Have you heard of the term "gray divorce?" It refers to the trend of rising divorce rates among couples that are 50 and older. How could going through a divorce later in life impact plans to get to and through retirement? Let's review this trend of gray divorce and its potential financial impact.
The rules of inherited IRAs can be extremely difficult to understand due to the SECURE Act, yet they must be understood. The IRS has issued its final SECURE Act regulations, so we’re going to review the inherited IRA rules and explain how they can affect different beneficiaries.
The Great Wealth Transfer is here and will continue to evolve over the next two decades. Whether you’re on the giving end or receiving end of a wealth transfer, there are several things that everyone needs to know about how multigenerational wealth transfer works.
If you have a significant other, children, grandchildren, or other family members who you love dearly, you need to understand what happens to your 401(k) when you die. When you die, your 401(k) typically is inherited by the beneficiaries that you’ve listed on your 401(k) plan. However, there are different rules for different beneficiaries. Let's review those rules and the importance of keeping your beneficiaries up to date.
A lot can get put on the surviving spouse's plate when their spouse dies. We're hoping that our death of a spouse checklist can help.
How could a living trust be utilized as a key part of your personal estate planning strategy? That’s something that’s important to think about as you’re figuring out how to manage your assets—both while you’re living and after you die. We’re going to review the components of a living trust to help determine if you need one as a part of your estate plan.
Shane Barber shares how giving your grandchildren the gift of financial education is more powerful than giving them money.
When a loved one passes away, most heirs are concerned about what will happen to their outstanding debt.
As we celebrate National Estate Planning Awareness Week, let's review these five estate planning documents that everyone needs to have.
Did you know that we're in the midst of The Great Wealth Transfer? Let's talk about the importance of how to build generational wealth.
IRS Notice 2023-54 provides relief for 2023 missed RMDs for non-eligible designated beneficiaries who must follow the 10-year payout rule. And for those who took or who were given unnecessary IRA distributions in 2023, the notice extends a 60-day rollover deadline to roll them back into their accounts.
What is probate? If you want peace of mind with knowing that your loved ones are in good hands after you pass on, probate is something that you’ll want to avoid. Probate is the process of collecting your assets, paying your debts and taxes, and transferring your property, at your death, to your heirs. We’re going to start breaking down what probate is for two demographics—decedents with a will and decedents without a will.
Thanks to the SECURE Act 2.0, a 529 plan can rollover to a Roth IRA under certain conditions, effective January 1, 2024.
While it wasn’t as earth shattering as the SECURE Act, Congress did implement some important new retirement rules in the SECURE Act 2.0. We’ve reviewed several of those rules since SECURE 2.0 went into effect on January 1, 2023, but there are a few rules that haven’t received much publicity that we still need to go over. Today, we’re going to review special needs trusts and other important financial planning strategies for those who are caring for children with special needs.
Do you remember when IRAs were good? Congress messed that up with the SECURE Act. IRAs are now a bad wealth transfer option. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will help explain why that is and what all to consider when transferring wealth to your loved ones.
You are probably aware that the government can tax you when you earn income from work, make money on investments, take withdrawals from accounts, and even tax the income you receive when you claim Social Security benefits. Were you aware that the government can also tax your estate (and your beneficiaries) on the assets you own when you die?
The IRS has issued a notice that waives the 50% penalty on missed RMDs from 2021 and 2022 on IRAs that fall within the 10-year payout rule.
Logan DeGraeve breaks down the three tax allocation buckets and how proper tax diversification can make a big difference in your retirement.
Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month? It honestly came close to slipping our minds because we believe every month should be National Financial Planning Month. Dean Barber, Bud Kasper, and Matt Kasper celebrated National Financial Planning Month by discussing the importance of having a comprehensive financial plan on America's Wealth Management Show.
When it comes to advanced tax planning, unfortunately many people either just don’t do it or they wait until the last minute only to find out that there aren’t any options to take advantage of at the point of filing their tax return.
In December 2019, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act. One of the most significant changes is the elimination of the stretch provision for most beneficiaries of inherited retirement plans like IRAs and 401(k)s. What does this change mean for you? What opportunities does it present?
In 2019, there was a lot of buzz about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement or the SECURE Act. Early on, this bill had bipartisan support, unusual in today's political climate. The SECURE Act passed both chambers of Congress, and on December 20, 2019, was signed into law by President Trump. This single piece of legislation will have significant impacts on retirees and their beneficiaries. So, let's dive deeper and discuss how the SECURE Act changes retirement planning.
How do wealth transfer and gifting affect your taxes? What are some strategies that you can use to transfer wealth to the next generation as tax efficiently as possible? Director of Tax Corey Hulstein answers those questions and review rules on gifting money to family on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
One of the most important things you can do for them is to ensure that when you pass away, your estate is protected.
Our team frequently emphasizes the importance of having a stress-tested financial plan that prioritizes your financial and life goals and hedges against many forms of risk. When you think of things that eat away at your hard-earned wealth, what do you normally think of? Taxes, inflation, debt, and healthcare costs are typically top of mind for people, but what about natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, and blizzards? Let’s talk about building a disaster preparedness plan.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7. Here's a quick overview of what to consider during this timeframe.
Healthcare and taxes are two of the leading wealth-eroding factors in retirement in large part due to lack of planning. If you’re planning for retirement, it’s important to understand that Medicare is not 100% free, but parts of it can be. Let’s review the costs of Medicare.
Have you heard of the acronym "IRMAA?" It stands for Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount, which is a surcharge on Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D premiums. Nobody wants to pay any more than they need to for Medicare, so let’s review the nuances of IRMAA.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City’s Medicare Advantage Plan will cease to exist after December 31, 2024. Modern Wealth Management Director Dean Barber was joined by Medicare Consultant Tom Allen to break down the implications of the changes for those who have this plan.
Are rising healthcare costs on your mind? Let's explore potential strategies for mitigating inflation on healthcare costs.
It's critical that policy holders and beneficiaries are on the same page when it comes to naming a life insurance beneficiary.
When people younger than 65 are pondering if they have the means to retire early, there's usually one obstacle that's bigger than the rest. That's health insurance coverage. It's no doubt a valid concern. So, we want to review some health insurance options for retirees under 65 to help give you some clarity with your chances of retiring early.
If you're gearing up for retirement, you may be wondering how your health care costs during retirement are going to look. Let's dive into it.
As you age, calculating the chances that you’ll need long-term care—and the associated costs—is incredibly important.
Life insurance can be a key component in your financial plan, but it depends on your financial goals, lifestyle, and other circumstances. There are various reasons for why someone should purchase life insurance while they’re working, namely to provide for your loved ones if you pass away. But do you need life insurance in retirement? Well, it depends. We’re going to review a few reasons for why someone might want to carry life insurance into retirement.
Are you waiting til 65 to retire since that's when you can get on Medicare? Well, what if you didn't have to? Let's look at retiring before 65 and the importance of having a financial plan when making that decision.
We're excited to put 2022 in the rearview mirror. As we round out the first week of 2023, here are five financial updates to keep tabs on.
In 2019, there was a lot of buzz about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement or the SECURE Act. Early on, this bill had bipartisan support, unusual in today's political climate. The SECURE Act passed both chambers of Congress, and on December 20, 2019, was signed into law by President Trump. This single piece of legislation will have significant impacts on retirees and their beneficiaries. So, let's dive deeper and discuss how the SECURE Act changes retirement planning.
Matt Kasper and Logan DeGraeve tackle the crucial topic of rising long-term care costs on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
If you’re 50 or older and are still working, have you been making catch-up contributions to your 401(k), 403(b), 457, or Thrift Savings Plan? For 2025, the catch-up contribution limit is $7,500. However, if you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 by the end of 2025, you can contribute even more than that by making super catch-up contributions. The opportunity to make super catch-up 401(k) contributions is possible as of January 1, 2025, following a new SECURE Act 2.0 provision. If you turn 60-63 by the end of 2025, you can contribute up to $11,250 instead of $7,500.
People frequently ask us whether they should contribute to a Roth 401(k) or a traditional 401(k). The answer to this question depends on your personal situation. There are several factors you should consider.
Stephen Tuckwood, CFA discusses the Fed's latest rate cut, big movements in the markets, and more in our Monthly Market Update for November 2024.
Stephen Tuckwood, CFA, recaps a mixed month of market performance and the Fed's latest rate hike in our Monthly Market Update for October 2024.
Did you change jobs and not do anything with your old 401(k)? Let’s review potential solutions for how to find an old 401(k), including via a new database from the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a unique type of qualified employee retirement plan that offers an employee ownership interest of their employer via shares of stock. According to the Aspen Institute, there are 10.1 million individuals that work at the 6,447 companies that have ESOP plans. In total, ESOPs have amassed $1.8 trillion, which comes out to an average of more than $180,000 per worker.
It’s crucial to have cash reserves to secure financial stability. However, how much you need will depend on your personal situation.
If you're thinking about selling an investment, do you know what your cost basis is? Here are a few considerations for calculating your basis.
There are two primary categories when it comes to investment risk: market risk and specific risk. Market risk alludes to the uncertainty and possibility of losses that comes with an investor’s decisions that are related to factors that impact overall market performance.
