Happenings

02/25/2024:  |  Lincoln Investment has major initiatives underway to update their flagship investment platform, Solutions Premier.  

In August, 2010, Jason Knox chose to use Lincoln Investment as our broker/dealer and registered investment advisor, primarily on the ability to use their Solutions Premier mutual fund trading platform for our clients.   The capabilities of this tool to help manage our client assets was so far ahead of the technology we were using at the time.  

As technology evolves, we continue to evaluate the tools available to help our clients achieve their goals.  We are pleased that Lincoln Investment is taking the enormous effort to lead the industry with the new product and services that will come with it. 

Jason Knox was selected to participate in Lincoln Investment's  Technology Advisory Board, allowing him to see some of the development of the new product and accompanying services.  Jason commented:  "When Lincoln decides to upgrade - they go beyond - to jump way ahead of the rest of the industry.  The new technology will allow us to have more information at our fingertips, provide advanced analytic tools, automate so many administrative processes, allowing us to focus on our true mission - to help clients reach their goals.  I am so excited for the future and how this will improve what we do for clients."

More details to follow!

12/20/2023:  |  Beginning 01/01/2024, the IRS is increasing the optional standard mileage rate for 2024:

$0.67 per mile for business us

$0.21 per mile for medical or moving purposes for activity duty members of the Armed Forces

$0.14 per mile in service of charitable organizations.

These rates apply to electric, hybrid, gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.  Taxpayers may also calculate the actual cost of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.  Ask your tax professional which is most suitable for you. 

These rates are for 2024 tax returns that will be filed in 2025.

11/15/2023:  |  Downer's Grove, Illinois:  Jason and Amber attended Lincoln Investment's Retirement Strategies Symposium regional meeting.   Topics included:

• Market Opportunities
• Identifying & Solving Income Gaps with Financial Planning
• How the SECURE Act impacts IRA beneficiaries
• Retirement Blind Spots:  Lessons from Behavioral Finance
• Ways to Maximize Retirement Outcomes with Extended Care
• Retirement Plan Capabilities in the Small Business Market

A great opportunity to learn of recent regulatory changes, best practices, and a chance to interact with our advisor peers.

08/28/2023:   We seek to provide information that is useful to you.

• Monthly Market Insights is our video recap of the prior month market and economy activity.  
• Economic and Market Resources are printed documents updated monthly.    
• Video Of The Month covers various financial and lifestyle topics.   
• Knox Financial Minute is our monthly financial topics print newsletter.
• Happenings is updated on an ongoing basis.
• Retirement Insights, our new electronic newsletter, is sent bi-monthly via email.

Each month, we will send one email notification when Resources and Financial Minute are updated, instead of separate emails.  Our Market Insights and Video of the Month notifications are sent when the video is published.  Retirement Insights is sent to your email directly.  A reminder for Happenings is sent once per month.

Our Weekly Economic Insights is no longer published as of 8/21/2023.  The weekly series overlapped much of the information provided in our Insights video and Financial Minute newsletter.  

08/28/2023:  We know that life is busy!  On the second Saturday of each month, we will be available for appointments.   We hope this enhancement helps those with busy work or travel schedules.

Please contact the Knox Financial Services Team by calling 1-877-566-9468, option 1; email service@knoxfin.com; text 563-412-4770 or schedule your appointment via the link below: 

Our hours are:

Decorah

By Appointment and: 

• Monday            8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday           8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Wednesday     8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Thursday         8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Friday              8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

West Union

By Appointment and: 

• Monday           8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday          8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Wednesday    8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Thursday        8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Friday             8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Saturday --on the second Saturday of each month, 9:00am - 4:00pm.

08/28/2023: Have a question?  Our Client Service Team is here to help.  

Please contact the Knox Financial Services Team by calling 1-877-566-9468, option 1; email service@knoxfin.com; text 563-412-4770 or initiate your request(s) below: 

Mr. Cogan held CLU and ChFC designations and started his career as a financial advisor, becoming an associate branch manager before advancing to Vice President of Marketing, then CEO and Vice Chairman of Capital Analysts Incorporated, an independent broker/dealer and Registered Investment Advisory firm.  He served as chairman of the B/D division of the IAFP (the predecessor of the Financial Planning Association) and is a founding board member of the Financial Services Institute.  He also served two terms on the NASD (predecessor of FINRA) insurance and independent distribution committee.

Bob was a great friend, mentor, and had an amazing ability to inspire us to seek to be continually better at all that we do.  We will miss our friend until we meet again.   

June 9, 2023 |  Lincoln Investment senior executives invited Jason Knox, because of his leadership and understanding of Advisor Technology, to be a member of the Lincoln Investment Technology Advisory Board.  

Lincoln Investment's Technology Advisor Board (TAB) shall advise and support Lincoln Technology through engaging with Lincoln’s IT Executive management to assist in: providing input into the strategic direction of Lincoln’s IT;  educating Lincoln IT on the technology needs of the Lincoln Advisor;  support technology implementations by providing input during discovery phases of the project;  assisting in the prioritization of technology Initiatives;  and providing feedback on new Technology prior to its release to the field.

