Education

2025 401(k) and IRA Contribution Limits

On November 1, the IRS announced 401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2025. For the second straight year, the contribution limits for 401(k)s, 403(b)s, eligible 457s, and Thrift Savings plans increased by $500 from $23,000 to $23,500. From 2022 to 2023, there was a $2,000 increase for those workplace retirement plans. So, why was the increase so much larger for 2023 than it was for 2024 or 2025? Let’s dive into it and why it’s important to maximize your contributions.

Planning for Wedding Costs

Whether you’re getting married or helping pay for your kid’s wedding, it’s critical to build a budget to keep track of wedding costs. Two of our team members, Lead Advisor Kade Messner, CFP®, AIF® and Client Service Specialist Danielle (Osiwala) Messner, tied the knot in 2023. As they reflect on and celebrate one year of marriage, Kade, Danielle, and Danielle’s father, Managing Director Ken Osiwala, AIF®, shared some key considerations when planning for wedding costs that can hopefully be helpful to you and/or your family and friends.

Forced into Retirement? Consider These 7 Strategies

Not everyone gets to retire on their own terms. Here are seven strategies to consider if you are forced into retirement.

Financial Planning for the Sandwich Generation

Have you heard of the sandwich generation? No, we’re not talking about a generation that really likes to eat sandwiches. The term “sandwich generation” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children.” So, are you a part of the sandwich generation? Whether you are or could be in the future, we want to address some important financial planning considerations for the sandwich generation.

Financial Infidelity and Its Potential Impact

Talking about money with your significant other can sometimes be uncomfortable. If you have a fight with your partner about spending money, what actions do you take after the fight? Do you work toward getting on the same page as your partner or secretly keep spending how you’ve been spending and lie about it? If you’re doing the latter, that’s financial infidelity. Financial infidelity can have significant ramifications, especially if it goes on for a long period and the truth about your actions is uncovered.

Your 401(k) Employer Match and How It Works

Do you understand how your 401(k) employer match works? Think of it as free money from your employer to reward you for saving for retirement. Let's review some important considerations surrounding 401(k) matching and how it works.

Catch-up Contributions for Your Retirement Plan

Are you taking advantage of catch-up contributions for your workplace retirement plan? Let's review the potential impact they can make.

Considering What to Do in Retirement

There's much more to retirement planning than having your finances in order. Let's review some key considerations of what to do in retirement and a career off-boarding checklist.

Reviewing RMD Rules as IRS Issues Final SECURE Act Regulations

The IRS issued its final Required Minimum Distribution regulations from the SECURE Act last month. There were some notable updates, including that the IRS elected to uphold its decision on requiring some beneficiaries to take annual RMDs during the 10-year timeframe that they must also withdraw money from inherited IRAs. Understanding the rules for RMDs can be complicated, so let’s take some time to review them.

Market Corrections Are Healthy

Given what happened to the markets on August 5, we figured this would be a fitting time to discuss market corrections and why they’re healthy.

Retiring at 50: Can You Do It?

Our team has long believed that no retirement plan is complete if it doesn’t incorporate your goals for retirement. Many people set a goal of retiring by a certain age. Some people set a goal of retiring when they reach full retirement age for Social Security1 while others wait until they become Medicare eligible (age 65). However, other people are more ambitious and set a goal of retiring in their late 40s or early 50s. Today, we’re going to discuss retiring at 50 and whether you can do it.

Retiring with $2 Million

We reviewed how three sample couples used different strategies with allocating their retirement savings en route to retiring with $2 million. The taxation of their retirement savings is vastly different. Let's see how that impacted their outlook to get to and through retirement and leaving money behind to the next generation.

Monthly Expenses for Everyone’s Budget

Let's review monthly expenses to include in your budget, how to categorize those items, and other financial planning considerations.

5 Signs You’re Saving Too Much for Retirement

Could you be saving too much for retirement? Let's review five signs that could indicate whether that's the case for you.

7 Money Management Tips to Consider

Does talking about money management make you feel uncomfortable? There are a variety of factors that can cause financial stress, which is why we prioritize planning for those factors at Modern Wealth Management. We’re going to review seven money management tips that can hopefully be helpful for you.

