Arnold & Mote Wealth Management In the Press

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We provide content and quotes to local Iowa and national reporters on various personal finance and investment topics, including retirement, college financing, health care, taxes and estate planning. Learn more about us in our Media Guide.

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Press Mentions

 

The New York Times: Why Opening a Roth Account May Be a Good Move, No Matter Your Age

We were interviewed for this article in The New York Times about doing Roth conversions, and why they may make sense even if you are well into your retirement already.

 

The Wall Street Journal: Congress Ended a Tax Break. How That May Help Higher Earners.

New laws are set to require those making over $145,000 to save all catch-up 401(k) contributions to Roth accounts. While many enjoy the added tax deduction from pre-tax 401(k) savings, we see Roth savings as superior options for many savers. We were interviewed for this article in The WSJ about how those with high pre-tax savings may benefit from this change.

 

CBS News: When should you buy supplemental life insurance?

We were interviewed in this article on CBS about purchasing supplemental life insurance. We cover how to know when you need life insurance, and what type of life insurance is best for most young families.

 

CNBC: How high earners can funnel money to a Roth IRA

For this article in CNBC, we provide information on savings options that high income households have. Many times savers utilize "non-deductible IRAs", however we find that there are often better alternatives.

 

Kiplinger: Can I Stop Saving and Start Spending Until I Retire at 65?

If you are not ready to retire, but have built up a substaintial nest egg, is it ok to stop saving? In this article for Kiplinger we discuss how to think about reducing retirement savings once you've accumulated enough.

 

Investopedia: Tax-Smart Giving: How to Gift $1M Without the IRS Calling

We were interviewed to help contribute to this article on Investopedia on strategies for gifting money to family in excess of the annual exclusion limit. For high net worth families, planning around family gifting can be very valuable.

 

USA Today: Do You Pay Taxes on CD Interest?

For this article in the USA Today, we were interviewed about the tax treatment of the interest from CDs (Certificate of Deposits). For some investors, alternatives to CDs may offer higher after-tax returns.

 

CBS: Do You Need Whole Life Insurance for Your Children?

Should you buy whole life insurance for your child? Our answer is almost always a very strong no. We were interviewed in this article where we discuss some alternatives to whole life insurance.

 

Investopedia: Do You Need an Annuity in Retirement?

We were interviewed for this article in Investopedia covering the topic of annuities in retirement.
Not everyone needs an annuity, but using some of your retirement savings for an annuity could make sense in a few instances. We cover those, and some downsides to using annuities in our comments.

 

GoBankingRates Should you invest differently with Trump as president?

We were interviewed for this article in GoBankingRates about the differences between Biden and Trump, and what it means for your investments.
Our comments focus on ensuring your are investing for the long-term, and not overreacting to short-term news headlines.

 

Yahoo Finance: 6 Cash Flow Mistakes Retirees Make

We were interviewed for this article about common mistakes retirees make regarding their cash flow. We focused on tax planning and creating tax-efficient retirement withdrawals. Too often, we see retirees wanting to continue to defer taxes even in very low tax years.

 

MSN Money: Best Retirement Accounts for Millennials

For this article on MSN, we discuss the options that millennials have for retirement savings, and highlight 2 accounts that should be their highest priority for savings.

 

US News and World Report 7 High-Return, Low-Risk Investments for Retirees

For this article in US News and World Report, we were interviewed about investments for retirees. We highlight the risk of inflation on a retiree's portfolio, and one particular option for reducing that risk.

 

Kiplinger: The 12 Best Things Rich Retirees Do

For this article in Kiplinger, we were interviewed about the habits of successful retirees. Our advice focuses on starting early, no matter how small, to take advantage of compound interest.

 

Yahoo Finance: 5 Common Retirement Missteps - And How To Avoid Them

For this article in Yahoo Finance we were interviewed to discuss common missteps we see in retiree financial plans. Our contribution includes a discussion on the dangers of differing taxes for too long.

 

Nasdaq/GoBankingRates Are You a Millionaire? 6 Key Signs That You Cannot Retire Yet

In this interview, we discuss items you need to consider before you retire, even if you have $1 million or more saved for retirement.

 

AOL/GoBankingRates: 7 Ways To Build Wealth in Your 70s

Retirement is generally not considered a time to save or make money. But making sure your assets continue to grow is important. In this article, we focus on how tax efficient retirement strategies can you help keep more of your money growing in your retirement accounts.

 

MoneyGeek: Best Life Insurance for 60 Year Olds

Buying life insurance in your 60s or later is usually not needed for most households. In this article, we add a few things families should consider before purchasing additional life insurance later in life.

 

CBS News: Should you rollover your CD after it matures?

For this article on CBS News, we were interviewed to discuss what you should consider before rolling over money from maturing CDs.