The goals of Lincoln’s Technology Advisor Board are:  to foster collaboration through information and knowledge sharing;  to hold Lincoln Technology accountable for the success of technology implementations through visibility into implementation plans;  to support prioritization of IT projects the support the Lincoln Advisor;  and to encourage continuous improvement of technology service performance and strategic use of technology by Lincoln Advisors.

This valuable input from Advisors will help position Lincoln Technology to deliver business value by aligning Technology initiatives and operations to the current and future strategic objectives of the Lincoln Advisor.

Jason Knox commented: "I believe technology is critical to continue to offer our clients more value, in the ways we manage their assets, interact with them, provide innovative solutions for their needs, and deliver the most important information to them.  While nothing may replace the personal interaction we enjoy with our clients, technology allows us to more efficiently do so.  I appreciate Lincoln Investment recognizing our efforts and including me on their technology council.  Knox Financial Services has, since our inception, made the decision to invest heavily in technology, continues to innovate our technology offerings, while always maintaining a focus on our personal interaction with clients.  I believe in my heart this focus of personal interaction with clients while leaving administrative tasks to technology, will lead to better client outcomes."   -JK

December 23, 2022  |  Washington, DC: “Secure 2.0” is part of the omnibus appropriations bill approved by the Senate on Thursday and the House on Friday.  The bill has passed the House and Senate, and is awaiting signature by the President.  Major provisions of the bill impacting retirement plans are:

• Automatic enrollment for employee 401(k) plans.  
• Required Minimum Distributions would increase to age 73 in 2023, and then to age 76 in 2033.  The penalty for failing to take RMDS would be reduced from 50% to 25%, and in some cases, 10%.
• Larger catch-up contributions:  Under current law, you may add an additional $6,500 to your 401(k) plan after at age 50 and after.   Secure 2.0 would increase the limit to $10,000 starting in 2025 for those over age 60.  These amounts will be indexed for inflation.  Catch-up contributions will be  subject to Roth treatment (not-pretax) if you earn $145,000 or more.
  
• Employers potentially could make contributions for employees who are paying student loans instead of saving for retirement.
• Retirement accounts may be subject to up to a $1,000 withdrawal provision from emergency expenses, without the 10% penalty tax prior to age 59 1/2.
• Part-time employees who work between 500 and 900 hours for two consecutive years would  be eligible for the company 401(k).
• A federal matching contribution for lower-income retirement savers of up to $1,000, replacing the existing tax credit.
• Roth 401(k) plans will eliminate the Required Minimum Distribution and become like Roth IRA accounts, where no Required Minimum Distribution is required.
• Rollovers from 529 plans to Roth IRA accounts may be lowered, within certain limits.
• Tax credits for business that allow military spouses to enroll in their retirement plan and qualify for immediate vesting.

As more details become available, we will keep you informed.  

December 8-12, 2021  |  Marco Island, FL:  Lincoln Investment recognized Jason Knox as a member of their Hall of Fame.   Qualifying members achieved Lincoln Investment's top recognition clubs, Nick's Round Table or President's Club, for ten years.  Jason achieved the Hall of Fame in the shortest time possible.  These awards recognize those Lincoln Investment financial advisors who have achieved the firm's annual qualifying criteria based on overall production, new clients, advisory accounts and assets. Lincoln Investment honors them for their dedication to helping people retire well by presenting them with these awards.  

Awards are not indicative of future performance. Working with an award winner is no guarantee of future financial success. Individuals should conduct their own evaluation.

October 14, 2021  |  With you so many important documents and files, our financial lives and all of the paperwork often becomes complex.  Knox Financial Services provides our clients with their own secure online folder as a place to store your files.  This provides an easily organized way to backup your files and documents, and allows you to to access them at any time, on any device, with your unique login. 

Our Personal File Safe file system may be a place to store copies of your will, power of attorney, deeds, titles, vital records, tax-returns, pictures, or other files and documents that are important to you.  You may upload your files directly from your computer or device.  If you have documents in paper form, please contact our Client Service Team to arrange a time to scan your files at one of our office locations.  We will upload these files to your Personal File Safe.

Visit Personal File Safe for more information.

October 18, 2021  | West Union, IA:  Repaving our of parking lot is completed!  Thank you for your cooperation.  

September 7, 2021  |  West Union:  Thank you for your cooperation while we improved our office entrance.   We appreciate your willingness to work around our front door being closed while the sidewalk was replaced.  

The parking lot replacement is scheduled for October.  We will notify you of the planned dates, so we may schedule around our parking lot being unavailable.  Thank you for being patient with our progress. 

July 7, 2021  | West Union, IA: Visit Knox Financial Services West Union Office to see a virtual tour of our West Union, IA location. 

February 2, 2021  |  Fort Washington, PA:   Lincoln Investment recognized Jason Knox as a member of their Hall of Fame.   Qualifying members achieved Lincoln Investment's top recognition clubs, Nick's Round Table or President's Club, for ten years.  These awards recognize those Lincoln Investment financial advisors who have achieved the firm's annual qualifying criteria based on overall production, new clients, advisory accounts and assets. Lincoln Investment honors them for their dedication to helping people retire well by presenting them with these awards.  

Awards are not indicative of future performance. Working with an award winner is no guarantee of future financial success. Individuals should conduct their own evaluation.