We’ve all been there. Stuck in traffic. Blood pressure rising. Four lanes apparently nowhere near enough to efficiently funnel all the vehicles to their intended destination. You cannot fathom what in the world is causing this crawl of a pace. In a desperate attempt to expedite your trip, you quickly weave into the paralleling lane that appears to be moving faster than yours. Five seconds later, you are hitting the...
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Depending on your stage of life, current needs, or level of complexity, your financial advisor must be adept at playing a few key roles. Coach I’ve had some good coaches in my life. One of the things they did consistently well was provide highly directive leadership. They told us what we would be doing in practice. They told us what we would be doing in a game. They told me what I...
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By Monte L. Schatz of Vandenack Weaver LLC
When the topic of estate planning comes to mind, most individuals think about the distribution of their assets at death. The increased longevity of our population requires equal attention to diminished cognitive skills caused by dementia or other diseases that affect normal cognitive functioning. Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform... Read More
How might smart investors target the risk and return of their investment portfolio to meet the unique aspects of their total financial plans and goals? ...
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Photo Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Seal_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg/1024px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg.png
Semper Paratus. Always Ready. The motto of the United States Coast Guard makes an excellent guide for each of us financially, as well. Be ready – be prepared for any circumstance. Financially, this starts by building and maintaining an emergency fund –easily accessible funds set aside to meet unexpected expenses. I, like many of my clients, like to do this via... Read More
Photo Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Seal_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg/1024px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg.png
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the military that is often overlooked by us Iowans. This is understandable, given our significant lack of coastline that requires guarding! But recently, I spent time on campus of the Coast Guard Academy, and discovered the rich heritage of this proud military force. Founded in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton and... Read More
"You get what you pay for." is an old saying we all know. Ironically, the reverse can hold true when it comes to investing. Avoiding exorbitant fees and minimizing costs leave more dollars invested and growing. Dimensional Fund Advisors shares the academic basis to this simple truth and highlights that high-priced investments are often the underperformers. Stay diversified. [pdfjs-viewer url=/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DFA-Getting-What-You-Dont-Pay-For.pdf viewer_width=600px viewer_height=700px fullscreen=true download=false print=true openfile=false]...
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By Phil Goldsmith of LWBJ
Employees separating from service with their employer may realize a tax benefit if they hold employer stock or securities within their company 401(k) plan. A little-known rule within the tax code allows the Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) within the employer stock to be distributed without being subject to immediate taxation. The rule allows an individual to convert what would otherwise be ordinary income upon... Read More
When people come to Foster Group, it’s typically for one of the following reasons:
Let’s start by acknowledging reality. I belong to the millennial generation and I’ll be the first to tell you we have a few flaws. We’re known for our short attention spans and our propensity to quit our jobs or run off to a new place to “find ourselves” at the drop of a hat. We tend to get our news through social media and find ourselves stuck behind our phones...
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