Posts made in September 2020

Mina Tocalini, 360 magazine

Retirement Planning Starts With Taxes

There is a lot to understand when it comes to paying taxes and many Americans have to take it upon themselves to learn the ins and outs of taxes. One aspect many do not account for is the higher tax rate paid once in retirement.

The insurance company Nationwide surveyed retirees and found that over one-third didn’t take into account how taxes could affect their income during retirement. Less than half said they know how to leverage their financial accounts to minimize their tax burden.

“One of the greatest disruptors of wealth and its potential is taxation,” says John Smallwood, president of Smallwood Wealth Management and author of It’s Your Wealth – Keep It: The Definitive Guide to Growing, Protecting, Enjoying, and Passing On Your Wealth. “Most financial strategies are missing the fundamentals, leaving you to pay much more in taxes than you should over your lifetime.

“There are some fundamental concepts of taxes that apply to the financial planning process. The goal is to have multiple sources of retirement income that balance out taxes and fees. That way, if one or more of the sources dries up, or if tax law changes a source or two, then the impact on your portfolio will be minimal.”

Smallwood highlights four important items related to taxes that he sees are important to know when creating a retirement plan. Tax deferral strategies are one way. This is all based on the concept of moving from a higher tax bracket that you’re in right now to a lower one in the future. But Smallwood cautions, “The tax rate in the future may not be in your favor. If you defer and don’t end up in a lower tax bracket, you can lose. You might end up paying more than if you had not deferred.”

Smallwood also stresses the importance of looking at qualified plans as specific rules and penalties apply when you withdraw from tax-deferred retirement accounts. Withdrawing before age 59½ brings a 10% penalty. At 70½, there are required minimum distributions (RMDs). “With RMDs, there is a 50% penalty for not withdrawing the right amount of money.” he says. “Plus, depending on the account, you have to pay taxes according to your bracket.”

But once you’re ready to make an offer, you can choose one with the best rates and terms. According to the people at Lowermybills.com, “Like all things connected to home buying and mortgage rates, do your research.” and that “If you find a rate you are comfortable with, and it gets you the mortgage payment in your price range, it might be a good idea to decide to lock in the interest rate.”

Another strategy Smallwood emphasizes is compound taxes. He says that in regards to tax strategy, this is the most important parts of a wealth plan. “For example, a 45-year-old with a savings rate of 6% and putting away $51,000 per year could accumulate a healthy balance of $2.5 million by age 65,” Smallwood says. “But with compound taxation, money is eroding all the time. Each year that an account grows, the investor’s tax liability grows along with it. Interest earnings, along with dividends and capital gains, get larger over time as the investment gains in value. If the gains the first year include $30,000 worth of interest but at the 30% tax bracket, then you’ll have to pay $9,000 more in taxes.”

Lastly, systematic withdrawals can significantly reduce the tax impact on an investment portfolio if done correctly. “Let’s say, late in 1989, you placed a lump sum of $100,000 in an S&P 500 index fund with a good track record,” Smallwood says. “Instead of leaving the funds in the account, however, you took $6,000 from the account each year and repositioned those assets elsewhere. After 20 years, the fund balance would have reached $243,191, an annual gain of 7.92% that exceeds the return earned by leaving the funds in the account. Why? Because taking those withdrawals undercuts the impact of compounded taxes. Over time, the tax obligation would be $30,451, or $13,622 less than leaving the money in the account.”

All of this can come across as overwhelming, especially if money and taxes aren’t something you are well versed in. However, starting to learn about these tactics before you hit retirement can be beneficial, even if you are far from this age.

Smallwood says, “Good retirement planning includes all the possible tax implications and gives you options. Organizing income sources so that they hit your tax return the right way should be a deliberate strategy every year.”

New Pumas featured inside of 360 MAGAZINE

PUMA x KidSuper

PUMA and creative artist collective KidSuper Studios are releasing their first collaboration together this week. 

