Playing Jazz and Your Finances
Category: Financial Planning
Successfully playing jazz starts with fundamentals. The same is true of our personal finances.
Planning for Retirement? Practice Could Make Perfect
Category: Financial Planning
Retirement isn’t a reward you one day receive at random. It’s not something you jump into without a thought in mind. You work up to this day with purpose, precision, and dedication.
Planning for Future Healthcare Expenses
Category: Financial Planning
"What is worth insuring?" The answer almost always boils down to how much you'll have to pay to insure the thing you don't want to lose -- whether it's your mustache, your fantasy football player, your home or your health.
Planning and Puppies 101
Category: Financial Planning
I bought a puppy back in April, and it has been one of the most challenging things of my adult life. Training a new puppy is hard work and takes a lot of intentionality and thought. The same can be said about building a financial plan. I have a few tips that might help others avoid my mistakes.
Physicians: Debt vs Savings, Which Comes First?
Category: Financial Planning
Young physicians often ask, “Should I focus more aggressively on paying down my debt, or should I just do the minimum and try to save as much as possible?” That’s an excellent question, with lots of variables and layers.
Permanent Life Insurance Policies Need Reviews Too!
Category: Financial Planning
Is your life insurance policy performing as well as it could be? Guest blogger Eryka Morehead explains some factors that could be undermining your policy’s performance.
Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)
While this year has had its share of negative financial news, there might be one opportunity to pay some taxes now in order to save some money on taxes later. This week, Kent Kramer walks us through Roth IRA conversions.
Is Leasing Right for You?
October was the worst month for new car sales at his dealership in over ten years. In fact, only about 10% of car buyers that month were electing to lease new vehicles and typically, leasing is less expensive than buying. What’s going on here?
IRS Allows for Reversal of 2020 RMDs
Category: Financial Planning
In late June, the IRS announced RMDs would be able to be reversed from any account requiring them through August 31st. Since the IRS is allowing this, it presents a potential tax planning opportunity.
Iowa Income Tax Changes Have an Impact in 2022
Category: Financial Planning
One of the significant changes in the tax reform bill signed by Governor Reynolds on March 1, is the eventual elimination of federal tax deductibility for determining taxable income. Iowa was one of the few remaining states that allowed taxpayers to deduct federal taxes to determine their state income taxes.
Investing Wisely for the Marathon
Category: Financial Planning
Investing, much like running a marathon, requires strategy and discipline. The temptation to chase short-term gains or follow the crowd can be hard to resist—but it often leads to burnout and disappointment. So how do you stay on track and set yourself up for long-term success?
Inflation? We’ve planned for this.
Category: Financial Planning
Inflation has been a hot topic in recent years, often misunderstood and heavily debated. Attempting to stay ahead of inflation is one of the biggest reasons to invest over the long term. Let’s break it down and focus on what really matters.
Important Updates on IRA Tax Reporting
Category: Financial Planning
It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to keep records of distributions made to charity and contributions to their IRA and account for those on their tax return.
I want to give…but how
Category: Financial Planning
I Want to Be Like Them
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Stories like this spread and inspire others to be generous.
How Will You Pay for Long-Term Care?
Category: Financial Planning
Chances are, you’ve heard about long-term care insurance, but have you asked yourself if you need it?