Special moments always happen in a flash—especially the times you treasure with your grandchildren. One minute, they’re starting to take their first steps. Then, suddenly, they’re taking much bigger steps across a stage for high school and even college graduations. One way you can support your grandchildren as they’re growing up is to lay the foundation of their futures by setting up 529 plans. Let’s investigate some of the nuances of 529 plans, including their tax benefits.
Your investments are something that you have control over. However, there are also retirement risks that are out of your control. Your investments coincide with market volatility, which is one of those uncontrollable retirement risks. Market volatility, inflation, interest rates, and tax rates are four retirement risks that are out of your control, but that you can and should plan for.
The fear of running out of money in retirement can be a huge financial stressor. One of the primary factors that has fueled that fear in recent years has been inflation. While inflation is a risk factor that is out of our control, it’s something that everyone can and should plan for. We’re going to review 10 ways you can fight inflation in retirement.
The goal of this article will be to help you understand all the different methods—at least in a cursory fashion—and the pros and cons of each. That way you can begin to form your own opinion on if the stock market is overvalued. Some of you will change your minds. Some of you will have your opinions validated. And hopefully, all of you can take away some knowledge that you didn’t have before.
Where do you think you stand when it comes to financial literacy? Join Dean Barber and Bud Kasper in taking FINRA's quiz to find out.
When our Director of Investments Stephen Tuckwood, CFA joined Dean Barber on The Guided Retirement Show to discuss strategic investing through retirement, there was one thing in particular that he wanted to make very clear. Very early on in that conversation with Dean, Tuck said that asset allocation is the biggest driver of your portfolio’s return over time. We’re going to elaborate on why Tuck believes that so that you have a firm understanding of retirement asset allocation.
What should I invest my money in? It's a natural question to ask. Some would say it's a reasonable question to ask. For decades hucksters and prognosticators alike have convinced us that it's a question that can be answered easily.
Target date funds have become a very popular investment vehicle that are structured to automatically adjust their asset allocation over time depending on an investor's target retirement date. LSA Portfolio Analytics President and CFO Brad Kasper helps us break down the pros and cons of target date funds, and key considerations about target date funds to keep in mind.
The active versus passive management debate has been with us for a long time, going back almost to the issuance of the first ETF in the U.S. in 1993. When they were first issued, ETFs were used almost exclusively by institutional investors to execute sophisticated trading strategies. However, it wasn’t long until financial advisors, and individual investors took to them as well.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper break down the differences between good fear and bad fear to help people live their one best financial life.
Beating the market is something that many people have tried to do, but a rare few have succeeded. Many investors compare their investments to certain indices when attempting to beat the market. But are indices a good benchmark?
It's an election year! We examined the relationship between the 4-year presidential election cycle and the stock market.
Another year has come to pass, and with it, new challenges and opportunities will present themselves. The past year certainly wasn't without its own challenges, as the stock and bond markets attempted to recover from a very rough 2022. Most of the return in the entire market for 2023 came in November and December. We certainly continued to see some wild market volatility throughout 2023 and have speculated about what could be in store for 2024. One of our main takeaways from the past year, especially given the market volatility, was to remember to regularly rebalance your 401(k).
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss Required Minimum Distributions by sharing major RMD strategies for both before and after retirement.
When it comes to building your retirement plan, a lot of people think your rate of return is the No. 1 thing to keep in mind. While it is important, your investments aren’t the main factor when it comes to your plan. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will review five factors that are more important than your rate of return on this episode of America's Wealth Management Show.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss offensive and defensive rebalancing strategies and when to consider them.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss safe withdrawal rates and why they should be different for each person based on their financial plan.
The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ are in correction territory, meaning that there’s been a 10% drop from previous highs. The S&P equal-weighted index is in negative territory year-to-date. And the yield curve is still inverted. We’re going to tackle all that and more in our October Monthly Economic Update.
Our Director of Investments Stephen Tuckwood, CFA is stepping in for Dean Barber for our September Monthly Economic Update. See what Tuck has to share about the relentless rising bond yields, key takeaways from the yield curve, a spike in energy prices, and the pullback in the equity market.
Do you have some retirement rules of thumb that you follow? Some of them might be helpful with getting you in the right mindset to save for retirement, but there are issues with every one of them. Why? Because your financial plan needs to be built based upon your unique situation.
How does a Roth IRA grow? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain that while sharing how the Roth IRA can play a huge role in saving for retirement.
Can the Federal Reserve engineer a soft landing and avoid a recession? Dean Barber dives into that and more in his August Monthly Economic Update.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss pension plans while breaking down the differences between defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
Jerome Powell decided to raise rates by another quarter of a point. The equal-weight S&P 500 is gaining ground on the S&P 500, but it’s still a very narrow market with seven stocks—also known right now as the Magnificent Seven stocks—leading the way. We’ll discuss all that and more in our July Monthly Economic Update.
What is retirement cash flow and why is it so important? Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve answer those questions on America's Wealth Management Show.
What is driving the stock market? Dean Barber looks at the top holdings of the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and RSP Equal-Weighted to find an answer.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain the concept of rebalancing and its role in maintaining a well-diversified and optimized portfolio.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper give their interest rate forecasts for the rest of 2023 and break down the Fed's decision to pause rate hikes.
After all the turmoil in March, is there a U.S. “banking crisis” right now? Shane Barber explains why the short answer right now is no.
Planning for retirement is an essential part of securing your financial future. The 401(k) and Roth IRA are popular options that individuals consider. While both offer attractive benefits, understanding the differences and advantages of each can help you make an informed decision. We're going to explore the benefits of having a 401(k) and a Roth IRA to optimize your retirement savings.
There’s no shortage of crazy things happening right now. We're going to dive into the inverted yield curve once again and dig into what's driving the markets higher. There are some interesting things going on in the markets, specifically in tech. Is another tech bubble taking shape? Dean Barber looks at that and much more in his May Monthly Economic Update.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper are going to define the four types of wealth to thoroughly answer the question, “What is wealth?” on America’s Wealth Management Show.
Whether it was major bank failures, another 0.25% increase of the Fed funds rate, or 10-year treasury yields falling, March didn’t lack any madness this year. We’ll look at all that and more during our March Monthly Economic Update.
In case you missed it, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced another 0.25% Fed funds rate hike on March 22. The Fed funds rate is now in the 4.75-5% range. So, where will interest rates go from here and what does that mean for you and your retirement plans? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will discuss the effect of rising interest rates on the economy and much more on America’s Wealth Management Show.
Shane Barber looks back at the lost decade of the 1970s to see if we can glean some clues for what the 2020s could hold in store for us, and how we can navigate through what may indeed be difficult years ahead.
According to Fidelity, retirees lost an average of 23% in their 401(k) savings in 2022. What should you do with your 401(k) in retirement? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss how to manage assets like your 401(k), both in retirement and as you're preparing for retirement.
Dean Barber assesses consumer debt, consumer spending, and how it ties into inflation in his February Monthly Economic Update.
If you listen to any financial media, you’ll hear them talk repeatedly about “corporate earnings.” To give you an idea of how much talk there is about corporate earnings, a quick Google search of the term will net roughly 400 million results in about half a second. So, obviously corporate earnings are important to a lot of people. But what do they mean, and why are they so important? Today, we’re going to discuss just that.
You are probably aware that the government can tax you when you earn income from work, make money on investments, take withdrawals from accounts, and even tax the income you receive when you claim Social Security benefits. Were you aware that the government can also tax your estate (and your beneficiaries) on the assets you own when you die?
While all major indices were up in January, the U.S. treasuries yield curve is inverted more than it was at any point of 2022 and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is continuing interest rate increases in 2023. We'll cover all that and more in our January Monthly Economic Update.
Recession signals remain strong as we begin 2023. We discuss how to go about saving and protecting your retirement income during a recession.
What is yield curve inversion? And why does it precede recessions? Shane Barber answers those questions in his latest article.
2022 is in the rearview mirror, and thank goodness, because it was a rough year. Watch Dean review the tough year on stocks, the unusual year for bonds, interest rates and the Federal Reserve, and our outlook for 2023 as it stands today.
There’s plenty of holiday cheer to go around, but recession fears also remain high as we head into 2023. Let's look at where things stand following a 0.5% increase of the Fed funds rate in December.
In our last Modern Wealth Management Educational Series event of 2022, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back on the past year and provide an economic outlook for 2023. While they don’t have a crystal ball to predict exactly what the economic outlook will be for 2023, they want you to be prepared for some of the things that could happen.
Along with looking at the latest trends in the stock and bond markets, Dean Barber discusses why the inverted yield curve is a signal of a recession in the November 2022 Monthly Economic Update.
Is this another dead cat bounce or the beginning of the next bull market? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look into the dead cat bounces that we’ve had so far in 2022 to get a better idea of what the answer could be.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the latest on inflation, more interest rate hikes, the likelihood of a global recession, and much more on this episode of America's Wealth Management Show.
We saw a big market run-up in October. Dean Barber explores when the bear market will be over in our October Monthly Economic Update.
Planning for a fulfilling retirement isn’t something that can be done in a blink of an eye. It takes time and a lot of preparation to overcome a lot of retirement challenges that many people don’t even think about. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve review those retirement challenges and encourage you to start building your financial plan sooner rather than later.