The PUMA x KidSuper Studios collection combines love, passion and team chemistry of football to the uniqueness, innovativeness and energy of the art world. The collection takes inspiration from PUMA’s football heritage and KidSuper founder and designer, Colm Dillane’s past as a player – working to combine the energy and unbridled passion of football with the creativity and innovation of art.

Retailing for $40-$200, the unisex collection consists of apparel, footwear and accessories that features retro tailoring, bold prints, vivid color combinations, and “KidSuper Studios” signature doodle aesthetics. Key footwear styles include bold iterations of the Style Rider, Nitefox and Oslo City, among others. Additional items from the collection include tailored jacket and pants and a football jersey, available in a brightly colored striped version and a black striped version.

As part of this collection, KidSuper Studios in partnership with PUMA created a limited animated series called “SCRAM.” Featuring Usain Bolt, Héctor Bellerín, Jessie Reyez and more. The seven-episode series tells the story of three New York City kids in their adventures through the city. Their lives change when they explore a secret laboratory below their neighborhood bodega, the kids are unknowingly exposed to superpowers, which they will need to figure out how to use.

For an exclusive preview, visit: https://youtu.be/tFQz-57wqII – the series will premiere September 16 on KidSuper Studios’ YouTube channel.

PUMA x KidSuper Studios collection will be available on PUMA.com, the PUMA NYC Store and select retailers on Thursday, September 17.

Kylie Jenner is illustrated by Maria Soloman for 360 MAGAZINE

KUWTK Comes to an End

Written by Thais Jacomassi

Illustrations by Maria Soloman

With a shocking post on instagram, Kim Kardashian West announced the long-running reality series following her and her family is coming to an end after 14 years on air. “It is with heavy hearts that we’ve made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye,” she wrote. The show will end with its 20th season, scheduled to air early next year.

Keeping Up With the Kardashians, featuring Kim and her sisters, Kourtney, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie alongside their brother, Rob, and their mother, Kris Jenner, became a staple of pop culture in the early 21st century and helped shape the family’s careers and lives. It is a show that propelled the popularity of reality TV and what consumers expected of it, but the suspension of the show comes as no surprise. Since the beginning of their careers as reality TV stars, the family has gained millions of social media followers and they have become a household name. Besides show ratings beginning to drop, the family simply no longer needs the promotion anymore.

A spokesperson for E! Network said in a statement, “We thank the entire extended family and our production partners, Bunim Murray and Ryan Seacrest Productions, for embarking on this global phenomenon together.”

This does not mean the end of the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty. In fact, it is highly possible that they may try to push for a deal with online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. By not being restricted by cable TV limitations and advertising structures, the family’s franchise could expand in countless directions including a more genuine representation of them as people. There is tremendous opportunity for them in the digital world. It is no lie that reality TV is often scripted and made to be a parody of sorts, so breaking away from that formula could expand the family’s fanbase and show that they have matured past that.

With a networth of $30 million, Kendall Jenner has become the world’s highest paid model doing runways for Versace, Burberry, Tom Ford, and countless other luxury brands. After seven years, she has become one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. Her younger sister, Kylie Jenner, gained her success after curating Kylie Cosmetics in 2015. Since then, she has also branched out into skincare and was granted the controversial title of ‘youngest self-made billionaire’ by Forbes in 2019. Their older sister, Khloe, ventured into the clothing industry with her own company called Good American which claims to have ‘invented a new women’s size in jeans’ and runs on a platform of inclusivity.

Kim, the one responsible for gaining media attention and bringing her family into the spotlight, has also ventured into the cosmetics business with her cosmetics and fragrance company, KKW Beauty which generated around $100 million of sales in 2019. Along with this, she has turned her shapewear line, Skims, into a success after a rocky start and has announced a social justice podcast on Spotify.

These are few of many of the family’s accomplishments and despite the countless controversies surrounding them, it is no lie that they helped to shape pop culture into what it is today and will continue to do so.

