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 she shares a few things about herself–and her yummy recipe for taco soup. Tell us about yourself. I grew up on a small dairy […]
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 has slightly different features. A 529 college savings plan lets you save money for college in an individual investment account that offers federal […]
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 the future, and this can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. When the time comes for you to take […]
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 insurance company’s new name? Which broker is with which firm, and in which office are they located? This leads […]
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 officer colleague who works at one of our great local nonprofit organizations. Wanting clarification, I asked more […]
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 those age 50 or older remains at $1,000. You can contribute to both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA in 2018, but your total contributions can’t exceed these annual limits.
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 municipal bonds, the interest they generate is typically exempt from federal taxation and state taxation in the state the bonds are issued. The interest […]
Meet Mary Carlson
Mary Carlson is a senior administrative associate who works primarily with personal trusts. She also is a huge sports fan and makes a fabulous Christmas Eve Lasagna. Below she shares a few things about herself—and her recipe! Tell us about yourself. I was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, but moved to Fargo when I […]
Tax Moves to Review Before Ringing in the New Year
Here are 10 things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Reserve time to plan. Effective planning requires that you have a good understanding of your current tax situation, as well as a reasonable estimate of how your circumstances might change next year. There’s a […]
We Strive to Serve You Well
In an effort to stay engaged with those we serve, we are excited to launch our new company newsletter. We hope we can provide some insightful information to simplify your life, whether you’re tapping into your IRA accounts, administering a 401(k) plan, being named the beneficiary of a trust, or thinking about how to pass […]
