We’ve Moved! 6121 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Joe Lucey

Traveling on a Fixed Income

by

Oh, the places you’ll go! Renowned author Dr. Seuss wrote a children’s book in 1990 that has become a popular graduation gift for young adults. Part of its message:1

“You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So … get on your way!”

Perhaps for some people, the time to travel is when they’re young — before they get enmeshed in a job or career, before they get married and have children, before their lifestyle becomes defined by the amount of their first mortgage. Some young adults have the means for planned travel, while others just throw a few things in a backpack and head out.

Other people spend their working lives dreaming of going off to Great Places once they retire. But whether you had the opportunity to travel when you were younger or are looking forward to the prospect in retirement, there’s no denying that it’s going to cost more than a few bucks. In fact, the older we get, the more some of us may expect a certain standard for travel (no youth hostels).

To make travel plans a part of your retirement, make it a part of your retirement strategy. In addition to calculating household expenses, consider incorporating a discretionary fund for vacationing away from home. We can help. Schedule time with us to review your current retirement income strategy and help you figure out ways to budget for your retirement travel plans.

Traveling once you’re on a fixed income can be a challenge, but it’s by no means impossible. Consider these tips to help you pursue your retirement travel dreams.2

  • Travel in the off-peak season, such as October or April for a popular beach locale. However, if you vacation during hurricane season (June 1 through Nov. 30), consider buying travel insurance.
  • Don’t rely solely on internet search-and-compare websites. If you have a specific hotel in mind, call it directly to request its best rate.
  • Use your credit card rewards points, a perk that many people don’t use. Rewards points may be used to pay for all or part of vacation expenses.
  • Be sure to ask whether a hotel, airline or other venue offers a discount for any memberships to which you belong, such as veterans groups, teacher associations or AAA.
  • The best time to book domestic flights is about 54 days out from the date you want to travel.3

Two of the biggest expenses in travel are transportation and lodging. Many retirees tackle both with a recreational vehicle (RV). By driving and sleeping in the same vehicle, it’s possible to see America on a reasonable budget. Plus, there are perks, such as being able to cook at home instead of dining out, sleeping on your own sheets and pillows, and not having to pack and unpack at every destination.

The federal government offers a lifetime “America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass” for only $80. This pass gains admittance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites throughout the United States.4 Also good to know: You can camp anywhere in a national forest unless posted otherwise (a practice called “dispersed camping”).5 In other words, if you don’t mind roughing it (no services will be available), you don’t have to book a campsite ahead of time.

RV travel can offer a wide range of experiences from rustic to luxurious. You can buy or rent an RV, depending on the scenario that best meets your travel and financial needs. However, renting an RV you’re considering purchasing may be a good way to take the vehicle — and this mode of vacationing — out for a test drive.6

When it comes to finding inexpensive ways to afford travel costs on a fixed income, remember these wise words from Dr. Seuss:7

“So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

And remember that Life’s

A Great Balancing Act.”

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 Dr. Seuss. Genius.com “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” https://genius.com/Dr-seuss-oh-the-places-youll-go-excerpt-annotated. Accessed Jan. 23, 2018.

2 Brighthouse Financial. Nov. 17, 2017. “Travel More, Spend Less.” https://www.brighthousefinancial.com/education/living-in-retirement/travel-more-spend-less/?cid=paidsocial_twitter_relocation_12212017_701f10000024ukt. Accessed Jan. 23, 2018.

3 Suzy Strutner. HuffPost. May 11, 2017. “The Best Time To Book A Plane Ticket, According To A New Study.” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/best-day-to-book-plane-ticket_us_56cf1648e4b03260bf759b79. Accessed Feb. 20, 2018.

4 U.S. Geological Survey. “Frequently Asked Questions – Recreational Passes.” https://store.usgs.gov/faq#New-Senior-Pass-Update. Accessed Feb. 7, 2018.

5 U.S. Forest Service. “Dispersed Camping Guidelines.” https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/fishlake/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5121831. Accessed Feb. 7, 2018.

6 GoRVing. “Buying an RV.” https://gorving.com/affordability/buying-renting. Accessed Jan. 23, 2018.

7 Dr. Seuss. Genius.com “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” https://genius.com/Dr-seuss-oh-the-places-youll-go-excerpt-annotated. Accessed Jan. 23, 2018.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic retirement income strategies and should not be construed as financial advice.