Will Doty reviews how to read your balance sheet and income statement, and how it all comes back to your comprehensive financial plan.
Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month? It honestly came close to slipping our minds because we believe every month should be National Financial Planning Month. Dean Barber, Bud Kasper, and Matt Kasper celebrated National Financial Planning Month by discussing the importance of having a comprehensive financial plan on America's Wealth Management Show.
There is so much economic uncertainty, from interest rates to inflation to what's going on geopolitically. All of those are significant examples of market risk. Dean Barber talks about those examples of market risk and much more in September’s Monthly Economic Update.
All the financial uncertainty that we’re dealing with seems to be coming at us from every angle. While this financial uncertainty is uncomfortable, it’s not uncommon. From the Dot-Com Bubble to the Financial Crisis, we’ve been through cycles similar to this. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back at some of those cycles and review eight ways to combat financial uncertainty.
Market conditions tumbled at the end of August after a summer rally. Dean Barber takes an in-depth look in August's Monthly Economic Update.
We now have a negative GDP for two consecutive quarters, which is the definition of a recession. Dean Barber reviews that and more in July's Monthly Economic Update.
If you read our blog post from earlier this month titled, 8 Ways to Prepare for a Recession, you might remember that Roth conversions were No. 1 on the list. While Roth conversions aren’t for everyone, there are quite a few reasons why they could be right for you.
Are we in a recession? Dean Barber raises that question and reviews the latest on interest rates and bonds in June's Monthly Economic Update.
Shane Barber explores several methods of measuring how overvalued the markets became, how overvalued they remain, and how far they might fall if we are actually in the middle of a mean reversion event.
The S&P 500 entered bear market territory, preceded by the NASDAQ index entering bear market territory a few weeks back. Join Dean Barber and Bud Kasper as they discuss navigating the current bear market.
With all the issues we’re facing domestically and globally that are impacting the economy, it’s pivotal to find financial clarity during these uncertain times. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve talk about the importance of having a financial plan to navigate that uncertainty and help people reach their goals in retirement.
Dean Barber assesses the possibility of upcoming bear market rallies and reviews the bear market rallies of the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
Clarity, confidence, and control within your financial plan is of the utmost importance right now amid these turbulent times in the markets so you can accomplishment your goals in retirement. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a recent history of bear markets and how you can stress test your financial plan through periods like the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
The relationship between bond prices and interest rates has been a hot topic of discussion, but how does it apply to bond mutual funds? We examine that and how duration is such a big factor in answering that question.
Inflation is an i-word that anyone and everyone is tired of hearing. Then, there’s interest rates that are rising that are also making people feel uncomfortable. But there is another i-word that Modern Wealth Management clients have been coming to us with questions about that we want to address. We’re talking about I-Bonds.
Shane Barber discusses what is going on in the housing market and how a housing shortage could become a housing surplus.
Following a 50 basis point hike of the Fed funds rate last week, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the Federal Reserve's challenge of combating high inflation rates and the necessary factors to achieve a soft landing.
FOMC Chairman Jerome Powell announced on a 50 basis point increase of the Fed funds rate on Wednesday in hopes of slowing down rampant inflation. The half-point hike was the biggest hike from the FOMC since May 2000.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper take a deep dive into the relationship between interest rates and bond prices and provide some education on bond alternatives.
April showers tend to bring spring May flowers, but in the financial world, the forecast is filled with more market volatility. Dean Barber looks at the latest developments with interest rates, the bond and stock markets, and 30-year mortgage rates.
Shane Barber discusses the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the war between Russia and Ukraine, the potential conflict between China/Taiwan, what commodities are being impacted, and the economic opportunities to be aware of.
For the first time since late 2019, the two-year treasury is yielding higher than the 10-year treasury. This is called an inverted yield curve. Since the late '70s Every single time we've seen an inverted yield curve, It has led to a recession. Join Dean Barber and Bud Kasper as they discuss what is going on in the bond market and what the inverted yield curve means to you.
Dean Barber discusses the inverted yield curve, the likelihood of a recession, market volatility, and what to do moving forward.
Tax filing has been top of mind lately with the April 18 deadline fast approaching. While the tax compliance window is closing for this year, it’s important to remember that the tax planning window is always open. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the true meaning of tax planning and how to best mitigate taxes over your lifetime.
Shane Barber looks back at the bursting of the Dot-Com Bubble in March 2000 and compares and contrasts it with our current market conditions.
LSA Portfolios President Brad Kasper reminds us of the Federal Reserve's Monetary Policies as the Fed begins to raise interest rates.
It's been just over a week since Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced a 0.25% hike of the Fed funds rate, and that six more increases have been penciled in for the remainder of 2022. The Federal Reserve's goal with these moves is to slow down inflation, but what can we expect the impact to be from rising interest rates? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the importance of making necessary adjustments to your portfolio in a rising interest rate environment.
Bud Kasper explains the Federal Reserve's shift from quantitative easing to quantitative tightening ahead of the Fed's March 16 meeting.
March means it’s time for March Madness, but there’s a different March Madness that Dean Barber and Bud Kasper are talking about that has nothing to do with college basketball. Dean and Bud break down the economic impact we’re seeing from the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the likelihood of rising interest rates, and other contributors to this March Market Madness.
Everyone has their opinions about the Federal Reserve’s plan of action with interest rates and the developing situation between Russia and Ukraine. Regardless of your opinions, Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve explain why it’s critical to keep your emotions in check and make sound financial decisions during these times of economic uncertainty.
Between the Federal Reserve’s decision on rising interest rates and the situation with Russia and Ukraine, there are a lot of unknowns right now. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of controlling what you can control by managing market risk to alleviate the angst of the unknowns.
It feels like it’s only a matter of time before the Fed says to, “Take a hike?” Interest rate hikes are likely on the horizon. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve look at what the impact could be from any of the Fed’s rate hikes and how big they could be.
Shane Barber discusses what all is going on with interest rates and how impending rate hikes could impact the markets.
The Federal Reserve is walking an absolute tight rope. Markets are going crazy. We’ve seen one of the most volatile months since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bud Kasper, Matt Kasper, and Jason Newcomer join Dean Barber discuss the latest on the wild market fluctuations and what you need to know moving forward.
Market volatility is making its presence known as we begin 2022. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper break down whether we can expect it to be short-term or if we need to buckle up for the long haul.
Inflation continues to run rampant as we begin 2022. Shane Barber shares how the ongoing supply chain issues are the root of inflation.
"Should I buy gold?" I hear this question daily, multiple times, and it's not surprising. You can't turn on your radio, television, or open your email or social media accounts without being bombarded by gold commercials. They're everywhere.
There is no shortage of people and companies out there trying to convince you that buying actual real estate in your IRA is a good idea. A quick google search of the term real estate IRA brings up about 63,800,000 results in just under a half a second. Really.
In December 2019, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act. One of the most significant changes is the elimination of the stretch provision for most beneficiaries of inherited retirement plans like IRAs and 401(k)s. What does this change mean for you? What opportunities does it present?
In March of this year, after 2 separate crashes killed a combined 346 people, the Boeing 737 Max was grounded. Details from the 2 incidents showed that they were both caused by the same issue…the MCAS, or maneuvering characteristics augmentation system malfunctioning. The MCAS is designed to keep the aircraft from stalling, by pushing the nose of the plane down.
Now that the Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed versions of the new tax reform law, one of the things that got the ax was Roth IRA recharacterizations after December 31, 2017.
Note: After weeks of discussion, disagreements, and postponements, the House announced their plan for tax reform yesterday, November 2, 2017.
Dean Barber, Ken Osiwala, and Bud Kasper give their main takeaways from Q3 2023 and their expectations for Q4 in our Quarterly Market Update.
Chris Rett discusses what to do with your 401(k) after retirement—leave it in your previous employer plan or roll it over to an IRA?
Back in April, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper did something new on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series when they gave their Q1 2023 Quarterly Market Update. Now that Q2 2023 is behind us, it’s time for them to give their Q2 2023 quarterly market update.
Chris Rett, CFP® discusses compound interest, the difference between compounding interest and simple interest, the value of compounding interest for retirement, the Rule of 72, and how to use compound interest for your retirement on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
When you reach age 73 you must begin to draw funds from your traditional (i.e., non-Roth) Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
Not sure what to do with your 401(k) when you retire or are nearing retirement? Once you retire, a plan for withdrawing those funds that provides a constant source of income that isn’t eaten up by taxes and other costly traps must be constructed
Let’s review five types of financial plans and why a comprehensive plan is critical to getting to and through retirement.
People frequently ask us whether they should contribute to a Roth 401(k) or a traditional 401(k). The answer to this question depends on your personal situation. There are several factors you should consider.
We hope that you’re having a wonderful start to 2025! What are your goals for the new year? Do you want to travel more? Do you want to find more time to spend with your kids and/or grandkids? Are there some new hobbies you want to try? Hopefully you’ve taken some time to review your goals for 2025 and have a financial plan that prioritizes those goals. Let’s review why the beginning of the year is a great time for a financial checkup.
Consider these annual items, final quarter tasks, big birthdays, and important dates that are listed in our 2025 Financial Planning Calendar.
Are you planning to retire by the end of the decade? Here are 20 things to consider doing before you retire in the 2020s.
