The Pursuit of a Comfortable Retirement - 7 Rules of the Road

Fear is Good By Peter Mullin Investments climb a wall of worry. From November through the start of December 2024, fear was nowhere to be found. There were signs of euphoria. Folks wondered why they hadn't dug deeper into the darlings of 2024. Here is one reason why we don't (and probably shouldn't): What goes up 15% can go down 15%. What goes up 40% can go down 40%. Then the new year came around. And this last week, China said it beat the US in AI engineering – at just 3% of the cost (VentureBeat, 2025). I joined a conference call on Wednesday to chat about this DeepSeek AI. I raised skepticism. I called back to how China has a habit of grandiose stories. Read this story about the Chinese real estate bust: China's Economy Is Burdened by Years of Excess. Here's How Bad It Really Is . (WSJ, January 1, 2025). Something that is different is the fact that this DeepSeek is open source. That means that anyone should be able to look at it and see how it operates. Is it as good as they claim? We will see. However, we can also anticipate further disruptive announcements in the years ahead. AI will expand. I remember an investment outfit telling a tale of how they were impressed by the Chinese real estate market over 12 years ago. It was incredible, they said. They were building droves of huge apartment complexes. And people could only move in once the entire development was rented. They said the demand was huge as folks joined a lottery to come from rural farmlands to the urban areas. At least, that is what they said. AI For Us Common Folks Two words that we common folk think we do not know a lot about might be "AI" and "semiconductors." Admittedly, I am not writing programs for these large companies. But I know what the vision and goals of them are. I have used them quite a bit. I want to be able to keep up with them so I don't have to rely on my 9-year-old to teach me. AI is the ability to train a computer or machine to think and compute like the human brain, except with massive efficiency. It might take you hours to research and book your vacation online today. Someday soon you may be able to book your whole vacation by telling a program a few key data points. You will get it for the optimal price and according to your preferences. AI may also add a few surprises that you find you enjoy while on vacation. I could run this letter through AI and ask it to sound different. (But I won't. I enjoy writing. And our voice comes through in our writing.) But AI is most certainly combing through my published words online and learning from them. Semiconductors are the power lines and transformers for data. They keep the computers clicking – fast and cool. Computers can run hot. And the more data you drive from the computer the hotter it can get. Imagine rubbing two sticks together to start a fire by hand. That was the 1980's for computers. Now attach one of those sticks to a drill and add a butane torch. Investment Implications I have heard the innovation song before. Read my take on the word on my blog here . Here is what happened this past week. I view this from the psychological side of money management. The self-off in technology may have been overdone. But it was also overdue. If stocks climb a wall of worry, then we need a wall in front of us to climb. That wall of worry seemed to be worn down to rubble on the back of two incredibly strong years of growth. After getting a health gut-check, we can dig our heels in, retest our convictions, and carry on. So, if investors were lucky enough to sidestep some of the quick, violent pullbacks on the AI investment space, they might want to revisit. And consider adding to the space at reduced prices. Because I don't think the AI story is done. Three things I think about when it comes to US Tech Leadership: #1. First, realize that tech stocks are not the only place to invest our hard-earned money. But also recognize that tech companies are the heavyweights in the US equity markets. #2: Moore's Law: Every two years, the capacity for a semiconductor DOUBLES. What are semiconductors, you ask? They make our phones, TVs, and computers – and all connected things work. #3. Jevons Paradox: Our first thought is that making something more efficient will decrease prices and demand. But the reverse is true. More folks are using computers today than they were in the 1980's. And they cost a whole lot less. The CEO of Microsoft just tweeted about Jevons Paradox in response to the Chinese AI story that appears to have caused a bump in AI-centric stocks. ______________________ Peter Mullin is an independent financial advisor registered through LPL Financial. He serves clients from his offices in Minnesota and states across the country. Investing involves risks including the possible loss of capital. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide or be construed as providing specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. All indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. Because of their narrow focus, investments concentrated in certain sectors or industries will be subject to greater volatility and specific risks compared with investing more broadly across many sectors, industries, and companies.