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

The New Tax Law: Things to Consider

by

Who will be affected by the new tax legislation that went into effect Jan. 1? That is a question many are asking.

While “everyone” is likely to see some changes, here’s an idea of how many people fell into each income group. In 2015:1

  • About 1.4 million Americans accounted for the top 1% of income earners. These Americans earned at least $480,930 of adjusted gross income that year and paid about 40% of all federal income taxes.
  • The top 50% of taxpayers earned at least $39,275.
  • 71 million taxpayers earned less than $39,275 and paid 2.8% of all the income taxes.

Our tax liability is about as personal as our investment choices, career path, favorite foods and what we wear to work in the yard. In short, no matter what’s in the new tax law, it’s likely to affect your tax return differently from your neighbor’s. If you anticipate significant changes, we suggest you seek the counsel of an experienced tax advisor. We can help you find one if you’d like a recommendation.

By the same token, it’s a good idea to work with your financial professional when strategizing a tax-efficient plan, because most financial decisions are intertwined. It’s good for the left hand to know what the right hand is doing.

According to a survey from Willis Towers Watson, two-thirds of employers surveyed say they’ve either made or are considering making enhancements to their employee benefits as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among them:2

  • 26% are increasing contributions to their sponsored retirement plans.
  • 34% are considering expanding personal financial planning programs for workers.
  • 19% are considering increasing or accelerating contributions to defined benefit plans.

Social Security recipients also may see a change. The new tax law will make cost-of-living adjustments using the Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the traditional CPI.3 The difference is that growth of the Chained CPI is generally a few tenths of a percentage point lower the traditional CPI. This could mean slower growth in Social Security benefits.4

Homeowners who take the state and local tax deduction (SALT) as a part of their itemized deductions are going to see a cap ($10,000) on the amount of interest they can deduct from their 2018 return. This mostly is expected to affect residents of states with high income taxes.5

The new law also caps the mortgage interest deduction on home purchases made after Dec. 14, 2017, at $750,000 in mortgage debt, a decrease from the previous cap of $1 million. Further, it eliminated the deduction for interest paid on a home equity loan, for both current accounts and new ones opened in the future.6

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 Kevin McCormally. Kiplinger. Nov. 1, 2017. “Where You Rank as a Taxpayer.” https://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T054-C000-S001-how-you-rank-as-a-taxpayer.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2018.

2 Nasdaq. Jan. 25, 2018. “Tax law fueling changes to employer benefits and compensation programs, Willis Towers Watson survey finds.” https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/01/25/1305044/0/en/Tax-law-fueling-changes-to-employer-benefits-and-compensation-programs-Willis-Towers-Watson-survey-finds.html. Accessed March 6, 2018.

3 Robert Powell. The Street. Jan. 26, 2018. “How the New Tax Law Affect Tax Brackets and Roth Conversions.” https://www.thestreet.com/story/14463562/1/how-the-new-tax-law-affect-tax-brackets-and-roth-conversions.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2018.

4 Sho Chandra. Bloomberg. Dec. 19, 2017. “What You Need to Know About ‘Chained CPI’” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-20/why-chained-cpi-has-links-to-u-s-tax-debate-quicktake-q-a. Accessed Feb. 22, 2018.

5 Amelia Josephson. SmartAsset. Jan. 18, 2018. “Changes to State and Local Tax Deduction — Explained.”https://smartasset.com/taxes/trumps-plan-to-eliminate-the-state-and-local-tax-deduction-explained. Accessed March 6, 2018.

6 Samantha Sharf. Jan. 9, 2018. “How the New Tax Law Will Impact Your Housing Costs.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2018/01/09/what-in-the-final-tax-bill-could-impact-your-housing-costs/#243c76c32c08. Accessed Feb. 22, 2018.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic financial planning strategies and should not be construed as financial advice. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference. 

Digital Tools for Tax Season

by

Tax season is upon us. According to the IRS, about 90 percent of taxpayers now file their taxes electronically. The agency touts the service as more accurate, convenient and secure than paper claims, and people usually receive their tax refunds faster.

The IRS offers free tax filing assistance to filers who earn $54,000 a year or less, and people age 60 or older.1 For those who prefer to complete their own returns, there are several helpful resources at IRS.gov.

