DBR & CO

If you haven't laid out your financial resolutions for 2025 yet, then it's not too late to get started! Whether you hope to save more than in previous years, increase contributions to your retirement funds, or pay down lingering debt, the important thing is that you have a plan and stick to it. In their latest article, Steve Kohler, CFP® and Nancy I. Kunz, CFP®, CPFA®, ChFC®, CLU® share a few ideas and simple tasks to consider implementing this year to help stay on track financially. Click the link below to read the full article. We hope you enjoy reading. https://lnkd.in/eMQgr_hG

"By consistently and resolutely focusing on the end objective, whether that be personal, financial, commercial, or professional, the short-term crevasses and cliffs along the journey can be navigated – perhaps not with ease, but certainly with greater clarity – and usually with far greater success." Despite another year of 20%+ equity returns in the US and solid performance from other asset classes, 2024 did not come without risk to investors. As DBR & CO Chief Investment Officer, Michael Aroesty, CFP®, writes in his 4Q2024 Market Commentary, declining but persistently high inflation, restrictive monetary policy, geopolitical conflicts, a weakened but resilient US consumer, and a contentious election cycle could have - and did - lead many investors to the sidelines. However, those who focused on their long-term objectives in the face of these short-term risks were rewarded. On behalf of our entire team, we wish everyone a wonderful year ahead! Click the link below to read the 4Q2024 Market Commentary. https://lnkd.in/ewgBRkk3

Target-date funds (TDFs) remain an integral component of retirement plan investment lineups, and they often represent the largest holdings among participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. As the TDF option set continues to rapidly evolve, it's becoming more important for retirement plan advisors and plan sponsors to have sound processes for selecting and monitoring these funds on behalf of the participants they serve. Loraine Ziegler Montanye, CFP®, AIF® recently shared her thoughts on TDF best practices with PLANADVISER, including insights on glide path determination, "to" vs. "through" funds, active vs. passive TDFs, and fiduciary responsibilities in the fund selection process. Click the link below to read the full article. https://lnkd.in/evG7KiK2

If you are a high-earning business owner with a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP), then it is possible this retirement savings vehicle might be underserving your needs. Why might this be the case? And if not a SEP, then what should you use instead? In their latest article, Steve Kohler, CFP® and Nancy I. Kunz, CFP®, CPFA®, ChFC®, CLU® use a real client example to illustrate the benefits of considering a solo 401(k) instead of a SEP. These benefits include higher contribution limits, the ability to leverage both employee and employer contributions, and the potential for backdoor Roth contributions. Together, the benefits afforded by a solo 401(k) can - for the right high-earning business owners - provide more flexibility and better diversification potential than a SEP. https://lnkd.in/euUD5cab

On this #GivingTuesday, we are honored to support The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh and the many amazing kids and families they serve. Their mission is close to our hearts and their impact on our local community runs deep. We hope you can join us in helping to make more good days possible: https://lnkd.in/d9_x49AA

How could the next administration's economic policies impact housing affordability? Our founder and CEO, David B. Root, CFP, recently shared his thoughts with Tim Grant and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As Dave outlines, any near-term affordability tailwinds that emerge from policy decisions could be offset to an extent by persistently high and sticky mortgage rates. Read the full article at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eHfYFZ48

Tomorrow is the big day! We hope you can join us this #GivingTuesday in an effort to help give more kids and families more good days!

We are thrilled to partner with The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh again this year to help more kids have more good days! Please consider supporting their impactful mission this GivingTuesday if you can!

Are you prepared for the sunsetting of current lifetime estate tax exemptions? At the end of next year, the lifetime estate tax exemption for individuals is expected to be cut in half, from an estimated $13.99 million in 2025 to approximately $7 million in 2026. For those planning to make large legacy gifts, the sunset could have a meaningful impact on taxes owed. And the time to begin planning around this change is now. Please join us next Tuesday, November 19th at 12pm ET for a conversation about how individuals and families can think about addressing the sunset as part of their estate and legacy plans. Steve Kohler, CFP® and Jeremy Suschak, CFP® from DBR & CO will be joined by trust and estate expert David DelFiandra from Leech Tishman to discuss: 1️⃣ Why estate planning is a critical component of everyone's financial plan 2️⃣ The urgency of estate planning in 2025 given the expected estate tax exemption sunset 3️⃣ Estate & financial planning strategies to consider implementing around the sunset 4️⃣ Actionable steps you can take immediately to bolster your estate plan Visit the link below to register: https://lnkd.in/e-8djnvJ

"Gold has appreciated 40% this year versus the S&P 500 at 23%,..." Will gold become an increasingly important component of investor portfolios as the government's budget deficit expands rapidly, geopolitical conflicts persist, and inflation remains elevated? Our founder and CEO, David B. Root, CFP shared his views on gold with Tim Grant and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over the weekend. Click the link below to read the full article. https://lnkd.in/ebuk-8Yi