2010 Calendar Events

Yesterday morning, after brewing a fresh cup of coffee, I got a simultaneous alert on my iPhone and Outlook calendars that Today, I need to think about filing taxes.  So, while it was too early to make a phone call, I created a Outlook Task (with a dummy light reminder!) to call my trusted tax advisor, and requested an appointment, soon.  Well, then I got to thinking.  I'm one of those people that really needs to manage my calendar appropriately; otherwise, it will end up managing me.  The fact is, many of you can probably relate and so I thought I would share some items from my calendar that can help both you and your family, friends and valued clients, near and far, in 2010.  I hope you find it useful. - Steve

JANUARY

1 - Parents of college-bound high school seniors: Fill out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
4 - First trading day of 2010. Check BuySOMD.com for 1^nd Quarter Buyer/Seller Webinars & Seminars.
7 - Set financial goals, update your budget and resolve to pay off holiday debt (see "Four Ways to Trim Your Spending").
8 - Convert traditional IRA to a Roth; income limits for conversions are gone.
15 - Estimated federal taxes for the fourth quarter of 2009 are due.
20 - Consult with a financial planner (Call Steve Combs 301-672-8771 for a trusted local referral): Your Money Bus stops in Greensboro, N.C.
21 - Seniors: If you're over 70, talk to your IRA administrators about resuming regular required minimum distribution payments.
26 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

FEBRUARY

2 - Think taxes: Your 1098, 1099 and W-2 statements should arrive by today. Finish gathering tax documents and put them in a folder for later.  (Call Steve Combs 301-672-8771 for a trusted local referral)
4 - Your Money Bus stops in Charleston, S.C.
7 - Billions of dollars in bets will be riding on Super Bowl XLIV.
12 - Investors: Standard & Poor's 500-stock index has gone down 15 of the past 18 years on the day before Presidents Day weekend. You could pick up some cheap shares.
15 - Presidents Day. Before you hit the sales, determine a budget ...and stick to it!.
22 - New credit-card rules go into effect.
22 - Your Money Bus stops in Palm Beach, Fla.

MARCH

1 - Shoulder season starts today and runs through May. Look for bargains on travel.
3 - Keep an eye out for proxy forms. They'll let you vote on shareholder issues without being present at the annual meeting.
6 - Think taxes: Assign value to stuff you donated to charity if you itemize deductions.
9 - Your Money Bus stops in Birmingham, Ala.
14 - Daylight Savings Time begins. Spring forward.  Check BuySOMD.com for 2^nd Quarter Buyer/Seller Webinars & Seminars.
15 - Deadline to empty your 2009 health-care flexible spending account (if your plan allows the 2-month grace period).
16 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.
19 - Triple Witching Day for the stock market: Contracts for stock-index futures, stock-index options and stock options all expire together. Brace for volatile trading.

APRIL

1 - It's Financial Literacy Month. Take the Kiplinger quiz on your financial know-how.
1 - Seniors: Deadline for taking your first required minimum distribution from IRAs and other retirement accounts.
2 - Your Money Bus stops in Cleveland.
3 - Prepare your income-tax return this weekend.
12 - First-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.
15 - File your tax return or request an extension. Estimated federal taxes for the first quarter are due.
16 - Expect a big tax refund? Adjust your withholding.
22 - Earth Day. Save money and the planet by switching to compact fluorescent bulbs.
27 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

MAY

1 - Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting, in Omaha. Treasury announces semiannual I-bond rates.
2 - Mother's Day is May 9. Find a gift deal at www.dodtracker.com.
6 - Your Money Bus stops in Fort Worth.
11 - Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Glacier National Park. A visit to one of the 58 national parks is a great idea for an inexpensive summer getaway.
12 - Book a tune-up for your air-conditioning or sprinkler system before summer sets in.
19 - Start planning your summer vacation (use a booking site such as Kayak.com).
27 - College-bound high school grads: Complete student-loan applications, including those for federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans for parents.
30 - Use your tax refund to pay down credit-card balances or seed an emergency fund.