 

KCRG (ABC): Inflation and Retirement: What you need to know if you’re planning a retirement now

Retirees face unique challenges with inflation hits. In this interview with KCRG we gave a few tips to protect your finances from inflation in retirement.

 

KSBY (NBC): Do You Need $1.46 Million to Retire?

How much money do you need to have saved for retirement? That’s the million-dollar question that most Americans believe will actually cost them more than a cool million, according to a new study from Northwestern Mutual. The financial services company found that Americans think they’ll need $1.46 million saved in order to retire comfortably.
In this article, we provide some clarity on that number, and how to more accurately calculate your number.

 

Yahoo Finance: 5 Money Moves to Make Before Retirement

From how you contribute to your retirement accounts to reconsidering your estate-planning strategy, here are money moves to make.

 

Bankrate: How to Avoid HELOC Prepayment Penalty

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be a useful financial tool if you have sufficient equity in your home and need a stream of cash. Let’s say, though, that you want to settle your HELOC balance early. It’s doable — but be aware, your lender might charge a HELOC prepayment penalty.
In the article, we provide some tips to reduce or prevent that penalty.

 

AOL: This Expense May Distrupt the Great Wealth Transfer - Unless You Are Prepared

The Great Wealth Transfer is a widely touted process where masses of retiring boomers will leave their Gen X and millennial children trillions of dollars in their estates.

The problem is that boomers are discovering higher than anticipated costs, forcing many to spend their precious savings on long-term care and unexpectedly high healthcare costs.

 

Yahoo Finance: I Lost My Retirement Savings in a Divorce: Here’s How I Made It All Back

For this article in Yahoo Finance, we were interviewed to discuss ways to recover financially from a divorce. Specifically, we cover where to go to find help with your finances.

 

GoBankingRates: Best States for Retirees if Social Security Gets Cut

In this article with GOBankingRates, we highlight Iowa as a retiree-friendly state due to its reduced taxation of retirement income and no tax on Social Security benefits.

 

NY Post: Should you invest in a long term CD?

For this article in the New York Post, we were interviewed about long-term CDs and when they are a good (or bad) option for your savings.

 

GoBankingRates: 5 Ways to Build Wealth in Your 50s

For this article on Go Banking Rates, we discuss how to build wealth in your 50s. We cover saving strategies, investing in yourself, and how to find help organizing your finances.

 

Fox Business: You can pay your taxes with a credit card — but should you?

Paying taxes with a credit card can provide flexibility and potential rewards, but consider the fees and interest rates carefully before deciding if it's the right choice.

 

MarketWatch: I have $1.5M and spend a modest amount. Do I need a Financial Advisor?

If you are in very sound financial shape, is having a financial advisor necessary? In this interview with MarketWatch, we cover topics that we help clients with every day that you might not expect. A good financial planner covers much more than just investments!

 

The Wall Street Journal: Should Retirees Pay Off Their Mortgage or Invest the Money? It Depends on the Math

In this interview with The Wall Street Journal, we look at what to consider before eliminating your home loan during retirement. If you have a majority of your assets in a tax deferred retirement account such as an IRA or 401(k), large purchases in retirement can lead to large tax bills. In the article, we talk about one way retirees buying a home can avoid this tax pitfall that many retirees find themselves in.

 

MoneyGeek: Buying Life Insurance on Your Parents

Does it ever make sense to purchase life insurance on your parents? Here's what to consider before being sold on a policy.

 

CBS Money Watch: Should you wait for mortgage rates to drop before buying a home?

The recent rise in mortgage loan rates has led many to pause their search for a new home. Do today's higher mortgage rates mean you should put off buying your next home? We were interviewed by CBS Money Watch to discuss what to consider before making that offer.

 

Comparison Adviser: How Dividends Fit Into a Financial Plan

For this article on Comparison Adviser, we were interviewed to discuss the role that dividends plan in a financial plan. Our comments focus on 2 main topic: The favorable tax treatment given to dividends, and the dangers of investing in high dividend investments.

 

MarketWatch: That 5% CD sure is tempting — but here’s what not to use them for now

The recent rise in CD rates have made them popular investments for any saver looking for a safe return. But, CDs are not right for everyone. In this article for Marketwatch, we were interviewed to discuss alternatives that may make sense for certain savers and investors.

 

MarketWatch: Are you saving enough for retirement? What the average 401(k) balance looks like

How much should you have in investments before retiring? In this article, we were interviewed to discuss sustainable withdrawal rates and the general 401(k) savings environment today.

 

USA Today: What is an index fund?

We are strong proponents of low cost, passively managed investments. We were interviewed for this article in the USA Today about index funds, and how they differ from other investment options available to you.

 

Discover: How to Retire Early

Retiring before age 59.5 or 65 adds extra costs to your retirement. Without planning for these increased expenses, your retirement plan may be at risk. For early retirees, how you access retirement savings and get health care will be very different than traditional retirees.
In this article for Discover, we were interviewed to provide advice for those looking to plan for a successful early retirement.

