1. 23rd Annual
Investment Conference & Luncheon

2. Managing Your Wealth
in an Unstable Environment
Tom Vautin, CFA, CFP®, EA
Senior Financial Planner
Greg Stevens, CFP®
Senior Financial Counselor
Cabot Money Management, Inc.
216 Essex Street
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
800-888-6468
eCabot.com

3. What Has Happened Over the Past 4 Years?
 Credit crisis (caused in large part by loose lending standards and excess
leverage)
 Major banking institutions fail or need government bailout (Lehman, Bear
Stearns, AIG…)
 Companies lay off employees to adapt to the “new normal”
 Unemployment tops 10% at its peak
 S&P 500 falls from 1576 on 10/11/2007 to 676 on 9/19/2012 (Drop of
58%!!)
 S&P recovers back to 1461 (as of 9/19/2011)
 Volatility in the global markets remains on the forefront of all investor’s
minds. *Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

4. Tax Law Uncertainty
 Income tax changes
– Individuals and businesses do not know what the rules
will be next year
 Payroll tax changes
– Will the temporary lower tax rates be extended in 2013?
 Estate tax changes
– Similar to income tax changes, but primarily affect
individuals only
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

5. Market Uncertainty
 Market volatility
– Stocks have not been as volatile recently as they were in 2011
– News headlines in 2012
 Eurozone “crisis”
 Presidential and congressional elections
 Tax law uncertainty and “fiscal cliff”
 Debt ceiling
 Unemployment
 Low interest rate environment
– Stock markets generally do not like uncertainty
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

6. Where Do We Go From Here?
 Global economic recovery (SLOW)
 US jobs picture remains cloudy
 Political unrest overseas
 European debt crisis is still there
 Presidential election
 Fiscal Cliff
 Housing recovery or further decline?
 Global stock market gyrations
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

7. BOTTOM LINE:
There is a Lot of Uncertainty Out There!
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

8. Expiring “Bush” Tax Cuts at End of 2012
 Tax bracket changes:
Marginal Rate
2012 2013
10% 15%
15% 15%
25% 28%
28% 31%
33% 36%
35% 39.6%
 Return of Marriage Penalty to “Middle Income” Taxpayers
 Long-term capital gains: 15% to 20%
 Qualified Dividends: 15% to (see chart above for 2013)
 Top estate tax rate: 35% to 55%
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

9. Some Popular Tax Benefits that Expired at End of 2011
 Repeal of personal exemption and itemized deduction phase outs
 Higher Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemptions
 Direct IRA payouts to qualified charities
 Deduction for state sales taxes
 Tuition and fees deduction
 Educator expense deduction
 Mass transit monthly deduction limit decreases
 Nonbusiness energy credits
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

10. Medicare “Surtax” Begins in 2013
 Individuals with modified AGI over $200,000 and families with
modified AGI over $250,000 will be affected
 Additional 2.8% on investment income
 Additional 0.9% payroll tax
 This is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(Obamacare) and is separate from Bush tax cuts
 For affected taxpayers, long-term capital gain rate could increase
from 15% to 23.8% and qualified dividend rate could increase
from 15% to as high as 43.4% if Bush tax cuts are not extended
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

11. What is the “Fiscal Cliff”?
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

12. What is the “Fiscal Cliff”?
 Combination of:
– Tax increases
– Mandatory government spending cuts
 Impact:*
– Reduces deficit by about $600 billion
– Projected GDP contraction of about 4% in 2013 (recession)
– Unemployment increase of about 1%
* Source: Central Budget Office
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

13. *Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

14. What Will Really Happen?
 Probably nothing before the elections
 Both political parties believe adjustments need to be made, but
negotiations will be contentious.
– Not knowing the rules makes tax planning difficult
 Best case scenario: Agreement will be made as soon as possible
(not likely).
 Likely scenario: Agreement will be made after elections but
before end of year.
 Worst case scenario: Agreement will be made in 2013 and rules
will apply retroactively (no opportunity to plan).
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

