By Kevin Theissen The size of the US Tax Code has increased quite a bit over the last 100+ years. Two of our most important historical documents, the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence, have 272 and 1,337 words, respectively. Our federal tax code was formally established in 1913 and had 9,337 words. It…

By Kevin Theissen Much of the focus of the new relief package has been on the $600 payments to individuals, but the 5,000+ page act covers a lot more including, small business loans, funding for the Covid-19 vaccine and unemployment. Refundable tax credit The $600 individual payments, in addition to the $1,200 payment under the…

By Kevin Theissen After a year of living with the fear of Covid-19, many investors are hoping 2021 will bring a return to “normal,” even if the new normal may not be exactly like the old one. Optimism about the future has many investors feeling bullish, according to most of the sentiment surveys listed in…

By Kevin Theissen For many older adults, finding time to experience nature can be one of the greatest pleasures in retirement. And what better place to take in America’s splendor than one of our over 400 National Park Service sites? For over a century, generations of retirees have explored these stunning landscapes, marveled at the…

By Kevin Theissen Holiday shoppers may not have been racing into brick-and-mortar retail stores, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t shopping. Consumers have earmarked about $998 for spending on winter holidays, which include Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, according to the National Retail Federation. They plan to spend: Slightly less on gifts for family, friends, and…

By Kevin Theissen The premiums and coverages vary, and you must realize the differences. Medicare takes a little time to understand. As you approach age 65, familiarize yourself with its coverage options, costs, and limitations. Certain features of Medicare can affect health care costs and coverage. Some retirees may do okay with original Medicare (Parts…

By Kevin Theissen According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, productivity losses linked to employees not showing up for work cost employers approximately $225 billion annually, or over $1,600 per worker. Business owners and managers understand very well the rising cost of health care and the loss of productivity associated with absenteeism and…

By Kevin Theissen It has been estimated that fewer than 50% of adults have a will or other estate documents in place, which may not be entirely surprising. No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time thinking about what might happen once they’re gone. But a will is…

By Kevin Theissen 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 opportunity to review those six personal finance areas. Cash Management: This is a broad topic that can address…

By Kevin Theissen As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, “What will happen next if this person is elected?” or, “What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?” In reality, however, it isn’t easy to anticipate what may happen with the financial markets…

By Kevin Theissen Expectations vs. Reality Predicting exactly what your retirement will be like is about as impossible as a meteorologist predicting the weather correctly every single time. In fact, few retirees find their financial futures playing out precisely as they assumed. But understanding some of the more common assumptions about retirement may help you…

Due to Covid-19, Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, leading to a record amount of spending on home improvement. It’s not that big of a surprise since many Americans now find their homes are doing triple duty as a place to live, work, and learn. Homeowners are funneling more money into…

When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that today’s average 65-year-old woman will live to age 86½. Given these projections, it appears that a retirement of 20 years or longer might be in your…

by Kevin Theissen Some people in recent weeks may have been feeling that “the stock market seems to be doing so well but I’m not participating.” A look behind the headlines helps tell the story. A CNBC study found that between the stock market high on Feb. 19, 2020—and the new market high on Aug.…

By Kevin Theissen “Will I outlive my retirement money?” That’s one of the top fears for people who are starting to prepare for their retirement years. So I have to tilt my head a bit when I see headlines that say, “Here’s how much money Americans think they need to retire comfortably.” $1.9 million is…