Playing Jazz and Your Finances
Category: Financial Planning
Successfully playing jazz starts with fundamentals. The same is true of our personal finances.
Monte Carlo Analysis & Your Retirement
Category: Financial Planning
Let's look at the Monte Carlo analysis and what it has in common with your financial plan.
The Significance of an Emergency Fund
Category: Financial Planning
An emergency fund is not merely about setting money aside; it's about cultivating peace of mind and stability when life throws unexpected challenges your way.
The Magic of Writing a Letter
Category: Financial Planning
How the magic of writing a letter could help convey your intentions to a beneficiary.
Three Tips to Help Set Yourself up for Retirement
Category: Financial Planning
Retirement. It’s something everyone thinks about at some point in their lives. When I see or hear about the people who have retired most effectively, three themes stick out to me. Let’s dive into them.
Updates to the State of Iowa 529 plan
Category: Financial Planning
529 plans can be a great way to save for future education costs for your loved ones. The State of Iowa recently made a few improvements to the College Savings 529 plan.
Winning Strategies in a High-Cost Healthcare Market
Category: Financial Planning
Small business owners face many challenges in today’s competitive environment. We often hear of the burden rising healthcare costs have on a business’s sustainability, profitability, and ability to attract and retain key talent. Let’s explore some winning strategies that have been implemented by a variety of businesses across the area.
A Farming Deduction from an Unexpected Location: The Beach
Category: Financial Planning
With farm ground prices near all-time highs, higher borrowing costs, and tight margins, this tax deduction should be considered when purchasing a farm property or inheriting one.
Retirement Happiness
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
What are the primary drivers of a happy retirement and overall wellness?
Tailoring Your Financial Plan to Match Your Goals
Category: Financial Planning
If you are a client of Foster Group and have met with your advisor recently, you may have discussed what’s important to you, what we are planning for as it relates to your goals, and what you hope to achieve.
Business Owners, Beware of the “Missing Middle”
Category: Financial Planning
For many family businesses, the lack of clear succession plans is the most significant challenge.
“Sportsified” Diversification
Category: Financial Planning
The benefit of a diversified investment portfolio is that, while again we do not know who the actual winners and losers will be, the risk of excluding the best is greatly reduced.
Navigating the Noise: A Reality Check on Fearful Headlines
Category: Financial Planning
Sometimes headlines are right, but remember they are created to get your attention, not necessarily to provide you with helpful information.
Thermostats and Peanut Butter Jars
Category: Financial Planning
“Scrape the bottom of the peanut butter jar,” in order to set yourself, your family, and others up for future happiness.
The Once a Year Approach to Looking at Investments
Last year was a very up and down year in the market. That’s not abnormal. In fact, it’s what happens most years. December 12 was the only time last year that I looked at the numbers. In not looking at the numbers throughout the year, I not only minimized worry, but also created the opportunity for a happy surprise.
Does Your Workplace Cultivate a Championship Team?
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
I recently listened to a podcast called, “Invest Like the Best, with Patrick O’Shaughnessy”. The podcast is based on an article written by Michael Lewis in the New York Times Magazine back in 2009, about Shane Battier, a professional basketball player who was the ultimate teammate.
The Corporate Transparency Act is Here: What you Need to Know
Category: Financial Planning
Several frequently asked questions regarding the CTA and its new reporting requirements that will impact millions of business entities and, more specifically, their owners.
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?
Preparing the Next Generation: Three Keys to a Long-Term Mindset
Category: Financial Planning
How do we prepare our young people to lead and do it quickly?
The Joy of Generosity
Category: Financial Planning
In my experience, the joy of generosity is not dependent on monetary value or other objective measures of size or significance. Generosity done well always has the potential to bring joy to both givers and receivers.
What I Have Learned From My Journey of Generosity
Category: Financial Planning
Being generous is a practice that seldom is mastered, takes continuous practice, and must be learned over and over again.