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Thursday, June 1, 2023

Over the last couple of years doctors have made clear the benefits of regular physical activity, especially for older adults. In fact, adults 65 and older gain substantial health benefits from regular physical activity. Being...

Thursday, May 25, 2023

In December 2022, Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act. It introduced two new rules relating to 529 plans and student debt that will take effect in 2024.The first provision allows for tax- and penalty-free rollovers from a 529 plan to a...

Thursday, May 18, 2023

The use of mobile payment apps and person-to-person (P2P) payments are more popular than ever, giving businesses and consumers the ability to send and receive money instantly. According to a recent study, the share of P2P payments made...

Thursday, May 4, 2023

A March 2023 survey found that more than 90% of Americans worry about the Social Security program, and about half of those said they worry a great deal.1 A separate survey the same month found that more than 80% of Americans worry...

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Approximately 78% of people who work for companies with fewer than 10 employees and about 65% of those who work for companies with 10 to 24 employees do not have access to a retirement plan at work. That's unfortunate, because...

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Thursday, April 20, 2023

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed as part of an omnibus spending bill in December 2022, added new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The Act also expanded an...

Thursday, April 13, 2023

As the morning sunlight peeked through the curtains hanging in the back of my grandparents’ motorhome, I squinted my eyes open and stretched out my arms as my body readied itself for the day. It’s hard to say if it was...

Thursday, April 6, 2023

When was the last time you spring cleaned your house? Many of us do some form of spring cleaning in our homes regularly.1 But what about our financial "homes"? It can be easy to forget about the...

Thursday, March 23, 2023

The tax filing deadline is fast approaching, which means time is running out to fund an IRA for 2022. If you had earned income last year, you may be able to contribute up to $6,000 for 2022 ($7,000 for those age 50 or older by December...

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Regulators seized the assets of SVB on Friday, March 10. There was a “run on the bank” because depositors were anxious about the overall health of the bank. This represents the second-largest bank failure in the U.S. and the biggest since..

Thursday, March 2, 2023

On January 19, 2023, the outstanding debt of the U.S. government reached its statutory limit, commonly called the debt ceiling. The current limit was set by Congress at about...

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible. Let's take a quick look at the five most...

Thursday, February 16, 2023

As a financial advisor, people often ask me: How's the economy doing? Answer: It's complicated. After the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates again (but less than last time) and all the market volatility, it's a good time to talk about...

Thursday, February 9, 2023

As the biggest sporting event of the year approaches, football fans all over the nation (including us) are gearing up for the Big Game on Sunday, February 12, at 6:30 PM ET. For many, Sunday means a day of tasty tailgating and...

Thursday, February 2, 2023

The IRS announced that the starting date for when it would accept and process 2022 tax-year returns was Monday, January 23, 2023.Tips for making filing easierTo speed refunds and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the...

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Long-term bonds generally provide higher yields than short-term bonds, because investors demand higher returns to compensate for the risk of lending money over a longer period. Occasionally, however, this relationship flips, and...

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

It’s that time of year again… That time of year when Honda lump sum rates are declared.  The good news is that you have until no later than March 1st to weigh what makes more sense to you (i.e. when to retire and if...

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

As we wrap up the 2022, we hope you’ve been able to spend quality time with your families and loved ones.  The start of a new year can be exciting in many ways! But we also put an end to some things – one of those...

Thursday, December 8, 2022

The Biden administration has announced another extension for repayment of federal student loans to an unspecified date in 2023 due to legal challenges that have blocked implementation of the student loan debt relief program. The...

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Did you know that, if you are at least 70½ years old, you can make tax-free charitable donations directly from your IRA? By making what's called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), you can benefit your favorite charity...

Thursday, November 10, 2022

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached...

Thursday, November 3, 2022

In late September 2022, the U.S. dollar hit a 20-year high in an index that measures its value against six major currencies: the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound, the Canadian dollar, the Swedish krona, and the Swiss franc. At...

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. Number 1: Consider opportunities to defer income to 2023, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax...

Thursday, September 22, 2022

The CHIPs and Science Act of 2022, signed into law on August 9, is a bipartisan legislation package that provides more than $50 billion in direct financial assistance for semiconductor companies to increase U.S.-based design, research,...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. If you haven’t reviewed your insurance profile in a while, you may be surprised that what made sense in the past no longer fits your life. Here are some ways to quickly evaluate your...

Thursday, September 1, 2022

On August 24, 2022, just a few days before federal student loan repayment was set to resume, President Biden announced a plan for additional student loan debt relief.Federal student loan repayment was originally halted in March 2020 at...

