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.
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Emotional biases can adversely impact financial decision making. Here’s a few to be mindful of.
Countdown to College
Preparing for college means setting goals, staying focused, and tackling a few key milestones along the way.
And the Executor Is
The right executor may help ensure the distribution of your assets is done with as little upheaval as possible.
When Should You Take Social Security
Monthly Social Security payments differ substantially depending on when you start receiving benefits.
Pay Yourself First
It sounds simple, but paying yourself first can really pay off.
The Half Million Dollar Baby
The true cost of raising a child may be far more than you expect.
Inventorying Your Possessions
Creating an inventory of your possessions can save you time, money and aggravation in the event you someday suffer losses.
Does Your Credit Score Affect Your Insurance Rates?
Your credit score may influence how much you pay for auto and home insurance.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
Not only can D&O insurance provide financial protection, but it can help improve an organization’s decision-making.
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Should I Pay Off Debt or Invest?
This calculator will help determine whether you should invest funds or pay down debt.
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.
Inflation & Retirement
Estimate how much income may be needed at retirement to maintain your standard of living.
Comparing Investments
This calculator compares the net gain of a taxable investment versus a tax-favored one.
Capital Gains Tax Estimator
Use this calculator to estimate your capital gains tax.
What Is My Current Cash Flow?
Assess whether you are running “in the black” or “in the red” each month.
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Long-Term-Care Protection Strategies
The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.
Investment Strategies for Retirement
Investment tools and strategies that can enable you to pursue your retirement goals.
Principles of Preserving Wealth
How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.
An Inside Look at Retirement Living
A number of questions and concerns need to be addressed to help you better prepare for retirement living.
Managing Your Lifestyle
Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.
Keys to Investing for Retirement
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
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How to Retire Early
Retiring early sounds like a dream come true, but it’s important to take a look at the cold, hard facts.
The Power of Compound Interest
Learn how to harness the power of compound interest for your investments.
Should I Invest in Gold?
Learning more about gold and its history may help you decide whether it has a place in your portfolio.
Investments
You’ve made investments your whole life. Work with us to help make the most of them.
Extended Care: A Patchwork of Possibilities
What is your plan for health care during retirement?
Acres of Diamonds
In life it often happens that the answers to our most pressing questions are right in our own backyards.