Trinity Financial Strategies

As many of you know, my beautiful grandmother, Ronnie Brunnock, recently passed away after being diagnosed with leukemia.

For years, Timothy Brunnock and I have spoken with many of you about the importance of planning for long-term care. Seventy percent of us will need some form of care in our lifetime, and in 2025, the average cost of a nursing home in northern New Jersey has reached $165,000 per year.

I understood those numbers intellectually—but they didn’t truly hit home until my grandmother got sick.

While we were fortunate that she was able to remain at home for most of her illness, the reality is that 24-hour care adds up incredibly fast. We learned firsthand just how overwhelming—and how emotionally and financially draining—the cost of care can be.

Through this experience, we’ve also learned about several new planning strategies that can help families prepare. These solutions not only provide the ability to pay for long-term care, but also offer market-linked growth on premiums, tax-free benefits, and a guaranteed death benefit if you (hopefully) never need care.

Please join us today at 12:30 PM for an informative educational event with industry expert Andrew Wrigley, where we’ll share the most up-to-date strategies available.

Zoom link is below.

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

📉 Navigating Market Volatility: A Historical Perspective 📊

The U.S. equity markets have experienced a pullback, with the S&P 500 down ⬇️ 4.12% YTD and the NASDAQ down ⬇️ 7.35% YTD (as of 3/11/25 market close). While market declines can feel unsettling, it’s important to keep perspective—corrections of this magnitude are common and often short-lived.

📌 Did you know? Historically, the S&P 500 sees about 3️⃣ pullbacks of 5% or more per year. Since the 1980s, the market has averaged a 14% intra-year decline, yet still delivered an average annual return of 13% 📈.

I’ve attached one of my favorite charts from LPL Financials' Chief Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder, which illustrates intra-year market corrections versus total year-end returns. (Note: The image reflects data from mid-2024 and does not account for the S&P 500’s full-year return of 24.89% in 2024.)

⏳ If history is any guide, staying invested through periods of volatility has rewarded patient investors. Discipline and perspective matter!

💡 Have questions about navigating the markets? Let’s connect! You can reach me via email at [email protected] or by phone at 973-936-1982.

Turning 72 in 2023? A new law has a special birthday gift in store for you this year. 🎂 (Hint: no RMDs until 2024!)

Signed by President Biden in late December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act includes several provisions affecting how and when savers can withdraw money from their retirement accounts—including the required minimum distribution (RMD) age. Starting this year, the RMD age has been raised from 72 to 73 years old. In 2033, the RMD will increase to 75.

The provisions will also eliminate required distributions from Roth 401(k) plans and reduce RMD tax penalties. Read on below to learn more about these changes.

If you or a loved one have any financial questions, feel free to reach out to us!

Secure 2.0 changes 3 key rules around required withdrawals from retirement accounts President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion legislative package Thursday with updates to required minimum distribution rules for retirement accounts.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Trinity Financial Strategies!

Thinking of all our clients, friends, and colleagues with a thankful heart.