Heintz Wealth Management

This October, many Americans are enjoying all things spooky. But as we celebrate National Financial Planning Month, our thoughts are turning to a different kind of fright: the unfortunate financial reality faced by too many Americans. Swipe through to learn more about Americans' finances. And remember, our team is here to help you avoid these scary financial pitfalls. Reach out to us — we're here to help!

Planning for retirement is often accompanied by myths that can obscure judgment and decision-making. Today, we’re dispelling four such myths. Swipe to learn more ➡️ One fact remains clear: Our team is here to help our network effectively plan for retirement. Should you have any questions about your retirement strategies, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Do you provide 401(k) matching for your employees? Understanding vesting schedules is crucial for your benefits package. Swipe through to learn more about vesting and the role it can play in employee retention. Have questions about vesting schedules? Reach out to our team. We are here to help!

The FAFSA application is undergoing significant changes that could impact financial planning for college-bound students, including: 🗓️ Delayed Release - The 2025-2026 FAFSA release is postponed from October 1 to December 1 due to software issues. Limited testing with select students starts on October 1. 🚫 Elimination of Multi-Child Discount - The revised FAFSA formula removes the discount for families with multiple children in college. Each child's Student Aid Index (SAI) is now calculated separately, without any discount. 💸 Changes in Financial Reporting - Contributions to workplace retirement plans like 401(k) or 403(b) are no longer counted in SAI calculations, potentially lowering reported income and improving aid eligibility. However, tax-deferred IRA contributions are still taxable. 🏦 Treatment of Sibling 529 Assets - The new FAFSA guidelines exclude sibling 529 and Coverdell accounts from being reported as the student's assets, though they remain parental assets if owned by the parent. Accounts owned by others, like grandparents, don't need to be reported, which could increase aid eligibility. 📚 CSS Profile Considerations - These FAFSA changes do not apply to other financial aid applications, like the CSS Profile, which may still consider factors like the multi-child discount and sibling 529 assets in determining aid packages. Given these updates, it’s crucial to revisit your financial strategies. If you have any questions or need assistance navigating these changes, we’re here to help! 📞 Drop us a message or give us a call anytime.

Stock market indexes are essential indicators of the stock market’s current status. The major indexes, such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100, each track different segments of the market. Swipe through to learn more about these major indexes and what they represent. As always, if you have any questions about these indexes or your investment portfolio, reach out to our team. We are here to help!

As we step into the fourth quarter of 2024, it’s the ideal moment to look back at the last few months. Swipe for an overview of some key highlights from the third quarter. As always, feel free to reach out with any investment-related questions or needs. We’re always here as a resource for you.

Happy National Financial Planning Month! We want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing client family for trusting us with your financial planning needs. Your confidence in us means the world, and we’re honored to help you achieve your financial goals. As always, we're here for you. Whether you have questions, need advice, or just want to chat about your financial future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Here's to a month of thoughtful planning and continued success!

It’s fall, the time of year when you wear a sweater in the morning and second guess that choice in the afternoon … While we can’t help with that 12:01 pm wardrobe regret, we can help with issues or needs that arise within our area of expertise! Give us a call anytime, and happy fall🍂

September brings a beautiful blend of summer warmth and autumn cheer 🍂✨ Today, we wanted to share this quote to help us embrace the transition and savor every moment! Share with us in the comments how you're enjoying these early autumn days! 🍁

It may be hard to believe, but as of September 23, we have less than 100 days left of the year! For the employers we serve, this end-of-year period can be incredibly busy, as leaders wrap up the current year and plan for the following one. It’s important that key employee communications don’t get lost in the shuffle, however. To help out, we’re sharing six key retirement planning considerations for employees. Feel free to share this information with your employees, and do not hesitate to reach out with any 401(k) questions or needs. We are here to help.