Understanding Today’s Financial Environment
Welcome, I’m Michael Hammen, a financial professional and owner of Advantage Financial & Tax Services in West Des Moines, IA. We understand that individuals and households face increasingly complex financial challenges as we navigate our way through life.
A few questions you may have. For example:
Are we saving enough for retirement? How does retirement savings impact my tax situation? How much can I save each year? What can I expect to receive at retirment in the form of income? How can I save on my income taxes each year? Can I save for my kids/grandkids college expenses? How much life insurance do I need? and other simular questions.
Our professionals have years of experience in financial services. We can help answer many of those questions, and assist you moving forward.
Helpful Content
To Catch a Thief
Having your identity stolen may result in financial loss plus the cost of trying to restore your good name.
How Income Taxes Work
A quick look at how federal income taxes work.
Asset Allocation
Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.
What You Should Do About Insurance Following a Divorce
In the face of divorce, making changes to insurance coverage may be overlooked.
U.S. Personal Savings Rate
What can be learned from the savings rate?
A Look at Diversification
Diversification is an investment principle designed to manage risk, but it can't prevent against a loss.
Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know
Here are five facts about Social Security that are important to keep in mind.
A Brief Guide To Condo Insurance
Important items to consider when purchasing condo insurance.
The Pre-Retirement Checklist
This checklist can give you a quick snapshot of how prepared you are.
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Doubling Your Money
This calculator demonstrates the power of compound interest.
Estimate Your RMD
Help determine the required minimum distribution from an IRA or other qualified retirement plan.
Social Security Taxes
Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be considered taxable.
What's My Potential Estate Tax?
This calculator helps estimate your federal estate tax liability.
What Is My Life Expectancy?
Estimate how many years you may need retirement assets or how long to provide income to a surviving spouse or children.
Inflation & Retirement
Estimate how much income may be needed at retirement to maintain your standard of living.
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Retirement Plan Distributions
There are a number of ways to withdraw money from a qualified retirement plan.
Long-Term-Care Protection Strategies
The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.
Tax Management Strategies
Learn more about taxes, tax-favored investing, and tax strategies.
Principles of Preserving Wealth
How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
Your Cash Flow Statement
A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.
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Perception vs. Reality
There’s an alarming difference between perception and reality for current and future retirees.
What Smart Investors Know
Smart investors take the time to separate emotion from fact.
Exit Strategies of the Rich and Famous
Estate conservation is too important to put off. Do you have a smart exit strategy?
What to Do When You Lose Your Wallet
Ever lost your wallet? Frustrating. Here’s what you can do to keep yourself safe.
Coaches
Coaches have helped you your whole life, in ways big and small. We’d like to be one of them.
A New Way to Look at Your Bucket List
That big list of dreams and goals isn't the only way to look at your bucket list.