-David Bronstein, chess grandmaster and tactical genius.
The new Retirement Plan Contribution Limits are official!The following limits are going up for 2026: Maximum contributions for 401(k), 403(b) and 457 increased to $24,500 Maximum contributions for SIMPLE retirement accounts increased to $17,000 Maximum contributions for Defined Contribution Limit increased to
Checklist for Keeping Participants InformedWant fewer questions and better outcomes during plan changes? Start with clear, step-by-step communication. A strong participant communication checklist helps plan sponsors share plan updates clearly, confidently, and on time. When your retirement plan changes,
5 Advanced Tax Strategies for EmployersElevating the value of your retirement Plan Imagine this: It’s year-end and your CPA just reviewed your projected tax bill. Despite contributing to your 401(k), maximizing deductions, and running a profitable business, you’re still writing
Recognizing and Avoiding Online ScamsAccording to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the annual number of records exposed rose 126% in 2018, even while the annual number of data breaches fell by 23%. The business sector experienced 46% of the
CARES Act Legislation SummaryUpdated April 1, 2020 CARES Act Legislation Summary On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. A portion of the Act is intended to
Staying the CourseDuring times of uncertainty and market volatility, while it is prudent for plan participants to “stay the course”, it is also prudent for them to review their investment strategies to ensure they are on the
Q4 2019 Market ReviewFollow the link for the 4th Quarter 2019 Market Review. Q4 2019 Market Review
Fee SocialismAs a child I often heard my dad saying, “What’s fair isn’t equal and what’s equal isn’t fair.” Most times he said this in response to my complaints about the unfairness of something I was
If You are Not Taking Your Retirement Plan Out to Bid Right now, You Should.We have been taking our clients plans to live bid on a 36 month cycle for the last 12 years, it’s actually a part of our service plan. The results of those bid proposals, in
Perception vs. RealityThe popular phrase “perception is reality” is often used to express the idea that how things really are is based on a person’s perspective. While this may be true in certain areas of life, this
The “Show Me” MantraThere is a lot to love living in Missouri. If you take just a little time to research the history and geography or our state you will find it is a very unique and special
Ringing in the New Year!Ringing in the New Year should bring with it the optimism of being part of a better future. Whether you are pursuing a better future with your health or with your finances we recommend addressing
Wishing you and your family a Happy Holidays!The holiday season can be a trying time because all things in relationship and life are not as we desire them to be. We offer this perspective in thinking of the upcoming holiday season: Change is
Two quick practices to get and keep employees savingA good plan sponsor should be focused on designing and implementing a retirement plan that creates successful outcomes for employee participants. Part of that design includes features that help participants save more, remove barriers to
What’s Your Ratio?Just kidding. I’m not retiring. I can’t afford it. But thanks for the cake with my name on it. Have you ever reflected on your years in high school math? Take a moment and think
How Creating The Best Plan Benefits More Than Just Your Employees Financial SecurityRecently, my 10 year old son finished a very successful spring season of competitive baseball. The team did well; it had a winning record, two tournament championships and a World Series event. During the season,
Why Do You Have a Plan?The question we most often ask business owners or plan sponsors is “why do you have a plan?” Charlie Epstein, author of Paychecks for Life — How to Turn Your 401(k) into a Paycheck Manufacturing
Nose Goes and Fiduciary LiabilityHave you ever had two very dissimilar things come to mind simultaneously? And while pondering both, did you realize there really is a thread that connects the two? I drew a connection between two seemingly
Fiduciary 101: You Might Be a FiduciaryIn our last blog post, we talked about the definition of a fiduciary and what that means in the financial services realm. As a reminder, you are a fiduciary if you exercise discretionary control over
An Introduction to Fiduciary 101—What is a Fiduciary?Recently I conducted an informal and unscientific poll about the word “fiduciary.” I asked several people, “What is the definition of fiduciary?” The answers were very revealing. Overall, the general population (of informally and
Welcome to the new Nicklas Financial!Hi All, Welcome to the new Nicklas Financial blog — your resource for an inside look at Nicklas Financial and all the latest on trending topics in the financial services industry. I wanted to take
Top 10 Reasons You Should Join the Nicklas Team:Top 10 Reasons You Should Join the Nicklas Team: 10. You’re top-notch – which is our favorite notch. We’d get along great. 9. Access to services from the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer. 8. Local attention