Short-Term, Mid-Term, and Long-Term Financial Goals

What are your short-term, mid-term, and long-term financial goals? It's important to have a financial plan that's designed around your goals.

Benefits of Volunteering in Retirement

Volunteering is a popular activity among retirees. Let's review some of the benefits of volunteering in retirement.

New IRA RMD Rules Announced as IRS Offers Relief on 2024 RMDs

In case you missed it, Tax Day wasn’t the only noteworthy day for the IRS in April. While some people might dread thinking about the IRS and Tax Day, the IRS shared some exciting news on April 16 for IRA beneficiaries who are subject to the 10-year rule on RMDs. That came in the form of IRS Notice 2024-35, which stated that the IRS would excuse RMDs for 2024.

How to Calculate Your Pension in 3 Steps

Are you one of the few people who is fortunate to have a pension as an employee benefit? If so, check out Matt Kasper's three steps for how to calculate your pension.

Are You Overspending or Underspending?

How do you know if you're overspending or underspending? We reviewed some key findings from a 2023 BlackRock study, To Spend or Not to Spend?, that further explains why it's critical to create a spending plan for retirement.

6 Habits of Self-Made Millionaires and Their Expectations

Were you a big fan of the game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, with the late Regis Philbin? Of course, everyone wants to be a millionaire, but unless you were a rare winner of the popular game show, becoming a millionaire isn’t as easy as answering 15 trivia questions. Let’s review some habits of self-made millionaires and how their expectations compare to aspiring millionaires.

Transition into Retirement by Following These 5 Steps

If you’ve spent the past 30-40 years working, think about how many hours you’ve spent at work if you’ve averaged a 40-hour work week. 40 hours a week multiplied by 52 (weeks in one year) multiplied by 40 equals 83,200 hours over 40 years. If you suddenly decided to retire tomorrow, what if you live for another 30-40 years? Once you’re no longer working, you could have tens of thousands of hours of free time. What are you going to do with them? Let’s talk about the importance of planning to transition into retirement.

Setting Up Your Portfolio for Retirement

It’s one thing to know what age you want to retire, but it’s another to know you can get to and through retirement without too much financial stress. How much do you need to live your desired lifestyle in retirement? That answer is different for everyone. Let’s review a few steps to help you make sure your portfolio for retirement can go the distance.

Skills to Expect of a Financial Advisor

Dean Barber and Chris Rett, CFP®, AIF® review some skills that people value (and don't value, as much) from financial advisors.

Your Retirement Date Decision – Is It Only About the Numbers?

It's not just about the numbers with planning to get to your retirement date and eventually through retirement.

Is Inflation Still Cooling?

Inflation cooled considerably in 2023, but it remains well above the Fed's 2% target rate. Let's look at the latest inflationary trends.

What’s the Meaning of Wealth Management?

What's the meaning of wealth management? It's important to realize that there's much more to wealth management than managing your money.

Seeking a Comfortable Retirement: Avoid These Common Bad Habits

How do you plan to achieve a comfortable retirement? Let's review three common bad habits to avoid as you're planning for retirement.

Should I Get Out of Debt Before I Retire?

Should I get out of debt before I retire? It's one of the more common questions we get when we meet with people getting closer to retirement. It’s important to understand that not all debt is the same. Let’s examine different types of debt to help determine whether you should get out of debt before you retire.

5 Spring Activities for Retirees

Is spring one of your favorite seasons? Here are five spring activities that retirees can enjoy with spring right around the corner.

5 Common Risks in Retirement

When you ask the question, "What's your biggest fear in retirement?" Many people will say it's the fear of running out of money. Let's review five common risks in retirement and what you can do to mitigate those risks.

7 Overlooked Budget Items in Retirement

Most people have, at best, a rough idea of how much they spend each month. Money comes in from a paycheck, and money goes out for various expenses. When it comes to planning for your retirement, it's good practice to have a detailed understanding of how and where your money goes once it leaves your bank account. In retirement, some expenses won't look a lot different than they do while you are working.