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.
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.
Not everyone gets to retire on their own terms. Here are seven strategies to consider if you are forced into retirement.
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.
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.
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.
The rules of inherited IRAs can be extremely difficult to understand due to the SECURE Act, yet they must be understood. The IRS has issued its final SECURE Act regulations, so we’re going to review the inherited IRA rules and explain how they can affect different beneficiaries.
Are you taking advantage of catch-up contributions for your workplace retirement plan? Let's review the potential impact they can make.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let's review monthly expenses to include in your budget, how to categorize those items, and other financial planning considerations.
Could you be saving too much for retirement? Let's review five signs that could indicate whether that's the case for you.
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.
June being in full swing typically means that the summer heat is already here or very close to it for much of the U.S. How are you going to beat the heat this summer? Summer also means that school is out (or soon to be out), so it’s time to think of some fun summer activities to do with your family.
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.
Volunteering is a popular activity among retirees. Let's review some of the benefits of volunteering in retirement.
Your investments are something that you have control over. However, there are also retirement risks that are out of your control. Your investments coincide with market volatility, which is one of those uncontrollable retirement risks. Market volatility, inflation, interest rates, and tax rates are four retirement risks that are out of your control, but that you can and should plan for.
The fear of running out of money in retirement can be a huge financial stressor. One of the primary factors that has fueled that fear in recent years has been inflation. While inflation is a risk factor that is out of our control, it’s something that everyone can and should plan for. We’re going to review 10 ways you can fight inflation in retirement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where do you think you stand when it comes to financial literacy? Join Dean Barber and Bud Kasper in taking FINRA's quiz to find out.
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.
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.
Is the question, "Have I saved enough to retire?" constantly on your mind? Here's how to go about figuring that out.
Dean Barber and Chris Rett, CFP®, AIF® review some skills that people value (and don't value, as much) from financial advisors.
It's not just about the numbers with planning to get to your retirement date and eventually through retirement.
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? It's important to realize that there's much more to wealth management than managing your money.
How could a living trust be utilized as a key part of your personal estate planning strategy? That’s something that’s important to think about as you’re figuring out how to manage your assets—both while you’re living and after you die. We’re going to review the components of a living trust to help determine if you need one as a part of your estate plan.
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? 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.
Is spring one of your favorite seasons? Here are five spring activities that retirees can enjoy with spring right around the corner.
When you leave your job and enter retirement, your tax situation can drastically change. We're often asked by clients, "How will my retirement income be taxed?" The short answer: it depends. Let's take a closer look at some of the typical income sources in retirement and learn more about how that income could be taxed.
So many things changed on the retirement planning front when the SECURE Act was signed into law in 2019. And so many things related to the SECURE Act have changed since then, including SECURE 2.0 being signed into law in 2022.2 Let’s review what the SECURE Act is and how it has impacted retirement planning.
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.
Target date funds have become a very popular investment vehicle that are structured to automatically adjust their asset allocation over time depending on an investor's target retirement date. LSA Portfolio Analytics President and CFO Brad Kasper helps us break down the pros and cons of target date funds, and key considerations about target date funds to keep in mind.
If you're gearing up for retirement, you may be wondering how your health care costs during retirement are going to look. Let's dive into it.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper break down the differences between good fear and bad fear to help people live their one best financial life.
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.
Beating the market is something that many people have tried to do, but a rare few have succeeded. Many investors compare their investments to certain indices when attempting to beat the market. But are indices a good benchmark?
Some things can be downright frightening for those of you planning for retirement. Let's look at some of the money mistakes to avoid.
It's an election year! We examined the relationship between the 4-year presidential election cycle and the stock market.
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.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review their top five financial planning considerations on America's Wealth Management Show.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss Required Minimum Distributions by sharing major RMD strategies for both before and after retirement.
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.
When it comes to building your retirement plan, a lot of people think your rate of return is the No. 1 thing to keep in mind. While it is important, your investments aren’t the main factor when it comes to your plan. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will review five factors that are more important than your rate of return on this episode of America's Wealth Management Show.
Do you know when you want to retire? There’s more to it than you might think. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain why when you retire matters.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss offensive and defensive rebalancing strategies and when to consider them.
As we look forward to the new year, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of reviewing your Retirement Plan Checklist.
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.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss safe withdrawal rates and why they should be different for each person based on their financial plan.
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.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss stress testing your financial plan and why it's important to confidently get to and through 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.
Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve share 7 wealth protection tactics that can be helpful with planning for how to get to and through 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.
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.
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.
As you age, calculating the chances that you’ll need long-term care—and the associated costs—is incredibly important.
There are a variety of things that can cause financial stress. It's critical to have a financial plan that addresses your specific stressors.
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?
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.
Every day can feel like a Saturday in retirement, but you need to properly plan for it. Let's review some retirement planning essentials.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you have some retirement rules of thumb that you follow? Some of them might be helpful with getting you in the right mindset to save for retirement, but there are issues with every one of them. Why? Because your financial plan needs to be built based upon your unique situation.
You may have heard the term QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution), but what is a QCD? If you’re 70½ or older, charitably inclined, and have money in tax-deferred accounts—such as traditional IRAs—QCDs might be right up your alley. A QCD is a distribution from an IRA that goes directly to a qualified charity. QCDs aren’t taxed and won’t show up on your tax return. Does that sound intriguing? Let’s learn a little bit more about what a QCD is.
Understanding Required Minimum Distributions rules isn't easy. We addressed the most frequently-asked-questions we receive about RMDs.
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.
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.
Are you taking a forward-looking approach with financial planning? Here are some financial planning strategies to consider in your 30s and 40s.
How does a Roth IRA grow? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain that while sharing how the Roth IRA can play a huge role in saving for 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.
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.
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.
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.
Eventually, Uncle Sam will want his share and require funds to come out of your accounts. Let's look into how to reduce your RMDs.
Life insurance can be a key component in your financial plan, but it depends on your financial goals, lifestyle, and other circumstances. There are various reasons for why someone should purchase life insurance while they’re working, namely to provide for your loved ones if you pass away. But do you need life insurance in retirement? Well, it depends. We’re going to review a few reasons for why someone might want to carry life insurance into retirement.
Whether you've been married for one year or 40-plus years, talking to your spouse about money is a critical component of retirement planning.
August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day. To celebrate, we're sharing a few financial planning tips to improve your financial literacy.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss pension plans while breaking down the differences between defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
Will you pay taxes on your inheritance? That sounds like it should have a clear-cut yes or no answer, but it's contingent on a few factors.
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.
Are you a self-employed individual or small business owner and need assistance with retirement planning? Here are some strategies to consider.
IRS Notice 2023-54 provides relief for 2023 missed RMDs for non-eligible designated beneficiaries who must follow the 10-year payout rule. And for those who took or who were given unnecessary IRA distributions in 2023, the notice extends a 60-day rollover deadline to roll them back into their accounts.
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.
Are you waiting til 65 to retire since that's when you can get on Medicare? Well, what if you didn't have to? Let's look at retiring before 65 and the importance of having a financial plan when making that decision.
Do you want to retire at or before 62 because that's when you can start claiming Social Security? Here's what all you need to consider.
What is retirement cash flow and why is it so important? Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve answer those questions on America's Wealth Management Show.
Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve review a list of eight outdated retirement planning strategies and explain the flaws that they have.
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.
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.
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.
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?
From our financial planning tools to relationships we've built in the financial services industry, learn more about our retirement planning resources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper share some insight about CDs, bonds, and treasuries on America's Wealth Management Show.
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?"
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.
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?
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper outline some key aspects of the financial planning process as they review five reasons to retire.
Debt can be a complicated topic—both financially and emotionally. Should you pay it all off prior to retirement or is there some debt that’s OK to take into retirement? Is there debt that you shouldn’t even think about retiring with? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper examine retiring with debt on America’s Wealth Management Show.
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!
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper are going to define the four types of wealth to thoroughly answer the question, “What is wealth?” on America’s Wealth Management Show.
In true IRS fashion, there are five-year rules for Roth contributions AND Roth conversions. Let's review both Roth IRA five-year rules.
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? Dean Barber breaks down some key data to help people make an educated guess when answering that question.
There's much more than meets the eye when deciding to contribute to Roth or traditional. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review the Roth conversion rules on America's Wealth Management Show.
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.
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.
Another tax filing season is in the books, which is probably a big relief for some of you and our CPAs. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach with your tax documents and 2023 taxes. Why? Because 2023 tax planning season is underway. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will share why now is the optimal time to take advantage of tax planning opportunities so that tax filling won’t be so stressful in the future.
"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
Shane Barber looks at the evolution of the Phillips Curve and how it became flat. How can we accurately assess inflationary pressures?
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.
There are many factors when considering when and from which accounts to make withdrawals from in retirement, such as sequence of return risk, Required Minimum Distributions, and tax implications. Navigating the dynamics of retirement planning is what Dean Barber, Logan DeGraeve, and the rest of our team do every day. Dean and Logan will elaborate on that and explain why having a retirement withdrawal strategy when you’re in or approaching retirement is critical on America’s Wealth Management Show.
