Welcome to the September 2011 edition of the ViewPoint Newsletter from Steve Stanganelli, CFP(R) of Clear View Wealth Advisors, a fee-only RIA located in Massachusetts. In this issue, retirement income planning, college funding strategies and tax tips for business owners and those going through divorce are shared.

1. V IEWPOINT
Four Retirement Financing Risks
By Steve Stanganelli, CFP®
September 2011
As Americans live longer, the task of managing money after retirement gets more
complex. A retiree in his or her mid-60s typically has a different risk profile than an
individual approaching 90. It may be helpful to look at various types of risk from the
vantage point of how they affect retirees at different life stages. Here are four key
risks to consider.
1.Investment Risk -- Balancing risk and return takes on a different meaning for indi-
viduals as they age. A negative rate of return during the early years of retirement
could leave an individual with a significantly smaller nest egg when compared with
negative returns later in the retirement life cycle. We can help you craft an investment
mix with the goal of smoothing out returns over the long term and increasing the
chances that your assets will last throughout your lifetime.
Steve Stanganelli, CFP®, CRPC® 2. Longevity Risk -- Withdrawing too much from a portfolio during the early years of
retirement may heighten the chance of depleting your assets during your later years.
For this reason, many financial advisors recommend limiting annual withdrawals to
About Clear View 5% or less of a portfolio's value, adjusted for inflation, to make assets last as long as
possible. A better tactic is to prepare a personalized withdrawal plan based on the
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC “endowment” spending policy highlighted in a prior issue of the ViewPoint.
is an independent Registered In-
vestment Advisor providing finan- 3. Inflation Risk -- Because younger retirees typically are planning for a time horizon
cial planning, tax preparation, and of 20 years or more, it’s important that their portfolios include a source of growth that
investment advisory services to is likely to exceed inflation over the long term. To complement this potential growth,
individuals and couples throughout
Massachusetts. many retirees rely on more conservative investments that may generate income and
help to balance risk and potential return. One way to counter this risk is by including
Clear View works on a FEE ON- dividend-paying stocks and alternative investments like REITs, commodities and
LY/FEE-for-SERVICE basis. convertible bonds to your investment mix.
4. Health Care Risk -- It is not unusual for medical costs to increase as retirees age,
and it may be prudent to plan for these costs before the need is immediate. Pre-
www.ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com retirees and younger retirees may want to explore options for medical insurance that
supplements Medicare, as well as long-term care insurance, to reduce the possibility
of dipping into personal assets to finance illness- or accident-related expenses. Also,
remember that those who retire before age 65 need to find an alternate source of
medical insurance prior to becoming eligible for Medicare.
Reviewing these and other challenges associated with retirement planning with a
Clear View financial advisor may
increase your confidence that you “Using Convertibles to Protect & Grow Wealth”
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2. Page 2 September 2011
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494
ASK THE ADVISER court order qualifies as a QDRO according to
What Happens to My Retirement Assets If I Get the rules of the labor department.
Divorced ? by Steve Stanganelli, CFP®
Federal law requires that participants in em- Note that retirement assets are part of a
ployer-sponsored retirement plans designate broader financial picture that may include your
their spouse as their beneficiary unless the home, taxable investments, personal property,
spouse waives this right in writing. Assuming and other assets. It is not mandated that your
that you and your spouse adhered to this prac- spouse receive a portion of your retirement as-
tice, a document known as a Qualified Domes- sets in the event of a divorce. You and your
tic Relations Order (QDRO), which is part of a spouse may negotiate another type of arrange-
divorce settlement, specifies how retirement ment that permits you to retain your retire-
assets are divided. ment assets while granting other assets to your
spouse.
A QDRO specifies the amount or portion of a
plan participant's benefits that are paid to a In addition, a prenuptial agreement, depending
spouse, former spouse, child, or other party. on its provisions, could potentially limit your
spouse's rights to your assets.
A QDRO typically governs assets within a re-
tirement plan such as a pension, profit-sharing You may want to consult a divorce lawyer and
plan, or a tax-sheltered annuity. Benefits paid your financial advisor to determine whether
to a former spouse typically are considered in- federal laws relating to retirement accounts ap-
come for tax purposes. If you contributed to ply to your situation.
your retirement plan, a prorated share of your
investment is used to determine the taxable Source: Financial Planning Association,
amount.