7 Retirement Strategies to Retire Successfully

This list of strategies will hopefully give you a great place to start if you're getting ready to retire or just curious about preparing for retirement. Our goal is to provide you with simple yet effective retirement strategies that do not only focus on investment tactics or savings percentages. Instead, we hope to give you a toolbox of strategies for retirement with which you can combine to build the retirement of your dreams.

Top 5 Financial Planning Considerations

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review their top five financial planning considerations on America's Wealth Management Show.

Peak 65: Nearly 4.4 Million Americans Projected to Turn 65 in 2024

Have you heard of the term "Peak 65?" It's a meaningful milestone, as more than 12,000 Americans are expected to turn 65 each day in 2024.

Reviewing Your Retirement Checklist

As we look forward to the new year, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of reviewing your Retirement Plan Checklist.

2024 Retirement Planning Calendar

The Retirement Planning Calendar is here to help you through 2024 as you venture to and through retirement. This calendar will be updated regularly to include new dates, links, and more.

5 Long-Term Strategies for a Better Retirement

There are few things that make Dean Barber and Bud Kasper happier than seeing the fruits of the forward-looking planning pay dividends for their clients. In this week's edition of America's Wealth Management Show, they offer five long-term strategies for a better retirement.

Stress Testing Your Financial Plan

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss stress testing your financial plan and why it's important to confidently get to and through retirement.

5 Common Misconceptions About Retirement

Retirement can be very exciting, but there can also be many misconceptions about retirement. Let's set the record straight on some of those.

7 Wealth Protection Tactics

Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve share 7 wealth protection tactics that can be helpful with planning for how to get to and through retirement.

Planning for Uncertainty in Retirement

In the quest for financial clarity and confidence, there's no doubt that today's decisions and actions can create your future. Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve discuss how those decisions and actions are critical when it comes to planning for uncertainty in retirement.

2024 401(k) and IRA Contribution Limits

The IRS announced increases to 401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2024 on November 1. Let’s review those increases, explain why they happened, and the importance of maximizing your contributions.

Where Should I Be Saving for Retirement?

Most people understand the importance of saving for retirement and are always wondering how much they need to save. That is going to depend on several different factors, including your retirement goals, how you think and feel about money, and where you’ve been saving. We’re going to focus more on that last point. So many people get caught up in how much they need to save and don’t realize how critical it is to understand the importance of where they’re saving for retirement.

Financial Stress: How Do You Deal with It?

There are a variety of things that can cause financial stress. It's critical to have a financial plan that addresses your specific stressors.

When Is It Time to Retire?

Logan DeGraeve & Chris Rett explain what needs to be done to get an accurate answer to a very important question: When is it time to retire?

7 Financial Planning Opportunities That You Don’t Want to Miss

Logan DeGraeve, CFP®, AIF® and Chris Rett, CFP®, AIF® celebrate National Financial Planning Month by sharing seven financial planning opportunities you don’t want to miss.

Retirement Essentials: 4 Things Most Retirees Aren’t Doing (But Should Be Doing)

Every day can feel like a Saturday in retirement, but you need to properly plan for it. Let's review some retirement planning essentials.

Martin James, CPAs Join the Modern Wealth Team

When it comes to money matters, experience counts. Martin James, CPA, our new Managing Director at Modern Wealth Management, brings 37 years of financial wisdom to the table.

Disinflation vs Deflation: How Are They Different?

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper, CFP® share their insight on inflation, disinflation and deflation with what they are, how they're different, and most importantly, how to plan for them.

Reasons People Run Out of Retirement Money

Outliving your money is a very legitimate fear. We look at seven reasons people run out of money in retirement and how to avoid them. It all goes back to having a comprehensive, goals-based financial plan.

Thinking About Unretiring? Why Retirees Are Rejoining the Workforce

Retirees are going back to work at an alarming rate. Logan DeGraeve, CFP® and Chris Rett, CFP® review a 2022 Paychex survey to help us understand why people are unretiring, and more importantly, how to avoid doing so.

