News

Planning Your Retirement Budget (2 min. read) For those on the cusp of retirement, or forced into earlier-than-expected retirement, you may have done some numbers in your head to figure out whether you will have “enough” saved and coming in (from Social Security, a pension, your 401K, or passive investments) to last through the golden years. According to the U.S. Census for 2021, the average age of retirement for men in the U.S. is 65, and for women, 62. The statistics vary from source to source, some say the average retirement age is 66. With people living longer due

Considering Downsizing? Housing Market Trends (2.5 minute read) The U.S. housing inventory is historically low; prices are strong versus historical rates, and prices are increasing in double digit increments annually in nearly every market. This real estate boom is resulting in faster sales times. The shortage of homes makes it hard to meet demand from buyers. As of the first quarter this year, the housing inventory was a record 29% lower than it was a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. That caused the time on the market, on average, to fall to 20 days or

The Vantage Way  (4 min. read) As fee-based Wealth Advisors, we consistently meet and talk with new people every day. Some interactions are simply surface level that start and end in the same sentence. Others are icebreakers that end up being the beginning of a long-term relationship. Meeting new people is an important part of our routine; it’s how we got started in this relationship business and it’s why we are one of the fastest growing Registered Investment Advisors in the Midwest. First and foremost, we have the best clients that not only inspire us to bring value to

The Biden Administration’s Tax Rate Proposals – Impacts to Consider (2 min. read) Naturally there is a great deal of speculation on the current capital gains tax increase proposal. Headlines in the news center on President Biden’s proposal to raise the U.S. capital gains tax rate for Americans earning $1 million per year or more from investment income. If enacted by Congress into the tax code, it could affect several aspects of the overall economy, not to mention individuals and corporations and their long-term investing. Every time there is an administration or political majority change there is talk of

Raising Money-Smart Kids (2 minute read) To say that “times have changed” since boomers were children is a vast understatement. Now, twelve-year olds are using debit cards and apps to track their allowance, pay for things, and auto-deducting from their accounts. Even churches take cash-less, check-less offerings. And the impatient stares given at the grocery store to those paying by check? Awful. Here are a few tips on affecting change in personal finance education for kids, teens, and family members starting their lives independently – hopefully, without repeating some of our mistakes. 1. Be part of helping the schools

Estate Planning – A Primer on Moving Forward (3 minute read)by Matt Niedeberbaumer, Partner & Senior Wealth AdvisorOften, a client will begin with the common question, “Do I need a trust?” And, of course without knowing all the information, professionals (myself included) can’t simply determine the answer with a “yes” or “no”.In estate planning, as with all the other financial planning we do, many tools including trusts are selectively used to customize the work for each client. To that end, trusts, wills, family limited partnerships, an s-corporation, c-corporation, LLC, or LLP can be useful in the right situation.WHO, WHAT, WHEN:

Don't Just Focus on the Win by Ben Uphoff Vantage Partner & Wealth Advisor (1 minute read) Winning? Everyone wants to win, but the hard part is having the will to prepare to win…as Vince Lombardi once said. Whether your “win” a trophy at the end of a race, a promotion at work, or a portfolio that provides stability and security for you, it is important to focus on more than just getting the win. Sometimes, we become so focused on the result of reaching a goal that we forget why we wanted it or what got us there.

Thoughts on Time Management (1 min. read) By the end of March, a quarter of this “new year” will be behind us! Most of us had a goal of getting more done or doing a better job of managing time; it’s a big club. Here are a few tips for recapturing a wasted hour here and there and directing it to more productive use: • Daily planning. The saying goes, “plan your work and then work your plan.” At night, write down a plan to control the precious resource that is the next 24 hours. Arrange the daily plan

Planning Next Steps for SC Johnson Employees(3 minute read)What is currently happening?We understand this is an important time in your life. As a fiduciary financial advisor, we are ready to help you avoid costly mistakes and make a successful financial plan. When you are contemplating retirement, it is incredibly important to make the best decisions for your family. We’ve helped many SCJ employees transition into retirement or their next chapter in life, and we can successfully navigate this road with you as well.Here are ways we help SCJ employees:Should you take Lump sum pension or annuity option?• Start date? Do

“This Time, It’s Different.”  (< 1 minute read) Those are the four most dangerous words in investing, according to Sir John Templeton. He could have meant a few different things by that. Possibly, referring to the human tendency to think we won’t make the same mistake twice. Or thinking the stock market will behave differently than it has in similar conditions in the past. Or arguing that history will not repeat. A belief that current exceptional market conditions are justified by special circumstances (think tech stocks in the 1980s, or housing and subprime mortgages in the early 2000s) often