Kaelen Felix draws Snoop Dogg for 360 Magazine

Snoop Dogg × COVID-19

On September 12th 2020, Snoop Dogg will be streaming live from his Compound in LA to millions of homes around the world to raise funds for the International Medical Corps, which is helping to fight the global pandemic and provide life-saving care around the world.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11th 2020, cases have continued to increase rapidly. The International Medical Corps works closely with international, national and local charities and health organizations, providing medical expertise, equipment, training and triage & treatment services. Its goal is to ensure that at-risk countries and regions can prepare for and respond to outbreaks of coronavirus quickly and safely.

This will be the first of many shows created by Couch Concerts Live, a new streaming platform that presents major artists’ performances in support of those suffering from the effects of global crises, from COVID-19 to climate change and more.

The partnership between TARI Global, American Artist Company, The Temple Company and Jam Management Group brings together a team with the reach, experience and expertise that will enable them to support International Medical Corps on a global level.

Nathan Tari, CEO of TARI Global, and Founder of the event, comments: “The entertainment industry has been hard hit by the pandemic. While we were staying safely at home, we put our heads together and decided to use our talent and experience to do something in support of those suffering from the outbreak of this terrible virus. We are looking to bring some fun, excitement as well as a special experience with some of the world’s most celebrated stars. This concert will be the first of many, and we are excited to have Snoop Dogg to help us launch.”

Tickets for Couch Concerts Live presenting ‘Snoopadelic in da Pandemic’ are now available to purchase on TicketcoSeeTickets or Couch Concerts Facebook. Join Snoop Dogg as he entertains us live from his Compound, with his infamous Snoopadelic Live DJ Show, expect some hits whilst hanging out with Snoop from the comfort of your own home, staying safe and raising funds for COVID-19 causes.

Rosie O’Donnell × Michael Cohen

By Althea Champion

Michael Cohen, former attorney for President Donald Trump, released the first episode of his podcast, “Mea Culpa,” yesterday. The episode features Rosie O’Donnell, who discusses the attacks from Donald Trump she braved over the years, and why she reached out to Cohen when he was imprisoned.

The release of this podcast comes in the latter half of a three-year sentence, which he was granted medical furlough from on May 20, citing, “medical conditions that might be worsened by the virus’s spread in prison,” according to Maggie Haberman, William K. Rashbaum and Nicole Hong of the New York Times.

More than two years after Cohen took a plea deal in 2018, admitting guilt to eight counts of financial crimes in federal court, “Mea Culpa” recounts his experience working for Trump.

The prospect of parole had been complicated by what was the prospective publication of Cohen’s tell-all memoir.

According to Benjamin Weiser and Alan Feuer of the New York Times, Cohen was asked to sign a document that would have allowed him to stay at home, but would have concurrently disallowed him to finish and publish his book. When he refused to sign it, he was sent back to prison.

More recently, Weiser and Feuer reported that, “a federal judge ruled that the decision to return Mr. Cohen to custody amounted to retaliation by the government and ordered him to be released again into home confinement.”

It is now that he is back home to serve the rest of his prison sentence that this episode is released not more than a week after his book, “Disloyal: A Memoir” hit markets.

“Trumpism is a disease of the mind, every bit as virulent as COVID, only the host is a willing participant, in his or her own demise,” said Cohen in the episode’s introduction. “Trumpism insidiously preys upon the psychological makeup of the individual, probing the moral compass for weakness, and I was its patient zero… So this podcast will serve as my penance.”

Stream the episode here:

APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER

 Find previews here:

Cohen and O’Donnell discuss Jonestown

Cohen and O’Donnell discuss Cohen’s relationship with Trump 

Big Sean – Detroit 2

Big Sean is once again on top.

His brand new album “Detroit 2” is his third consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It’s also his fifth consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on the rap chart and his fourth consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on the R&B/hip-hop chart.