What Millionaires Do in Times of Economic Uncertainty

Have you been negatively impacted by the economic uncertainty we’ve experienced over the past couple of years? If so, how? It’s not a fun conversation to have, but it’s a necessary one. Not having a conversation about it at all can only increase the anxiety of economic uncertainty, which is why it’s so critical to plan for economic uncertainty. We’re going to discuss what millionaires do in times of economic uncertainty to illustrate the importance of planning for it.

You Can’t Take It with You When You Go, So Don’t Blink

Shane Barber discusses how people can struggle with saving too much and not spending enough. Remember that life is short and you can't take your money with you when you pass on. Let's create a fluid, goals-based financial plan that allows you to spend more time doing the things you love with the people you love.

5 Fall Activities for You and Your Grandchildren

Are you ready for fall to be in full swing? Here are some fall adventures that our Modern Wealth team is excited about and five fun fall activities that you can do with your grandkids.

Retirement Savings by Age

Wanting to know how much you should have in retirement savings by age is a simple question to ask, but there are several questions that need to be asked before that to help get your unique answer. We'll take you through some of those questions and provide a hypothetical scenario of what retirement savings by age journey can look like.

Financial Planning in Your 30s and 40s

Are you taking a forward-looking approach with financial planning? Here are some financial planning strategies to consider in your 30s and 40s.

Retirement Readiness: Are You Ready to Kick Off Your Retirement?

Are you ready for retirement? We’re going to discuss some key factors concerning retirement readiness to that you’ll be ready to retire.

Getting Ready for Retirement: Don’t Retire without Doing These Things First

Retirement can be one of the most exciting times of your life if you plan for it. That “if you plan for it” part is critical. It can be hard for some people to believe that there’s more that they need to do to get ready for retirement than save, save, save. The goal isn’t just to get to retirement; it’s to get through retirement. We’re going to review some key things to think about as you’re getting ready for retirement.

Richcession or Recession: Where Are We Heading?

You probably have an idea of what a recession is, but have you ever heard of a richcession? Let's look at what it means, who it affects, and how it differs from a recession.

Rightsizing vs. Downsizing: What Are the Differences?

What is rightsizing and how does it differ from downsizing? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discussed the ins and outs of rightsizing and why it's so important on America's Wealth Management Show.

National Financial Awareness Day

August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day. To celebrate, we're sharing a few financial planning tips to improve your financial literacy.

Longevity Risk in Retirement and How to Plan for It

One of the top concerns that our advisors hear from clients and prospective clients is running out of money in retirement. We all want to live long, healthy lives, but just how big of a concern should longevity risk be with retirement planning? Well, the best way to mitigate longevity risk in retirement is to plan for it. We’re going to explain how to go about doing that to help you have more confidence, freedom, and time in retirement.

Retirement Planning for Self-Employed Individuals and Small Business Owners

Are you a self-employed individual or small business owner and need assistance with retirement planning? Here are some strategies to consider.

Unexpected Expenses and How to Plan for Them

What do a flooded basement, trip to the emergency room, and helping one of your children who was laid off have in common? Well, obviously none of them are ideal situations, but there’s more to it than that. They’re all unexpected expenses that can significantly impact or even derail your retirement if you haven’t planned for them.

8 Retirement Planning Strategies That Are Outdated

Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve review a list of eight outdated retirement planning strategies and explain the flaws that they have.

Can I Retire Early? Becoming Financially Independent

The question “Can I retire early?” crosses a lot of people’s minds. You’re probably asking yourself that question quite a bit if you don’t like your job. But even if you do like your job, that question is worth thinking about as you start planning for retirement. You need a forward-looking financial plan to get a concrete answer to that question.

What Is Financial Wellbeing?

Financial wellbeing is a term frequently mentioned, but what does it really mean? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGreave dive into the concept of financial wellbeing and explore its various aspects on this episode of America’s Wealth Management Show. From measuring financial success to the importance of planning, we will provide insights and tips to help you achieve financial wellbeing in your life.

5 Big Things that Happened in 2023 So Far

As we approach the midway point of 2023, it's an opportune time to look at the big things that have happened to shape the financial landscape.

Can You Save Too Much for Retirement?

Happy Fourth of July Eve everyone! We hope that you’re having a wonderful time celebrating with your friends and family. As long as you’re being safe, it’s hard to have too much fun celebrating the Fourth of July, but here’s something to think about—can you save too much for retirement?

