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When There’s a Will, There Might Not Be a Way
A client came to see me about his retirement plan. Bill had done well and was ready to enjoy some of the benefits he’d been saving for all his life. Bill had divorced his first wife a decade earlier, and moved on to a new partner. “Bill, there’s something a lot of...
You Expect the HR Director to Do What?
Bea took a seat next to her friend Maria at the monthly SHRM chapter meeting. “Maria how are you? I was hoping I’d run into you. I have an HR question for you.” Maria smiled. “Always good to see you. How can I help?” Bea took a breath. “I’ve got the insurance stuff...
The Cost of Success
Two lawyers were talking at a chamber of commerce breakfast. Both owned successful, growing practices. “Ah, but that success comes with a price,” said Bill. “I’m happy that my firm is doing well but it’s my firm. I want to set up a retirement plan that doesn’t involve...
Managing a 401K? Get Out of Jail Free!
Sally sounded frantic on the phone. “You helped my friend Karen at the c0m0any she works for and I’m hoping you have a solution for me. Competition for talented employees is fierce. Business is up and I am using every resource at my disposal to fill the positions we...
Your Retirement Plan’s Beneficiary Form – The Most Important Form You Never Thought About
People get divorced and people die. Those are just facts of life. And after a divorce is finalized, folks need to put their new lives in order. Changes are made to the beneficiaries on their life insurance policies and wills get changed. New, separate bank...
Good News From The IRS (No, That’s Not A Typo)
Section 201 of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE – our government will do almost anything for an acronym) permits an employer to adopt a retirement plan after the close of the employer’s tax year. This provision applies to plans...
The Mega-Backdoor Roth Conversion Strategy – The Devil’s In The Details
In Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, an article appeared on a strategy known as the mega-backdoor Roth conversion. We all know that contributions to a Roth account are made with after-tax dollars and that the earnings grow on a tax free basis. The article referenced...
COVID-19 And Its Impact On Employees Who Have Been Laid Off And Their Vested Benefits From Their 401(k) Plans
Lost in the tumult of the last few weeks is a rather significant piece of pension legislation that was buried in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 that was signed into law on December 27, 2020. You know it more for its granting an extra $600 to Americans that...
COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON DIVORCE & RETIREMENT PLANS
I have read various articles about the impact that the Pandemic is having on married couples and divorce. Some articles suggest that with couples forced to spend more time together, that they have decided to hit the pause button on moving forward with their divorce....
THE CLOCK IS TICKING…
Most of the deadlines for various forms of relief provided by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act have passed. But not all. However, as we wait for this awful year to finally be over, there are deadlines looming wuth regards to utilizing...
COVID-19 vs. THE GREAT RECESSION of 2008-2009 – WHICH WAS WORSE?
Choosing which is worse, the COVID-19 pandemic or the Great Recession of 2008 is like being asked to choose between having a root canal or a colonoscopy. They are both awful but they are awful in different ways. In terms of retirement plans though, it is certainly...
WHERE’S MY DEDUCTION?
In the timeless children’s book Are You My Mother?, a baby bird goes in search of his mother. When a mother bird’s egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for her little one to eat. But as soon as she’s gone, out pops the baby bird. He...
Madison Pension Services is now known as Concierge Retirement Services.