Estate planning is an essential component of your financial plan because it can help secure your family’s future, minimize estate taxes, and protect assets from going through probate. Here are five questions you should think about before meeting with an Estate Planning Attorney.
Legacy is a strange topic. We all think about it, but it means something different to everybody. How do you want to be remembered?
Whether you’re a business owner or not, here are three ways to start talking about money and building financial skills with your children or grandchildren while they’re young.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of executives over the years and have found some commonly missed financial opportunities.
You’ve been working for several years now – you’re earning, saving, paying down debt, investing, and giving. What’s next?
Retirement planning can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This week, Matt Moklestad and Geoff Christy from Foster Group's Institutional team have a conversation around the retirement plan landscape: what are common questions and what possible actions could you take regarding your plan.
Many business owners are looking for more tax-friendly ways to save for retirement. A cash balance plan could be the answer.
The SECURE Act 2.0 includes 90+ provisions designed to help savers and people in or near retirement. This week, Matt Moklestad highlights some of the key changes from the act.
I am extremely fortunate to work with many different types of clients. Some of my favorite clients are the owners of privately owned businesses. There are always opportunities to have conversations that go well beyond managing investments.
In more than a decade of working with clients, I’ve discovered that one thing tends to do more damage to financial plans than any other.
Life insurance is an important component of a financial plan. An early death can create severe hardships for the surviving family if the proper amount of insurance is not in place. The recommended amount of life insurance will vary from family to family depending on a variety of factors.
Over the next 25 years, approximately 45 million U.S. households are primed to pass an estimated $70 trillion in wealth to their heirs. Here are three simple ideas to get you started on a rewarding family governance journey.
Since becoming a pilot about 6 years ago, I’m often asked about plane crashes. If you are an investor, the odds of enduring a market crash are almost 100%. Just as I have to do when flying, at Foster Group, we plan ahead for a market correction by using sound planning and investing.
As you peek into the future – hopefully one with greater discretionary time and money – do you envision yourself increasing or decreasing your investment in the well-being of the people close to you and the world in general? Do you see yourself sticking close to the mess of the world or investing in ways that escape it?
Almost everyone has a few of their favorite things. One of my top questions to ask friends and clients is, “What are some of your most treasured memories and keepsakes?”
The first half of 2022 has proven to be challenging for investors. Being an investor during volatile markets isn’t easy, but there are a few strategies to consider in order to make the best of a difficult situation.
Recently, I received a gift from the Iowa State Patrol in the form of a speeding ticket. In reflecting on this experience, it occurred to me that I took an unnecessary risk to attain something I didn’t need and ended up sacrificing money I didn’t have to lose.
If you or someone you know is going through the divorce process, make sure they have the right team in place to guide them throughout with the entire process. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), I can help walk through the complexities.
As with many things in life, there are usually lessons to be learned from our experiences that can be carried over into other aspects of life. Here are a few things jumping out of an airplane taught me about investing.
Life is full of choices. We make thousands of them each day, from the very first moment we wake up. Some are small and relatively easy to make, like what to eat for breakfast. Some choices are much larger and take much more effort to consider.
There is always more stuff to do or buy. There are always more “what if’s” for which to account. It’s a rare creature who has found contentment in what they already have, a person who no longer searches for the next thing or feels empty because of what they do not have.
