A recent update on the Business Continuity Plan for Ballast Advisors in response to COVID-19.
Mid-Year Is a Good Time for a Financial Checkup
The first half of 2021 is behind us. As life emerges from the pandemic to a “new normal,” a mid-year…
Thank You for Your Consultation Request
Our team will link you to an advisor in one of our offices in Arden Hills, MN, Woodbury, MN or Punta Gorda, FL and someone will respond shortly.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
INFOGRAPHIC: 5 Facts about Retirement Savings
In general, workers seem to begin preparing for retirement almost as soon as they get their first job. However, according…
Five Financial Mistakes You Should Avoid
These simple steps might save you a great deal of money and heartache We all make mistakes, and through them,…
Rising Inflation: Where Will It Go from Here?
Though all economists expect inflation numbers to rise in the near term, there are different views on the potential long-term…
“Have you enjoyed your money?” And other financial planning questions you should ask yourself in 2021
By Paul Parnell “Have you enjoyed your money?” This is a question I often ask my clients. Too often I…
Quarterly Market Review: January-March 2021
The Markets (first quarter through March 31, 2021) As we closed out 2020, the overwhelming sentiment entering January was that…
Where Millennials are Buying Homes
The areas might surprise you – and are likely to see prices continue to rise Housing has been on a…
As Seen in St Croix Valley Magazine
Ballast Advisors was recently featured in St. Croix Valley Magazine’s April/May 2021 issue on our comprehensive financial planning services.
Special Needs Require Special Planning
Make sure you protect against disqualifying an individual for services The most effective way to provide a great life for…
9 Motivational Quotes for Women Investors
9 Motivational Quotes for Women Investors According to a study from McKinsey & Company by 2030, American women are expected…
Plan Your Finances as You Would Your Exercise
You exercise to benefit from your sweat equity in the future, right? Waking up early in the dark mornings of…
Advanced Estate Planning Concepts for Women
As you plan your estate, it is important to consider the tax implications. This can range from planning for the…
Now is a Fantastic Time to Review Your IPS
An Investment Policy Statement is your guardrail to keep you on your path to retirement. When markets near high records,…
Valentine’s Day By The Numbers
Learn some interesting facts about Valentine’s Day spending with this infographic. Source: WalletHub DISCLOSURE: Some material contained on our website…
GameStop and a Modern-Day David vs. Goliath
Is this the new Occupy Wall Street movement with a massive sling shot? Wall Street bets against companies all the…
10 Tips To Help You Save More in 2021
It’s a new year (thank goodness) and the perfect time to renew healthy habits, including those in your financial life….
Consolidated Appropriations Act Provides Relief to Individuals and Businesses
The $900 billion emergency relief package represents a bipartisan effort to assist individuals and businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic…
Year-End Charitable Giving
Even if you don’t itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you can receive a $300 charitable deduction for…
5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Social Security
Information provided by www.socialsecurity.gov There are many things a woman should know about Social Security. Here are five of the …
Tips for Documenting Your Charitable Gifts
Charitable donations allow you to give and take—you give money or property to a qualified charity and then take an…
IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2021
Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. While some of the limits remain unchanged for…
How Do Presidential Elections Impact The Stock Market?
If there was one word for 2020, it very well might be “uncertainty” — rarely a positive noun in the…
Open Enrollment Season is Around the Corner
Reviewing your benefit choices to maximize what your employer offers Open enrollment for employee benefits kicks off on November 1st….
Temporary Payroll Tax Deferral: What You Need to Know
Potential tax deferral under CARES Act: • Withholding of employer share of Social Security tax not required from March…
The Bull Is Back… Will It Keep Charging?
On August 18, 2020, the S&P 500 set a record high for the first time since COVID-19 ushered in a…
IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2020
IRA contribution limits The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA in 2020 is…
IRS Outlines Changes to Health-Care Spending Rules Under CARES Act
The IRS provided COVID-19 guidance for health Flexible Spending Arrangements and section 125 cafeteria plans related to high-deductible health plans…
IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief Measures for Retirement Savers
Retirees who took RMDs in 2020 have until August 31, 2020, to roll the money back into a qualified account….
Changing Jobs? Know Your 401(k) Options
If you’ve lost your job, or are changing jobs, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan…
The Shape of Economic Recovery
The Shape of Economic Recovery Most economists believe that GDP will turn upward in the third quarter, but it will…
July 15 Due Date Approaches for Federal Income Tax Returns and Payments
Tax deadline for most individuals: • Wednesday, July 15, 2020 The due date for federal income tax returns and payments…
Ballast Advisors Sponsors First Tee Fundraiser
8th Annual First Tee Golf Event is August 7th If you are interested in helping a great cause, join us…
I’m about to get married. Should I adjust my 401(k) asset allocation?
I’m about to get married. Should I adjust the asset allocation in my 401(k) to take my spouse’s investments into account? That…
Merging Your Money When You Marry
Getting married is exciting, but it brings many challenges. One such challenge that you and your spouse will have to…
Financial Planner vs Financial Advisor?
