2% for some time in order to create a 2% average over the longer term. Given this policy, the FOMC is unlikely to raise interest rates unless core PCE inflation runs well above 2% for an extended period. ⁽⁸⁾ The mid-March FOMC projection sees core PCE inflation at just 2.2% by the end of 2021, and the benchmark federal funds rate remaining at 0.0% to 0.25% through the end of 2023. ⁽⁹⁾

The second view believes that inflation may last longer, with potentially wider consequences, but that any effects will be temporary and reversible.

The third perspective is that inflation could become a more extended problem that may be difficult to control. Both camps project that the base effects will be amplified by "demand-pull" inflation, where demand exceeds supply and pushes prices upward. The more extreme view believes this might lead to a "cost-push" effect and inflationary feedback loop where businesses, faced with less competition and higher costs, would raise prices preemptively, and workers would demand higher wages in response. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Is Current Inflation "Transitory?

Dual surveys from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) are ringing alarm bells, as the ISM Manufacturing Prices Paid Index has surged to one of its highest readings on record, led by widespread commodity price increases. As stated by one respondent to the ISM survey, “In 35 years of purchasing, I’ve never seen anything like these extended lead times and rising prices – from colors, film, corrugate to resins, they’re all up.” Likewise, even in the Service Sector the Prices Paid Index shot higher and is nearing a 25-year high.

Low inventories among companies that produce goods will undoubtedly keep price pressures high as companies scramble to replenish their depleted inventory and meet the unexpectedly high demand.” And prices have, indeed, continued to rise, while restocking efforts have been unable to prevent customer inventories from falling to a record low.

Central to the Fed’s “transitory inflation” argument is the belief that supply/demand pressures will quickly subside as inventories rebound. My concern is that broader evidence suggests inflation could be far stickier than the Fed expects.

From groceries to lumber to cars and even chickens, inflation pressures are being felt by consumers and businesses. The widespread nature of today’s inflation is one of the factors that suggest pricing pressures may be more deep-rooted than the Fed believes.

Perhaps most importantly, business owners are also facing higher wage costs as qualified labor is becoming an increasingly rare commodity. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reports that a record 44% of small businesses have unfilled positions, and over half of those with job openings reported that there were few or no qualified applicants.

Historically, wage inflation can be notoriously sticky, and the disparity between the NFIB Job Openings and reported Wage Inflation is a gap that will almost certainly be closed in the year ahead. This casts further doubt on the Fed’s narrative that inflation will surely be “transitory.” And unfortunately for the Fed, wage inflation–once ingrained–can typically only be reversed by a recession.

As businesses are facing higher input expenses, they are already making plans to pass these costs on to their customers. The National Federation of Small Business' survey of small businesses shows that plans to raise selling prices have reached the second highest level since 1981 – a time when inflation was running near 10%.

Maintaining Perspective

Although it's too early to tell whether current inflation numbers will lead to a longer-term shift, you can expect higher prices for some items as the economy reopens. Consumers don't like higher prices, but it's important to keep these increases in perspective. Gasoline, jet fuel, and other petroleum prices are rising after being deeply depressed during the pandemic. Airline ticket prices are increasing but remain below their pre-pandemic level. Used cars and trucks are more expensive than before the pandemic, but clothing is still cheaper. ⁽¹¹⁾ Food is up 3.5% over the last 12 months, a significant increase but not extreme for prices that tend to be volatile. ⁽¹²⁾

Anyone who has tried to buy or build a home in the past six months is aware of the rising stresses in the housing market. Home prices are soaring, not only here in the U.S. but on a global basis as well.

History has shown that it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the Federal Reserve to dampen or halt the imminent impact of the red-hot labor and housing market on the economy. Any cost surprises will undoubtedly be to the upside in the months and year ahead, and that does not bode well for inflation news OR for the Fed’s reassurance of “transitory” inflation.

For now, it may be helpful to remember that "headline inflation" does not always represent the larger economy. And with interest rates near zero, the Federal Reserve has plenty of room to make any necessary adjustments to monetary policy.

If you would like to review your current investment portfolio or discuss any other financial planning matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website at http://www.ydfs.com. We are a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm that always puts your interests first.  If you are not a client yet, an initial consultation is complimentary and there is never any pressure or hidden sales pitch. We start with a specific assessment of your personal situation. There is no rush and no cookie-cutter approach. Each client is different, and so is your financial plan and investment objectives.

Projections are based on current conditions, are subject to change, and may not come to pass.

1, 12) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021

2, 4) The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2021

3, 6) U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2021

5) The Wall Street Journal Economic Forecasting Survey, April 2021

7, 10) Bloomberg, March 29, 2021

8) The Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2021

9) Federal Reserve, 2021

11) The New York Times, April 13, 2021