At the website, you can find an electronic copy of Publication 17, which provides the general rules for filing a federal income tax return. There also is an “Interactive Tax Assistant” that provides answers to frequently asked questions on a variety of topics, such as whether you need to file a return, who you can claim as a dependent and whether you’re eligible to claim an education credit.2

Once you’ve filed a return, you can monitor the status of a refund within 24 hours of IRS receipt using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool. It is located at the IRS.gov website, or you can download the IRS2Go mobile app.3 For a general idea of when you’ll receive a refund based on when you submitted your return, check out the table here.4

If you have questions or would like help completing your taxes, we can refer you to one of the experienced tax professionals within our network. It’s a good idea to work collaboratively with your tax professional and your financial professional in order to help maximize opportunities for tax savings.

For a comparison and ratings of some of the most popular online tax services, check out PC magazine’s review of the “Best Tax Software of 2018.” The rundown includes H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer and Intuit TurboTax Deluxe, among others.5

While working to complete your tax return by the April 17 deadline, it’s a good time to start considering rules that will be changing for 2018. For example, deductibility of interest on home equity loans and lines of credit (HELOCs) will apply only on loans used to buy, build or substantially improve a home.6

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 IRS.gov. Feb. 6, 2018. “Six Reasons to E-file.” https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/six-reasons-to-e-file. Accessed Feb. 6, 2018.

2 IRS.gov. Jan. 29, 2018. “IRS Tax Tips 2018-14: Check Out These Three Tools on IRS.gov.” https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1d6b25e. Accessed Feb. 5, 2018.

3 Ibid.

4 Isaac M. O’Bannon. CPA Practice Advisor. Dec. 28, 2017. “2018 IRS Income Tax Refund Chart – When Will I Get My Tax Refund?” http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/news/12370552/2018-irs-income-tax-refund-chart-when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund. Accessed Feb. 5, 2018.

5 Kathy Yakal. PC. Feb. 9, 2018. “The Best Tax Software of 2018.” https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1904319,00.asp. Accessed Feb. 5, 2018.

6 Suzanne Woolley. Bloomberg. Jan. 29, 2018. “How to Game Next Year’s Taxes Now.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-29/eight-ways-to-prepare-for-the-new-tax-law. Accessed Feb. 5, 2018.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic retirement income strategies and should not be construed as financial advice.

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

Exploring the Behavioral Biases of Investing

by

 

Despite the research and due diligence necessary in developing an investment portfolio, investors are frequently influenced more by their own emotional and behavioral biases than by data.1 These biases may include overconfidence, regret, impatience and the desire to “keep up with the Joneses.”

In fact, personnel from at least one asset management firm believe that the company has a better chance of outperforming the market by anticipating investor behavior. At a macro level, the behavioral biases of a large number of investors may be able to influence the expectations of company performance and even its stock price. By tracking patterns among such biases, it may be possible to capture a higher return on investment relative to other market fundamentals.2

Although there may be truth to that, we believe that investment selection should be based more on individual goals than on mass market speculation. As financial advisors, we help clients get to the crux of their objectives and design a financial strategy around their long-term goals, timeline and tolerance for risk. Markets will always fluctuate, regardless of the impetus, but our job is help reduce the impact of behavioral biases and help keep your financial strategy on track. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Within the study of behavioral finance are subfields. For example, biases can be cognitive, meaning an investor may think and act in specific ways or by following a rule of thumb. A behavioral bias also can be emotional, relying on feelings rather than information. An example of this is “self-attribution bias,” wherein investors tend to believe their investment success comes from their own actions but blame poor performance on external factors.3

Cognitive biases often are characterized by the inability to fully process statistical information or by memory errors.4 In some cases, cognitive bias manifests in simply not acknowledging when there is too much information for a person to process. In this scenario, it is common for an investor to cling to the original reason he or she made the investment — even when presented with new and potentially damaging evidence.5

Another common investing behavioral bias is an aversion to loss. In fact, investors are generally more afraid of losing money than they are of embracing the thrill of stock market success. This inherent fear of loss can, in fact, make an investor unwittingly more conservative than he needs to be or, depending on financial circumstances, should be.6

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 Tim Parker. Investopedia. “4 Behavioral Biases and How to Avoid Them.” https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/050813/4-behavioral-biases-and-how-avoid-them.asp. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