“Detroit 2” features artists like Nipsey Hussle, Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla $ign, Post Malone and Travis Scott. Big Sean premiered the music video for his song “Lithuania” Sept. 4 and performed “Harder Than My Demons” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Sept. 8.

Before the album’s release, he also released videos for songs like “Deep Reverance,” “Don Life,” “Body Language” and “Everything That’s Missing.”

“Detroit 2” garnered critical acclaim from outlets like Vulture, Rolling Stone, Billboard and Detroit Free Press.

“In the world of Detroit 2, there’s always an answer. It’s a place where every pain can be fixed, any heart can be mended, and all obstacles are surmountable,” Rolling Stone said.

Detroit Free Press said, “Shimmering, textured and often explosive, ‘Detroit 2’ finds the rapper born Sean Anderson in a confident creative space.”

Since signing with G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam,  Big Sean has become one of the most popular artists in the rap game, amassing more than 1.7 billion YouTube views on his songs.

To stream “Detroit 2” on Spotify, you can click right here.

New York Botanical Garden Reopening

The Botanical Garden began phase 1 of its reopening plan, welcoming the general public to the grounds of its 250-acre site, on July 28.

NYBG is among the most comprehensive botanical gardens in the world, an urban oasis and integral part of the cultural fabric of New York City, anchored in the Bronx. In this next phase of NYBG’s reopening, visitors will once again be able to explore the Haupt Conservatory’s interconnected galleries, each featuring a different botanical habitat and specimens from around the globe. Outdoors, the verdant landscape is currently showcasing seasonal standouts such as striking cardinal flowers, mauve asters, and sweeping grasses among its one million plants.

Scenic paths and trails crisscross the Garden providing opportunities for discovery through encounters with nature. The gardens, outdoor collections, and natural features include the Native Plant Garden, with its meadow, woodland, promenade, and centerpiece water feature; Bronx River, with its waterfall, which runs through the 50-acre Thain Family Forest; layered and colorful patterns and plant groupings of the Perennial and Herb Gardens; lushly textured Chilton Azalea Garden; award-winning Rockefeller Rose Garden; inviting paths through the Ross Conifer Arboretum; Benenson Ornamental Conifers; and more.

Tram Tours, public programs, and group tours remain suspended temporarily as a safety precaution. The LuEsther T. Mertz Library, Edible Academy, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, and Hudson Garden Grill remain closed.

The first phase of NYBG’s public reopening was prefaced by Appreciation Week, when Garden Members, Bronx Health Care Heroes from the eight public and private hospitals in the borough, and Bronx Neighbors were welcomed with first access and complimentary tickets. Communities in the Bronx are among the most severely impacted by COVID-19 in New York City. Through this initiative, the Garden acknowledges, with gratitude, the dedication, strength, and resilience of Bronx frontline health care workers and residents. Free grounds admission for those groups, originally slated to conclude September 13, has been extended through February 28, 2021.

The Garden’s gradual reopening process incorporates enhanced safety measures based on best practices and guidance from health authorities and government agencies. New measures include requiring staff and visitors over the age of two to wear face coverings; increasing sanitization of public and staff areas; daily health screenings for on-site staff; supporting hygiene and social distancing practices; requiring timed-entry tickets purchased in advance; operating at a reduced capacity; and more.

The new, limited timed-entry ticketing system staggers visitorsߣ arrivals, promotes social distancing, and mitigates the risk of crowding in high-traffic areas. Advance purchase of timed tickets is required and will be confirmed by e-mail with the option to print or download a mobile ticket. Ticket options include the Garden Pass + Conservatory for access to the outdoor gardens and collections, the newly reopened Conservatory galleries, and the Courtyards; the Garden Pass for access to outdoor gardens and collections; and the Grounds-Only Pass, available to New York City residents only with valid proof of identification. Visitors who do not purchase advance tickets will not be guaranteed admission at this time. Garden Patrons and Members must also reserve timed tickets in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website at nybg.org.