Retirement Planning Resources: Modern Financial Planning

From our financial planning tools to relationships we've built in the financial services industry, learn more about our retirement planning resources.

Your Retirement Lifestyle: What Do You Want Your Retirement to Look Like?

Retirement is a time for new beginnings and enjoying the lifestyle you've always dreamed of. But what exactly does that mean to you? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss what goes into defining your retirement lifestyle on America’s Wealth Management Show to help you figure out what you want your retirement to look like.

6 Things the Wealthy Do with Their Money (That Most People Don’t)

How much do you need to feel wealthy? According to Charles Schwab’s 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, it’s $2.2 million. Does that seem like a high bar to you to be considered as wealthy? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will share their insight on the study along with six things the wealthy do with their money on America’s Wealth Management Show.

How to Spend When You First Retire

The first year of retirement can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review how to spend when you first retire so that you can have more confidence, freedom, and time during your first year of retirement and beyond.

Couples Retirement Planning: What You Need to Know

Are you on the same page as your significant other about financial planning? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the must-knows of couples retirement planning on America's Wealth Management Show.

DIY Retirement Planning: What Can Be Overlooked?

Are you someone or do you know someone who takes a DIY (do-it-yourself) approach to retirement planning? We understand that it can be easy to be passionate about managing your own finances. But are you truly prepared for retirement? That includes how to maximize Social Security benefits, understanding tax efficient withdrawal strategies, and so much more.

What to Know About CDs, Bonds, and Treasuries

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper share some insight about CDs, bonds, and treasuries on America's Wealth Management Show.

How Much Do People Actually Spend in Retirement?

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review data from an Employee Benefit Research Institute survey to answer the question, "How Much Do People Spend in Retirement?"

Why the 5 Years Before Retirement Are So Important

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper make their own lists of reasons why the five years before retirement are so important before reviewing a portion of our Retirement Plan Checklist to help back up their reasoning.

The World’s Reserve Currency: What Challenges Does the U.S. Dollar Face?

Shane Barber assesses the U.S. dollar's grasp on being the world's reserve currency and its top challengers. Is its position in danger?

5 Reasons to Retire

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper outline some key aspects of the financial planning process as they review five reasons to retire.

Mother’s Day Reflections

A few of the mothers on our Modern Wealth Management team share their Mother's Day reflections ahead of Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, and motherly figures out there!

Time Is Your Scarcest Resource in Retirement

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper share some old and recent stories to help explain why time is your scarcest resource in retirement on America's Wealth Management Show.

Is a Recession Coming in 2023?

Is a recession coming in 2023? Dean Barber breaks down some key data to help people make an educated guess when answering that question.

Meet Modern Wealth Management

Meet Modern Wealth Management President and Co-Founder Jason Gordo as he shares his vision for Modern Wealth Management with Dean Barber and Bud Kasper on America's Wealth Management Show.

Barber Financial Group & Osiwala Financial Group Are Now Modern Wealth Management

That’s right, we’re now Modern Wealth Management. Welcome to the next chapter of our story! 

So, what is Modern Wealth Management? At Modern Wealth Management, our goal is to deliver financial advice. We are designed to anticipate the needs of Americans at every stage of life by providing a full suite of wealth management services. The Modern Wealth Management team is built with experts specializing in financial planning, investment management, tax planning and preparation, estate planning, risk management, and more. 

Is Inflation Slowing?

"Is inflation slowing" is a question that a lot of people have been curious about, but there are a couple other things about inflation that we want to address first. One, what do we mean by inflation slowing. That means that the rate of increase for inflation has started slowing, not that prices are going to immediately start coming down. Two, do you have a financial plan that properly applies inflation to your spending? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will take a deeper dive into all those questions on America's Wealth Management Show

How the Phillips Curve Became Flat

Shane Barber looks at the evolution of the Phillips Curve and how it became flat. How can we accurately assess inflationary pressures?