We try to share as much education with you as possible on things you should do to prepare for and do in retirement so that you can live your one best financial life. But there are things that you need to avoid doing in retirement as well. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a few things that retirees should stop doing on the latest episode of America’s Wealth Management Show.
In case you missed it, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced another 0.25% Fed funds rate hike on March 22. The Fed funds rate is now in the 4.75-5% range. So, where will interest rates go from here and what does that mean for you and your retirement plans? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will discuss the effect of rising interest rates on the economy and much more on America’s Wealth Management Show.
There are new rules about Required Minimum Distributions and the RMD age after the SECURE Act 2.0 went into effect on January 1, 2023. RMDs can be very tricky, but it’s critical to understand how to plan for them. What are your RMDs going to look like in retirement? Will they influence your taxes or your probability of success? Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve discuss how to go about doing that and more on America’s Wealth Management Show.
Shane Barber looks back at the lost decade of the 1970s to see if we can glean some clues for what the 2020s could hold in store for us, and how we can navigate through what may indeed be difficult years ahead.
According to Fidelity, retirees lost an average of 23% in their 401(k) savings in 2022. What should you do with your 401(k) in retirement? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss how to manage assets like your 401(k), both in retirement and as you're preparing for retirement.
Shane Barber shares the latest on bank failures in the U.S. and why it's time to do some research rather than panic.
Tax Day is near, but tax compliance isn't our focus when it comes to taxes. It's tax planning. What is tax planning, you ask? Let us explain.
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.
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.
You are probably aware that the government can tax you when you earn income from work, make money on investments, take withdrawals from accounts, and even tax the income you receive when you claim Social Security benefits. Were you aware that the government can also tax your estate (and your beneficiaries) on the assets you own when you die?
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.
While all major indices were up in January, the U.S. treasuries yield curve is inverted more than it was at any point of 2022 and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is continuing interest rate increases in 2023. We'll cover all that and more in our January Monthly Economic Update.
Are retirement benefits taxable? The quick answer is, probably, but not always. It depends on your unique situation. While you can control your taxes in retirement better than at any other point of your life, that doesn’t mean that it’s not complex. Because it is very complex. We’re going to look at several retirement benefits and assess if and how they’re taxable.
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.
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.
Recession signals remain strong as we begin 2023. We discuss how to go about saving and protecting your retirement income during a recession.
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.
We're excited to put 2022 in the rearview mirror. As we round out the first week of 2023, here are five financial updates to keep tabs on.
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.
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.
There’s plenty of holiday cheer to go around, but recession fears also remain high as we head into 2023. Let's look at where things stand following a 0.5% increase of the Fed funds rate in December.
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.
In our last Modern Wealth Management Educational Series event of 2022, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back on the past year and provide an economic outlook for 2023. While they don’t have a crystal ball to predict exactly what the economic outlook will be for 2023, they want you to be prepared for some of the things that could happen.
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.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss five of the biggest retirement mistakes to avoid on America’s Wealth Management Show.
Dean Barber, Will Doty, and Logan DeGraeve, share their main takeaways from the Ed Slott Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ conference in Las Vegas.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Dean Barber and Bud Kasper have so many things that they’re thankful for. As they celebrate Thanksgiving, they want to talk about the giving part of Thanksgiving. Dean and Bud will highlight four ways that retirees can give back on this holiday edition of America's Wealth Management Show.
Shane Barber breaks down the latest developments in the housing market and makes some housing market predictions heading into 2023.
The IRS has issued a notice that waives the 50% penalty on missed RMDs from 2021 and 2022 on IRAs that fall within the 10-year payout rule.
Planning for a fulfilling retirement isn’t something that can be done in a blink of an eye. It takes time and a lot of preparation to overcome a lot of retirement challenges that many people don’t even think about. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve review those retirement challenges and encourage you to start building your financial plan sooner rather than later.
Will Doty reviews how to read your balance sheet and income statement, and how it all comes back to your comprehensive financial plan.
Logan DeGraeve breaks down the three tax allocation buckets and how proper tax diversification can make a big difference in your retirement.
We provided some perspective on retirement analysis while going through a sample couple's plan with our financial planning tool.
Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month? It honestly came close to slipping our minds because we believe every month should be National Financial Planning Month. Dean Barber, Bud Kasper, and Matt Kasper celebrated National Financial Planning Month by discussing the importance of having a comprehensive financial plan on America's Wealth Management Show.
There is so much economic uncertainty, from interest rates to inflation to what's going on geopolitically. All of those are significant examples of market risk. Dean Barber talks about those examples of market risk and much more in September’s Monthly Economic Update.
When it comes to advanced tax planning, unfortunately many people either just don’t do it or they wait until the last minute only to find out that there aren’t any options to take advantage of at the point of filing their tax return.
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 if we told you that the Inflation Reduction Act has no impact on inflation? Shane Barber details why that could likely be the case.
What are Monte Carlo simulations and how do they relate to your retirement? We answered those questions and more in our latest blog post.
All the financial uncertainty that we’re dealing with seems to be coming at us from every angle. While this financial uncertainty is uncomfortable, it’s not uncommon. From the Dot-Com Bubble to the Financial Crisis, we’ve been through cycles similar to this. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back at some of those cycles and review eight ways to combat financial uncertainty.
Market conditions tumbled at the end of August after a summer rally. Dean Barber takes an in-depth look in August's Monthly Economic Update.
Our financial planning tool goes beyond the scope of retirement calculators in many ways. Here are nine items that retirement calculators miss.
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 current tax rates of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be sunsetting in 2026, meaning tax rates will be going back up to the rates from 2017. Here are a few things to keep in mind for how to put yourself in the best possible tax situation now, 2026, and beyond.
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.
Have you been asking yourself, "How much do I need to retire?" a lot lately? A financial plan is critical to getting an honest answer to that.
We now have a negative GDP for two consecutive quarters, which is the definition of a recession. Dean Barber reviews that and more in July's Monthly Economic Update.
If you read our blog post from earlier this month titled, 8 Ways to Prepare for a Recession, you might remember that Roth conversions were No. 1 on the list. While Roth conversions aren’t for everyone, there are quite a few reasons why they could be right for you.
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.
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.
Are we in a recession? Dean Barber raises that question and reviews the latest on interest rates and bonds in June's Monthly Economic Update.
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.
Shane Barber explores several methods of measuring how overvalued the markets became, how overvalued they remain, and how far they might fall if we are actually in the middle of a mean reversion event.
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.
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.
Shane Barber reflects on mortgage applications hitting a 22-year low and where the housing market could go from here.
With all the issues we’re facing domestically and globally that are impacting the economy, it’s pivotal to find financial clarity during these uncertain times. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve talk about the importance of having a financial plan to navigate that uncertainty and help people reach their goals in retirement.
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.
Being charter members of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ has helped connect Dean Barber and Bud Kasper with other advisors all over the country. In the coming weeks, you will hear much more from Dean and Bud on their main takeaways from Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ latest workshop, which was hosted in Kansas City. For this article, we caught up with a few other members of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ to share what they've learned over the years about wide range of topics related to IRAs.
Dean Barber assesses the possibility of upcoming bear market rallies and reviews the bear market rallies of the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
Clarity, confidence, and control within your financial plan is of the utmost importance right now amid these turbulent times in the markets so you can accomplishment your goals in retirement. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a recent history of bear markets and how you can stress test your financial plan through periods like the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
The relationship between bond prices and interest rates has been a hot topic of discussion, but how does it apply to bond mutual funds? We examine that and how duration is such a big factor in answering that question.
Inflation is an i-word that anyone and everyone is tired of hearing. Then, there’s interest rates that are rising that are also making people feel uncomfortable. But there is another i-word that Modern Wealth Management clients have been coming to us with questions about that we want to address. We’re talking about I-Bonds.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper joined hundreds of other financial advisors and CPAs at Kansas City's Crown Center two weeks ago for Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM workshop, where they spent a lot of time reviewing the impact of SECURE Act 2.0. Dean and Bud share some of the biggest takeaways of the SECURE Act's proposed regulations and how they could impact you.
Following a 50 basis point hike of the Fed funds rate last week, Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the Federal Reserve's challenge of combating high inflation rates and the necessary factors to achieve a soft landing.
FOMC Chairman Jerome Powell announced on a 50 basis point increase of the Fed funds rate on Wednesday in hopes of slowing down rampant inflation. The half-point hike was the biggest hike from the FOMC since May 2000.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper take a deep dive into the relationship between interest rates and bond prices and provide some education on bond alternatives.
April showers tend to bring spring May flowers, but in the financial world, the forecast is filled with more market volatility. Dean Barber looks at the latest developments with interest rates, the bond and stock markets, and 30-year mortgage rates.
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.
For the first time since late 2019, the two-year treasury is yielding higher than the 10-year treasury. This is called an inverted yield curve. Since the late '70s Every single time we've seen an inverted yield curve, It has led to a recession. Join Dean Barber and Bud Kasper as they discuss what is going on in the bond market and what the inverted yield curve means to you.
Dean Barber discusses the inverted yield curve, the likelihood of a recession, market volatility, and what to do moving forward.
Tax filing has been top of mind lately with the April 18 deadline fast approaching. While the tax compliance window is closing for this year, it’s important to remember that the tax planning window is always open. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the true meaning of tax planning and how to best mitigate taxes over your lifetime.