Former spouses on the receiving end of a lump
Looking to Refinance? Looking for a Mortgage?
-sum distribution mandated by a QDRO may be
able to roll over the money tax free to a tradi- Clear View Wealth Advisors can help you or someone
tional individual retirement account or to an- you know who is looking at buying or refinancing a home or
other qualified retirement plan. Following such real estate investment.
a transfer, assets within the plan are subject to
Don’t just borrow money. Get a plan to borrow smart and
rules that would normally apply to the retire-
repay smart.
ment plan. If you transfer assets within a tradi-
tional IRA to your spouse as part of a divorce With the help of a qualified financial planner, you can have
decree, the transfer is not considered taxable a Personal Action Plan that compares your borrowing op-
and the assets are treated as your former tions and provides a repayment plan that pays off the loan
spouse's IRA. quicker and still fund your other goals for college, retire-
ment or whatever is important to you.
Procedural Issues
We use specialized software tools to help look at your cash
QDROs are governed by rules established by flow and your big picture—not just your loan.
the U.S. Department of Labor. In most instanc-
es, a judge must formally issue a judgment or We can work with you, your Realtor® and mortgage lender
approve a settlement agreement before it is to analyze different options to find the one that makes the
considered a QDRO. The fact that you and your most sense for your situation.
soon-to-be-former spouse have signed an
Before you spend thousands on interest, talk with the Clear
agreement is not adequate for a QDRO to take View team. For less than the cost of a property appraisal,
effect. you can have a plan … and peace of mind.
Also, following an order issued by a judge, the
Mortgage Helpline …
administrator of the retirement plan affected
978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494
by the QDRO must determine whether the
Viewpoint is produced by Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC for the benefit of its clients and allied professionals. Although the information here is gathered from reliable sources, readers should not
act upon it without professional advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Examples with hypothetical returns illustrated are not representative of a specific investment. Clear View
Wealth Advisors, LLC 12 Amidon Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913 & 25 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978 388-0020 Email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com

3. Page 3 September 2011
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494
WELCOME OUR NEW TEAM MEMBER To view other pictures, please visit:
Stork Arrives with Spencer’s Brother, MagicZack
by Steve Stanganelli, CFP® http://www.carepages.com/carepages/MagicZach
“Your Guide to Finding Financial Aid”
Zachary Douglas Stanganelli (8/30/2011) - MagicZack
At the crack of dawn on Tuesday, August 30, after a
total of about 14 hours of labor, Zachary Douglas was
welcomed by his new mom and dad at Exeter Hospi-
FREE Guide
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC
tal. Amesbury * Wilmington * Woburn
Weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches, our newest
team member, affectionately known as MagicZack,
arrived as the sun rose on a
beautiful late-summer morning.
Zack arrived two days early but
if you ask Kristin it was not soon
enough.
Zack’s older brother Spencer Introducing Personal Financial Index™
happily met his new brother for the first time on
Wednesday morning and really appreciated the new Planning your future should be more than just guess-
toy train set that his new brother gave him as a pre- work.
sent.
Zack’s new grandparents are Clear View now offers an integrated diagnostic tool that
overjoyed. And while my dad you can use that provides you with your own personal
was not alive to see him, I see benchmark.
him in Zack’s features and cer-
tain behaviors peculiar to Fred. The Personal Financial Index™ is much like your
All members of Team Stang are credit score: You have a simple to understand number
home, doing well (though a little and visual tool that tells you how well you are doing in
sleep-deprived) and adjusting to a new schedule. key areas that you can track:
 Savings
 Positioning Yourself Toward Your Goals
 Retirement
 Major Purchases or College Funding
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Viewpoint is produced by Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC for the benefit of its clients and allied professionals. Although the information here is gathered from reliable sources, readers should not
act upon it without professional advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Examples with hypothetical returns illustrated are not representative of a specific investment. Clear View
Wealth Advisors, LLC 12 Amidon Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913 25 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978 388-0020 Email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com

4. Page 4 Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494 September 2011
Late-Stage College Planning—Strategies to Lower Your Costs by Steve Stanganelli, CFP®
financial aid in January of your student’s senior year of
Special points of interest:
high school
 Complete a financial aid form for every year your student  Don’t rule out schools based on “sticker price”: In many
attends college. schools fewer than 20% of students actually pay full
price. And “pricier” private schools may actually offer
 Don’t overestimate asset values on financial aid forms. more aid than public schools.
