Avoiding Probate Just Got a Little EasieràFor Certain Estates

Category: Financial Planning » Estate & Transfer Planning

By Guest Blogger

03/07/2019

Currently in Iowa, if a decedent owns personal property that totals $25,000 or less and that property would normally pass under a Will or the intestate statute, you can skip probate with just an affidavit.

Is a Recession Around the Curve?

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

03/07/2019

The Power of Answering Two Key Questions

Category: Foster Group

By Jason Brown

03/08/2019

How can answering two key questions potentially change your perspective on retirement?

Do You Have an All-Weather Portfolio?

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Jon Evans

03/15/2019

While no portfolio is designed to perfectly handle every scenario, we believe that thoughtful planning, combined with evidence-based portfolio construction, can help investors achieve a higher probability for long-term success in various market conditions.

One Paycheck from Ruin

Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow

By Garrett Jackson

03/22/2019

Having a plan in place, with an emergency fund, is the difference between a small financial inconvenience and a catastrophe that could potentially alter your life.

My Top 5 Podcasts for Learners

Category: Foster Group

By Kent Kramer

03/29/2019

One of the great learning opportunities available to almost anyone in today�s world of smartphones and information technology is the proliferation of podcasts.

When Fraudsters Strike

Category: Foster Group

By Kate Juelfs

04/05/2019

If you are a victim of fraudulent activity, securing your compromised identity can be overwhelming. Here are a few critical steps to this process.

Spring Training Thoughts for Your Portfolio

Category: Financial Planning » Retirement Planning » Asset Location

By Brad Rempe

04/15/2019

While the impact of each may not be dramatic on their own, collectively they add up and represent the things we do to incrementally add value to our clients.

Set It and Don’t Forget It

Category: Financial Planning » Retirement Planning » Beneficiary Planning

By Wade Den Hartog

04/18/2019

Working with a financial advisor is a great start to having someone inventory and help you keep track of the beneficiaries, or lack of, on your accounts.

The Time Might Be Right to Refinance Your Mortgage

Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow

By Ryne Oller

10/04/2019

If you’ve financed your house with a 30-year or 15-year mortgage in the last six years, odds are you’re paying a higher interest rate than today's rate. 

Tax Planning Strategies For 2019: How Can You Act Now?

Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow » Additional Resources

By Guest Blogger

10/07/2019

Dave Farnsworth of McGowen Hurst Clark Smith explains a few different ways you could reduce your tax liability in 2019.�

The Future is Uncertain. Better to Prepare than Predict.

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Jason Brown

10/08/2019

Because I work for Foster Group, a firm dedicated to truly caring for the financial lives of those we serve, a lot of the conversations we have with regard to this uncertainty relate to money

Thoughts on Life and Leadership from Nine of Des Moines’ Best

Category: Foster Group

By Jason Brown

10/09/2019

I went to the Business Record’s 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes Event. Nine people were given the opportunity to speak. They shared up to ten of their best ideas for life and leadership. I’ve compiled my Top Nine list in alphabetical order.

Not Flavor-of-the-Month Financial Planning!

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Walt Mozdzer

10/11/2019

Foster Group does not raise a pumpkin spice flag in the morning to check the wind direction before offering prescriptive advice.

Who Run the World? Girls!

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Brittany Heard

10/15/2019

Women currently influence nearly half the wealth in the United States and will likely influence 75% of the wealth by the year 2030.

Satisfying Your Tastes and Preferences for Investing and Dining

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

10/18/2019

If you were asked to describe what you liked about your favorite food, where would you start? If you were asked to describe what you would like in your investment portfolio, what would you emphasize?

Keep Three Buckets in Your Retirement Boat

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Align Purposes and Portfolio

By Brad Rempe

10/22/2019

One way to improve your investment experience is to walk through our lifeboat drill. Brad Rempe shares three 'buckets' to include.

Single Stock- Too Much of a Good Thing

Category: Financial Planning » Closely Held Business

By Marcus Iwig

10/25/2019

Executives often have a significant portion of their wealth in their company stock. For retiring or retired executives, or those who have more than their holding requirements, we work to determine how much, if any, they should continue to hold and how to tax-efficiently decrease their exposure as needed.

Money Can’t Buy Happiness, or Can It

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Caleb Brown

10/29/2019

The book Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn & Michael Norton has changed the way I think and feel about spending. It’s based on academic research that identifies ways that spending can increase our joy, something I didn’t think possible before reading this book!

Don’t Let Creditors Crack Your Nest Egg

Category: Financial Planning

By Guest Blogger

10/31/2019

Colin Hendricks of BrownWinick Law Firm shares some tips on creditor protection planning for professionals. 

CFP or ChFC, What’s the Difference?

Category: Foster Group

By Kadin White

11/08/2019

Knowing the educational scope of a specific designation will help you feel comfortable that the financial advisor you are working with has the knowledge and experience to help you pursue your goals.