Summer Series #5 - 🚀 Is Your Portfolio Future Ready?

TL;DR: Get the losers out, bankruptcy is back, DeFi your life

Hi friends,

With two weeks left of the hottest summer ever, it’s time to get strategic for year-end! Today is the 5th and final of our Summer Series, designed to help you navigate the completely unpredictable markets. Today, we're sharing strategies to help you maximize your investments and tips on year-end tax planning. We covered a lot of ground these past 5 weeks - you can catch any of our articles here: https://lnvestrio.beehiiv.com/

📲 And guess what? Our mobile app is almost ready to drop this fall! We’ve been working hard behind the scenes, and it’s shaping up to be your new financial bff!

 🎯 Your Must Do's Before 2025

What an amazing week in the markets! Just weeks after a meltdown, it's a reminder that sticking to your long-term investment plan is often the best course. With that, here are the some tips before the new year:

Get the Losers Out - Consider selling underperforming investments to offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio. This strategy, known as tax-loss harvesting, can reduce your taxable income and help you keep more of your hard-earned money. Do this slowly, avoid days with big economic releases!

Max Out Retirement Contributions - If you still need to max out your 401(k) or IRA contributions, now's the time! Contributions to tax-advantaged accounts can lower your taxable income and boost your retirement savings. This year's contributions increased: the 401(k) limit is $23,000 for 2024, and the IRA limit is $7,000.

Giving is Good — Thinking about giving back? Charitable donations can be a great way to reduce your tax liability. Donating appreciated securities rather than cash can also help avoid capital gains taxes. Don't forget that clothes, furniture, and other goods also count. Make sure to keep the receipt from the donation center.

Review Your Remix —Life is more than 50% stocks and 50% bonds. This year, review your total portfolio and make sure your investments align with your long-term goals. Our app will be able to help you with this soon!

If you have questions - we are here for you! Reply to this email we love to hear from you. 📧

🚨On the radar:

You Don't Need it - Financial freedom is getting a TikTok makeover. The latest trend on the platform, called "underconsumption core," celebrates the art of buying less and living more simply. While some see it as a path to financial freedom (and a positive mindset shift for the environment), others wonder if it's just another fad. Minimalism is making a stylish comeback, but the question remains—will this trend truly empower a generation to spend smarter, or is it just another social media trap? Either way, we support this idea for your wallet.

The Elephant in the Room - Price hikes slowed more than expected in July, and, for the first time in more than three years, the Consumer Price Index has landed below 3%. This paves the way for the Federal Reserve to cut rates next month after a year-long battle with inflation that spiked to a 23-year high. America’s economy is just starting to show signs of stress, and now that inflation appears under control, the Fed can reduce borrowing costs to try to get job growth booming again.

Bankruptcy is So Back - You may have heard many companies are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, from Avon, Blink Fitness, and even LL Flooring; these are huge employers. So, what is it? Chapter 11 is a type of bankruptcy that allows a company to re-organize its debts and continue to operate. Most likely cut costs and re-structure. In 2024, there has been a HUGE increase in these fillings, and as long as economic volatility, inflation, and high interest rates persist, these headlines will continue to appear.

💰 Crypto Corner Summer

In 2020, the crypto world had its own version of a gold rush, called ‘DeFi Summer.’ People were trying out new financial tools and making money in ways that hadn’t been possible before. (If you’re new to this world, don't worry, DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance.)

Fast forward to 2024, and things have evolved. Bitcoin took center stage and trading on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) hit an all-time high this summer, and new tokens are still launching, especially on platforms like Solana. It's hot.

What’s New in DeFi?

🌐 Multi-chain World: Ethereum used to rule DeFi, but now other blockchains like Solana and BNB Chain are sharing the spotlight.

 🏦 Real-World Connections: Projects like MakerDAO are bringing real-world assets (like old school U.S. Treasury bonds) into the DeFi space, making it more stable and connected to everyday finance.

💰 Smarter Yield: Earning interest on your crypto has evolved. Liquid staking and restaking are new ways to make your crypto work harder for you.

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In Abundance,
Joyce and Laura