On the surface, retirement readiness did not suffer significantly in 2020, according to a close examination of the 1.1 million participants in 1,076 plans reviewed for a recent white paper. Of course, the market experienced significant dips in the first quarter of 2020, but results were broadly...

Mental Health and Money Webinar View Full Webinar Presentation Worrying about finances can have an impact on mental health and affect how you manage your money. HTLF Retirement Plan Services invites you to watch our latest financial wellness webinar, “Mental Health and Money.” Understand how the two...

More than a year after the start of the pandemic, you may be pleased with the overall growth of the assets in your company retirement plan. After all, more assets generally mean better prospects for retirement security for your valued employees. But according to a recent triennial survey of wealth...

According to the 2021 Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, an average retired couple age 65 may need approximately $300,000 saved (after tax) to cover health care expenses in retirement. There are a number of factors behind this escalating cost challenge. In general, people are living longer...

The Department of Labor (DOL) released guidance in January 2021 that will help plan sponsors keep track of participants. Finding former employees who still have plan balances but no longer work for the company can be challenging. And losing track of them may be a fiduciary issue because of the...

Managing your blood pressure is a key component of a healthy heart. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly half of adults in the United States (47%) have hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 millimeter of mercury (mmHg) or a...

The Nuts & Bolts of Your Investment Line-Up View Full Webinar Presentation When it comes to finances, you can’t fake it till you make it. Understanding the principles of investing, as well as how they work together, can help set you up for success to reach your financial goals, even if you’re just...

Use this tool to help keep your debt in check and improve financial wellness. Your debt-to-income ratio (or DTI) measures your monthly debt payment against your monthly income (before taxes or before other deductions have been made). To calculate your DTI, add your total monthly debt payments and...

Heartland Retirement Plan Services are offered through Dubuque Bank and Trust Company. The information provided herein is general in nature and is not intended to be nor should be construed as specific investment, legal or tax advice. The factual information has been obtained from sources believed...

Just like with a car, it’s a good idea to perform some annual maintenance on your retirement plan. Here’s a five-point inspection guide to help you continue to get good mileage out of your plan and ensure it stays reliable on your trip to retirement. 1. Review Your Retirement Saving Goals It’s...

It even makes understanding inflation easier. “Bacon’s the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause. Bacon bits are like the fairy dust of the food community.” – Jim Gaffigan Let’s face it: talking about bacon is always fun. It can even help illustrate a topic that has been in the...

The list of employee financial concerns includes stressful personal situations that distract employees’ attention from the work at hand. Thirty-nine percent of employers say that’s the item of most concern to employees, followed by increasing health care costs at 34% and the expenses and pressures...