Nothing But Thieves Releases New Single – “Impossible”

Southend five-piece Nothing But Thieves have announced the release of new single Impossible, which is available now. The song follows recent singles Is Everybody Going Crazy? and Real Love Song and is taken from their forthcoming third album Moral Panic. They have also announced a huge UK, Ireland and European tour for Autumn 2021, including a headline show at London’s The O2.

THEIR NEW ALBUM, MORAL PANIC, WILL BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 23RD.

LISTEN: IMPOSSIBLE

Nothing But Thieves are no strangers to powerful anthems, and with Impossible, they’ve written another vast soundscape. Produced by Mike Crossey (The 1975, Arctic Monkeys and Wolf Alice), Impossible is an exuberant track opening with raw emotion before launching into a huge chorus full of elated melody and affecting lyrics of hope and passion. The band says,

“In a way ‘Impossible’ is the complete antithesis of everything else on the album, which has a lot of anxiety and confusion about what’s happening on this planet. This became the opposite, zooming into one person’s head, just being lifted up and transported by a feeling of possibility and hope. It was a moment of relief that both we and the album needed.”

Recent single Real Love Song was included as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World before being added to the B List on Radio 1 and has already achieved 3.5 million streams worldwide. Richly anthemic and wildly grandiose, it builds triumphantly with a hymn-like euphoric melody alongside singer Conor’s poignant almost operatic vocals. Amidst mesmerising animations and a gritty performance from the band themselves, the Basak Erol directed video showcases the dreamlike story of three characters seeking love in the wrong places.

Remaining on the Radio 1 Playlist for 8 weeks, as one of the longest running tracks on their playlist, Is Everybody Going Crazy? was the band’s biggest Airplay hit to date, achieving almost 12 million streams worldwide and welcomed the exciting return of Nothing But Thieves. A gritty dark rock song, lyrically it discusses a fractured, barely recognisable civilisation and desire for escapism, which proved curiously relevant to the world right now.

Real Love Song, Is Everybody Going Crazy? and recent release Unperson is the band’s first new music since their 2018 EPWhat Did You Think When You Made Me This Way, their 2017 acclaimed album Broken Machine, which charted at #2 in the UK album chart, and their debut self-titled album Nothing But Thieves. Their third album Moral Panic will be released on 23rdOctober, with the pre-orders now live here and Unperson available as an instant grat.

The past few years have been quite a ride for Nothing But Thieves. Amassing over 700,000 album sales and 750 million streams so far, they have built up a loyal and wide following for their impactful alt rock sound, cementing themselves as one of the best current rock bands in the world. Selling 150,000 tickets on their last album campaign, which included a sold-out show at London’s Alexandra Palace and selling out their entire worldwide Broken Machine headline tour, their success has been global.

The band have performed on TV shows such as The Late Late Show With James Corden and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, after their debut became the bestselling debut from a UK rock band in the US in 2015 and played packed out international shows from Poland to Amsterdam, where they headlined an arena to 6,000 fans. After intimately debuting new songs at Tufnell Park Dome earlier recently for a BRITs/War Child gig, they were set to tour internationally earlier this year, including a show to 6,500 people at Moscow Adrenaline Stadium.

They have now announced a brand new UK, Ireland and European tour for Autumn 2021, including their biggest ever headline London show at O2 Arena. Tickets go on sale on Friday 18th September at 9am, with pre-sale tickets available from Wednesday 16thSeptember at 9am for all pre-orders of ‘Moral Panic’. Full dates are as follows:

