The SECURE Act
By Bryan Pratt | On December 30, 2019
On December 20, 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law. The SECURE Act contains 29 provisions, encompassing many aspects of financial planning and retirement saving. Once treasury regulations are released, nuances in interpreting this new law will become clearer. Until then, individuals are left to interpret the […]
Will the Market Keep Dropping?
By Bryan Pratt | On December 17, 2018
If you’re like many investors, you’re starting to worry. After all, the stock market has declined for the third month in a row, with the S&P 500 getting close to correction territory (i.e., down 10 percent from the peak). Plus, important trend lines (e.g., 200-day moving average) have been broken. Understandably, everyone wants to know […]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: What Taxpayers Need to Know
By Bryan Pratt | On December 22, 2017
On December 20, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the act or TCJA). The legislation makes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), including individual, corporate, and gift and estate taxation. The following piece highlights important changes affecting you and suggests potential […]
Minnesota Estate Tax
By Bryan Pratt | On September 13, 2017
As part of the state tax bill passed earlier this summer, the MN Estate Tax exemption will be increasing over the next few years (2017 to 2020.) The exemption was also retroactively increased from $1.8 million to $2.1 million for 2017. This change will allow the exemption to rise above the $2 million per person […]
MN Tax Deduction for 529 Plans
By Bryan Pratt | On August 3, 2017
Minnesota taxpayers now have the option of claiming either a state tax credit or deduction for contributions to a 529 college savings plan. This change goes into effect for the 2017 tax year. The first option is a deduction of up to $3,000 for a married couple filing jointly or $1,500 for all other filers […]
Secure Messages in Investor360®
By Bryan Pratt | On May 9, 2017
We are excited to announce a new secure messaging system that you can access right from Investor360°®. The next time you log in, you will notice a new Messages tab at the top of the page. Investor360° Messages functions much like other e-mail applications you may be familiar with and allows you to easily and securely: […]
Outlook 2017
By Bryan Pratt | On January 3, 2017
We started 2016 with the hope that it would be the year the economy normalized. But between the stock market pullback early in the year after the surprise Chinese devaluation; the political theater surrounding the primaries and general election; the ongoing volatility in the oil market; and the sudden surge in the dollar, which hit […]
2016 Midyear Update
By Bryan Pratt | On June 9, 2016
It has been an exciting year so far. With U.S. markets dropping 15 percent in the first quarter before rebounding, and many international markets having done worse, the red flag has been raised for market risks. With Europe continuing to wrestle with economic and political challenges, the prospect of a breakup of the union via […]
H&R Block® & TurboTax® Integration
By Bryan Pratt | On February 22, 2016
If you are using H&R Block® or TurboTax® software to complete your 2015 taxes, Investor360°® can now save you time by accurately transferring the investment account information you’ll need to complete your federal return. Take a look at the following brochures for instructions on how to access, select, and import everything you need safely and easily: H&R […]
Social Security Changes
By Bryan Pratt | On November 11, 2015
President Obama recently signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 into law. Among other things, this two-year budget deal contains several provisions designed to close perceived loopholes in social security claiming strategies. Those most likely to be affected by this legislation are individuals who have yet to claim their benefits and who planned to employ […]