Making sense of these titles and other tips on choosing a financial professional Professionals at Ballast Advisors, LLC delineate differences between…
Watch Out for Coronavirus Scams
The FTC has received over 20,000 COVID-19 related complaints since January 1, 2020. Source: Federal Trade Commission, April 2020 Fraudsters…
What does the economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) mean for your financial plan?
This is the question many individuals and families are asking in today’s uncertainty. Aside from the obvious concerns for the…
What You Need to Know About the SECURE Act
Recently Congress passed both the SECURE Act and the CARES Act into law. Although these Acts are comprehensive in aggregate, Ballast…
What You Need to Know: CARES ACT
Recently Congress passed both the SECURE Act and the CARES Act into law. Although these Acts are comprehensive in aggregate, Ballast…
Bear Markets Come and Go
If you are losing sleep over volatility driven by a cascade of disheartening news, it may help to remember that…
Video: Understanding Volatile Markets
We understand it’s an unsettling time for investors. Watch this helpful video on understanding volatile markets.
Eleven Ways to Help Yourself Stay Sane in a Crazy Market
Helpful tips and strategies for handling market volatility.
The Coronavirus and the Global Economy
As of February 26, 2020, the death toll from COVID-19 — the official name of the coronavirus first reported in…
TRACED Act Offers Protections Against Robocalls
If you pick up an unwanted robocall, hang up right away. Avoid answering “yes” or “no” questions, providing personal information,…
Financial Resolutions for 2020
It’s a new year, a new decade, and the perfect time to renew healthy habits, including those in your financial…
Financial Planning for Freelancers
Q&A with writer Kate Racculia The gig economy accounts for more than one third (36 percent) of U.S. workers —…
3 Tips for Personal Finances During the Holiday Season
Ballast Financial Professionals share tips for your personal finances this holiday season. (originally published November 2018) Between holiday gifts, parties and meals…
Manufacturing Slowdown: What Does It Mean for the Economy?
The slump in U.S. manufacturing is being driven by a variety of factors, including a weakening global economy, the strong…
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15
Where can you get more information? Determining what coverage you have now and comparing it to other Medicare plans can…
4 Questions If You’re Thinking About Retiring to Punta Gorda
If retirement is on your mind, Realtor.com recently ranked Punta Gorda as the number one of the top 10 hottest…
Why You Need Life Insurance
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, a good time to evaluate your life insurance needs and review your life insurance…
Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Decrease for 2019-2020
For the first time in three years, interest rates on federal student loans will decrease for the 2019-2020 academic year….
Ballast Advisors Sponsors First Tee Charity Golf Tournament
Eagle Valley Golf Course in partnership with The First Tee of the Twin Cities at Eagle Valley will host the…
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest?
Is it smarter to pay off your mortgage or invest your extra cash? Owning a home outright is a…
5 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Personal Finances
Just like caring for and cleaning your house, regular maintenance on your personal finances will save you loads of time…
Financial Planning: Helping You See the Big Picture
*There is no assurance that working with a financial professional will improve investment results. Common financial goals Saving…
There’s Still Time to Contribute to an IRA for 2018
Making a last-minute contribution to an IRA may help you reduce your 2018 tax bill. If you qualify,…
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Massive computer hacks and data breaches are now common occurrences — an unfortunate consequence of living in a digital world….
Kanne CPA is now Ballast Tax and Business Services
(March 5, 2019 — Woodbury, MN) For over 30 years Kanne CPA, LLC has been providing superior accounting services for…
Ask an Advisor: Saving for College Tips and Options
Q & A with parent and Twin-Cities-based financial advisor Steven Schmidt on planning for college Curious how a financial…
How Grandparents Can Help Grandchildren with College Costs
As the cost of a college education continues to climb, many grandparents are stepping in to help. This trend is…
How Much Do I Need to Save for College?
The U.S. Department of Education has named February Financial Aid Awareness Month. For many families, saving for college is a primary financial…
Financial Aid 101
Financial Aid 101 Many parents pay for college with a combination of current income, savings, and financial aid. By learning…
529 College Savings Plans
A brief history 529 plans were created by Congress in 1996 and have been modified through the years by various…
Ballast Blog: Housing Options for Older Individuals
Housing Options for Older Individuals As you grow older, your housing needs may change. Maybe you’ll get tired of doing…
Ballast Blog: Your Home as a Source of Dollars in Retirement
Your Home as a Source of Dollars in Retirement If you own a home, you may be wealthier then you…
Why Do I Need a Financial Planner?
Why do I need a Financial Planner? Financial planning is about more than just managing money. It’s about setting goals…
Ballast Blog: Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction
Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction Working from home can certainly provide you with personal benefits, such as a flexible…
2018 Year-End Tax Planning Basics
Timing of itemized deductions and the increased standard deduction The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law in December…