Heard on the Radio: Inflation-Proof Your Investments

As heard on KNSI-AM in St. Cloud, Dave Hinnenkamp of KDV Wealth Management says that now is a good time to review your portfolio's mix of fixed-income investments to determine if the rate of return is keeping up with inflation.  Decreasing interest rates may be whittling away your returns over time in such products as money market funds, CDs and savings accounts.

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KDV has Expanded its Business Valuation Capacity

At KDV, we are congratulating Chris Shorba, CPA and Jim Ringwald, CPA, MBA on passing their Accredited Business Valuation exam.  They join Ray Holloway, CVA, CPA in providing valuation services throughout the year. 

Our business valuation experts are familiar with the latest procedures in estimating fair market values of businesses and have the education and experience to know what drives the value of your business.  If you are selling a business, thinking about estate planning, are in the process of a merger or acquisition, and want to ensure your business is valued at its true worth, call Ray, Chris or Jim at 763.537.3011 today to discuss a business valuation consultation.

Don't get tripped up by travel expense rules

For many companies and their employees, business travel is a way of life. And though deducting travel expenses may seem like a routine business practice, the rules are complex -- and a wrong turn can have significant tax consequences. If yours is like most businesses, it reimburses workers or provides advances for their travel expenses. The IRS tends to scrutinize expense reimbursement plans, so it's a good idea to review yours periodically to be sure it qualifies as an "accountable plan." If it doesn't, both your company and staff may be in for an unpleasant tax surprise. This article reviews which travel expenses are deductible and to what extent.
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The ins and outs of inherited retirement plans

etirement plan withdrawals are generally subject to income tax. So if your estate includes substantial sums in such plans, understanding the tax implications for your beneficiaries can help you plan accordingly. Planning is particularly important if you've designated someone other than your spouse as the beneficiary of your 401(k) or similar retirement plan (or youÕre the nonspouse beneficiary). The tax code now permits nonspouses to stretch plan distributions -- and the resulting taxes -- out over their own life expectancies through a "nonspousal rollover," but not all plans offer this option. This article looks at the minimum distribution rules and post-death distributions associated with inheriting a loved one's retirement plan.
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529 plans -- A college savings strategy that makes the grade

As the cost of a college education continues to soar, it's more important than ever to design an investment strategy that prepares your family for this major expense. Over the last several years, the 529 plan has emerged as perhaps the most powerful tool for financing higher education costs. And the recent expansion of the "kiddie tax" has further enhanced the 529 plan's advantages over other options. This article focuses on the tax advantages of 529 plans.
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Tax tips

News items briefly discussed are Health Savings Accounts, trading life insurance for cash, contractor vs. employee relationships, and the importance of an estate contingency plan.
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