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Meet Michelle Hoppe
Michelle Hoppe is an administrative associate who primarily supports personal trusts. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Early morning coffee dates are her favorite.
Below she sh...
Self-Trustee vs. Corporate Trustee for Your 401(k) Plan
Early in my career, I attended a three-day training in the Twin Cities for 401(k) plan administration. I met my niece one evening for dinner and she was shocked to hear that it took three days to trai...
Charitable Contributions from IRAs
<p>When planning your IRA withdrawal strategy, you may want to consider supporting a favorite charity with tax-free contributions from your IRA. These contributions are known as qualified charitable d...
Don’t Let Emotions Swing with the Markets
<p>It’s no secret that investing is an emotional process. Markets swing and news organizations take full advantage to pump their ratings and incite fear, oftentimes without fully understanding the e...
What are catch-up contributions?
<p>If you are 50 or older, or you will reach age 50 by the end of the year, you may be able to make contributions to your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan above the normal contribution limit....
Meet Denise Lies
Denise Lies is a senior administrative associate who primarily supports retirement plan administration. She enjoys cheering on her teenage sons and spending time on the farm where she grew up. Below s...
Are 529 college savings plans a good way to save for college?
Yes, they can be an excellent way to save for college. College savings plans are established by states and typically managed by an experienced financial institution designated by the state. Each plan ...
Caring for Your Aging Parents
Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but something you probably hope you never have to do. Caring for your aging parents means helping them plan for ...
Building Trust in Our Business
People often say the one constant in our lives is change. This has certainly been true in the financial industry. It’s hard to keep track of who’s who and who’s where. What is the bank or insura...
Giving to Charities in 2018
“I am not going to give to charity in 2018 because I can no longer receive a tax deduction for my gift.” This was the comment shared while I discussed the new 2018 tax laws with a development offi...
IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2018
The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA in 2018 is $5,500 (or 100 percent of your earned income, if less), unchanged from 2017. The maximum catch-up contribution for t...
Will I have to pay tax on my investment income?
Answer: The taxation of your investment income depends on several factors, including the type of investment income you have (e.g., tax exempt, ordinary, capital gain, or tax deferred). If you have mun...