Prairie Partners LLC

PrairieView Partners awarded 5 Star Wealth Manager for 2011

PrairieView Partners — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:54:42 +0000

The 2011 FIVE STAR Wealth Managers is an elite group, representing less than 5 percent of the wealth managers in … Continue reading →

Leaving Wealth to Children – Part 2

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:38:11 +0000

This is the second part of a two part article on the issues parents face when planning to leave wealth to their children. Part 1 discusses leaving wealth in ways that it is “protected” from the actions of irresponsible or disabled children or from a child’s creditors, including former spouses in a divorce. Part 2 deals with the question of “how much is too much?” and analyzes the techniques and challenges of structuring a child’s inheritance in ways that motivate the child to be a productive member of society.

Leaving Wealth to Children

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:37:16 +0000

This is the first part of a two part article on the issues parents face when planning to leave wealth to their children. Part 1 discusses leaving wealth in ways that it is “protected” from the actions of irresponsible or disabled children or from a child’s creditors, including former spouses in a divorce. Part 2 deals with the question of “how much is too much?” and analyzes the techniques and challenges of structuring a child’s inheritance in ways that motivate the child to be a productive member of society.

Longevity Risk in Your Financial Planning

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:34:54 +0000

In the world of financial planning, the ability to predict the future would be particularly advantageous. Experts who study demographics and our prospects for longevity have the benefit of knowing how many people are living today, the number of retirees in our society and how many elderly will be living 20 years from now. Their research gives us an idea of the financial complexities that may lie ahead for younger and middle-aged people living today.

Consumer Energy Tax Incentives

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:33:58 +0000

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes various tax incentives aimed at encouraging the use of renewable energy or more efficient technologies. Many of these provisions were originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and amended in the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The Recovery Act of 2009 extended, and in some cases enhanced, many of these consumer tax credits. By Thomas M. Irwin, J.D., CFP®, CPA/PFS

Not All Bonds Are Created Equal

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:33:02 +0000

It’s no secret that 2008 was a terrible year for most stockholders.The S&P 500 stock index was down 37%, its second-worst decline in the last 80 years, and international markets seemed to respond in kind. So with virtually all stocks falling last year, was it a great time to own bonds? Not necessarily. Many of our new clients came to us with victimized bond portfolios. Their fixed income holdings, which were supposed to have offered a safe haven and steady income stream during turbulent markets, instead betrayed them just when they were needed the most. All bonds, it seems, are not created equal.

What’s Happening with the Federal Estate Tax

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:32:22 +0000

Absent legislative action this year, the federal estate and generation-skipping (GST) taxes disappear in 2010. It is pretty unlikely that Congress will let this happen, and a new bill introduced in the Senate in March hints at what legislators are thinking and how the estate tax may look going forward.

Individual Tax Provisions of the 2009 Economic Stimulus Act

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:31:32 +0000

Both houses of Congress have approved the much discussed Economic Stimulus Bill and President Obama has said he will sign the new legislation. The tax portion of the law, titled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009, is massive on its own, amounting to about $300 billion in relief, affecting individuals, businesses, and state and local governments. This outline summarizes the provisions affecting primarily individual taxpayers.

2009 Tax Update

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:30:46 +0000

Congress passed six separate pieces of tax legislation in 2008. Other legislation enacted in 2007 or before becomes effective for the first time on 2008 tax returns or in 2009. The following is a summary of some of the key tax law changes and developments applicable to individual taxpayers. For all of our clients, we will work to identify changes that may apply. If you have questions or observations about any of the legislation outlined, please contact us.

Wealth Management in Turbulent Times

chronnus — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:29:57 +0000

We have long made the point of contrasting “investment management” with true “wealth management.” This year has put that approach to the test. People have been naturally asking many questions. When will the stock market rebound? Is America in a recession? Should I be concerned with inflation? Has the housing market hit bottom? While we do not profess to have a “crystal ball,” the past couple months have made one thing more evident than ever. Those who have gone through a comprehensive wealth management process are better positioned to “withstand the storm.”