2 John R. Riddle. 361Capital. “Bounded Rationality: Tapping Investor Behavior to Source Alpha.” http://361capital.com/financial-advisor/viewpoints/bounded-rationality-tapping-investor-behavior-to-source-alpha/. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

3 Brad Sherman. Investopedia. April 12, 2017. “8 Common Biases That Impact Investment Decisions.” https://www.investopedia.com/advisor-network/articles/051916/8-common-biases-impact-investment-decisions/. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

4 Peter Lazaroff. Forbes. April 1, 2016. “5 Biases That Hurt Investor Returns.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlazaroff/2016/04/01/5-biases-that-hurt-investor-returns/#74592db8d4ac. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

5 361Capital. “Behavioral Finance Basics.” http://361capital.com/wp-content/uploads/361Capital-Behavioral-Finance-Basics-Infographic.pdf. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

6 Peter Lazaroff. Forbes. April 1, 2016. “5 Biases That Hurt Investor Returns.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlazaroff/2016/04/01/5-biases-that-hurt-investor-returns/#74592db8d4ac. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic financial planning strategies and should not be construed as financial advice. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

Preparing for Retirement — Do You Have a Plan?

by

For much of the 20th century, many employees who spent decades working for one company typically received a pension plan. According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 88 percent of all private-sector employees in 1975 had a pension.1 With the confidence of knowing their retirement would be covered by pension and Social Security benefits, perhaps they even saved little — but it would not have been all that necessary to learn how to invest.

Today, the number of private-sector employees with pensions has plummeted to 33 percent.2 This means that baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 19643) are the first generation of retirees to rely on defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. In fact, many boomers don’t have the luxury of perhaps just saving a little; they have to save a lot.

In addition, many boomers have to learn about different types of investments, which can be daunting. In fact, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) lists 12 broad types, each of which has its own subsets.4 That’s a pretty big responsibility to take on.

Here’s an idea of where we stand:5

  • 44% of baby boomers have no work-sponsored retirement plans
  • 43% have defined contribution plans
  • 13% have defined benefit (pension) plans

Bear in mind that back in the days when many employees could count on a pension plan, those assets were managed by professional money managers. These days, some company 401(k) plans include a “self-directed” option, which lets you decide how to invest your contributions yourself.6 We hasten to remind you that investing can be complex, and creating a financial strategy for retirement has been complicated by the fact that people are living more years in retirement than ever before. If you could use some advice to help manage your investment portfolio — including self-directed accounts — or to create a financial strategy, please give us a call.

In fact, outside investment advice in the defined contribution space is becoming more prevalent. A recent report by the Spectrem Group found that 73 percent of employer-plan participants use an outside advisor, such as a mutual fund company representative or an independent financial planner, to assist them with investing assets that are outside their plan. However, they do not necessarily consult with an outside advisor for their entire investment portfolio.7

Keep in mind that preparing for retirement involves much more than just accumulating assets. This preparation includes deciding on a Social Security claiming strategy; navigating defined contribution plan rollovers; considering tax consequences; and mulling possible part-time work during retirement. And we must do this while pursuing social and intellectual engagement opportunities so we can stay healthy and cognitively fit during our long retirement.8

It’s a lot to think about. The earlier we get started on our full-scale retirement plans, the better.

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 John Waggoner. InvestmentNews. Dec. 2, 2017. “Younger baby boomers face hurdles as they approach retirement.” http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20171202/FREE/171209994/younger-baby-boomers-face-hurdles-as-they-approach-retirement. Accessed Jan. 16, 2018.

2 Ibid.

3 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Feb. 15, 2017. “Retirement Plan Access and Participation Across Generations.” http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2017/02/retirement-plan-access-and-participation-across-generations. Accessed Jan. 24, 2018.

4 FINRA. “Types of Investments.” http://www.finra.org/investors/types-investments. Accessed Jan. 16, 2018.

5 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Feb. 15, 2017. “Retirement Plan Access and Participation Across Generations.” http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2017/02/retirement-plan-access-and-participation-across-generations. Accessed Jan. 24, 2018.

6 Amelia Josephson. SmartAsset. March 22, 2017. “What Is a Self-Directed 401(k)?” https://smartasset.com/retirement/what-is-a-self-directed-401k. Accessed Jan. 24, 2018.

7 Spectrem Group. 2017. “How Plan Participants Use Advisors.” https://spectrem.com/Content/how-dc-plan-participants-use-advisors.aspx. Accessed Jan. 16, 2018.

