Retirement Planning

Articles and resources related to Retirement Planning.

Should I Contribute to a Roth 401(k) Instead of the Traditional 401(k)?

Kevin Koski, CPA
Principal Tax Advisor
Published July 17, 2019

With many employer-based retirement plans (i.e. 401(k) or 403(b) plans) now offering a choice between making contributions into a Roth or a Traditional option, a conversation we frequently have with clients centers on the difference between contributing to one versus the other. As with most financial and tax planning questions, the answer depends a great deal on your personal situation, but there are several factors that are generally the most important to consider in deciding if a Roth is a ... [Continue Reading]

Reading the Fine Print — Optimizing Your Employer’s Retirement Plan

Matthew Rich, CFP^®, J.D.
Integrated Wealth Advisor
Published April 17, 2019

When new office employees are starting a new job, they often go through the same routine. The first few days are spent locating the break room, finding a good parking spot, and orienting to the cultural norms. Then there’s the meeting with human resources—you get a key card, complete payroll deduction paperwork, and review compliance documents. Dental insurance? Extra life insurance? How much should the company take out for 401(k) contributions? Pre-tax or after tax? Most people go with the ... [Continue Reading]

The Power of Budgeting

Cami Peterson, CPA, QPFC
Director of Retirement Plan Services
Published February 28, 2019

As we move quickly along into a new year and embrace the opportunity of fresh starts, we often experience feelings of hope, inspiration, and anticipation. A new year is a natural time to pause and evaluate what has gone well in the past and what we want to improve in the future. We set goals, make resolutions, and envision the future we want to create. Many individuals have goals relating to their finances. For some this may be to save for a large purchase or trip. For others this may be to save ... [Continue Reading]

Retirement Planning: Reflecting on the Journey

Callie Geist, CFP^®, J.D., MBA
Integrated Wealth Advisor
Published July 23, 2018

Co-Authored by Katy Vermeer Retirement planning involves a multi-faceted analysis that requires a combination of data gathering, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and discernment. It is an on-going process that offers peace of mind to our clients as their life goals evolve. As people approach their retirement years the number one question advisors are often asked is, “Do I have enough?” While the internet offers a host of formulas, calculators, and rules of thumb to answer this ... [Continue Reading]

2018 IRA Actions Related to your 2017 Tax Return

Posted on February 8, 2018

IRA’s (Individual Retirement Accounts) are one of the most common ways to save for retirement. Conceptually, they are familiar to many, but the details related to and surrounding these types of accounts can be confusing. Many investors are also familiar with Roth accounts, which are a type of an IRA. This time of year, January thru April 15, is a critical time to understand IRA parameters since during that time you can address both tax years--2017 and 2018. In this article by Jim Glass of The ... [Continue Reading]