Retirement Age: It’s Just a Number

Did the headline of this article catch your eye? Don’t get us wrong. We take retirement planning very seriously. The point of this headline and article is to explain that you don’t need wait until a certain age to retire. Many people think that they need to wait to retire until 65 when they become eligible for Medicare or when they reach full retirement age for Social Security.

With the proper planning, you may be able to retire earlier than you might think. But you won’t know that without having a financial plan. Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve will expand on that to highlight why retirement age is just a number on America’s Wealth Management Show.

What’s Going on with Bank Failures?

Shane Barber shares the latest on bank failures in the U.S. and why it's time to do some research rather than panic.

Want to Retire in 10 Years? Here’s What You Need to Know

Do you want to retire in the next 10 years? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve explain why you need a financial plan to see if you can do so successfully.

7 Reasons Why Retirement Planning Is Important

There's no doubt that saving for retirement is crucial. But there's a lot more to it. Let's review why retirement planning is important.

Preparing for Retirement: How to Win the Big Game

Are you ready for the big game? Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz. The anticipation has definitely been building among Chiefs fans in the Kansas City area. But that’s not the only big game that is on our minds at Modern Wealth Management. We always thinking about preparing for your retirement because retirement is arguably the biggest game of your life.

What Is Financial Planning?

What is financial planning? We’ll look at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards’ definition of financial planning and the four main components of financial planning—risk management, taxes, estate planning, and investment management—to help answer that question.

Starting the Retirement Planning Process

The hardest part of any long process tends to be getting started. Retirement planning is no exception. Let's look at how to start the retirement planning process.

What Is Financial Wellness?

Did you know that January is Financial Wellness Month? Financial wellness can't be achieved overnight, but with some sound planning, you can achieve it. Here are some financial wellness tips to get you on your way.

New Retirement Rules Passed by Congress

The SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law last week. Learn about the new retirement rules passed by Congress and how they could impact you.

4 Things We Learned in 2022

Happy New Year, everybody! We’re going to take a step back and reflect a little bit because we need to learn from history. In this case, we’re calling 2022 history! 2022, was a year with insane inflation, bumbling bonds, a fumbling fed, and some simmering signals. So, sayonara 2022, get in the rearview mirror! While we learned a lot more than just these four items in 2022, we wanted to focus in on these specifically, as they were the biggest impacts in 2022. Here are four of the things we learned in 2022.

Financial Year in Review for 2022

We looked back at our some of our articles, podcasts, webinars, and radio shows from the past year to do a financial year in review for 2022.

8 Tips on Saving for Retirement

Saving for retirement can feel like a daunting task. It doesn’t need to be, though. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve offer eight tips on saving for retirement that can begin giving you clarity and confidence on your path to and through retirement.

5 Retirement Mistakes to Avoid

Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss five of the biggest retirement mistakes to avoid on America’s Wealth Management Show.

Housing Market Predictions Heading into 2023

Shane Barber breaks down the latest developments in the housing market and makes some housing market predictions heading into 2023.

Yet Another Interest Rate Hike — What Does It Mean for You?

FOMC Chairman Jerome Powell announced a third straight interest rate hike of 75 basis points Wednesday in effort to slow rampant inflation. As we look ahead to see where interest rates could go from here, our very own Bud Kasper was interviewed by KMBC 9 News to discuss what it all means.

What Is a Monte Carlo Simulation?

What are Monte Carlo simulations and how do they relate to your retirement? We answered those questions and more in our latest blog post.

9 Items Retirement Calculators Miss (That Our Tool Doesn’t)

Our financial planning tool goes beyond the scope of retirement calculators in many ways. Here are nine items that retirement calculators miss.

5 Types of Financial Plans

Going to the doctor for a checkup usually isn’t the most fun thing to do, but it’s necessary so that you’re up-to-date on your health situation. The same can be said about meeting with a financial planner to find out where you’re at with planning for retirement. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the five types of financial plans and how a comprehensive approach to financial planning is critical to getting to and through retirement.

The Housing Recession Is Here According to Homebuilders

On August 15, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Index announced builder confidence in the market of new single-family home builds fell to 49 in August. The last time the confidence score fell below 50 was in May 2020. Anything below that threshold of 50 is considered negative.

“Tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve and persistently elevated construction costs have brought on a housing recession,” NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said.

The Great Recession’s History Remains Relevant

After reviewing how the Dot-Com Bubble's history remains relevant earlier this year, Shane Barber looks at how the Great Recession's history also remains relevant.

Your Retirement Timeline

Along with 30 checklist items to gauge your retirement readiness, our Retirement Plan Checklist include an age-based timeline to help you be aware of certain things while planning for retirement. Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve cover some of the key aspects of that retirement timeline on this week's edition of America's Wealth Management Show.

8 Ways to Prepare for a Recession

It’s been nearly a month since we officially entered a bear market. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the markets in recent months, that wasn’t much of a surprise. Now, the question is if (or more realistically when) we’ll go into a recession. While we can’t give a straight answer to that, we’ve compiled a list of eight things to do when markets decline that can hopefully be helpful to you during these uncertain economic times.

Achieving Financial Freedom

Happy Fourth of July to all the pre-retirees and retirees out there! Along with celebrating America’s independence this weekend, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper hope you take a moment to assess where you stand in the journey to achieving financial freedom. Dean and Bud discuss what financial freedom is and how you know you’ve achieved it in this Fourth of July weekend edition of America's Wealth Management Show.

Rising Interest Rates and Your Retirement

The Fed raised interest rates by the most in nearly three decades, a 0.75% rate hike, and is set to do it again in July. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper examine how rising interest rates can impact your retirement.

Celebrating Father’s Day and Fluid Financial Plans

As we look forward to celebrating Father's Day, our content manager, Chris Duderstadt, remembers his late father and shares the importance of incorporating family time into your fluid financial plan.

Mortgage Applications Hit 22-Year Low

Shane Barber reflects on mortgage applications hitting a 22-year low and where the housing market could go from here.

How Our Financial Planning Tool Works

So, you’re curious how our financial planning tool works? That’s great! Below, we’ll go through the steps of creating your account and inputting the necessary information to get you started. The tool then analyzes your plan and shows your plan’s probability of success.

Today’s Global Economic Outlook

One thing that Dean Barber and Bud Kasper are certain of is that there is a lot of domestic and geopolitical uncertainty to go around. Dean and Bud sort through some of that uncertainty to give their thoughts on today’s global economic outlook.

Setting Retirement Savings Goals

We all have our own special goals that we’d like to achieve in retirement, but some of them are much easier to accomplish than others. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of setting retirement savings goals sooner rather than later to attain clarity, confidence, and control in your retirement.

Understanding US Inflation

From prices at the grocery store to the cost of filling up your gas tank, we have all seen the impacts of inflation in recent months. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper give their thoughts on the current inflationary pressures and what US inflation could look like going forward.

7 Ways to Build the Best Retirement Plan

No one retirement plan is exactly the same, nor should it be. While your friends and family might have retirement plans that work well for them, that doesn’t mean they'll work for you.  

At Modern Wealth Management, we understand the importance of building the best retirement plan for YOU. Here are seven ways in which you can build your best retirement plan. 

Benefits of Charitable Giving During the Holidays

Do you enjoy spreading holiday cheer by reaping the benefits of charitable giving? Here are a few things to keep in mind on Giving Tuesday.

Don’t Miss Out on Your Money: Redefining Risk Management

Shane Barber redefines risk management to help mitigate the occurrences of people missing out on their money in retirement.

Lumber, Commodities, and Inflation Fears

If recent events are any indication, and I believe they are, we may already be seeing the end of this inflationary trend and the beginning of a return to more normal prices. I'm going to focus a lot on lumber in this article. However, I am also discussing the big three agricultural commodities we farm in the Midwest: corn, wheat, and soybeans.

Paying for Your Child’s Wedding Costs

There are few things more exciting than learning about your child's engagement. Sometimes, that news can come as a big surprise, like in this clip from Father of the Bride. Hopefully, that surprise eventually comes as a delight to you and your family. That delight can quickly turn into stress once it is time to discuss your child's wedding. Paying for your child's wedding costs will come later in your career when retirement saving is critical. That's why it's crucial to have a solid plan, so you can avoid derailing your retirement.