Thursday, August 25, 2022

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is, saving for your retirement and your child's education at the same time can be a challenge....

Thursday, August 18, 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, includes health-care and energy-related provisions, a new corporate alternative minimum tax, and an excise tax on certain corporate stock buybacks. Additional funding is...

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is an annual conference where leaders from all over the world, and across multiple industries, share (via telecast) their wisdom, inspiration, and experiences to help others grow in their leadership...

Friday, August 12, 2022

"Where there's a will, there's a way." Sage advice that applies not only to our lives but to your estate strategy.When was the last time you reviewed your will or estate strategy? August is National "Make a Will" Month, an excellent...

Thursday, August 4, 2022

What is your greatest fear surrounding retirement? If you ask some pre-retirees this question, "outliving my money" may be one of the top answers. In fact, 42% of workers say they fear outliving their savings and investments.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

As wealth advisors, most of the retirement questions we field from our prospective clients are centered around their financial landscape. It can be easy to believe that the timeline for retirement is determined purely by how many...

Thursday, July 21, 2022

The second quarter of 2022 was rough for markets, giving investors a grueling ride over the last few months. Driving the losses were stubbornly high inflation, rising interest rates, and recession concerns. However, there might be some...

Thursday, July 7, 2022

With approximately 94% of American workers covered by Social Security and 65 million people currently receiving benefits, keeping Social Security healthy is a major concern. Social Security isn't in danger of going broke...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

If you've recently changed jobs or are considering a career change, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan account. It's important to understand your options.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Each quarter, our organization collaborates with one of our content partners to produce a quarterly magazine called Wealth Today. Each edition has a little bit different flavor according to the season and it covers everything from...

Thursday, June 16, 2022

During the intensely volatile first 100 trading days of 2022, the stocks of companies in the S&P 500 index delivered their worst performance...

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Before you receive any Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will need to determine your eligibility. Remember that Social Security is an insurance system designed to pay you benefits during...

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Homebuyers braving the hot U.S. housing market have run headlong into a striking transition. The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage jumped from around 3.2% at the beginning of 2022 to 5.3% in mid-May, the highest level...

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Now that you've seen last year's tax results and can see where this year is heading, it may be a good time to consider adjustments to your income tax withholding.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Nearly three quarters of workers and 77% of retirees in a recent survey said they remain at least somewhat confident that they will experience a comfortable retirement, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute....

Friday, May 6, 2022

In March 2022, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the most common measure of inflation, rose at an annual rate of 8.5%, the highest level since December 1981.1 It's not surprising that a Gallup poll at the end...

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 changed the rules for taking distributions from retirement accounts inherited after 2019. The so-called 10-year rule generally requires inherited accounts...

Thursday, April 21, 2022

On April 6, the U.S. Department of Education announced a record sixth extension for federal student loan repayment, interest, and collections, through August 31, 2022.1 The fifth payment pause was set to end on April 30, 2022....

Thursday, April 14, 2022

I will never forget the time I traveled to Israel a few years ago. It was such a powerful life changing event for me as the scriptures seem to come alive in full living color. During those twelve days we saw so many spectacular...

Thursday, April 7, 2022

I’d like to start today with an admission: There's not much new perspective on current events I can offer. Markets are still locked in a volatile pattern and will probably continue that way for the foreseeable future. So instead...

Thursday, March 24, 2022

On March 16, 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25% to a target range of 0.25% to 0.50%. This is the beginning of a series of increases that the FOMC...

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Baseball stadiums are filled with optimists. Fans start each new season with the hope that even if last year ended badly, this year could finally be the year. After all, teams rally mid-season, curses are broken, and even...

Thursday, March 10, 2022

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), tax scams tend to increase during tax season and/or times of crisis.1 Now that tax season is in full swing, the IRS is reminding taxpayers to use caution and avoid becoming the...

Thursday, March 3, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn condemnation and punitive sanctions from the United States, Europe, and their allies. The humanitarian cost of war cannot be measured, and the long-term economic effects could take months or...

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Even though tax filing season is well under way, there's still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2021. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2021 ($7,000 if you...

Thursday, February 17, 2022

As we consider the tensions driving recent market movements, a Korean folk saying seems appropriate: "When whales fight, the shrimp's back is broken." The idea is that bystanders get hurt when big folks duke it out. What are the tensions?

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Thursday, January 6, 2022

On December 15, 2021, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve System made a significant shift in monetary policy in response to rising inflation. The Committee accelerated the reduction of its bond-buying program...