Amid all that has been going on in the financial world this year, don't overlook the IRS's latest proposed regulations on the SECURE Act.
Shane Barber looks back at the bursting of the Dot-Com Bubble in March 2000 and compares and contrasts it with our current market conditions.
LSA Portfolios President Brad Kasper reminds us of the Federal Reserve's Monetary Policies as the Fed begins to raise interest rates.
It's been just over a week since Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced a 0.25% hike of the Fed funds rate, and that six more increases have been penciled in for the remainder of 2022. The Federal Reserve's goal with these moves is to slow down inflation, but what can we expect the impact to be from rising interest rates? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the importance of making necessary adjustments to your portfolio in a rising interest rate environment.
Bud Kasper explains the Federal Reserve's shift from quantitative easing to quantitative tightening ahead of the Fed's March 16 meeting.
March means it’s time for March Madness, but there’s a different March Madness that Dean Barber and Bud Kasper are talking about that has nothing to do with college basketball. Dean and Bud break down the economic impact we’re seeing from the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the likelihood of rising interest rates, and other contributors to this March Market Madness.
Everyone has their opinions about the Federal Reserve’s plan of action with interest rates and the developing situation between Russia and Ukraine. Regardless of your opinions, Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve explain why it’s critical to keep your emotions in check and make sound financial decisions during these times of economic uncertainty.
Between the Federal Reserve’s decision on rising interest rates and the situation with Russia and Ukraine, there are a lot of unknowns right now. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of controlling what you can control by managing market risk to alleviate the angst of the unknowns.
It feels like it’s only a matter of time before the Fed says to, “Take a hike?” Interest rate hikes are likely on the horizon. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve look at what the impact could be from any of the Fed’s rate hikes and how big they could be.
Shane Barber discusses what all is going on with interest rates and how impending rate hikes could impact the markets.
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.
Market volatility is making its presence known as we begin 2022. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper break down whether we can expect it to be short-term or if we need to buckle up for the long haul.
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.
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.
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.
The Social Security Administration announced that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will increase 5.9% in 2022, which is the biggest annual uptick in 40 years.
Shane Barber redefines risk management to help mitigate the occurrences of people missing out on their money in retirement.
Are you or your children looking for a head start in the Game of Life? Matt Kasper can help by offering five ways to avoid college debt.
What could retirement look like with $1 million? We're going to show you four different couples. One couple, which we referred to as the average couple, with a 60/40 portfolio, claiming Social Security at 62, would be able to spend $3.5 million over a lifetime.
Would you rather have $750,000 or $1 million? On its face, this question seems like a no-brainer. One million dollars is a larger number than $750,000, so that has to be the correct answer – right?
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.
There is no shortage of people and companies out there trying to convince you that buying actual real estate in your IRA is a good idea. A quick google search of the term real estate IRA brings up about 63,800,000 results in just under a half a second. Really.
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.
In December 2019, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act. One of the most significant changes is the elimination of the stretch provision for most beneficiaries of inherited retirement plans like IRAs and 401(k)s. What does this change mean for you? What opportunities does it present?
In 2019, there was a lot of buzz about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement or the SECURE Act. Early on, this bill had bipartisan support, unusual in today's political climate. The SECURE Act passed both chambers of Congress, and on December 20, 2019, was signed into law by President Trump. This single piece of legislation will have significant impacts on retirees and their beneficiaries. So, let's dive deeper and discuss how the SECURE Act changes retirement planning.
Now that the Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed versions of the new tax reform law, one of the things that got the ax was Roth IRA recharacterizations after December 31, 2017.
Note: After weeks of discussion, disagreements, and postponements, the House announced their plan for tax reform yesterday, November 2, 2017.
Managing Directors Dean Barber and Marty James, CPA discuss some key things to keep in mind while doing year-end tax planning for 2023.
Commemorative Air Force Heart of America Wing Leader Steve Zimmerman shares how his financial plan has given him the confidence to further pursue his passion for flying and much more on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series with Wayne Robinson, CRPC®, AIF®.
From saving early to understanding where you're saving to, Logan DeGraeve reviews some quick tips on how to build wealth in your 20s on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series
Chris Rett shares five regrets that people have at the end of retirement and how to plan accordingly so that you don't have those regrets.
Matt Kasper reviews Roth conversion decisions for 2023 in a case study on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
We always talk about the importance of saving early for retirement, but how do you know when it's time to stop saving for retirement? Drew Jones gets down to the bottom of how to answer that on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
Chris Rett discusses what to do with your 401(k) after retirement—leave it in your previous employer plan or roll it over to an IRA?
Preparation is key when it comes to retirement as well. That’s why Logan is going to discuss retirement preparation and the five things that you’ll wish you knew before retiring on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
Chris Rett, CFP® discusses compound interest, the difference between compounding interest and simple interest, the value of compounding interest for retirement, the Rule of 72, and how to use compound interest for your retirement on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
Have you thought about your retirement goals? So many people get caught up in trying to save as much as possible and haven’t thought about what they want their retirement to look like. Your retirement goals are obviously part of what will make your plan unique. But there are several things that many people will experience in retirement that we want to prepare you for. Modern Wealth Management Managing Directors Dean Barber and Ken Osiwala are going to review four things that you can expect in your first year in retirement to help you in your retirement planning process.
Matt Kasper and Logan DeGraeve tackle the crucial topic of rising long-term care costs on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
We went through three Roth conversion case studies to help you make well-informed decisions when considering Roth conversions.
This checklist was created to give you a timeline of items that should be done prior to and during retirement.
Not sure what to do with your 401(k) when you retire or are nearing retirement? Once you retire, a plan for withdrawing those funds that provides a constant source of income that isn’t eaten up by taxes and other costly traps must be constructed
The Social Security Administration announced on October 10 that more than 72.5 million Americans will receive a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase to their benefits in 2025.
The fear of running out of money in retirement can be a huge financial stressor. One of the primary factors that has fueled that fear in recent years has been inflation. While inflation is a risk factor that is out of our control, it’s something that everyone can and should plan for. We’re going to review 10 ways you can fight inflation in retirement.
Some things can be downright frightening for those of you planning for retirement. Let's look at some of the money mistakes to avoid.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss safe withdrawal rates and why they should be different for each person based on their financial plan.
Social Security recipients will receive a 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase to their benefits in 2024.
Do you have some retirement rules of thumb that you follow? Some of them might be helpful with getting you in the right mindset to save for retirement, but there are issues with every one of them. Why? Because your financial plan needs to be built based upon your unique situation.
Do you want to retire at or before 62 because that's when you can start claiming Social Security? Here's what all you need to consider.
Social Security benefits for a surviving spouse can oftentimes be overlooked until one spouse passes away. It's one of the many reasons why planning ahead on how to claim Social Security is so critical.
There's much more than meets the eye when deciding to contribute to Roth or traditional. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review the Roth conversion rules on America's Wealth Management Show.
There are many factors when considering when and from which accounts to make withdrawals from in retirement, such as sequence of return risk, Required Minimum Distributions, and tax implications. Navigating the dynamics of retirement planning is what Dean Barber, Logan DeGraeve, and the rest of our team do every day. Dean and Logan will elaborate on that and explain why having a retirement withdrawal strategy when you’re in or approaching retirement is critical on America’s Wealth Management Show.
We try to share as much education with you as possible on things you should do to prepare for and do in retirement so that you can live your one best financial life. But there are things that you need to avoid doing in retirement as well. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a few things that retirees should stop doing on the latest episode of America’s Wealth Management Show.
Recession signals remain strong as we begin 2023. We discuss how to go about saving and protecting your retirement income during a recession.
We're excited to put 2022 in the rearview mirror. As we round out the first week of 2023, here are five financial updates to keep tabs on.
Planning for a fulfilling retirement isn’t something that can be done in a blink of an eye. It takes time and a lot of preparation to overcome a lot of retirement challenges that many people don’t even think about. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve review those retirement challenges and encourage you to start building your financial plan sooner rather than later.
Will Doty reviews how to read your balance sheet and income statement, and how it all comes back to your comprehensive financial plan.
Starting in 2023, 70 million Social Security recipients will see an 8.7% bump in their benefits with the new cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For reference, last year beneficiaries saw a 5.9% increase, and in 2021 there was a 1.3% increase.
The increase comes as most Americans battle increased prices caused by rampant inflation throughout 2022. The goal is to give seniors more peace of mind as costs increase.
Logan DeGraeve breaks down the three tax allocation buckets and how proper tax diversification can make a big difference in your retirement.
We provided some perspective on retirement analysis while going through a sample couple's plan with our financial planning tool.
Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month? It honestly came close to slipping our minds because we believe every month should be National Financial Planning Month. Dean Barber, Bud Kasper, and Matt Kasper celebrated National Financial Planning Month by discussing the importance of having a comprehensive financial plan on America's Wealth Management Show.
When it comes to advanced tax planning, unfortunately many people either just don’t do it or they wait until the last minute only to find out that there aren’t any options to take advantage of at the point of filing their tax return.
All the financial uncertainty that we’re dealing with seems to be coming at us from every angle. While this financial uncertainty is uncomfortable, it’s not uncommon. From the Dot-Com Bubble to the Financial Crisis, we’ve been through cycles similar to this. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back at some of those cycles and review eight ways to combat financial uncertainty.