September 2021

Thurs 30th         Dublin                Olympia

October 2021

Sat 2nd                Belfast               Ulster Hall

Wed 6th              Plymouth          Pavillions

Thurs 7th            Cardiff                Motorpoint Arena

Fri 8th                  London              O2 Arena

Sun 10th             Birmingham     O2 Academy

Mon 11th           Glasgow            Barrowland

Thurs 14th         Manchester     O2 Victoria Warehouse

Sat 16th              Nottingham     Motorpoint Arena

Mon 18th           Barcelona         Razzamataz 2

Wed 20th           Paris                   Casino de Paris

Sun 24th             Wiesbaden       Schlachtohof

Tues 26th           Leizig                 Täubchenthal

Thurs 28th Berlin Columbiahalle

November 2021

Tues 2nd             Munich              Tonhalle

Wed 3rd             Milan                 Fabrique

Fri 5th                  Zurich                 Halle 622

Sat 6th                 Luxembourg    Atelier

Mon 8th              Copenhagen    Amager Bio

Tues 9th              Stockholm        Fryhuset

Thurs 11th         Köln                    Palladium

Fri 12th               Amsterdam      Ziggo Dome

Nothing But Thieves are Conor Mason (vocals, guitars), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitars), Dominic Craik (guitars, keyboard), Philip Blake (bass guitar) and James Price (drums).

To Watch/Listen to “Impossible”:

https://nbthiev.es/impossible

To Pre-Order Moral Panic:

http://nbthiev.es/moralpanic

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

Community Service via 360 Magazine for use by 360 Magazine

Twist Out Cancer

Twist Out Cancer will host its Brushes With Cancer program Sept. 25.

The program will be held in Warren, Michigan, at GM‘s Design Center and will kick off with a virtual art exhibition. Brushes With Cancer takes cancer survivors, battlers and caretakers and pairs them with artists who are able to depict the struggles, emotionally and physically, faced by those with cancer.

For the 2020 event, all 25 people affected by cancer and all 23 artists are employed by GM Design, and their story-inspired art will be on display virtually.

After the event, the art will remain on display until Oct. 30 and will then be auctioned off to the highest bidder with proceeds going right back to Twist Out Cancer to provide psychosocial support to those in a face-to-face fight with cancer.

Jenna Benn Shersher, the CEO of Twist Out Cancer, said 2019’s event was a smash success and that Twist Out Cancer was honored to be working with GM Design for the 2020 program.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with employees at GM Design during this unprecedented time to continue our program virtually, which is offering our Inspirations and Artists the same transformational experience our participants have come to expect over the past eight years,” Shersher said. “As Twist Out Cancer has grown, we continue to bring our impactful programming to new cities and new audiences around the world and are thrilled with the start of this new program.”

Virtual events will also be held in Austin Oct. 25 and in Chicago Nov. 14. Twist Out Cancer also encourages anyone to bring an event to their hometown by contacting Amelia Hanrahan at amelia@twistoutcancer.org.

To purchase tickets for the event on Sept. 25, you can click right here.

The Avalanches New Album

The Avalanches announced a release date Monday for their latest album titled “We Will Always Love You.”

The new album will release on Dec. 11 and explores the vibrational relationship between light, sound and spirit and examines the human voice.

The announcement is accompanied by two brand new songs from the group. The first is titled “Music Makes Me High” while the second is titled “Take Care In Your Dreaming” and features Denzel Curry, Tricky and Sampa The Great.

The Avalanches have had a busy year already, collaborating with Blood OrangeRivers Cuomo, Pink Siifu, Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry, CLYPSO, Sananda Maitreya and Vashti Bunyan. They also plan to announce more collaborations in the coming months.

“Take Care In Your Dreaming” is about dreams that go unrealized and the unexpected twists and turns of life. It played Monday on Zane Lowe‘s Apple Music show.

“Music Makes Me High” uses the unlikely pair techno-funk music and a gospel choir to immerse listeners completely into the upbeat track.

Though the two songs don’t come with music videos, they do come with “visualizers.” You can see the visualizer for “Take Care In Your Dreaming” by clicking right here the for “Music Makes Me High” by clicking right here.

You can also preorder the new album by clicking right here.