Understanding SECURE Act Changes to RMD Age & Benefits of QCD
September 16, 2021
In December 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was passed into law, making substantial changes to retirement account rules—the most notable change being the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age. If you reached age 70 ½ in 2020 or later, you must take your first RMD by April 1 of the …
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Things to Know About the Child Tax Credit
September 15, 2021
As part of the American Rescue Plan—the $1.9 trillion expanded COVID-19 relief legislation passed by Congress back in March—families who are eligible for child tax credits have begun receiving payments and many of them are being directly deposited into bank accounts. But while most people receiving these payments are happy to have the extra cash, …
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Legacy Planning at Two-Year Mark in the Pandemic
September 15, 2021
There are a lot of things that are more fun than planning for the point in time when you’re no longer around. But if you have assets that you intend to pass along to loved ones, or that you hope to donate to a specific cause or organization, now is the time to figure that …
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The Importance of Revisiting Retirement Plans Following Major Events
August 18, 2021
Planning for retirement is an ongoing process that needs to be constantly revisited—particularly following significant events that could potentially alter your planning, such as the COVID-19 global pandemic. With the events of the past 18 months having impacted everyone in one way or another, now is the perfect time to reexamine your retirement portfolio and …
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Four Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan
August 18, 2021
With everything going on in the world today, it’s very easy to put off tasks that are future-oriented, like doing a will, or making sure the beneficiary designation for a retirement plan account is up to date. Sometimes it seems there are just not enough hours in the day to get daily chores done, much …
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Watch out for Payment Scams
July 19, 2021
As the public’s familiarity with QR codes increases, the possibility of fraud increases, that’s because scammers now deploy them in simple transaction situations that seem to make sense, offering a “more convenient” way to receive payment. The scam works like this: You put an item up for sale on a marketplace website. A scammer emails …
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Mortgage Fraud
July 19, 2021
As you might expect in a hot housing market, mortgage fraud is rampant. The mortgage industry is an environment for fraudsters because they can target both mortgage borrowers and mortgage lenders. When borrowers are targeted, it’s typically a corrupt bank officer, mortgage broker or loan originator who uses their authority to skim off cash or …
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Midyear Review
July 19, 2021
Summer is here! With the year already half over, now is the time to take a look at your financial situation and assess how you’re doing so far. Midyear reviews are always sensible, and with all the uncertainty around personal finances since the start of the pandemic, in 2021 a review is more timely and …
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Inflation is on the rise. What should I be doing to protect my portfolio?
June 16, 2021
Alpine Bank Wealth Management Q&A with Melissa M. Knutson, CFP®, Vice President Thanks to a decline in COVID infection rates, stimulus spending and historically low interest rates, the economy is ramping up. With this economic uptick, we’re beginning to see inflation in our everyday purchases and living expenses. Consumers are seeing higher prices on groceries, …
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Impending Estate Tax Changes
June 16, 2021
The changing of the administration at the White House and in Congress has already brought several significant policy changes, and it is likely to bring about more. While it is still unclear what specific changes can be expected on the tax front, when it comes to estate planning and the transfer of wealth now is …
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