Financial Planning Archives

December 15, 2024

Published by Brad Horn on December 15, 2024

Categories

Financial Planning

The Path for Roth IRA Conversions

Roth IRA Conversions Introduction Roth IRA conversions are a powerful tool for tax and retirement planning. A Roth IRA conversion is a financial strategy that allows individuals to move funds from a standard retirement account, such as a Traditional IRA or 401(k), into a Roth IRA. The conversion can have […]

December 3, 2024

Published by Brad Horn on December 3, 2024

Categories

Financial Planning

Download – Important Numbers 2025

2025 Important Planning Numbers Download There are lots of important numbers that we work with in financial, tax, and retirement planning. At the same time, there are many core numbers our clients ask us about and need to keep in mind. In some cases, those numbers change each year. Other […]

October 16, 2024

Published by Brad Horn on October 16, 2024

Categories

Financial Planning

Medicare Plan Update 2025

Medicare 2025 – Key Changes and Demographics Today is the beginning of the 2025 open enrollment for Medicare. In response, I share a recent article from the Wall Street Journal. The article is noteworthy as it reveals new challenges tied to the annual contracting process for Medicare Advantage (MA) programs. […]

October 10, 2024

Published by Brad Horn on October 10, 2024

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Download – REIT Masterclass

The MasterClass on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) was taught October 7, 2024 at the Magrath Library, UofM St. Paul campus. The focus on REITs is part of an ongoing series of classes on retirement planning that looks at the building blocks for income generation. For example, a REIT is […]

March 28, 2024

Published by Brad Horn on March 28, 2024

Categories

Financial Planning

Download – Bond Market Masterclass

The Bond Market MasterClass was taught March 27, 2024 at the Magrath Library, UofM St. Paul campus. The Bond Market MasterClass navigates the intricate world of fixed income markets. The bond market can be daunting since there are so many different kinds of fixed income securities. The course reviewed each […]

October 23, 2023

Published by Brad Horn on October 23, 2023

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ETF Fund Flows: October 20, 2023

ETF Fund Flows – October 20, 2023 ETF fund flows define the net dollar inflows and outflows for exchange traded funds over predefined periods. Fund flows are useful to identify market trends. The data broadly reveals the rotations investors make as they shift their funds across different assets, market sectors, […]

October 19, 2023

Published by Brad Horn on October 19, 2023

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Treasury Yields and the Probability of a Recession

Treasury Yields and the Probability of Recession The Treasury yield curve depicts the interest rates on debt for different maturities. Analyzing changes in the yield curve can provide valuable insights into the market’s expectations for future economic conditions. This article explores the relationship between Treasury yields and the probability of […]

September 9, 2023

Published by Brad Horn on September 9, 2023

Categories

Financial Planning

The Roth 401K versus The Traditional 401K

Roth 401K vs. Traditional 401K The Roth 401K was built on a simple idea: Save today and get a tax break tomorrow. This is the inverse of the traditional 401K, where workers set aside money to save for tomorrow and they get a tax break today. The Roth 401K is […]

August 28, 2023

Published by Brad Horn on August 28, 2023

Categories

Financial Planning

New Law Impacts the 401k Catch-Up Rule

Last week, the IRS announced new changes to the 401k catch-up rule. Previously, the IRS required high-earners to place their catch-up savings in Roth accounts with no immediate tax benefit. The new rule allows savers age 50 and older to make catch-up contributions to pre-tax accounts for two more years. […]

August 14, 2023

Published by Brad Horn on August 14, 2023

Categories

Financial Planning

How to Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA

How to Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA Introduction to QCDs A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is an allocation from an individual retirement account (IRA) to a qualifying charity. Internal Revenue Code Section 408(d)(8) contains the guidelines for doing a QCD. This article summarizes the rules in simple […]