On Monday, The House Ways & Means Committee released their proposed legislation titled “Responsibly Funding Our Priorities”. The preliminary tax legislation, which circulated on, and off Capitol Hill, would raise as much as $2.9 trillion to pay for most of President Biden’s sweeping expansion of the Social Safety net by increasing taxes on the wealthiest corporations and individuals (those over $400k of income). While this proposed legislation is only the 1st draft and is still far from law, so far it is the best glimpse into what we might expect. Here are some of the key points.

Many people have spent a lifetime saving and accumulating money in tax-deferred retirement savings vehicles like the 401(k), 403(b), 457, IRA, SEP IRA, or TSP Plan (non-Roth retirement accounts). In extreme cases, taxes could erode up to 70% of the value of these accounts without proper planning. Let’s look at the eleven potential taxes on your retirement assets.

It appears we have a deal on infrastructure. Maybe. After weeks of grandstanding, posturing, and wrangling, it looks like a bipartisan infrastructure deal that both parties can live with is in the works. Good news: no tax hikes. But you'll want to read on because we're not out of the woods yet.

On March 25th, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation in the Senate titled “For the 99.5% Act”, representing the first piece of legislation this year to propose lowering the estate tax exemption along with other key proposals since President Biden took office. On Monday, Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced a bill that would tax gain on capital assets at death and many gifts. While these pieces of legislation are only proposed and would have to follow typical protocols prior to being voted on and enacted, we thought it was important to provide bullet points on the key provisions of the bills as they relate to estate planning.

So, the next (final?) round of stimulus was signed into law by President Biden. Let’s dive in. The $1.9 trillion bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes stimulus checks, child tax credits, jobless help, vaccine-distribution money, healthcare subsidies, and aid for struggling restaurants. What’s not inside? A higher minimum wage. Here's a quick visual of how it compares to prior rounds of stimulus.

Does it feel like 2021 yet? The twists and turns so far make it seem like 2020 is dragging into a second season. As an American, I’m shocked and worried, and I’m wondering how political disagreements turned into excuses for violence. As a financial advisor, I know that the politics, protests, and rioting in DC are just one factor affecting markets. I honestly don’t know what will happen over the next few weeks, but I can help you understand how it affects you as an investor.