15. Likely Scenario?
 Compromise is reached after election
– Democrats would like to raise just the top two tax brackets
(33% to 36% and 35% to 39.6%)
– Republicans would like to extend all Bush tax cuts
 Extend most or all Bush tax cuts through 2013
 Extend the tax laws that expired at end of 2011 through 2013
 Continue temporary payroll tax decrease?
 Major tax reform during 2013 effective at beginning of 2014
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

16. Tax Planning Strategies
 Plan now, execute later. In most cases, there are few reasons to
execute “tax-planning” transactions before the rules are known.
 Plan for multiple scenarios:
– Higher tax rates
– Lower tax rates
– Same tax rates
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

17. Sample “Higher Tax Rate in 2013” Strategy
 You can control the timing of certain income sources.
– Capital gains on investments
– Stock options
– Roth IRA conversions
– Sales of real estate that generate capital gains
 Accelerate income from these sources into 2012
 Defer deductions (if possible) into 2013
– Medical expenses
– Charitable contributions
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

18. Other Strategies
 Lower tax rates in 2013?
– Defer income into 2013
– Accelerate deductions into 2012
– But depends on your individual situation as well
 Same tax rates in 2013?
– Depends on your individual situation
– Deferring tax payments can be beneficial while your money
can be otherwise used for investing, spending, paying down
debt, etc.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

19. Plan Around Your Marginal Tax Rate
 Determine what your marginal tax rate will be each year. How
much will your next dollar of taxable income cost you?
– Tax brackets published by IRS
– Phaseouts of tax benefits
– Alternative Minimum Tax
– State income tax rate
 Changes in your individual marginal tax rate from year to year
will depend on 1) tax laws and 2) your individual income
situation.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

20. Where Do I Invest Now?
Asset class returns year over year from 1992-2010…
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

21. Timing the Market is Difficult
Schwab study comparing the return of a sample of their equity funds
vs. the actual return of the investors in the fund.
Source: Schwab Center for Financial Research with data from Morningstar, Inc., as of December 31, 2011. Fund return is the weighted average time-weighted return of all active funds in the Morningstar
domestic equity, specialty, and international stock categories. Each fund is represented by its oldest share class. Investor return for each fund is calculated by Morningstar and reflects the average return on all
dollars invested based on estimated monthly net fund flows. Past performance is no guarantee of future results
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

22. How Should We Invest?
 Develop an allocation based around your goals, not just where you
expect the market to go.
 College Planning
– Amount, timeframe, risk tolerance
– Will your kids (or grandchildren) need financial aid?
 Retirement
– How long do you expect to work?
– How much do you need?
– Retirement can last for 30+ years; invest with that timeframe in
mind!
 Short-term purchases
– Amount and timeframe are critical to determine investment
objective
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

23. Develop A Roadmap
 The starting point is your current
financial situation.
 Your goals are the finish line.
 Bridge the gap between start and finish.
 Which route should you take?
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

24. Develop A Roadmap
 Make realistic assumptions for the uncertain variables.
– Historical inflation = 3%
– Investment returns based on historical averages
– Taxes: Current laws with an educated guess about the future
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

25. Why Do We Invest?
 But, How Much Money is Enough?
– It depends on a few uncertain things:
 Investment returns
 Inflation
 Tax policy
– And some certain things:
 Your asset allocation
 Tax minimization
 Most importantly – your financial goals!
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

26. Focus On The Big Picture
 Determine an Appropriate Asset Allocation
– Will significantly impact your investment returns over the
long-term.
– Investment returns in the short-term are uncertain.
– Performance of a broad asset allocation over the long-term can
be estimated with more confidence.
– There is no free lunch. Higher returns come with a price –
higher volatility.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

27. The Efficient Frontier
For a given target rate of return, get the most bang for your buck.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

28. Hypothetical 50% Stock Portfolio
Asset Class %
Money Market Funds 5%
US Core Equities 25%
US Aggressive Equities 10%
US Bonds 20%
Foreign Bonds 5%
Foreign Equities (Developed) 10%
Foreign Equities (Emerging) 5%
Alternative 20%
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

