Blog

The holiday season is upon us; from story time with sorely missed grandchildren to laughter with friends and family over long-cherished memories, there's little doubt that "the most wonderful time of the year" has arrived.For most...

Tax Loss Harvesting

Mike Roozeboom

Monday, December 12, 2022

We just finished up another year of harvesting crops here in Iowa.  As we head into the end of the year, investors should think about harvesting their portfolio.There is an old saying, it’s not what you earn but what...

Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple ofyears, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...

Growing optimism that the Fed may be ready to ease future interest rate hikes sent stocks higher in a quiet trading week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.53%. The Nasdaq...

The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.Individual Retirement...

October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had...

Assess Life Insurance NeedsIf your family relies on your income, it’s critical to consider having enough life insurance to provide for them after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an overlooked aspect of personal...

Lately, "inflation" seems to be the media's favorite word. Everywhere you turn, there's another story about the impact of inflation. For example, many news outlets have reported that confectionary prices have surged over 30% from last...

First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm. This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and...

Constant Change

Carol Sutterfield, CRPS

Monday, October 10, 2022

Now that we are slowly coming out of the COVID pandemic we can look back and acknowledge some changes we have all made as a result.  Many have chosen to retire completely, changed jobs to something that allows them to work full...

The White House recently forgave up to $10,000 to student loan borrowers as part of a larger debt forgiveness program. There are still quite a few questions to be answered, but here are some key points to know.Pell vs. non-Pell: Loan...

Have you ever heard the expression, "What's the smart money doing?""Smart money" is an expression that often refers to experts and suggests that well-informed people have a better perspective on current events and what actions to take....

Evolution of the Game

John D. Evans, AIF®

Monday, September 19, 2022

I was finishing my golf season with a college buddy at a member-guest.  We came up a little short, but it was a fun way to wrap up my competitive golf season...

I’m hearing a lot of mixed messages these days about the economy. Some headlines say we’re already in a recession; some say one is looming. Others hint that we’ll avoid a recession and have a soft landing. It makes...

Feeling Loss

Jason Strandberg

Thursday, August 18, 2022

So often my conversations surround the potential of principal loss when it comes to investing. Rightfully so, there is no shortage of examples and studies around human beings feeling loss twice as much as the joy of gain. I don't see...

These days, an encouraging word can feel like a relief. Here are a few positive stories I’ve noticed lately – like an “everything bagel” sprinkled with good news.I saw a recent report in The Guardian about the...

With half the year behind us, now is a great time to consider what the remainder of 2022 may hold. However, with inflation and economic uncertainty causing many of us to delay or cancel vacations, large purchases, and more, it can be...

Remember when a college education was reasonably priced? In the past 20 years, the cost of college tuition for public universities has risen 165%. College students and their families have been taking on more and more debt, and they are...

A survey of Baby Boomers found that due to the pandemic, 52% of those who are not yet retired are concerned about being able to retire.

Consolidating and simplifying your portfolio may help you keep track of assets and stay on top of your portfolio's results more easily. Complex investments may cause you to make a mistake—and some errors might be costly.

When it comes to retirement planning, financial professionals find that the same issues come up over and over. Here are seven considerations that every investor should think about when it comes to retirement planning.

As your children grow older, it's important to share key financial, medical, and estate planning information with them. Awareness of this information can help you be confident that your affairs will be managed if needed.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing uses the same principles as socially responsible investing. However, ESG screening takes it one step further by selecting measurable ESG factors of each company.

Through charitable giving, you can support causes you believe in and lock in tax benefits simultaneously. The giving methods you choose, what you give, and when you give can help you maximize your impact and minimize your tax burden.

If your income hits a certain level, you may face an additional wrinkle in calculating your taxes: the net investment income tax.

What will you look for as you approach your "golden" years? Sunshine and the beach at your feet, or colder climates with your favorite cross-country skiing course outside your door? An affordable condo on the golf course with room for...