Valerie Schmitz, CEPA, CPFA President
Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.
We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most importantly, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.
We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.
Newsletters
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Trusts — Not Just for Estate Taxes
In the past, trusts were often used to avoid estate taxes, but that purpose has become less important for most people with current high exemption amounts. However, a properly constructed trust can serve many other purposes for families of more modest means.
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A New Year, A New Opportunity to Save with a 529 Plan
This article explains how a 529 plan can help a family save for college, including recent changes that have made these plans more flexible.
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024
This article presents the IRS’ cost-of-living adjustments for 2024 that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.
Calculators
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Cash Flow Analysis
This Cash Flow Analysis form will help you weigh your income vs. your expenses.
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Cost of Retirement
Use this calculator to estimate how much income and savings you may need in retirement.
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IRA Eligibility
Use this calculator to determine whether you qualify for the different types of IRAs.
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Retirement Plan Early Distribution
Estimate how much would remain after paying income taxes and penalties if you took an early distribution from a retirement plan.