29. The Impact of Volatility
All else equal, lower volatility will result in a higher portfolio value
at the end of the plan.
Example: Assume two portfolios with value of $100,000
invested over a 30-year period with an average rate of return of
8% but different volatilities:
Portfolio: Higher Volatility Portfolio: Lower Volatility
Average Yearly Return 8% 8%
Standard Deviation 13% 8%
Ending Portfolio Value $819,319 $927,937
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

30. Longer Time Horizon Has Meant Lower Downside Risk
Rolling returns of S&P 500 from 1926-2011
Source is Schwab.com, past performance is no guarantee of future results
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

31. Putting It All Together
 Run Monte Carlo Simulation to find the success rate of your plan
– The simulation runs thousands of trials based on the variables:
 Taxes
 Inflation
 Projected investment returns / Asset allocation
 Goals
– Some of the trials are successful and some are not.
A “probability of success” is estimated.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

32. Putting It All Together
 If the estimated success rate is not adequate, make adjustments
with the things you can control.
– Asset allocation
 Expected rate of return
 Expected volatility
– Goals
 Change future standard of living
 Change current standard of living (saving rate)
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

33. Putting It All Together
CURRENT PLAN: WHAT-IF PLAN:
Probability of Success: 46% Probability of Success: 80%
Below Confidence Zone In Confidence Zone
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

34. What about your Estate Plan?
What is an estate plan?
 Road map for you beneficiaries/executor
 Gives you control of your assets after your death
 Designates who takes control if you’re incapacitated
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

35. Critical Estate Planning Documents
 Simple Will
– Spells out “who gets what”
 Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)
– Who makes financial decisions if you can’t?
 Health Care Proxy
– Who makes medical decisions if you can’t?
 Trusts
– Dictates how your assets pass on and gives you the
opportunity to control how they are distributed.
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

36. Highlights of a Trust
 Can be Revocable or Irrevocable
 Terms of Rev Trust become “irrevocable” at the time of death
 The grantor can dictate how and to whom their assets pass at their
death (or during life)
 Moving assets to a Trust gives us the ability to plan for the
uncertainty of the estate tax in future years
 Allows grantor to retain control
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

37. Revocable Trust
 Terms can be changed during grantor’s life
 Can provide for assets to remain in Trust at death
 Most Rev Trusts contain provisions for “splitting” the estate at
death and preserving the deceased’s estate tax exemption
(married couples)
 Assets held in the Trust (i.e. real estate, investment accounts,
etc.) are exempt from probate
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

38. Irrevocable Trust
 Can be created from a Rev Trust at death of Grantor or on its own
 Excellent way to transfer assets and remove future appreciation
from your estate
 Examples
– Gift Trust
– Charitable Trust
– Grantor Retained Annuity Trust
– Credit Shelter Trust
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

39. Estate Taxes
 Estate taxes are imposed at death, if your estate exceeds the
“threshold”.
 Threshold is a moving target ($5,120,000 for 2012, set to revert to
$1 million in 2013)
 Value of estate over $5,120,000 is taxed at 35%
 Individual states have their own estate tax ($1 million threshold in
MA)
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

40. How Do We Manage Estate Taxes?
 Develop a plan!
– Gifting ($13K per year to any individual)
– Estate splitting/balancing for married couples
– Transfer assets to Revocable Trust with credit shelter provision
– Consider large gifts by funding an irrev. Trust crafted to suit
your needs (removes future appreciation from your estate)
– Life insurance owned by Trust to pay taxes
– Don’t forget to review the beneficiary designation on any
retirement accounts and insurance policies!
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

41. SUMMARY
 In an uncertain environment, you can do things to minimize the
uncertainty:
– Focus on what you can control.
– Remember that the markets historically have gone up more often than
they have gone down.
– Diversification still works.
– Create a multi-year tax minimization strategy.
– Develop a roadmap and monitor your progress to gain peace of mind!
*Please refer to the Appendix at the end of this presentation for disclosures.

42. THANK YOU!

43. APPENDIX: DISCLOSURES
 Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investments
are not insured and may lose value.
 No amount of asset or sector allocation or diversification can
protect against principal loss.
 Individual security selection may result in returns that deviate
from the security’s corresponding benchmark.
 Nothing contained in the presentation should be considered as tax
or legal advice.

44. 23rd Annual
Investment Conference & Luncheon