Resources for Every Need
Discover valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate your financial journey.
January 2025 in Review
Markets started the year on a strong note. Christopher Zabel, Portfolio Manager, recaps January’s performance, where the S&P 500 gained momentum despite market volatility.
December 2024 in Review
Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager, shares a December recap and reflects on 2024’s market performance. The S&P 500 posted strong annual gains, supported by AI growth, resilient economic trends, and Federal Reserve rate cuts.
November 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of November.
Key Changes in the Secure Act 2.0 for IRAs and 401(k)s (Effective 2025)
The Secure Act 2.0 introduces new updates to improve your retirement savings strategy. These changes affect both Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) plans. Here are five key updates to know for 2025...
October 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of October.
Long-Term Care & Your Financial Plan
As more people live longer, planning for long-term care has become an essential part of financial wellness. Whether you wish to remain at home or reduce the caregiving burden on your family, having a plan in place may make a significant difference.
How Do Home Improvement Loans Work?
A home improvement loan allows homeowners to borrow money for their renovation plans when they don't have the savings to pay out of pocket. Home improvement needs sometimes sneak up on homeowners. Renovations can be very expensive, rack up tens of thousands of dollars, and many homeowners just don't have the funds saved for home repairs.
September 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of September.
August 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of August.
Estate Planning 101
An estate plan can help protect your family and finances during your life and after you die. It is important to review your estate plan after any life-changing event. These events include marriage, divorce, other domestic arrangement changes, a financial windfall, the birth or adoption of a child.
Should You Get a Home Improvement Loan?
Over the last couple of years, more homeowners have taken on the kitchen remodel or master bathroom upgrade they've been putting off leading to an increase in home improvements. Whether you're working on your fixer-upper or looking to make your home more appealing to buyers on the market, home renovations can help you make your vision a reality.
Socially Responsible Investing
Midland Wealth Management’s Socially Responsible Portfolio is structured with high quality funds investing in the fixed income, equity and alternative markets. In addition to the normal quantitative analysis, these funds evaluate supplemental factors when reviewing profitable and growing companies. These factors can be categorized into three main groups: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).
July 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Chris Zabel, Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of July.
June 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of June.
May 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I’m Chris Zabel, Portfolio Manager. Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of May.
April 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I just wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of February.
March 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Chris Zabel, Portfolio Manager. Today I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of March.
February 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I just wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of February.
January 2024 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I just wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of January.
Business Ownership Insights: Corporate Transparency Act
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), effective January 1, 2024, impacts millions of small businesses across the U.S.
December 2023 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Chris Zabel, Assistant Portfolio Manager. Today I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of December.
Plan Sponsor Update 2024 Retirement and Employee Benefit Plan Limits
The Internal Revenue Service released 2024 cost-of-living adjustments for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions. These include employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans and may affect how plan sponsors administer their plans in the coming year.
November 2023 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I just wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of November.
That Time of Year
Did you know that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month? It’s true – since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October as a month dedicated for the public and private sectors and tribal communities to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.
October 2023 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I just wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of October.
Estate-Planning Tools: Transfer on Death Instrument
The Illinois Real Estate Transfer on Death Instrument Act (755 ILCS 27/1 et seq.) has been in existence for a little over a decade now, and consideration should be given to using a transfer on death instrument (“TODI” in this article) as part of your estate plan. But what is a TODI? And does everyone need one? The goal of this article is to provide a general overview of the TODI and help you determine if your estate plan should include one.
September 2023 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I wanted to spend a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of September.
August 2023 in Review
Welcome to the monthly market update from Midland Wealth Management. I am Dan Zeigler, Senior Portfolio Manager. Today I wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update on the markets for the month of August.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Most Americans give to charity on a regular basis. What many Americans may not realize is that their charitable donations are not receiving the same tax benefits that they once did.
Charitable Giving Strategies
Charitable giving is a great way to help save on income taxes, maximize your impact on a charitable legacy you hold dear to your heart, and potentially help minimize death taxes.
Will a Nursing Home Take All My Assets?
A concern we frequently hear goes something like this: “If I ever go into a nursing home, they’re going to take all my assets!” While this concern may not be accurate, the underlying fear is real: all your life savings being used up to pay for your end-of-life care, leaving little left for your loved ones.
Charitable Giving
A giving legacy can help fulfill your philanthropic goals.
Retirement Plan Legislation Secure Act Highlights
The new law requires employers to set a default contribution rate of at least 3% but not more than 10% for the employee, plus an automatic contribution escalation of 1% per year up to a maximum contribution rate of at least 10% but not more than 15%.
Crypto Insights
By now everyone has heard of the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried (known in the crypto community as SBF). FTX was viewed as one of the darlings of the crypto space. It was thought to be among the most secure. SBF was even lobbying for crypto regulation. FTX was believed to be stable in an extremely volatile space. Having it collapse in the way it did is what’s really shocking. Its collapse has played a huge role in what is happening in crypto right now.