8 Emily Brandon. U.S. News & World Report. Jan. 16, 2018. “How to Retire in 2018.” https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/baby-boomers/articles/how-to-retire. Accessed Jan. 16, 2018.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic financial planning strategies and should not be construed as financial advice. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

Keep an Eye on Interest Rates

by

Optimism often predates good news. Such was the case last year when, just before the end of the year, Congress passed legislation that significantly reduced the corporate tax rate. The anticipation of this fulfillment of one of President Trump’s pro-business campaign promises helped drive up stock prices in the latter half of the year — to the tune of a 24 percent uptick. In other words, the expectation for lower tax rates was already baked into market assumptions for 2017.1

Now the question is, what will happen in 2018? According to one market analyst, a challenge for this year’s equity markets will be the likelihood of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates further. If the economy grows by 3 to 3.5 percent this year, as the analyst predicts, this could trigger higher interest rates. Ultimately, higher rates can put a damper on stock prices and make bonds and CDs more attractive.2

We like to remind our clients of a couple of rules of thumb when it comes to managing an investment portfolio. First of all, remaining diversified is generally an effective way to help capture gains, reduce risk and work toward long-term goals. Second, bear in mind that what matters is overall portfolio performance, not individual sectors or investments.3 If you’d like help reviewing your current asset allocation strategy to make sure it’s aligned with your objectives, tolerance for risk and investment timeline, please contact us to schedule a consultation.

Remember that as interest rates rise, bond prices generally drop. However, as long as rates rise modestly and gradually — which is what the Fed projects — bond investors can still make money via their total return.4

The general forecast is for the Fed to increase the federal funds rate within a range of 2.75 to 3 percent by the end of 2018. With that said, note that there are some positives associated with higher interest rates, especially for retirees who rely on low-risk, fixed-income investments for income. Higher rates also could improve the pricing of annuities and credited interest rates.5

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 Knowledge@Wharton. Jan. 2, 2018. “Jeremy Siegel: What’s Ahead for the U.S. Economy in 2018.” http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/jeremy-siegel-whats-ahead-u-s-economy-2018/. Accessed Jan. 8, 2018.

2 Ibid.

3 Mike Loewengart. Etrade. Jan. 2, 2018. “Putting a bow on 2017 with a turn to the new year.” https://us.etrade.com/knowledge/markets-news/commentary-and-insights/putting-bow-on-2017-with-turn-to-new-year. Accessed Jan. 8, 2018.

4 Jeff Benjamin. InvestmentNews. Jan. 6, 2018. “2018 outlook in bond investing calls for change.” http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20180106/FREE/180109957/2018-outlook-in-bond-investing-calls-for-change. Accessed Jan. 8, 2018.

5 Mark Miller. Morningstar. Jan. 9, 2018. “Retirees: What You Should Watch in 2018.” http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=842831. Accessed Jan. 9, 2018.

 Bond obligations are subject to the financial strength of the bond issuer and its ability to pay. Before investing consult your financial adviser to understand the risks involved with purchasing bonds.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic financial planning strategies and should not be construed as financial advice. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

Want a Retirement Free From Financial Stress?
Book Your Free TaxSmart™ Financial Review Today.

We’ll review your finances and tell you what you can do immediately to get on the right track for retirement.

Book now
Joe Lucey Footer Book Image

Download the Top 10 Mistakes That Increase Your Taxes

In this free report, you’ll learn…

  • Why being passive and having no plan of action for your taxes can kill your retirement.
  • The amount of money you can save with tax planning. (HINT: It’s often at least 5 figures.)
  • What the top 10 most common tax mistakes people make are and how you can avoid making them.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Joe Lucey Footer Logo
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube Instagram
Influex Logo Light

Danielle Christensen

Paraplanner

Danielle is dedicated to serving clients to achieve their retirement goals. As a Paraplanner, Danielle helps the advisors with the administrative side of preparing and documenting meetings. She is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict, with a degree in Business Administration and began working with Secured Retirement in May of 2023.

Danielle is a lifelong Minnesotan and currently resides in Farmington with her boyfriend and their senior rescue pittie/American Bulldog mix, Tukka.  In her free time, Danielle enjoys attending concerts and traveling. She is also an avid fan of the Minnesota Wild and loves to be at as many games as possible during the season!