After August : Assertive Action “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” - John Maxwell I sent an update out weeks ago on a Friday in August. I subject line read: "Things are about to get interesting." That turned out to be prescient. It has helped me respond assertively for clients. Much of what seems like a routine, annual unwind in stocks appears to be occuring. The geopolitical saber-rattling in the Middle East and US Election have likely contributed to the latest unwind. Remember September "Overall, we expect volatility to remain elevated in the coming months as the market waits for more clarity on the economy and a better seasonal setup (as a reminder, September is the worst month for stocks)." - LPL Research September is infamous in market history for being a low or washout month. We can read that and be concerned. Or we can be ready to respond accordingly. This sort of choppy environment is the price of admission. We put up with mood swings and fears. I remind clients of facts and things that we can control when questions and concerns arise. The method of investing in an uncertain environment is still the same. We review the facts of the situation we are in. I listen to your input as a client and human. I emphasize how a strong dependency on your money to live comfortably will impact how we invest. Especially, in the near term. And then we execute our strategy. If we are nearing a retirement date or major purchase we can look to increase or add to our short-term, ultra-low risk portion of our portfolio. It is worth saving the graphic below if you become concerned when a portfolio draws down more than a bit. Portfolio mood swings are the price of admission—there is no such thing as a free lunch. Thank you, Peter Mullin 

Listen to this update here: Listen here Welcome to Mullin’s Market Minutes, where I decode the numbers behind the news. I’m PETER MULLIN, and today, let’s dive into the current market landscape with a quick update. No matter who clinches the White House this November, markets have shown they can still move upwards. The more dominant factors in history have been geopolitical events, such as wars. What is more positive is having a balance of power between the House of Representatives, Senate, and the White House.

KNOW THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR INVESTING Focusing on the long term can pay off for investors. Whether the goal is saving for a house, college, retirement or a legacy, making a long- range plan—and sticking to it—are important parts of an investment strategy. Yes, flexibility has its place. For example, investors who take the time to review their goals and strategy at regular intervals can make deliberate adjustments based on changing circumstances. But sudden changes based on an emotional response to news reports may not be the best course. When the market turns lower, sticking to a long-range plan can be a challenge to even the most seasoned investor. By arming themselves with information, though, investors may be better equipped to ride out tough markets, and even benefit from them. Dollar-Cost Averaging Regular contributors to a retirement plan already use a strategy called dollar-cost averaging, many without even realizing it. Dollar- cost averaging simply means investing a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions. Here’s how it works: Mutual funds are priced using share values. Investors buying shares of a mutual fund become partial owners of the fund. As contributions go into the fund each week or each pay period, more shares of the fund (full or partial, depending on the amount contributed) are purchased. If the market remained constant, the same weekly contribution would always buy the same number of shares. But the market keeps moving, and dollar-cost averaging takes advantage of those ups and downs. In a down market, each share costs less, so the number of shares grows faster if the contribution amount stays the same. The shares accumulate more slowly in an up market, when the price per share is higher. Over the long term, the share price tends to level out. The concept of dollar-cost averaging is shown in the chart below. By investing $100 a month for five months, based on the illustration below, as the price per share and number of shares purchased fluctuates, $500 purchases 75 shares at an average share price of $7.20. Taking Advantage of Market Movements During periods of extreme market fluctuations, dollar-cost averaging investors may have more return potential. The more frequently the market dips, the more opportunities there are to buy at lower prices. In this way, the investor’s account can accumulate many more shares of the fund that may benefit from future up markets. Making regular contributions is one important factor in successful long-term investing. You should consider your ability to continue purchasing through fluctuating price levels. By making a plan, sticking to it, and taking advantage of dollar-cost averaging, investors are following a widely used strategy to work toward their investment goals. Dollar cost averaging involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuation in price levels of such securities. An investor should consider their ability to continue purchasing through fluctuating price levels. Such a plan does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC. This material is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and Mullin Wealth Management are separate entities. Tracking #1-05365584 (Exp. 03/25)

Peter Mullin, a financial advisor at Mullin Wealth Management in Central Minnesota, today announced that his achievements have been recognized with inclusion in LPL Financial’s Ascent Club* for 2024. This distinction celebrates a select group of advisors on ambitious growth trajectories, who have achieved excellence in financial guidance.

