Serving the clients of IAG Wealth Partners, IAG Insight is a quarterly publication written by IAG staff that provides financial and wealth management news with a focus on how it impacts our clients.

 

Past Issues

Scroll down for past issues.

Congratulations are in Order

The following IAG team members have studied, tested, and passed the following exams (SIE is Securities Industry Essentials): BJ Sabol: Series 7 and Series 66 Brad Carroll: SIE Josh Oswald: SIE Kyle Bence: SIE Mark Wieselmann: SIE    

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Federal Reserve

Every expectation is that the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is at or near the end of their historic series of interest rate hikes. Just 17.5 months ago, the Fed’s target overnight interest rate was between 0% and 0.25%. Today it stands between 5.25% and 5.50%. In those months we have seen year-over-year headline inflation…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Congress

The 118th Congress is proving to be the epitome of a do-nothing Congress. That is not necessarily a complaint given the tremendous amount of change they have made to tax and retirement laws over the last few years. The IRS likely needs a breather to catch up on writing all of those regulations. One item…

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The IAG Charitable Foundation

Foundation Focus

Since the beginning of the year, the IAG Charitable Foundation was blessed to provide grants to the following organizations, totaling just under $9,000. Old World Foundation Cedar Springs Ranch (Cedar Springs Church Ranch) Ascension Lutheran Church The Roc Youth Center (Watertown Wels Youth Center) St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Oconomowoc – Hope for Hadley Transforming Individual…

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IAG Insight

IAG Grapevine

Jesse Sindorf and his wife, Hannah, welcomed their third child, Bennett, on April 6th. Jennifer Von Ruden’s daughter, Rebecca, graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and a double minor in Communication and Religion. Susan Kuhlenbeck’s granddaughter, Sara, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and graduated suma cum laude from…

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IAG Insight

Foundation Focus

This quarter the IAG Charitable Foundation made a grant to support Hope for Hadley sponsored by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc. Hadley McCormack is a six-year-old girl battling a brain tumor. You can learn more about Hadley’s story by visiting this website. If you would like to submit a grant request for a charity…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Federal Reserve

Was May 3rd the last rate hike this economic cycle? Based on what we know right now, odds favor a yes answer to that question. The Federal Reserve’s highly aggressive interest rate-hiking campaign which started in March 2022 is definitely having an impact. However, the full impact of each rate hike is not really known…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway: Congress

April tax receipts fell short of expectations, accelerating the date of potential default if the debt limit is not increased. This caught both the President and Congress off guard as they were prepared for a July or August default debate. The most likely outcome of this accelerated timetable is a temporary debt limit extension to…

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IAG Insight

November I.A.G Grapevine

Anne Sapienza married Tim Johnson in a small backyard ceremony on September 24. They honeymooned in Italy. Gina Haenisch and her husband, Kurt, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on September 18. Mike Kutz’ son, Sam, passed his final CPA exam in September and, along with his wife, Emily, had Mike’s first grandchild, Ivy. Bill Otto…

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IAG Insight

Welcome, Lindsay!

Lindsay Lavine joined the IAG team as a Financial Operations Associate in July. She works primarily with Mike Koerner and his clients, but also contributes as other team needs arise. Lindsay passion is helping people. In her previous role with Hub International she assisted employees with their group benefits. Lindsay was drawn to IAG because of…

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IAG Insight

November Inside the Beltway

Inside the Beltway: Congress With the elections over, the 117th Congress will be working to finish up all sorts of loose ends before the end of the year using a so-called “lame duck” session. One of those loose ends could impact the rules for retirement accounts. The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (SECURE…

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IAG Insight

Why Women Need Life Insurance

Today, women have more financial responsibilities than ever before. How will your family or loved ones manage financially if you die? Whether you are single, married, employed, or a stay-at-home mom, you probably need life insurance. At the very least, life insurance can help pay for the costs of funeral and burial services, estate administration,…

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IAG Insight

September Inside the Beltway

The President signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act on August 16. This mono-partisan 730-page bill addressed several Democratic priorities and passed the Senate and House on strictly party-line votes. With this budget reconciliation bill out of the way, Congress departed for their traditional August recess. When they return to Washington in mid-September, they plan…

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IAG Insight

Welcome BJ!

B.J. Sabol joined your IAG team as a Financial Operations Associate on April 22nd. He grew up in the Lake Country area and graduated from Lake Country Lutheran High School in 2014. After graduation, he headed west to attend a junior college in California with the dream of one day playing Division One baseball. After…

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IAG Insight

September IAG Grapevine

IAG Grapevine Mike Kutz’ son, Sam, and his wife, Emilie, celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, Ivy, on August 22. Rusty Peterson, and his wife, Marna, moved from Menomonee Falls to Delafield and adopted a 1-year-old Rottweiler named Nelli. Mary Paul purchased a home in Footville, Wisconsin, in May. Josh Oswald and BJ Sabol…

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IAG Insight

Inside the Beltway

Legislation update Having expended a significant amount of political capital pushing the Build Back Better without passing it, Congressional leaders are mulling how to pass pieces of this legislation before the end of the 117th Congress. Given current inflation readings, it is unlikely that additional government stimulus is needed. Thus, legislators are more likely to…

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IAG Insight

Welcome, Kyle!

Kyle Bence joined our IAG team on January 17 as a Financial Operations Associate and will be working primarily with Lori Watt’s clients. His plans include learning the financial planning process, passing the required regulatory exams, and becoming a financial advisor. His primary goal is to serve others while listening carefully. This served him well…

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IAG Insight

High Inflation: How Long Will It Last

In March 2022, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the most common measure of inflation, rose at an annual rate of 8.5%, the highest level since December 1981.1 It’s not surprising that a Gallup poll at the end of March found that one out of six Americans considers inflation to be the…

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IAG Insight

Holding Equities for the Long Term

Legendary investor Warren Buffett is famous for his long-term perspective. He has said that he likes to make investments he would be comfortable holding even if the market shut down for 10 years. Investing with an eye toward the long term is particularly important with stocks. Historically, equities have typically outperformed bonds, cash, and inflation,…

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IAG Insight

Warren Buffett on How to Plan for Inflation

Inflation swindles almost everybody – stock investors, bond investors… We’ve all heard about Warren Buffett, the 91-year-old multibillionaire known for his friendly demeanor, modest style of living in Omaha, and remarkable ability to create wealth. How does he make so much money? How does Warren and his long-time associate, Charlie Munger (who is 98), choose…

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