Jason Thrap - Northwestern Mutual

A sudden infusion of cash can be a great opportunity both now and for your future. But what should you do when you get one?

What to Do with a Windfall Getting a windfall of money is great, but it’s natural to wonder what you should do with the money. Learn about financial strategies to help you with a windfall.

A “retirement paycheck” can help you achieve financial security in retirement. Here’s advice from retirement and longevity expert Steve Vernon on creating yours.

Creating a Retirement Paycheck: Key Concepts and Strategies Social Security is the best source of protected income since it’s indexed for inflation, won’t go down when the stock market crashes, is paid for the rest of your life and has survivor benefits. But many retirees want more lifetime protected income than Social Security provides.

Taking stock of your budget at the midyear point is a great way to keep tabs on your fiscal health.

Do a Midyear Budget Checkup Assessing your current spending in these 6 areas of your budget can help you make any needed adjustments. Then you can focus on what matters most.

Social Security can provide a great base for your retirement income. But you’ll likely want to consider additional options. Please reach out if you’d like to talk about your retirement plan.

How Does Social Security Work? Social Security can help you create a base of reliable income that you can’t outlive. Learn more about how it works.

People who report feeling more confident about aspects of their financial lives all have one key thing in common.

Financially Confident People Have This in Common New research finds a common thread among people who report being more financially confident.

The tax advantages a Roth IRA offers makes it a great retirement savings tool. But there are rules you need to be aware of. Please reach out if you have questions about your plan.

Roth IRA Contribution Limits 2023 There are limits to how much you can contribute to your Roth IRA each year.

The latest Northwestern Mutual research finds Americans making more progress in paying down their debts. While debt may seem bad, it isn’t always. Please reach out if you’d like to talk about your financial plan and check out these strategies to manage debt.

How to Manage Your Debt Debt can be a burden, but it can also be a great financial tool if you’re managing it well.

Assessing one component of your financial plan each month is a great way to keep tabs on your fiscal health.

Your Midyear Financial Checkup This checklist can help you make sure your finances are on track for the rest of the year. Here’s what to assess for the next 6 months.

Happy Fourth of July! Today’s the day to enjoy everything from a neighborhood BBQ, fireworks with the family, or even festive chalk art. However you celebrate, my Independence Day wish for you is to live the life you want—today and every day after.

Permanent life insurance can be an important part of your retirement plan. Please reach out if you’d like to talk about your retirement plan.

How Permanent Life Insurance Works When You Retire While it may seem like your need for life insurance diminishes in retirement, the opposite is actually true. Learn how to use life insurance in your retirement planning.

401(k)s and IRAs are great tools to help save for retirement. But there are some key differences between the two.

What’s the Difference Between an IRA and a 401(k)? Learn about the most common retirement saving accounts, including a Roth IRA, IRA, 401(k), and Roth 401(k), and how they can help you save for retirement.

What a beautiful day we had supporting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Here’s a look at what a pause in rate hikes may mean for you.

What to Know as the Fed Approaches the End of the Current Rate Hike Cycle With the Fed approaching the end of its rate hiking cycle, here is a look at what it may mean for you.

The amount you have in savings is important, but how you’re saving can go a long way to help you get the most out of your money.

I’d love to schedule time to learn more about your situation and show you how some simple tweaks can help you get more out of your savings.

Here's What Americans Have Saved for Retirement by Age, and What They Think They’ll Need See how you stack up with your peers and what you can do to maximize your savings.

We all have that one place we dream of retiring to. Maybe you traveled there once, saw it in a movie, or maybe it’s your hometown. Will it happen? It’s not too late to make a plan. So, what’s your retirement happy place? Comment below and share where you want to retire and why.

Roth IRAs are a great way to help minimize the amount you’ll owe in taxes over time. See more about how they work and please reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss adding one to your financial plan.

What Is a Roth IRA? A Roth IRA is a great tool to help you save for retirement while minimizing taxes.

Think about what you love doing. Then think about being able to do it all the time. Start planning now, and I can help you retire the way you want without having to change your current lifestyle. So, what are you most excited to do in retirement? Let me know in the comments.

Getting enough into an emergency fund is a key financial step, but it’s important to look at how much you are saving in the context of your broader goals. Please reach out if you’d like help.

How Much Should I Save in an Emergency Fund? While it’s generally good to save six months’ worth of expenses, there are times when you may want to have more or less.

A Roth IRA can be a great way to save for retirement. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss your retirement savings options.

How to Start a Roth IRA A Roth IRA can be an excellent way to invest and save for retirement, here’s what to know about how to start a Roth IRA.

Taking the time to discuss what you both want can help ensure you’re on the same page.

The Conversations Couples Should Have Before Retirement As you and your partner work toward retirement, don't forget to talk about what you want your life to look like when the time comes. Here are the conversations couples should have before retirement.

Investing in stocks can play an important role in creating long-term wealth. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss how you can put your money to work.

Answers to questions new investors may have about stocks If you have questions about how to invest in the stock market, you’re not alone. Here are some answers to common questions that many new investors have.

Investing can play an important role in creating long-term wealth. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss how you can put your money to work.

New to investing? Here are some things you need to know Investing can take different forms, but they all share a common goal of making money. Here are some details that can help new investors get started.

Congrats to all the 2023 graduates. A special congrats to my Charly as she graduated from Waukee Northwest this year, with plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall!