Serving the clients of IAG Wealth Partners, IAG Insight is a quarterly publication written by IAG staff that provides financial and wealth management news with a focus on how it impacts our clients.

 

Past Issues

Scroll down for past issues.

IAG Grapevine

Mike Kellen’s sons, Noah and Caleb each won their conference championships for the Wisconsin Lutheran Area Grade School Basketball conference. Both are students at and play for Christ the Lord Lutheran School.   Chris Mitchell’s daughter Amaya qualified for the WIARA High School State Ski Race championship.  She competed in slalom, giant slalom and super giant…

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The IAG Charitable Foundation

Foundation Focus

Grants provided through the IAG Charitable Foundation paid out $500 in the 1st quarter of 2024 to the following organization: Overland Missions, Cocoa, FL If you would like to submit a grant request for a charity in which you are involved, please use this link to complete the request. The organization is required to be a…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Congress

March 1 is coming fast. That is the self-imposed deadline for Congress to pass four of the twelve appropriations bills that make up the annual discretionary budget for the federal government. The other eight bills are due March 8. This extension since September 30 (when the current budget year started) was supposed to give Congress…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Federal Reserve

Last December bond traders and the Federal Reserve agreed to disagree. The Federal Reserve projected three or four potential .25% reductions in its overnight interest rate target by the end of 2024. Bond traders projected six or seven rate cuts. This disagreement went back and forth in January, but tilted heavily in the Federal Reserve’s…

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IAG Insight

INSIDE INSURANCE

BENEFICIARY REVIEWS Every three years, IAG advisors review beneficiary information in their client’s IRA’s, 401k’s, and other retirement accounts as well as on their life insurance policies. This is a very important exercise to go through because life happens, and things change. 2024 is a year for beneficiary reviews so as we meet with clients…

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IAG Insight

NOVEMBER WAS LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH

November was Long-Term Care Awareness Month.  While November is behind us, any month is good for learning about long term care insurance. Even the U.S. Congress has urged “the people of the United States to recognize (this) as an opportunity to learn more about the potential risks and costs … and the options available.”   We’re…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Federal Reserve

After a tame October inflation report, almost everyone thinks the Federal Reserve is done raising their target overnight interest rate for this cycle. The Federal Reserve is not so sure. Federal Reserve speakers have continued to emphasize that future actions are dependent on future data, and they will continue to take steps to bring inflation…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Congress

After grinding to a Speakerless halt, the U.S. House of Representatives has regained a limited form of functionality. How long this remains true is the big question. There are a relatively small, yet vocal, number of Representatives that are laser-focused on reducing federal spending. They also are demanding that all of the annual appropriations bills…

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IAG Grapevine

From the Jayme Heineck Family: Her son, Justin’s UW Intramural Volleyball team won first place. Justin’s sand volleyball team took first place and his innertube water polo team (who even knew this was a thing?) have taken first place for the 3rd year in a row. Both the sand volleyball and innertube water polo are…

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The IAG Charitable Foundation

Foundation Focus

Grants provided through the IAG Charitable Foundation paid out $5,500 in the 4th quarter to the following organizations: American Parkinson Disease Association – Wisconsin Chapter Pauline Haass Public Library Foundation Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Saint Agnes Catholic Parish Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra If you would like to submit a grant request for a charity…

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Congratulations are in Order

The following IAG team members have studied, tested, and passed the following exams (SIE is Securities Industry Essentials): BJ Sabol: Series 7 and Series 66 Brad Carroll: SIE Josh Oswald: SIE Kyle Bence: SIE Mark Wieselmann: SIE    

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IAG Insight

IAG Grapevine

Jesse Sindorf and his wife, Hannah, welcomed their third child, Bennett, on April 6th. Jennifer Von Ruden’s daughter, Rebecca, graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and a double minor in Communication and Religion. Susan Kuhlenbeck’s granddaughter, Sara, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and graduated suma cum laude from…

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Foundation Focus

This quarter the IAG Charitable Foundation made a grant to support Hope for Hadley sponsored by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc. Hadley McCormack is a six-year-old girl battling a brain tumor. You can learn more about Hadley’s story by visiting this website. If you would like to submit a grant request for a charity…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Federal Reserve

Was May 3rd the last rate hike this economic cycle? Based on what we know right now, odds favor a yes answer to that question. The Federal Reserve’s highly aggressive interest rate-hiking campaign which started in March 2022 is definitely having an impact. However, the full impact of each rate hike is not really known…

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Inside the Beltway: Congress

April tax receipts fell short of expectations, accelerating the date of potential default if the debt limit is not increased. This caught both the President and Congress off guard as they were prepared for a July or August default debate. The most likely outcome of this accelerated timetable is a temporary debt limit extension to…

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IAG Insight

November I.A.G Grapevine

Anne Sapienza married Tim Johnson in a small backyard ceremony on September 24. They honeymooned in Italy. Gina Haenisch and her husband, Kurt, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on September 18. Mike Kutz’ son, Sam, passed his final CPA exam in September and, along with his wife, Emily, had Mike’s first grandchild, Ivy. Bill Otto…

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IAG Insight

Welcome, Lindsay!

Lindsay Lavine joined the IAG team as a Financial Operations Associate in July. She works primarily with Mike Koerner and his clients, but also contributes as other team needs arise. Lindsay passion is helping people. In her previous role with Hub International she assisted employees with their group benefits. Lindsay was drawn to IAG because of…

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IAG Insight

November Inside the Beltway

Inside the Beltway: Congress With the elections over, the 117th Congress will be working to finish up all sorts of loose ends before the end of the year using a so-called “lame duck” session. One of those loose ends could impact the rules for retirement accounts. The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (SECURE…

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IAG Insight

Why Women Need Life Insurance

Today, women have more financial responsibilities than ever before. How will your family or loved ones manage financially if you die? Whether you are single, married, employed, or a stay-at-home mom, you probably need life insurance. At the very least, life insurance can help pay for the costs of funeral and burial services, estate administration,…

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IAG Insight

September Inside the Beltway

The President signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act on August 16. This mono-partisan 730-page bill addressed several Democratic priorities and passed the Senate and House on strictly party-line votes. With this budget reconciliation bill out of the way, Congress departed for their traditional August recess. When they return to Washington in mid-September, they plan…

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IAG Insight

Welcome BJ!

B.J. Sabol joined your IAG team as a Financial Operations Associate on April 22nd. He grew up in the Lake Country area and graduated from Lake Country Lutheran High School in 2014. After graduation, he headed west to attend a junior college in California with the dream of one day playing Division One baseball. After…

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IAG Insight

September IAG Grapevine

IAG Grapevine Mike Kutz’ son, Sam, and his wife, Emilie, celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, Ivy, on August 22. Rusty Peterson, and his wife, Marna, moved from Menomonee Falls to Delafield and adopted a 1-year-old Rottweiler named Nelli. Mary Paul purchased a home in Footville, Wisconsin, in May. Josh Oswald and BJ Sabol…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway

Legislation update Having expended a significant amount of political capital pushing the Build Back Better without passing it, Congressional leaders are mulling how to pass pieces of this legislation before the end of the 117th Congress. Given current inflation readings, it is unlikely that additional government stimulus is needed. Thus, legislators are more likely to…

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IAG Insight

Welcome, Kyle!

Kyle Bence joined our IAG team on January 17 as a Financial Operations Associate and will be working primarily with Lori Watt’s clients. His plans include learning the financial planning process, passing the required regulatory exams, and becoming a financial advisor. His primary goal is to serve others while listening carefully. This served him well…

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High Inflation: How Long Will It Last

In March 2022, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the most common measure of inflation, rose at an annual rate of 8.5%, the highest level since December 1981.1 It’s not surprising that a Gallup poll at the end of March found that one out of six Americans considers inflation to be the…

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Holding Equities for the Long Term

Legendary investor Warren Buffett is famous for his long-term perspective. He has said that he likes to make investments he would be comfortable holding even if the market shut down for 10 years. Investing with an eye toward the long term is particularly important with stocks. Historically, equities have typically outperformed bonds, cash, and inflation,…

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Warren Buffett on How to Plan for Inflation

Inflation swindles almost everybody – stock investors, bond investors… We’ve all heard about Warren Buffett, the 91-year-old multibillionaire known for his friendly demeanor, modest style of living in Omaha, and remarkable ability to create wealth. How does he make so much money? How does Warren and his long-time associate, Charlie Munger (who is 98), choose…

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