Thursday, December 30, 2021

As another eventful year comes to a close, we'd like to offer a heartfelt "thank you" for being part of the Dodds Wealth Advisors journey. We are so deeply grateful for your trust and presence in our business and we’re sending...

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here's a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2022 if you're enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Part B premiums According to the...

Thursday, December 2, 2021

The supply chain is the network by which products flow from the factories of suppliers to the inventories of retailers so they can ultimately be purchased by consumers. Corporate supply chains have been under pressure since the...

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Gratitude is an expression of appreciation for all we have in addition to being an affirmation of goodness and warmth.1 This Thanksgiving, there are so many things for which to be grateful: our families, our health, and our successes....

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022. Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts...

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Open enrollment is the window of time when employers introduce changes to their benefit offerings for the upcoming plan year. If you're employed, this is your once-a-year chance to make important decisions that will affect your...

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year. Defer Income to Next Year Consider opportunities to defer income to 2022, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax bracket then....

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, which means today's workers are paying taxes for the benefits received by today's retirees. However, demographic trends such as lower birth rates, higher retirement rates, and longer life...

Thursday, September 30, 2021

How long has it been since you’ve reviewed your Medicare policy? With open enrollment fast approaching, there are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before you renew, add, drop, or switch coverage. Have you switched...

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names. The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Healthcare can be one of the priciest yet essential parts of life’s journey. And yet, many struggle to utilize the financial tools that may help. Take Health Saving Accounts (HSAs), for example. In 2019, 55% of those with HSAs...

Thursday, September 9, 2021

The U.S. housing market, already strong before the pandemic, has heated up to record levels in 2021. The Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, which measures home prices in 20 major metropolitan areas, reported a 12-month...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Two large infrastructure bills have taken important steps to advance in Congress. Here's where they stand: On August 10, 2021, the Senate passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, to be named the Infrastructure Investment...

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Your workplace retirement account can play a critical role in your overall retirement strategy. However, some have gone further with the accounts than others, especially recently. CNBC reported on findings that place 401(k) accounts...

Thursday, July 8, 2021

If you pay attention to financial news, you are probably seeing a lot of discussion about inflation, which has reared its head in the U.S. economy after being mostly dormant for the last decade. In May 2021, the Consumer Price Index...

Thursday, June 24, 2021

One of the most anticipated comebacks of 2021 isn’t an athlete, rock star, or movie franchise. It’s summer travel, and it appears to be back with a vengeance. Travel agents are working 14-hour days to meet the needs of...

Thursday, May 27, 2021

How much inflation can the country afford before we're in trouble? Let's discuss. First, let's get on the same page about some basics. If you've noticed the price of a thing increasing over time (say, your favorite candy bar or the...

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Cryptocurrency isn’t the black sheep it once was. It’s hit the mainstream, and it’s grabbing up more headlines and investors than ever before. These days, about 1 in 7 Americans own some type of cryptocurrency. And a...

Thursday, May 6, 2021

May 6, 2021 Will your retirement dreams match your reality? That's perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are currently retired. Was your retirement what you expected, or was it something else? For more than 30 years,...

Thursday, April 29, 2021

April 29, 2021 A recent survey shows that 63% of investors are more interested in protecting their financial assets and planning for uncertainty in the future than anything else.1 There are many reasons for this change, but here are a...

Friday, April 23, 2021

April 23, 2021 Recently, you may have seen reports that a record-low number of homes are available for sale—roughly 1.03 million nationwide. If you compare that to the average number of homes for sale during the past 10 years,...

Thursday, March 18, 2021

March 18, 2021 Major League Baseball scheduled Opening Day for April 1, but two states have already scored with spring training underway. Every year, spring training divides the 30 MLB teams into two squads. Half of the teams travel...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021 At this time last year, it was still unknown that a deadly global pandemic was on the rise, eventually stalling economic growth and sending crude oil prices into negative territory. But recently, oil prices have surged,...

Thursday, February 18, 2021

February 18, 2021 It can be easy to overlook the nation’s solid economic fundamentals when the financial media splashes stories every day about an army of amateur traders, short-selling mania, and initial public offerings (IPOs)...

Thursday, February 11, 2021

February 11, 2021 Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 46.4 million U.S. households. And Roth IRAs, created as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act in 1997, are owned by nearly...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

February 4, 2021 By now, you have likely read, or at least seen, something about Gamestop in the news. What exactly happened? Well, here’s a quick guide to the market frenzy you’re seeing in the headlines. What is GameStop...

Thursday, January 14, 2021

January 14, 2021 Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing, and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you’re driving to work,...

Thursday, January 7, 2021

January 7, 2021 After a bit of political posturing in December, the $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (2021 CAA) was signed into law by President Trump as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact employers and...