 Control what you can: The biggest determinant of aid
 Consider summer school and AP tests to finish earlier
is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). By taking
 Call the Clear View Financial Planning Helpline for help with proactive steps with assets, income and tax liability in
personalized education funding strategies at 978-388-0020 the Base Year, the year before your student files for
or 617-398-7494. financial aid, you may be able to qualify for more aid or
reduce your after-tax cost of college.
As noted in the charts below, a college degree is still  Lower Your Income: If you are self-employed,
economically worth it in the long run. But college costs consider hiring your kids which lowers your busi-
continue to soar. ness and personal income.
 Reduce assets held in a student’s name.
As tuitions and fees continue to climb at double or tri-  Don’t cash-in savings bonds. This will increase
ple the average inflation rate, the amount that parents reported income. Wait until after aid packages are
are able to cover directly has been dropping from awarded.
about 25% in 2007 to about 16% for this academic  Don’t have grandparents or relatives gift to the
year. This has contributed to the increasing amount of child or pay the school directly. While a good
debt that has saddled new grads from under $10,000 estate planning tactic for relatives, this will count
in 1993 to nearly $30,000 projected in 2012. as a resource and reduce potential aid. Instead,
set aside the money and have the grandparents
To help lower the cost, consider these tactics: gift it when the student is out of school.
 Use gifting to your advantage. Instead of selling
 Don’t count out financial aid. There are a number appreciated assets to write a check, gift them to
of factors that influence whether a student is eligi- your child in the lower bracket or shift them to a
ble for aid. Household income is only one factor. 529 account and withdraw them tax-free.
So don’t short-change yourself. Plan on filing for COLLEGE HELPLINE: 978-388-0020 or 978-416-4107
Viewpoint is produced by Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC for the benefit of its clients and allied professionals. Although the information here is gathered from reliable sources, readers should not
act upon it without professional advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Examples with hypothetical returns illustrated are not representative of a specific investment. Clear View
Wealth Advisors, LLC 12 Amidon Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913 25 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978 388-0020 Email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com

5. Page 5 Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494 September 2011
The Tax Corner (from National Association of Tax Professionals, natptax.com)
Special points of interest: Tax Tips for Divorce
 Clear View Wealth Advisors provides tax preparation
Case Study: Filing Status After Divorce
services for individuals and businesses.
Question: Taxpayer and spouse obtained a divorce in
 Financial planning clients are eligible for discounts on
2011. The divorce decree states that the couple have to
bundled services. file Married Filing Jointly for the year of the divorce. Can
 Call the Clear View Financial Planning Helpline for they do this?
help in preparing your income taxes or help with a Answer: No.
divorce plan at 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494.
A taxpayer is only able to file Married Filing Jointly if the
taxpayer is married on the last day of the year. Since the
Deducting Business Miles taxpayer was divorced prior to the end of the year, the tax-
payer is ineligible to file Married Filing Jointly. The Courts
Question: You are in the business of delivering have repeatedly stated that divorce courts cannot override
packages, documents, and other items for custom- the tax laws.
ers. You are using your own vehicle for these de-
liveries. Are you allowed to use the standard mile- Case Study: Legal Fees and Divorce
age rate for all business miles you drive?
Question: Are legal fees incurred during a divorce a de-
Answer: Yes. ductible expense?
The standard mileage rate is allowed in lieu of us- Answer: No.
ing your actual automobile expenses. The rule that
disallows the use of the standard mileage rate Legal fees relating to a divorce are not deductible, except
when your vehicle is used for hire does not apply if amounts paid for tax advice or preparation or amounts
you are providing courier services. paid in relation to collecting taxable income.
Business Owners: QuickBooks the IRS Any portion of the legal fees paid for efforts to obtain taxa-
ble income such as alimony are deductible.
