Happenings

May 17, 2023 |  Knox Financial Services wishes Ally Fink well as she pursues her graduate studies.  Ally will graduate in December 2023 with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.   We appreciate Ally helping us out on Fridays while she attended UIU.  We will miss her!  Best Wishes to Ally! 

February 22, 2023 |  Knox Financial Services welcomes Teresa Gehling as our new Client Service Assistant.  Teresa will work at our Decorah office location, starting March 1, 2023.  We look forward to working with Teresa to provide our clients with exceptional service.

February 22, 2023 |  Knox Financial Services welcomes Jaima Tonne as our new Client Service Assistant.  Jaima will work at our West Union office location, starting March 13, 2023.  We look forward to working with Jaima to provide our clients with exceptional service.  

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.  

October 25, 2022  |  West Union, IA:  Jason presented financial topics to North Fayette Valley Financial Literacy classes.  Two sessions of topics from the importance of credit scores, dollar cost averaging, knowing where your money goes, how mutual funds work and more.  I enjoyed my day helping the next generation learn about the importance of finances in their life.

09/06/2022 | We seek to provide information that is useful to you.

Knox Notes:  Jason shares his thoughts to consider on the economy, markets, finances, and other topics.  Published each month on the first Tuesday, with an email reminder.

Monthly Market Insights:  Our brief video with recent market results and updates.  Published the first week of the month, with an email reminder.

Video of the Month:  Another brief video with financial planning and lifestyle topics.  Published on or about the third week of the month, with an email reminder.

Economic Updates:  Our written weekly and monthly Economic Updates newsletter.   We provide email notification each month about this newsletter resource.  

Knox Financial Minute Newsletter:  Our written monthly newsletter on select financial and planning topics.  Published monthly on the 3rd Tuesday with email reminder.   Our Knox Financial Minutes are heard on 104.7 KVIK and 103.5 KNEI, with audio recordings available on our site.

Knox Financial Happenings:  See what's happening at Knox Financial, with updates about services we provide, to our team, activities and more.  Published monthly on the 4th Tuesday, with an email reminder.

We also post various topics on finances, investing, and lifestyle on Facebook and LinkedIn .   Like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn to receive notifications. 

Prefer to receive notifications via text instead of email?  Send us a message at 563-412-4770 to request text notification.

03/05/2022  |  Knox Financial Services hosted CPR training for 18 clients and guests.  All received their CPR Certification after completing the course.   Thank you to all that attended.  We really enjoyed our day with you.

We hope you never have a need to use CPR.  If you do, we hope our CPR training will give you the guidance, knowledge, and confidence to help someone. 

We are again offering a certified Instructor led training class on Saturday, November 5, 2022.  By completing the class and meeting the requirements, as determined by the Instructor, you are eligible for the Certificate of Completion.  

Knox Financial Services is assuming the cost of the CPR training and certification for our clients and their guests that register and attend the class.  To learn more, or to register, visit our CPR Training page. 

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.

November 22, 2021  |  We gather on Thanksgiving to be thankful for what we have, for the family we love, the friends we cherish and the blessing that will come.  May this day be a reminder of the wonderful things in life.  Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Knox Financial Services.

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.  

October 1, 2021  |  West Union, IA: Knox Financial team members enjoy casual dress on Thursdays & Fridays.  Each team member is making a contribution to a local charity each month, with Knox Financial matching all team member contributions.   

With our casual dress on Thursdays and Fridays, please know we will continue to maintain our focus on client's needs.  When you are in the office, ask our team members about the organizations we support.   Helping great organizations and having fun- a winning combination! 

December, 2021:     Parent Share & Support Adopt a Family 2021

November, 2021:    North Fayette Valley Fine Arts Booster Club

October, 2021:        West Union Festival of Lights

September, 2021:   North Fayette Valley Athletic Booster Club

August,  2021:       Humane Society of Northeast Iowa

July, 2021:              West Union Volunteer Fire Department

June, 2021:             Turkey Valley Community School District Student Guidance Funds

May, 2021:              Echo Valley Trap Team

April, 2021:             North Fayette Valley Post Prom

March, 2021:          North Fayette Valley Community Coalition

February, 2021:      West Union Parks and Recreation

January, 2021:        Turkey Valley Trap Range

December, 2020:    Wadena Lighted Cross

November, 2020:    Friends of the Library of West Union

October, 2020:        Friends of the Decorah Public Library

September, 2020:   North Fayette Valley Athletic Booster Club

August, 2020:         North Fayette Valley Fine Arts Booster Club

July, 2020:              Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation– Home Health & Hospice

June, 2020:            Humane Society of Northeast Iowa

May, 2020:              West Union Iowa Volunteer Fire Department

April, 2020:             South Winneshiek Area First Responders

March, 2020:          Retrieving Freedom

February, 2020:      NEICAC Food Pantries

January, 2020:        Palmer Memorial Foundation

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  |  Decorah, IA & West Union, IA: Knox Financial offers a secure tool to share your files and documents with our team.   Visit Knox Financial File Share to upload your files and documents directly to our Team.   

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

June 26, 2021  |  Northeast Iowa.  Clients and guests enjoyed our Spring 2021 SXS outing. The day included a scenic tour of northeast Iowa, some rain, some sun, a birthday celebration, amazing off-road tours, and a delicious meal.  In lieu of an entry fee, donations were made to local Fire Departments - helping great organizations while having fun!  Thank you to all that attended, we really enjoyed our amazing day with you. 

Our next scheduled SXS ride is Saturday, September 11, 2021.  This event will start at our West Union office 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.