Have you been asking yourself, "How much do I need to retire?" a lot lately? A financial plan is critical to getting an honest answer to that.
If you read our blog post from earlier this month titled, 8 Ways to Prepare for a Recession, you might remember that Roth conversions were No. 1 on the list. While Roth conversions aren’t for everyone, there are quite a few reasons why they could be right for you.
Clarity, confidence, and control within your financial plan is of the utmost importance right now amid these turbulent times in the markets so you can accomplishment your goals in retirement. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a recent history of bear markets and how you can stress test your financial plan through periods like the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
Tax filing has been top of mind lately with the April 18 deadline fast approaching. While the tax compliance window is closing for this year, it’s important to remember that the tax planning window is always open. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the true meaning of tax planning and how to best mitigate taxes over your lifetime.
Between the Federal Reserve’s decision on rising interest rates and the situation with Russia and Ukraine, there are a lot of unknowns right now. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss the importance of controlling what you can control by managing market risk to alleviate the angst of the unknowns.
The Social Security Administration announced that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will increase 5.9% in 2022, which is the biggest annual uptick in 40 years.
What could retirement look like with $1 million? We're going to show you four different couples. One couple, which we referred to as the average couple, with a 60/40 portfolio, claiming Social Security at 62, would be able to spend $3.5 million over a lifetime.
Would you rather have $750,000 or $1 million? On its face, this question seems like a no-brainer. One million dollars is a larger number than $750,000, so that has to be the correct answer – right?
Regardless if Social Security will or will not be your primary source of income in retirement, if you take your Social Security benefits at face value you could be leaving money on the table.
People frequently ask us whether they should contribute to a Roth 401(k) or a traditional 401(k). The answer to this question depends on your personal situation. There are several factors you should consider.
While Tax Day isn’t until April 15 each year (unless April 15 falls on a weekend), why wait until the last minute to file your 2024 taxes? The IRS still hasn’t announced when they will begin accepting 2024 tax returns, but it’s usually in late January. Here are a few things you need to know when it comes to filing your 2024 tax return.
Martin James, CPA, PFS and Dean Barber review the three tax buckets and discuss strategies to create tax diversification.
As the end of the year approaches, many individuals make charitable donations to the charitable organizations they care about. Most charitable giving is for reasons other than the tax benefit. However, tax benefits are an important consideration that can help offset the cost of the donation.
The IRS announced inflation adjustments for the 2025 tax year. Let's review the 2025 tax brackets and planning opportunities prior to 2026.
Whether it’s expected or unexpected, the death of your spouse can be a traumatic event that’s difficult to process. We’re not here to tell you how to grieve, but there are several other things that our team can potentially help you with in that tough situation. One of them is tax issues to consider when your spouse dies.
The taxation on your investments depends on two main factors—the type of investment and how long you hold it. Let’s review how different investments are taxed.
The backdoor Roth and mega backdoor Roth might sound like special types of Roth IRA accounts, but they’re actually strategies that high income earners use to get more money into Roth accounts.
The rules of inherited IRAs can be extremely difficult to understand due to the SECURE Act, yet they must be understood. The IRS has issued its final SECURE Act regulations, so we’re going to review the inherited IRA rules and explain how they can affect different beneficiaries.
Have you heard of the acronym "IRMAA?" It stands for Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount, which is a surcharge on Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D premiums. Nobody wants to pay any more than they need to for Medicare, so let’s review the nuances of IRMAA.
It doesn’t matter whether you win $10 or $10,000, all gambling winnings must be reported as “other income” on your tax return. While we don’t necessarily want you to bet your hard-earned savings away, we want you to understand the rules. Marty James, CPA, PFS, joins Dean Barber and Bud Kasper, CFP®, AIF® on this episode of America’s Wealth Management Show to break it all down.
We frequently talk about tax planning at Modern Wealth Management. Why? Because we believe it can have a significant impact on your financial future. With that, we’re going to dive into some simple examples to show you the power of tax planning.
To make sense of taxes on Roth IRAs, it's important to understand the ordering rules on Roth IRA distributions. Roth IRA distributions can consist of contributions, converted funds and earnings – or any combination of the three.
We’ve published a lot of content that highlights how Roth conversions can be a helpful tax planning strategy for someone who is preparing for or going through retirement. However, Roth conversions aren’t for everyone. Here are five reasons not to convert to a Roth IRA.
Special moments always happen in a flash—especially the times you treasure with your grandchildren. One minute, they’re starting to take their first steps. Then, suddenly, they’re taking much bigger steps across a stage for high school and even college graduations. One way you can support your grandchildren as they’re growing up is to lay the foundation of their futures by setting up 529 plans. Let’s investigate some of the nuances of 529 plans, including their tax benefits.
Your investments are something that you have control over. However, there are also retirement risks that are out of your control. Your investments coincide with market volatility, which is one of those uncontrollable retirement risks. Market volatility, inflation, interest rates, and tax rates are four retirement risks that are out of your control, but that you can and should plan for.
The Internal Revenue Service projected that 19 million taxpayers would file for an automatic extension on their 2023 taxes. But what does it mean to file a tax extension? There can be a lot of confusion about tax extensions, so even though Tax Day is behind us, we want to make sure that everyone is crystal clear about how they work.
Everyone in America who pays taxes feels like they have paid their fair share, and in some cases, far more than their fair share. This causes people to be very shortsighted when it comes to reducing your tax bill.
As self-proclaimed Rothaholics, Bud Kasper, CFP®, AIF® and Dean Barber could talk to you for hours about benefits of a Roth IRA. Bud and Dean strongly believe that the Roth IRA is one of the best things ever written within the tax code, so they compiled a list of seven primary benefits of Roth IRAs to back up their reasoning. Who knows? Maybe after learning about these benefits of a Roth IRA, you’ll become a Rothaholic too.
When you leave your job and enter retirement, your tax situation can drastically change. We're often asked by clients, "How will my retirement income be taxed?" The short answer: it depends. Let's take a closer look at some of the typical income sources in retirement and learn more about how that income could be taxed.
So many things changed on the retirement planning front when the SECURE Act was signed into law in 2019. And so many things related to the SECURE Act have changed since then, including SECURE 2.0 being signed into law in 2022.2 Let’s review what the SECURE Act is and how it has impacted retirement planning.
As you start gathering your tax documents and completing your return, here are some common tax filing errors to avoid.
Some things can be downright frightening for those of you planning for retirement. Let's look at some of the money mistakes to avoid.
We take a deep dive into the recent history of tax rates and preview how they could change with the end of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2026.
Many employer 401(k) plans offer in-plan conversions (referred to as in-plan rollovers in plan documents) of pre-tax amounts to the designated Roth accounts. Doing the in-plan Roth conversion will result in a current income tax bill on the converted amount in most cases. Many plan participants are unaware this option exists.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss Required Minimum Distributions by sharing major RMD strategies for both before and after retirement.
When it comes to building your retirement plan, a lot of people think your rate of return is the No. 1 thing to keep in mind. While it is important, your investments aren’t the main factor when it comes to your plan. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will review five factors that are more important than your rate of return on this episode of America's Wealth Management Show.
Do you know when you want to retire? There’s more to it than you might think. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain why when you retire matters.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss safe withdrawal rates and why they should be different for each person based on their financial plan.
What is a backdoor Roth IRA? No, it's not a type of retirement account. It's a tax planning strategy for high-income earners who exceed the Roth IRA contribution limits to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
There are two married couples—Sam and Samantha and Paul and Polly—in this tax planning case study. One has a tax plan and one doesn’t. Let's see the difference in their tax bills.
The IRS announced several inflation adjustments for the 2024 tax year. We examine the 2024 tax brackets, standard deduction, and much more.
Do you think you know everything there is to know about the tax code? The truth is that you likely won’t even find a financial advisor that know everything about the tax code. Our advisors are even willing to acknowledge that. That’s exactly why we have CPAs on staff. Our CFP® Professionals work alongside our CPAs to make sure that people aware of tax planning opportunities and steering clear of big tax mistakes they need to avoid.
Tax planning isn't just for the ultra-wealthy. We reviewed five tax planning secrets that you need to know in retirement.
You may have heard the term QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution), but what is a QCD? If you’re 70½ or older, charitably inclined, and have money in tax-deferred accounts—such as traditional IRAs—QCDs might be right up your alley. A QCD is a distribution from an IRA that goes directly to a qualified charity. QCDs aren’t taxed and won’t show up on your tax return. Does that sound intriguing? Let’s learn a little bit more about what a QCD is.
Understanding Required Minimum Distributions rules isn't easy. We addressed the most frequently-asked-questions we receive about RMDs.
How does a Roth IRA grow? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain that while sharing how the Roth IRA can play a huge role in saving for retirement.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper explain how capital gains taxes are a tax that you do have some control over on America's Wealth Management Show.
Eventually, Uncle Sam will want his share and require funds to come out of your accounts. Let's look into how to reduce your RMDs.
Will you pay taxes on your inheritance? That sounds like it should have a clear-cut yes or no answer, but it's contingent on a few factors.
