Kathy Hower

Calculating Your Withholding Tax

Money disappears from your paycheck for social security, childcare, retirement, insurance, and, likely the largest amount, goes to pay your income taxes. If you typically get a large refund or end up... Read More

The Private College 529 Plan – an Alternative for College Savings

Are you concerned that your college savings fund may not keep up with the rising costs of college?  Good investment options are available through the 529 College Savings Plans. However, does the priva... Read More

ARP Stimulus Payment: Are You Eligible?

Included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) are special Recovery Rebates that provide additional financial relief to those who are eligible. If you did not qualify for a stimulus payment... Read More

Medicare and Medicaid – What’s the Difference?

The words Medicare and Medicaid are very similar, and in fact, the services they provide do have some similarities. However, the types of services in each of these programs and qualification for benef... Read More

Set it and Forget it? Not With Your Financial Plan

Do you have a financial plan? If so, have you reviewed it recently? Does your financial plan ensure that you and your family are financially sound? Being financially stable does not only mean a succes... Read More

CARES Act – Changes to Your Group Health Plan

With the pandemic at hand, do you wish you would have signed up for the group health insurance through your employer?  Or, maybe it would have been smarter to choose a different plan option?  What abo... Read More

Self-Directed IRA: A Different Way to Invest

The stock market has basically risen for the past decade. Are you concerned that a correction could negatively impact your retirement accounts?  One way to hedge the traditional investments in your po... Read More

What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

“Save more and spend less” has been one of the top five New Year’s resolutions every year.  So, it’s a safe bet one of yours for 2020 will be financial-related. Unfortunately, according to the researc... Read More

The ‘Not-So-Trivial’ Responsibilities of a Trustee

Have you been asked to serve as the trustee of a trust for a family member or friend? Or, are you in the process of determining who would be the best person to act as your trustee? Either way, it’s...... Read More

The Race for a Winning Credit Score

It’s May in Indy and the sound of revving racecar engines signals good times to come. But try to keep your spending under the yellow flag. Overspending on credit cards during the festivities could ...... Read More