• Parents will receive an additional $500 per child listed as a dependent on their most recently filed tax return. 

• 2020 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) have temporarily been waived for IRA accounts and certain defined contribution plans. This waiver will help by not forcing withdrawals from retirement accounts based on their (likely higher) values from the end of 2019, and allowing the retirement accounts more time to recover from current market downturns.
• The RMD waiver also applies to those who have inherited IRA or Roth accounts.

• Taxpayers can claim an “above the line” charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions. These contributions, however, cannot be to a Donor Advised Fund.
• The stimulus package will increase every state program’s current unemployment insurance compensation by $600, and for an additional 13 weeks. It also includes a measure for “pandemic unemployment assistance”, which extends the unemployment insurance coverage to self-employed or freelance workers who are not typically eligible. The government will also be covering the typical 1 week waiting period before unemployment benefits begin.
• Federal student loans will not incur interest through September 30, 2020. Folks with student loans will also have the option to pause federal student loan payments up until that same date. 
• Provisions in the package include the ability for limited early withdrawals from retirement accounts without incurring the 10% penalty, though such withdrawals will still be taxable.
• Additionally, the act doubles the eligible loan amounts from retirement accounts for those who have lost their jobs, contracted the virus, or who need to stay at home to care for others affected by the virus. While generous, this should be thought of as a “last resort”, if possible. 

• Make time to connect with teammates for your sanity. The WFA team connects with each other at least two times per day on video calls. While we cover business items, these check-ins allow for more personal connections, since we can’t simply walk down the hall for a quick visit.
• Get dressed! Try to use a change of clothes to trigger a change of mindset and help you separate “Work” from “Home.”

• Even a small amount of movement can help both your physical and mental well-being. Short walks or stretch breaks can help break up your day, and long walks before the weather gets too hot are great opportunities for mental refreshers. 
• Although many gyms are physically closed, many are continuing with online video classes or posting home workouts online.

• Consider a self-care partner. This is a person who you check-in with daily, whether to vent or to use as an accountability partner for exercise, meditation, or anything you both want to accomplish. Bonus points if it is with someone outside your quarantine.
• Breathe! Whether it is meditation or breathing exercises, paying attention to your breath has been shown to help keep the anxiety we’re all feeling at bay. Many meditation apps are currently offering discounts or even free access during the stay-at-home period. 
• Stay connected with friends and family, either through “Zoom” or similar video chats, or through [well-spaced] social distancing gatherings. This technology has never been more available or easy to use.

• Check-in with your body when you are consuming the news. If you feel yourself tightening up or feeling otherwise uncomfortable, consider putting the news away for a while.
• Set aside specific time to check out the latest relevant headlines, but try to set limits and stick to them. 

• Jim Miller, Ben Birken and Roni Pflueger attended TD Ameritrade’s annual financial advisor conference at the end of January. This event, gathering close to 2,000 advisors throughout the U.S., provided opportunities for learning with sessions related to investment management, financial planning, financial technology and many other areas.
• In January, Victor Colella joined Dimensional Fund Advisors researchers and portfolio managers at their headquarters in Charlotte as they laid out the academic research that forms the basis for all of DFA's investment processes. It provided Victor with a greater understanding around the body of independent research on what drives markets and a greater appreciation for the caliber of partner and vast resources we have in Dimensional Fund Advisors. Victor looks forward to continuing to see the benefits of DFA's great work for our clients! Some of you recently participated in the "Perspective on Recent Market Volatility" webcast hosted by DFA. If you didn't get a chance to participate, the recording can be found here.
• Megan McManus participated in a live, two-day MoneyGuidePro training in Savannah, GA in March to learn best practices for creating financial independence analyses. She received training on the many different reports that can be generated through the platform. Part of the instruction included reviewing several case studies, discussing how other advisors use the program with their clients, and exploring the unique tools that MoneyGuidePro offers.
• In March, Ben partnered with Angie Spong of Tillman, Whichard and Cagle to host a presentation for residents in Briar Chapel on estate planning and how folks can benefit from working with both an estate planning attorney and a financial advisor.