JUNE

1 - Investors: The stock market historically dips the week after Memorial Day. Look for cheap buys.
3 - Your Money Bus stops in San Diego.
7 - Recent college grads: Consolidate student loans. Make a money-smart plan for what to do with your graduation cash (start an IRA, create an emergency fund).
12 - Shop for Father's Day on June 20.
15 - Estimated federal taxes for the second quarter are due.
17 - Your Money Bus stops in Portland, Ore.  Check BuySOMD.com for 3^nd Quarter Buyer/Seller Webinars & Seminars.
21 - Investors: Dow down 17 of the past 19 years-don't sell this week.
22 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

JULY

2 - Midyear financial checkup: Update the goals you set in January and rebalance your portfolio, if necessary.
4 - Independence Day. Break free from debt by tallying up what you owe and making a plan to pay it off.
7 - Your Money Bus stops in Colorado Springs.
12 - Second-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.
21 - Re-shop your auto insurance, homeowners coverage and life insurance. (Call Steve Combs 301-672-8771 for a trusted local referral)
26 - If you're over 50, find out about long-term-care insurance.

AUGUST

1 - Shop early for an end-of-the-model-year car deal. You'll get the best combination of price and selection as dealers clear inventory.
3 - This is the month for statewide sales-tax holidays for back-to-school shopping. Find out whether your state has one.
5 - Your Money Bus stops in Omaha.
9 - Investors: Prepare to hunker down. From 1988 to 2005, August was the worst month for the Dow and the S&P 500.
10 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.
24 - Investors: Look for the market to gain strength. The end of the month has been strong for the past five years.
26 - Renegotiate the rate on your credit card.

SEPTEMBER

1 - Fall marks open-enrollment season for employer health-insurance plans. Review your options, even if you can keep the same coverage.
2 - Start scouting for deals for holiday travel. Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly, with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
3 - Investors: Watch for stock-market instability. Triple-digit Dow moves are commonplace leading up to Labor Day.
9 - Your Money Bus stops in Milwaukee.
15 - Estimated tax payments for the third quarter are due. Deadline for submitting corrections to your FAFSA.  Check BuySOMD.com for 4^nd Quarter Buyer/Seller Webinars & Seminars.
21 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.
30 - Your Money Bus stops in Washington, D.C.

OCTOBER

1 - If you're self-employed, deadline to establish a Simple IRA.
2 - Financial Fitness Workshop - Time/Location TBA (Contact Steve Combs for more info).
7 - Third-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.
8 - If you've lost money on a Roth IRA conversion, you can still recharacterize. Contact your Roth sponsor ASAP.
15 - Deadline to file your tax return if you requested an extension in April.
21 - Get Smart About Credit Day. Buy your FICO scores at www.myfico.com. (Call Steve Combs 301-672-8771 for a free review)
22 - Investors: Look for good buys on depressed stocks; October has marked the end of 11 post-World War II bear markets.

NOVEMBER

1 - Treasury announces semiannual I-bond rates. Buy candy on the cheap after Halloween.
2 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.
7 - Daylight Savings Time ends.
8 - New college grads: First student-loan payments are due this month.
15 - Open enrollment begins for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, and continues through December 31. (See "Choose the Right Medicare Plan for Your Needs".)
17 - Investors: Time to sell? The Dow has been up 13 of the past 16 years in the week before Thanksgiving.
24 - Log on to www.gottadeal.com to plan your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping strategy.
29 - Cyber Monday: Save on sales at most online retailers.

DECEMBER

1 - Investors: Before you buy a mutual fund in a taxable account, check the fund's Web site for its ex-dividend date and purchase shares after that date to avoid a tax bill.
5 - Make year-end donations to a charity or your alma mater and lock in a tax deduction (see "Five Ways to Check a Charity").
13 - End of 2010 is your last chance to make energy-efficient home improvements and get a 30% tax credit up to $1,500 (deadline: December 31).
14 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.  Check BuySOMD.com for 1^nd Quarter 2011 Buyer/Seller Webinars & Seminars.
18 - Best time of the year to buy a computer-deals range from 15% to 50% off, or you could score a free printer or software package.
31 - Deadline for taking annual required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts, setting up a solo 401(k) plan and enrolling in a Medicare prescription-drug plan.

*Not all events/items have been included in this list.  For example, our team performs an "annual mortgage fitness update call" around the time of our client's settlement anniversary.  Each client individually exists as a reminder on my calendar but I didn't make any assumptions in the example above.  Feel free to incorporate your settlement date on your calendar and give us a ring.  If your lender doesn't offer ongoing mortgage management services, you're in luck... We have an adoption program!! J

Thanks for reading! 

STEVE COMBS, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT - FIRST COUNTY MORTGAGE, LLC 

First County Mortgage, LLC is an affiliate of PNC Bank, NA.

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