Building Your Money Machine
I’m admittedly not much of an inventor. If there’s a need to create something from nothing, there are brighter minds out there than mine. On the other hand, when I can see an idea or an object that already exists, I can usually appreciate its greatness and often even improve upon it. So when I came across this one idea, …
If Taxes Rise In The Future, Are You Prepared?
Much has been written and said about taxes. Nobody likes paying them, but pay them we must. Few people would volunteer to have a detailed discussion about taxes, but here we are, deciding whether to keep reading or just hit delete and hope the next Weekly is of a kinder and gentler nature. In light of the un-exciting nature of …
The Home Improvement Dilemma
There must be something in the air. Maybe it’s just the home improvement stores’ relentless advertising. Or could it be that we’re getting excited for spring to arrive? Whatever it is, quite a few of you are gearing-up for big home improvement projects. But before the roofers start swinging hammers and the bathroom contractors begin ordering cabinets, a number of …
Secure Act Passed by Congress
What Steps Can You Take To Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones? On December 19th, Congress passed a spending bill that includes seismic changes to IRAs and retirement plans. The SECURE Act will reshape how IRAs are handled both during life and after death, creating an enormous tax impact for families who don’t plan ahead. Congress and the President have …
2019 Fall Festival Results
We are so thankful for the support we received at the 2019 fall festival. Not only did we have an opportunity to enjoy your company, great food provided by Charbar; really good beer from Boulevard Brewing Company… we also raised $12,015.00 to help grant the wish of a child diagnosed with a critical illness. In the United States and its …
Employee Spotlight: Julia Urquhart
Julia Urquhart, Office Manager Julia grew up in the Kansas City area, attending Universities of Missouri – Columbia & Kansas City, where she studied Business with emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Psychology. When not working Julia spends her time running around with her thirteen year old step-son, Jonathon, and two rescue dogs, Rocky & Rosie. She enjoys gardening, playing golf …
Briefcase Study: Pension Options
A very common decision for current retirees to make, and one that we’ve seen a lot of recently, is that of which pension option to choose when preparing for retirement from your company, school, or municipality. You’ll see options such as Single Life Annuity, 50% Joint & Survivor Annuity, or Partial Lump Sum Option (PLOP). All of these options can …
Back to the Basics: Having A Budget Vs. Budgeting
One of the most critical – and often overlooked – aspects of planning a successful retirement is the estimating of expenses during retirement. The ability to project what your lifestyle will cost into retirement allows you to determine whether the nest egg you’ve accumulated will go the distance. When we approach this subject with aspiring retirees, we’re often met with …
Back to the Basics: Total Value
So much attention gets paid to the growth (or decline) of the stock market that I fear we can become hypnotized by it and fall prey to sloppy fundamentals from time to time. How do I know this? Because many of the people we work with admit to receiving each investment statement and simply doing the ol’ “Is it up …
Briefcase Study: “So, compared to others, how are we doing?”
This question came up recently and it comes up often and I love it when people have the courage to ask. Don’t you secretly want to know if you’ve saved more than your friends or if your income is higher? It’s easy to tell if your house is bigger or if your car is more expensive. But when it comes …