5 Oversights of High Income Earners

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement. The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it is a follow-up to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act passed in 2019. The sweeping legislation has dozens of significant provisions; here are the major provisions of the new law. New Distribution Rules Required minimum distribution (RMD) age will rise to 73 years in 2023. By far, one of the most critical changes was increasing the age at which owners of retirement accounts must begin taking RMDs. Further, starting in 2033, RMDs may begin at age 75. If you have already turned 72, you must continue taking distributions. However, if you are turning 72 this year and have already scheduled your withdrawal, we may want to revisit your approach.1 Access to funds. Plan participants can use retirement funds in an emergency without penalty or fees. For example, 2024 onward, an employee can take up to $1,000 from a retirement account for personal or family emergencies. Other emergency provisions exist for terminal illnesses and survivors of domestic abuse.2 Reduced penalty. Starting in 2023, if you miss an RMD for some reason, the penalty tax drops to 25 percent from 50 percent. If you promptly fix the mistake, the penalty may drop to 10 percent.3 New Accumulation Rules Catch-up contributions. From January 1, 2025, investors aged 60 through 63 years can make annual catch-up contributions of up to $10,000 to workplace retirement plans. The catch-up amount for people aged 50 and older in 2023 is $7,500. However, the law applies certain stipulations to individuals with annual earnings more than $145,000.4 Automatic enrollment. In 2025, the Act requires employers to automatically enroll employees into workplace plans. However, employees can choose to opt-out.5 Student loan matching. In 2024, companies can match employee student loan payments with retirement contributions. The rule change offers workers an extra incentive to save for retirement while paying off student loans.6 Revised Roth Rules 529 to a Roth. Starting in 2024, pending certain conditions, individuals can roll a 529 education savings plan into a Roth individual retirement account (IRA). Therefore, if your child receives a scholarship, goes to a less expensive school, or does not go to school, the money can get repositioned into a retirement account. However, rollovers are subject to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit. Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 591⁄2 to qualify for the tax-free and penalty- free withdrawal of earnings. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals are also allowed under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.7 SIMPLE and SEP. 2023 onward, employers can make Roth contributions to savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE) or simplified employee pension (SEP).8 Roth 401(k)s and Roth 403(b)s. The new legislation aligns the rules for Roth 401(k)s and Roth 401(b)s with Roth IRA rules. From 2024, the legislation no longer requires minimum distributions from Roth accounts in employer retirement plans.9 More Highlights Support for small businesses. In 2023, the new law will increase the credit to help with the administrative costs of setting up a retirement plan. The credit increases to 100 percent from 50 percent for businesses with less than 50 employees. By boosting the credit, lawmakers hope to remove one of the most significant barriers for small businesses offering a workplace plan.10 Qualified charitable donations (QCDs). 2023 onward, QCDs will adjust for inflation. The limit applies on an individual basis; therefore, for a married couple, each person who is 701⁄2 years and older can make a QCD as long as it remains under the limit.11 The change in retirement rules does not mean adjusting your current strategy is appropriate. Each of your retirement assets plays a specific role in your overall financial strategy, so a change to one may require changes to another. Moreover, retirement rules can change without notice, and there is no guarantee that the treatment of specific rules will remain the same. This article intends to give you a broad overview of SECURE 2.0. It is not intended as a substitute for real-life advice. If changes are appropriate, your trusted financial professional can outline an approach and work with your tax and legal professionals, if applicable. 1. Fidelity.com, December 23, 2022
 2. CNBC.com, December 22, 2022
 3. Fidelity.com, December 22, 2022
 4. Fidelity.com, December 22, 2022
 5. Paychex.com, December 30, 2022
 6. PlanSponsor.com, December 27, 2022
 7. CNBC.com, December 23, 2022
 8. Forbes.com, January 5, 2023
 9. Forbes.com, January 5, 2023
 10. Paychex.com, December 30, 2022
 11. FidelityCharitable.org, December 29, 2022 The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2023 FMG Suite. 1-05355879

I keep a magic 8-ball near me at the office, and I pass them out to clients as a lighthearted reminder to embrace uncertainty. The price we pay as investors is uncertainty. Over time, prudent solutions, and pragmatic optimism just seem to work. I think the biggest risk this year will actually be geopolitical; that being the potential for a broader war in the Middle East. Some facts I follow have had me anticipating some short-term portfolio turbulence. Though nothing to be surprised by. The Presidential election year is upon us. Scroll below to find a chart that shows how the stock market did under different presidents. Major historical events seem to drive markets more than the president sitting in office. Think globally when it comes to investing.