Thursday, December 24, 2020

December 24, 2020 What would Christmastime be without your favorite holiday movie playing on the TV? I know for our family, the Christmas season hasn't officially begun until we see Scott Calvin float up into the air with Santa's bag...

Thursday, December 17, 2020

December 17, 2020 The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty...

Friday, December 4, 2020

December 4th, 2020 We know that the calendar hasn't quite flipped yet. But we thought it was still a good time to reflect on the past year. It's certainly easy to want to turn the page on 2020 and never look back, but we would be...

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the name says it all. Taking time to cultivate gratitude is especially important when times are tough. Sharing your blessings and offering thanks to family and friends can lighten your...

Thursday, November 19, 2020

With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your...

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Now that several major news groups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election—and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of...

Thursday, November 5, 2020

With all the election chatter and stock market volatility, it may have been easy to miss the ongoing uptrend in long-term interest rates. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is sitting just below 1%. Just a few...

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Do you remember a board game called Mouse Trap? For a little boy that loved tinkering with things, it was the perfect mix of competition, science, and fun. I haven't played it for...

Thursday, October 22, 2020

On October 13, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021. This adjustment will begin with...

Friday, October 16, 2020

When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent...

Thursday, October 8, 2020

It should come as no surprise to hear the economy is the top issue for voters in the 2020 election. Nearly 8 in ten voters say that the economy will be very important to them when they cast their votes. But when...

Friday, October 2, 2020

A U.S. drug company recently said that it’s in late-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine and reported that it could be given to Americans as early as the end of the year. Great news. But it seems like every...

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Have you found yourself at your local hardware store more often this year? How about the closest Home Depot, or Menard's? I know I certainly have. Just this calendar year, we have installed 1,200 square feet of...

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Football is back, which means Summer is coming to a close, days will get shorter, and sweaters will soon be in play. This year, there was no pre-season, so...

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Most recently, you may have read that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a change in how the Fed views inflation. In the past, the Fed said it would consider adjusting short-term rates when inflation...

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup. Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc. and Honeywell International Inc. have...

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Two high-profile companies—Apple and Tesla—have announced stock splits in the past few weeks, which makes it a great time to discuss what’s involved when a company announces a stock split. Remember, any companies...

Thursday, July 2, 2020

2020 is destined to become an indelible chapter in American history. In just six months, we have suffered a pandemic, encountered economic and financial disruption, and tackled civil justice issues. After all that, we deserve a...

Saturday, June 20, 2020

As a father of two boys ages 5 and 3, I am continually reminded of the importance of being a present and involved father. I could provide numerous studies and statistics around this truth, but I would rather speak more from the heart...

Friday, May 22, 2020

In honor of Memorial Day, I’d like to tell you a story about a man named Ben Salomon. Ben Salomon was a dentist. He went to school, got his degree, and started his own dental practice at the age of 23. The most trying ordeal he...

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Growing up we don’t realize the type of sacrifices that our mothers make for us on a daily basis. They are always the one that will forget about their own needs to serve and support their children. They never ask for any type of...

Saturday, April 11, 2020

I have always loved Easter weekends as it is usually the first family gathering of the year for the traditional egg hunt, games, food, and all the festivities. Of course, this year is very different for all of us. Because of COVID 19,...

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The CARES Act is designed “to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.”3 Think of it as a kind of massive care package. Just...

Monday, March 30, 2020

In late February, concern that efforts to contain Coronavirus Disease 2019 (a.k.a. COVID-19) might result in slower global economic growth disrupted global markets. Share prices fell as economists and financial analysts revised growth...

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Did you know that giving thanks – thinking of the blessings and happy moments you experience each day – can improve your life? According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can actually make you healthier. The many...

Thursday, September 5, 2019

My family and I recently had the privilege of attending the Money Concepts financial planning conference in Normandy, France. What I found, while walking the area of Omaha Beach, is that it is difficult to put into words what happened there

Monday, August 26, 2019

Think about a time where you were influenced by somebody else, where maybe somebody said something that had a great impact on your life or just simply helped you in a time of need. When you think of that...

Sunday, July 7, 2019

A Prescription for Dementia Prevention If you’ve ever played a party game that asks you to make difficult decisions, you may have run into a question like this one: Would you rather enjoy good physical health all of your life or...

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

As we gather together with friends and family this 4th of July may we all be reminded of the cost of freedom.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

I’m at the beach or doing something fun because if it weren’t for your courage, I would not have the opportunities that I have today! I consider what you did for our family not only courageous but also heroic because so...