 

MarketWatch: What is a financial adviser and how do they work with you?

What does a financial planner do exactly? In this interview with MarketWatch we give some examples specifically around short and long-term "tax planning" and how we work in conjunction with CPAs to help clients reduce their tax burden over the course of their retirement.

 

MarketWatch: My accounts are down - How do I know if my financial advisor has picked bad investments?

How do you know if your account losing value is just due to a bad stock market, or because your financial advisor has made poor decisions? For this interview with MarketWatch we help show a few things to look at to benchmark your performance against other investors.

 

The Gazette: Health insurance options in early retirement

For this interview with The Gazette, we discussed 3 options that exist for health insurance if you retire before turning age 65 and being eligible for Medicare.
We also discuss how important financial planning is when retiring before age 65.

 

MarketWatch: Is it ok to have a "play money" investing account?

In this interview with MarketWatch, we discuss what to consider when working with a financial advisor, but also having an outside "play" investment account.

 

KCRG: Federal Reserve Raising Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates for the first time since 2018. In this interview we explain how this could impact consumers.

 

KCRG: How Iowa's proposed tax changes impact households

A recent bill proposes changing Iowa's current income tax rates to a flat 4%. We were interviewed by KCRG to discuss what that means for Iowa households, and particularly retirees in Iowa.

 

CNN: Should you rent or buy a home? Ask yourself these 3 questions

Deciding whether to rent or buy a home can have you talking yourself into financial circles. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your financial fitness, how long you plan to live in the home and what your cash flow looks like. In this interview with CNN, we talk about 3 questions to ask yourself to make sure you’re ready.

 

The Wall Street Journal: Should You Consider Early Retirement in a Recession?

As the coronavirus pandemic stretches on, it is becoming more and more common for employers to offer severance, separation, or early retirement offers to their employees.

While the lump sum payment can be enticing, what else do you need to consider before accepting an offer? In this article in The Wall Street Journal, we were interviewed to provide a few tips on adjusting your financial plan when an offer is on the table.

 

KCRG: How Rising Interest Rates Impact Consumers

The Federal Reserve is set to begin raising interest rates again. We were recently interviewed by KCRG to describe what this means for consumers, savers, and investors? Story as it aired on KCRG can also be viewed here, beginning at 11:15: https://www.vuit.com/publishers/1/kcrg-tv-91-news/vod#vod:20161804

 

Kiplinger: Earn 3.54% With Series I Bonds

Update: As of November the interest rates on iBonds are now 7.12%! With interest rates on most savings accounts and certificates of deposit paying well under 1%, the (current) 3.54% composite rate on newly issued Series I savings bonds is hard to ignore. We were interviewed for this article on Kiplinger about how iBonds fit into your cash savings strategy and what to be aware of before buying.

 

Yahoo Finance: What Millennials Can Learn From Gen X’s Money Mistakes:

In this interview for an article published on Yahoo Finance, we discussed one thing that millennials may want to do differently than their parent’s generation when it comes to retirement savings.

 

The Sun: How much you'll lose by withdrawing from retirement accounts early

Americans lose out on billions of dollars every year due to early withdrawal penalties from their retirement accounts. In this interview with The Sun, we talk about what to do to avoid those fees, and one of the few times paying those fees actually makes sense. 

 

KCRG: Advice on what to do with your stimulus check

We were recently interviewed by KCRG on the topic of stimulus checks that were sent out due to the CARES Act.

We give a few priorities to consider; emergency savings, paying off debt, and saving. We also discuss the best place to save your stimulus check for tax efficiency and long term growth.

 

Forbes: The Unexpected Dangers Of Paying Off Student Loans With Your 401(k) Savings

A new bill circulating Congress proposes to allow college graduates pay their student loans tax and penalty free from their 401(k) – Is this a good idea?

For this article in Forbes, we were interviewed on whether those paying student loans should take advantage of this potential offer.

 

PublicServiceDegrees.org: 529 Savings Plans: An Online Guide for College Students

We were interviewed for this guide for the Student Training and Education in Public Service Organization which takes a thorough look at 529 college savings accounts. The article covers everything from opening your account to claiming the tax deductions for contributions.

 

GoBankingRates: What the Next Election Year Will Do To Your Finances

As the election looms, uncertainty reins. It is always a mistake to make drastic changes to your investment plan based on politics. However, there are things you can do today to help hedge against potential changes.

In this article, we are quoted talking about the potential benefits of performing Roth conversions with the potential of an increase in tax rates.

 

Wex Heath: Here’s Why an HSA Might Make Sense

HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) are one of the best tax deferred savings accounts available. As health care costs continue to rise, HSAs are becoming a vital tool for successful retirement planning.

We are quoted in the article on the importance of using a HSA to sock away money, even if you don’t need it right away.

 

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