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
Social Security: By the Numbers
Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you.
Estate Management Checklist
Is your estate in order? This short quiz may help you assess your overall strategy.
Donating Art: Taxation Abstraction
The tax rules that govern donating art are complex and confusing. Take a closer look.
Saving on Fitness Center Membership Costs
There are ways to improve your physical fitness without denting your fiscal fitness.
5 Things That Seasoned Travelers Are Doing (That You're Not)
A collection of tips from professional travelers.
The Best Apps in Travel
Technology tips to make your next trip even better.
The Most Overlooked Item of Any Home Improvement
The item most homeowners forget on their home improvement project checklist is insurance.
Choosing a Business Structure
Entrepreneurs all face the same question, “Which business structure should I adopt?”
Inflation & Your Money
It's important to understand how inflation is reported and how it can affect investments.
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Capital Gains Tax Estimator
Use this calculator to estimate your capital gains tax.
Inflation & Retirement
Estimate how much income may be needed at retirement to maintain your standard of living.
Assess Your Life Insurance Needs
This calculator estimates how much life insurance you would need to meet your family's needs if you were to die prematurely.
Should I Buy or Lease an Auto?
This calculator compares the financial impact of leasing versus buying an automobile.
Saving for College
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
Estimate Your RMD
Help determine the required minimum distribution from an IRA or other qualified retirement plan.
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5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.
An Inside Look at Retirement Living
A number of questions and concerns need to be addressed to help you better prepare for retirement living.
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.
Your Cash Flow Statement
A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.
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Don't Buy The Hype
There are a lot of misconceptions about Social Security. Here’s the truth about three of them.
Rightsizing for Retirement
What does your home really cost?
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
Where Is the Market Headed?
We all know the stock market can be unpredictable. We all want to know, “What’s next for the financial markets?”
Tuning Your Social Security Benefit
When should you take your Social Security benefit?
Surprise! You’ve Got Money!
Here’s a quick guide to checking to see if you have unclaimed money.