Navigating Trustee Selection Process
Trusts have been part of the estate planning conversation for over a thousand years and have become the primary estate planning vehicle in use today. The Trustee is charged with certain duties relative to their role. While being nominated may be an honor, serving as a Trustee carries risk and responsibilities.
2023 Outlook Webinar - Midland Wealth Management
Midland Wealth Management hosted a year-end wrap-up and 2023 outlook webinar on 1/25/2023.
Presenters included: Jayne Hladio, MBA, President of Midland Wealth Management and Betsy Pierson, CFA, Chief Investment Officer.
5 Most Common Beneficiary Designation Mistakes
One aspect of estate planning that can often be overlooked is making sure your beneficiary designations are up to date. Many people think that once you have signed your Last Will and Testament, your estate plan is complete. Not so fast! This may surprise you, but oftentimes a person’s Will governs very few assets at the time of their death. Consider retirement accounts and life insurance: it is not the Will, but rather the beneficiary designation that these assets have that will govern who receives it at the time of death.
Avoiding and Identifying Scams
AARP has reported that 3 out of 4 U.S. adults have experienced or have been targeted by at least one form of fraud. Scams and fraud have soared across the U.S., but reported losses are just the tip of the iceberg. Losses are often not reported because of the shame and blame attached to the victims of fraud. More than 1 in 4 people who reported losing money to Fraud in 2021 said it started on Social Media.
Is Your Company Retirement Plan Due for a Checkup?
Many employers offer 401(k) and/or profit sharing plans. Employers, as Plan Sponsors, have a fiduciary responsibility to review periodically the plan’s terms, features, fees, investments with their vendor(s) and their vendors to assess whether any plan changes are required to satisfy the compliance and fiduciary standards required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The day-to-day business and employee needs, generally, take precedent which makes it difficult for employers to find time to review their plans.
Do I Need Trust
One of the most common questions we hear from clients is, “Do I need a Trust?”
While I like giving neat-and-tidy answers, this is not one of those questions where that can be done. Every person’s estate is a little bit different, and this requires individual analysis before determining if a trust is right for you. My goal in this article is to help you in this analysis, so that we can answer this question for you.v
Protective Benefits Leaving Assets Trust Fund
When preparing your estate plan, one of the major decisions you will need to make is not only WHO your beneficiaries will be, but also HOW you will your assets to them. Most people assume because they do not have millions of dollars and all their beneficiaries are adults, a trust fund is not the right choice for them. They instead opt to leave the inheritance to their beneficiaries all in one lump sum (what is called an “outright” bequest). If this is you, please take a moment and read this brief article, and see if I can convince you to reconsider your plan in light of all the benefits a trust fund could afford to your beneficiaries.
Inheritance Questions and Considerations
Inheritance is a process that involves passing on material property from one generation to another, usually within the family and traditionally from older parents to their children. As trust officers and wealth advisors, we are often asked, “When is the best time to make a transfer to another generation?”
What to Review and Revise Amidst Divorce
Have you heard the old joke, “What is the number one cause of divorce? Marriage!” Bad humor aside, divorce rates are increasing around the world. The pandemic has presented couples an unprecedented challenge. It may be appropriate to review what actions should be taken by either party if there is a divorce.
Age Electronic Will
Over the past two years, conducting business that requires document signings has been a challenge. If witnesses are required, it’s been even more problematic. No business has been more affected by the effects of social distancing than the estate planning world. However, some states, including Illinois, have taken steps to alleviate these issues when it comes to signing a will. The age of the electronic will has now arrived.
Pet Trusts
Although surveys differ, up to 68% of households in the United States are thought to contain one or more animals considered to be a pet. 1 And an astute observer might notice that many pet owners consider their pets to be more than animals. They are beloved members of the family. And like other loved ones, many Americans want to ensure that their furry, feathery, or scaly friends are cared for should they die while their pet is still living.
Estate Planning Digital Assets
How would you feel about losing over $220,000,000? Stefan Thomas said, “time heals all wounds,” and he is at peace with losing over 220 million dollars’ worth of Bitcoin. Mr. Thomas’s potential loss is the result of forgetting his password to the USB hard drive containing the digital wallet holding 7,002 Bitcoins! He has already failed 11 attempts to access the account and if he reaches 13 failed attempts, the Bitcoins are lost forever.
Facing the Possibility of Incapacity
Even with modern medicine and interventions, it is a real possibility that you or your spouse could become incapable of handling your own medical or financial affairs. A serious illness or sudden accident can happen at any age. Advancing age can bring senility, Alzheimer's disease or other ailments that affect your capacity to make sound decisions about your health. These can also impact the way you manage your finances, including your ability to pay bills, write checks, make deposits or sell assets.
Our team of dedicated professionals are here to support you.