The IRS has announced that its agents will require
a copy of your QuickBooks data, if used, to help Any portion of the legal fees paid to avoid paying alimony
them with any audit. are not deductible. Legal fees paid for any of the following
are also not deductible: Custody of children; Breach of
What do taxpayers need to know? You can make
promise; Civil or criminal charges resulting from a personal
any audit go more smoothly by having good rec-
relationship; Damages for personal injury; Preparation of a
ords which start with how your electronic
title or defense against a title; Preparation of a will; Proper-
bookkeeping records are saved.
ty claims or property settlements (even if it involves the
Each version of QuickBooks comes out of the box risk of losing income-producing property).
with one user built in — Administrator. This user is
not password protected. To help maintain data
integrity, taxpayers should assign QuickBooks file TAX HELPLINE: 978-388-0020 or 978-416-4107
users with separate passwords.
QuickBooks will maintain an “audit trail” of data that “Divorce Your Money”
is entered or changed by each password-protected
FREE Booklet
user.
If your accountant or bookkeeper makes changes,
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC
taxpayers should make a copy that matches the Amesbury * Wilmington * Woburn
adjusted version created.
Viewpoint is produced by Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC for the benefit of its clients and allied professionals. Although the information here is gathered from reliable sources, readers should not
act upon it without professional advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Examples with hypothetical returns illustrated are not representative of a specific investment. Clear View
Wealth Advisors, LLC 12 Amidon Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913 25 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978 388-0020 Email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com

6. Page 6 September 2011
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494
About Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC
Clear View is a Registered Investment Advisor providing
fee-only / fee-for-service financial planning, consulting
and investment management services.
Primary Business Address We help clients make smarter money choices.
12 Amidon Avenue
Amesbury, MA 01913 THE BOTTOM LINE
Convenient Meeting Locations in the Merrimack Valley to Boston: When your life savings are at stake, you want advice you
Newburyport Woburn Wilmington Lawrence Boston can trust and someone you can count on. You need a
trusted advisor that is objective, an advisor that is not
Phone: 978-388-0020 or 617-398-7494
paid more to sell you one product over another. You
Fax: 866-654-4301
need a relationship with a firm and an advisor that prom-
Email: steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com
ises to always put your interest first, a firm with proven
experience and the right professional credentials.
Visit us on the Web!
More Financial Tools: www.ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com
Divorce Help: www.DivorceFinancePros.com
To explore how Clear View and Steve Stanganelli, CFP®
College Funding Help: www.CollegeCashPros.com
can help you, call 978-388-0020 today to schedule an
Personal Financial Index:
exploratory meeting (via phone or in-person). There is no
www.personalfinancialindex.com/c/clearviewwealthadvisors
charge or obligation.
FREE Road Map Tool: www.BabyBoomerRetirementPro.com ————————————————
My Blog: www.MoneyLinkPro.Wordpress.com Complimentary 30-Minute Money Tune-Up
+ $100 Off Any Road Map Financial Plan Program
Visit our website to find out more about our approach and services.
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Late-Stage College Planning
The More You Know, The Less You Pay
Steve Stanganelli and Clear View Part of a Series for Clear View’s Exclusive College Planning Service
offer help in the following services:
For parents with high school juniors and seniors, college is just around the
 Retirement Income Planning corner. This doesn’t mean that it’s too late to plan.
 IRA Rollovers
 Roth IRA Conversion Analysis In fact, by taking the time to plan now, parents will be in a better position to
 College Funding Strategies manage their cash flows and fund their retirement.
529 Plans
 Divorce Settlement Analysis
As the “buyer” of a college education for your student, you have a choice to
 Qualified Plans for Businesses
be an “informed” buyer or an “uninformed” buyer. What you don’t know about
 One-to-One Money Coaching
 Periodic or One-Time Invest-
the financial aid process and strategies to help pay for college may end up
ment Advice costing you more now and in retirement.
 On-Going Investment Manage-
ment Monitoring Need Help Understanding Your Options? Read on. Or join a free webinar.
 Financial Education Programs
for Groups
FREE Online Planning Tool
“The Money Coach Road Map Series:”
FREE Webinars
Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC
Get Yours at www.SmartMoneyRoadMap.com
Check the Clear View Site
Viewpoint is produced by Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC for the benefit of its clients and allied professionals. Although the information here is gathered from reliable sources, readers should not
act upon it without professional advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Examples with hypothetical returns illustrated are not representative of a specific investment. Clear View
Wealth Advisors, LLC 12 Amidon Ave., Amesbury, MA 01913 25 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978 388-0020 Email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com