Manifesto

Most therapists see a therapist.

The Seattle Seahawks have almost as many coaches as players.

And even the most seasoned climber doesn’t summit Everest without a Sherpa.

You know why?

Because having a guide helps.

If you don’t know the way, a guide is indispensable.

But even if you’re an expert or well on your way, a guide can offer assurance, show you a few shortcuts and make sure you don’t stray off course.

We are guides.

And we help people navigate something far more compelling than a trail or path or investment opportunities and the market.

We don’t start a relationship by offering hot stock tips and patent-pending investment strategies.

We sit down and get to know our clients.

Where are they in their lives?

What makes them happy and fulfilled?

What do they want from their future?

Once we know where they are and where they want to go, we can set out on a journey to get there together.

And hey, if we decide we want to change where we’re going or take a different route, that’s okay too.

We’re expert guides, so we can help even the most sophisticated investor, but we pride ourselves on making the complicated easy to understand for everyone.

So we don’t put our arms around a client’s portfolio and drag it over to our side of the table and tell them we’ll take it from here.

We work with our clients to make sure they understand and are invested in the decisions we make.

We don’t sell our clients products; we help them make choices.

About the kind of life they want to live.

About when and how they want to retire.

And what kind of legacy they want to leave behind for their families, their communities, and the world.

We are Summit.

And we know it’s a bit cheesy, but darn it, we believe this to be true.

We guide our clients towards their dreams.

 

New IRS Withholding Tool

Presented by Edward W. Grogan, IV

As a taxpayer, were you disappointed by your 2018 tax return? Perhaps you found out that you owed taxes because your paycheck withholdings were insufficient. Or maybe your refund was smaller than you anticipated. Due to changes in tax withholding rates and limited deductions, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created surprises like these for many taxpayers. Prior to the new law, taxpayers frequently received a refund due to excess withholding.

In response to taxpayer concerns, the IRS released the new Tax Withholding Estimator (Estimator). This tool lets you review your withholding amounts to see if they’re on the right track or if you should consider making changes. The Estimator can be accessed through the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator. Before using the Estimator, be sure to gather the information listed below. You’ll be able to see your results in minutes and can then decide whether to make changes to your current withholding allowance with your employer. 

Please note: The Estimator was created with the average taxpayer in mind. For complex tax situations and additional information, please refer to IRS Publication 505 at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p505.pdf.

What You Will Need

The IRS recommends gathering the following information before using the Estimator.

  • Recent pay stubs
  • Most recent income tax return

Be ready to answer questions about your tax filing status, dependents, pretax contributions (such as retirement or medical accounts), other sources of income, and tax credits. 

The Estimator will take you through some questions that will vary depending on whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction. To find out which items can be deducted, review IRS Topic No. 500 at https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc500. If you plan on itemizing deductions, gather information on the following expenses:

  • Medical and dental expenses
  • Taxes paid
  • Qualified mortgage interest paid
  • Gifts to charity
  • Casualty losses
  • Other expenses that could be deducted

The Estimator will not ask for personal identification information, such as name, date of birth, social security number, or bank account numbers. Regarding the information you do enter, the Estimator will not save anything. It is a single-use calculator.

Results Provided

Once you’ve completed the questions, the Estimator will calculate whether you’re estimated to owe money or receive a refund for the 2019 tax year. In addition to this information, the Estimator will give two options for adjusting your withholding:

  1. Get My Balance Close to Zero
  2. I’d Like to Get a Refund 

Based on your selection, the Estimator will explain how to fill out a new Form W-4 and provide a link to the form. Once you download and complete the Form W-4, print it out and give it to your employer. Your paycheck withholdings will be adjusted accordingly.

If you make changes to your withholding, the IRS recommends reviewing your selections again in 2020. As always, before making any decisions, a best practice is to consult your tax professional.

This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor, or lawyer.