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Dear <<First Name>>,
This issue of News You Can Use contains important year-end deadlines and reminders.
If you need year-end advice, or have an investment need that can't wait until January, please let us know right away.
Please also be aware that our office will be closed on:
• Friday, December 23 & Monday, December 26
• Monday, January 2
We're here to help you stay on schedule and enjoy peace of mind. Happy Holidays!
Regards,
Stephanie Gale
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Your monthly IRA distribution may arrive early in December!
 If we've set up a monthly or quarterly distribution from your IRA that normally hits your bank account in the second half of the month, be aware that your money will arrive early in December.
Distributions scheduled to be released between December 14 and 31 will be released early, starting on Wednesday, December 12.
The reason? It's critical these distributions be booked in the calendar year, and Commonwealth doesn't take any chances!
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 Year-end processing dates
The following deadlines reflect the date we need to have all paperwork submitted to Commonwealth for year-end processing. We would like to hear from you five business days before the deadline to ensure your request is completed accurately and on time.
- IRA distributions: If you have previously linked your bank account to your IRA, we can move funds via this method up until 12:30 p.m. December 28 (although we ask you not to wait till the last minute!). If you don't have a bank link set up, we will need to make the distribution request no later than December 16.
- Roth conversions: If you plan to convert IRA funds to a Roth, we must have paperwork submitted no later than December 16.
- Journal to an IRA: If you plan to move funds from an existing account to an IRA, the request must be submitted no later than December 19.
- Contributions to an IRA or Roth IRA: Contributions for the 2016 tax year can be made up until April 18, 2017.
Requests for funds to be distributed before year-end from brokerage accounts---via bank link, check or wire---must be made by 12:30 p.m. on December 28.
December 14 is the deadline to request a gift of mutual funds, if you wish to remember your favorite charity at this time of year. See also information below about making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to satisfy your RMD.
No action is required of you unless you plan on making one of these requests and would like it to be processed for 2016. Speak with your tax professional if you have questions about transactions that may affect your taxes.
As always, let us know if you have any questions. We're a phone call away at (360) 385-5044.
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Prepare for tax time with Investor360°
 Through our client portal, Investor360°, you gain access to your account balances and transactions, as well as current and past statements and tax documents. You can control whether you receive future reports on paper or electronically. You can also link your other accounts (banking, credit, other investments, insurance, etc.) to Investor360°and see your whole financial picture in one secure place.
User guides for TurboTax®, Quicken® and H&R Block® integration are now available on our website for easy viewing.
Give us a call at (360) 385-5044 to get started using Investor360°. We’ll give you a log-in ID and a temporary password, and one of our staff can walk you through a short personalized training session over the phone.
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Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs
You’re over 70, don’t need the income from your IRA, and would like to limit your taxable income. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, read on to learn more about qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
In 2015 year-end legislati on, Congress made permanent a provision to permit taxpayers who are at least age 70½ to make tax-free distributions directly from an IRA or a Roth IRA to a qualified charity. (Of course, 70 ½ is the age at which IRA owners must begin to take required minimum distributions (RMDs).)
This can be a great benefit for owners of IRAs who have charitable intentions if they do not need the income from their RMDs, or would like not to increase their taxable income but are at the age at which they are forced to take RMDs.
The donation is limited to $100,000 per person, and it may be used to partially or fully satisfy the taxpayer’s RMD for the current tax year. Paperwork must be submitted by December 16.
Note that donations from a SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA are not eligible. The charitable recipient must be a 501(c)(3) charity. An IRA owner who would like to make a QCD directly to a charity needs to complete the appropriate distribution paperwork and ask that a check be sent directly to the charity. We are happy to help with this!
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We always love to hear from you! Reply to this email or call us at (360) 385-5044.
 See how we're connected! Connect with Stephanie Gale on LinkedIn.
You may opt out of receiving future "News You Can Use" e-mails. Simply respond to this e-mail with "Opt Out" in the subject field, or follow these "unsubscribe" instructions for this e-newsletter series only. You will still receive other e-mails from Gale Investment Management.
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