IRS Notice 2023-54 provides relief for 2023 missed RMDs for non-eligible designated beneficiaries who must follow the 10-year payout rule. And for those who took or who were given unnecessary IRA distributions in 2023, the notice extends a 60-day rollover deadline to roll them back into their accounts.
Are you waiting til 65 to retire since that's when you can get on Medicare? Well, what if you didn't have to? Let's look at retiring before 65 and the importance of having a financial plan when making that decision.
Do you want to retire at or before 62 because that's when you can start claiming Social Security? Here's what all you need to consider.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review Ed Slott's list of 20 exceptions to the IRA early withdrawal penalty on America's Wealth Management Show.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss some of the pros and cons of converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper discuss asset allocation versus tax allocation and why both are critical when planning for retirement.
Debt can be a complicated topic—both financially and emotionally. Should you pay it all off prior to retirement or is there some debt that’s OK to take into retirement? Is there debt that you shouldn’t even think about retiring with? Dean Barber and Bud Kasper examine retiring with debt on America’s Wealth Management Show.
In true IRS fashion, there are five-year rules for Roth contributions AND Roth conversions. Let's review both Roth IRA five-year rules.
There's much more than meets the eye when deciding to contribute to Roth or traditional. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review the Roth conversion rules on America's Wealth Management Show.
Another tax filing season is in the books, which is probably a big relief for some of you and our CPAs. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach with your tax documents and 2023 taxes. Why? Because 2023 tax planning season is underway. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper will share why now is the optimal time to take advantage of tax planning opportunities so that tax filling won’t be so stressful in the future.
We try to share as much education with you as possible on things you should do to prepare for and do in retirement so that you can live your one best financial life. But there are things that you need to avoid doing in retirement as well. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a few things that retirees should stop doing on the latest episode of America’s Wealth Management Show.
There are new rules about Required Minimum Distributions and the RMD age after the SECURE Act 2.0 went into effect on January 1, 2023. RMDs can be very tricky, but it’s critical to understand how to plan for them. What are your RMDs going to look like in retirement? Will they influence your taxes or your probability of success? Dean Barber and Logan DeGraeve discuss how to go about doing that and more on America’s Wealth Management Show.
Even after basketball season ends, brackets will be a hot topic. Not NCAA tournament brackets, but tax brackets. But what are tax brackets?
Tax Day is near, but tax compliance isn't our focus when it comes to taxes. It's tax planning. What is tax planning, you ask? Let us explain.
You are probably aware that the government can tax you when you earn income from work, make money on investments, take withdrawals from accounts, and even tax the income you receive when you claim Social Security benefits. Were you aware that the government can also tax your estate (and your beneficiaries) on the assets you own when you die?
Are retirement benefits taxable? The quick answer is, probably, but not always. It depends on your unique situation. While you can control your taxes in retirement better than at any other point of your life, that doesn’t mean that it’s not complex. Because it is very complex. We’re going to look at several retirement benefits and assess if and how they’re taxable.
Recession signals remain strong as we begin 2023. We discuss how to go about saving and protecting your retirement income during a recession.
We're excited to put 2022 in the rearview mirror. As we round out the first week of 2023, here are five financial updates to keep tabs on.
Dean Barber, Will Doty, and Logan DeGraeve, share their main takeaways from the Ed Slott Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ conference in Las Vegas.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Dean Barber and Bud Kasper have so many things that they’re thankful for. As they celebrate Thanksgiving, they want to talk about the giving part of Thanksgiving. Dean and Bud will highlight four ways that retirees can give back on this holiday edition of America's Wealth Management Show.
The IRS has issued a notice that waives the 50% penalty on missed RMDs from 2021 and 2022 on IRAs that fall within the 10-year payout rule.
Planning for a fulfilling retirement isn’t something that can be done in a blink of an eye. It takes time and a lot of preparation to overcome a lot of retirement challenges that many people don’t even think about. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve review those retirement challenges and encourage you to start building your financial plan sooner rather than later.
Logan DeGraeve breaks down the three tax allocation buckets and how proper tax diversification can make a big difference in your retirement.
We provided some perspective on retirement analysis while going through a sample couple's plan with our financial planning tool.
Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month? It honestly came close to slipping our minds because we believe every month should be National Financial Planning Month. Dean Barber, Bud Kasper, and Matt Kasper celebrated National Financial Planning Month by discussing the importance of having a comprehensive financial plan on America's Wealth Management Show.
When it comes to advanced tax planning, unfortunately many people either just don’t do it or they wait until the last minute only to find out that there aren’t any options to take advantage of at the point of filing their tax return.
What if we told you that the Inflation Reduction Act has no impact on inflation? Shane Barber details why that could likely be the case.
All the financial uncertainty that we’re dealing with seems to be coming at us from every angle. While this financial uncertainty is uncomfortable, it’s not uncommon. From the Dot-Com Bubble to the Financial Crisis, we’ve been through cycles similar to this. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper look back at some of those cycles and review eight ways to combat financial uncertainty.
The current tax rates of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be sunsetting in 2026, meaning tax rates will be going back up to the rates from 2017. Here are a few things to keep in mind for how to put yourself in the best possible tax situation now, 2026, and beyond.
Have you been asking yourself, "How much do I need to retire?" a lot lately? A financial plan is critical to getting an honest answer to that.
If you read our blog post from earlier this month titled, 8 Ways to Prepare for a Recession, you might remember that Roth conversions were No. 1 on the list. While Roth conversions aren’t for everyone, there are quite a few reasons why they could be right for you.
Inheritance situations can be very complicated, especially if they aren't quickly addressed. Today, we discuss taxes on inherited property.
Being charter members of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ has helped connect Dean Barber and Bud Kasper with other advisors all over the country. In the coming weeks, you will hear much more from Dean and Bud on their main takeaways from Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ latest workshop, which was hosted in Kansas City. For this article, we caught up with a few other members of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisory Group℠ to share what they've learned over the years about wide range of topics related to IRAs.
Clarity, confidence, and control within your financial plan is of the utmost importance right now amid these turbulent times in the markets so you can accomplishment your goals in retirement. Dean Barber and Bud Kasper review a recent history of bear markets and how you can stress test your financial plan through periods like the Dot-Com Bubble and Great Recession.
Dean Barber and Bud Kasper joined hundreds of other financial advisors and CPAs at Kansas City's Crown Center two weeks ago for Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM workshop, where they spent a lot of time reviewing the impact of SECURE Act 2.0. Dean and Bud share some of the biggest takeaways of the SECURE Act's proposed regulations and how they could impact you.
Tax filing has been top of mind lately with the April 18 deadline fast approaching. While the tax compliance window is closing for this year, it’s important to remember that the tax planning window is always open. Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the true meaning of tax planning and how to best mitigate taxes over your lifetime.
Amid all that has been going on in the financial world this year, don't overlook the IRS's latest proposed regulations on the SECURE Act.
It's been just over a week since Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced a 0.25% hike of the Fed funds rate, and that six more increases have been penciled in for the remainder of 2022. The Federal Reserve's goal with these moves is to slow down inflation, but what can we expect the impact to be from rising interest rates? Bud Kasper and Logan DeGraeve discuss the importance of making necessary adjustments to your portfolio in a rising interest rate environment.
Are you or your children looking for a head start in the Game of Life? Matt Kasper can help by offering five ways to avoid college debt.
What could retirement look like with $1 million? We're going to show you four different couples. One couple, which we referred to as the average couple, with a 60/40 portfolio, claiming Social Security at 62, would be able to spend $3.5 million over a lifetime.
Would you rather have $750,000 or $1 million? On its face, this question seems like a no-brainer. One million dollars is a larger number than $750,000, so that has to be the correct answer – right?
In 2019, there was a lot of buzz about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement or the SECURE Act. Early on, this bill had bipartisan support, unusual in today's political climate. The SECURE Act passed both chambers of Congress, and on December 20, 2019, was signed into law by President Trump. This single piece of legislation will have significant impacts on retirees and their beneficiaries. So, let's dive deeper and discuss how the SECURE Act changes retirement planning.
Now that the Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed versions of the new tax reform law, one of the things that got the ax was Roth IRA recharacterizations after December 31, 2017.
You have probably heard much about the pending tax legislation and all the provisions that are being debated.
Note: After weeks of discussion, disagreements, and postponements, the House announced their plan for tax reform yesterday, November 2, 2017.
Managing Directors Dean Barber and Marty James, CPA discuss some key things to keep in mind while doing year-end tax planning for 2023.
Given the complexity of the tax code and how often it changes, the education never stops for our Director of Tax Corey Hulstein, CPA. He continuously studies the tax code to help our clients and prospective clients make informed decisions when it comes to tax planning. Today, Corey is going to educate us about tax credits for qualified tuition and related costs for eligible students on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series. Let’s learn about the Lifetime Learning Credit and how it compares and contrasts to the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
Matt Kasper reviews Roth conversion decisions for 2023 in a case study on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
How do wealth transfer and gifting affect your taxes? What are some strategies that you can use to transfer wealth to the next generation as tax efficiently as possible? Director of Tax Corey Hulstein answers those questions and review rules on gifting money to family on the Modern Wealth Management Educational Series.
Here’s a list of a few tax strategies to consider that could improve your overall tax structure during your retirement years and for your beneficiaries inheriting your estate.