John Enslin, Financial Adviser at Innovative Financial Solutions Group

08/28/2026

As we know, it takes a village to raise a child. AGWSR is fortunate to have a community filled with people who have unique talents, careers, hobbies, experiences, and skills to share with our students.

Our students are hungry to learn, and meaningful learning often happens when we connect classroom experiences to the real world. We are looking for community members who are willing to share their expertise and passions with AGWSR students.

The goal of this resource is to create a community connection directory that staff can draw from when looking for authentic learning opportunities. These opportunities could include:

Short job-shadowing experiences

Visiting a classroom to share an area of expertise

Hands-on demonstrations

Career or hobby presentations

Business or workplace tours

Mentoring or project support

Helping students explore real-world problems or experiences

You don't have to be an expert or a teacher—just willing to share what you know and love. Together, we can provide students with authentic experiences that make learning more meaningful and help them see the many possibilities within their own community.

If you are interested, please complete the form. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Koby Capper at [email protected]. If we find a classroom connection to your passion, we will contact you to see if we can make something work with your schedule. Thanks for considering!
https://forms.gle/zEhugGcuF2Ym2NGh6

08/27/2026

The "Serena Williams rule" is all about giving yourself options, rather than forcing yourself into a black-and-white retirement.

Rather than formally retire, Serena Williams sought an "evolution."

08/26/2026

When should you take Social Security?

The answer isn’t automatically 62, your full retirement age, or 70. The right decision depends on your complete financial picture.

Here are some of the factors we consider:

• Will you continue working?
If you claim before full retirement age, your benefits may be temporarily withheld if your earnings exceed certain limits. In 2026, the earnings limit is $24,480 if you’re under full retirement age all year. Social Security generally withholds $1 for every $2 earned above that amount. Different rules apply during the year you reach full retirement age, and after reaching full retirement age there is no earnings limit.

• What does claiming early really cost?
You can begin benefits at age 62, but doing so may permanently reduce your monthly benefit—by as much as 30% for someone whose full retirement age is 67. Delaying beyond full retirement age can increase your benefit approximately 8% per year until age 70.

• Can Social Security help you leave your investments alone?
Taking Social Security earlier may reduce how much you need to withdraw from investments, allowing more of your money to remain invested. On the other hand, spending investments first and delaying Social Security may provide a larger guaranteed monthly benefit later. Market conditions, taxes, risk tolerance, and longevity all matter.

• What is your health and family history?
Life expectancy plays an important role. The longer you live, the more valuable a larger monthly benefit may become.

• Are you married, divorced, or widowed?
Your decision can affect spousal and survivor benefits. For married couples, the higher earner’s claiming decision can have a major impact on the surviving spouse’s future income.

• What about taxes and Medicare?
Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your other income. Retirement withdrawals can also affect Medicare premiums, so coordinating your income sources is important.

There is no universal “best age” to claim Social Security. The goal isn’t simply to collect the most checks—it’s to create reliable, tax-efficient retirement income for your specific situation.

Ideally, this planning should begin several years before retirement—not when you’re ready to file. Starting early gives you more time to coordinate Social Security, investment withdrawals, taxes, Medicare, and other sources of retirement income.

I recommend meeting with a financial adviser, such as myself, well before retirement so we can evaluate your options and begin building a strategy tailored to you.

2026 earnings-limit information: Social Security Administration⁠. This post is for general educational purposes and is not individualized tax, legal, or investment advice.

I am a Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC.

08/18/2026

I’ll be in the tank at 3:30, stop on by!

REMEMBER TO JOIN US WEDNESDAY 1-4pm!!
Stop in when you can for some ice cream, rootbeer floats, popcorn and smiles! ... there will be lots of dunkin' going on!

08/05/2026

Great news and a wonderful job by the staff!

Congratulations to The Village of Ackley on its 4-STAR rating! Help us share this news!

08/04/2026

The differences between kids accounts:

07/27/2026

Did you know that you're able to roll over excess 529 funds into a Roth IRA? Learn more about this strategy as you plan for your child’s education.
https://bit.ly/4vRzIlu

07/15/2026

Why Consider a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k)?

One of the biggest concerns people have in retirement isn’t just how much they’ll have—it’s how much they’ll get to keep after taxes.

That’s where Roth accounts can be a powerful planning tool.

Benefits of a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k):

✔️ Tax-free growth. Your investments have the potential to grow for decades, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.

✔️ Tax-free retirement income. Since you’ve already paid taxes on your contributions, qualified distributions aren’t taxed in retirement.

✔️ Diversify your tax strategy. Having both pre-tax and Roth accounts gives you more flexibility to manage taxes in retirement.

✔️ No Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for Roth IRAs. Your money can continue growing if you don’t need it right away. (Roth 401(k)s generally avoid RMDs if rolled into a Roth IRA.)

✔️ Great for younger investors. Paying taxes now may make sense if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket later.

✔️ A valuable legacy tool. Roth assets can be an efficient way to pass wealth to your heirs since qualified withdrawals are generally tax-free.

A Roth account isn’t the right choice for everyone. The decision depends on your current tax bracket, expected retirement income, and long-term goals. That’s why personalized planning is so important.

If you’re wondering whether a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), or even a Roth conversion makes sense for your situation, let’s have a conversation.

The best retirement plan isn’t just about saving more—it’s about keeping more.

07/10/2026

I’m proud to be a sponsor of Iowa Adaptive Golf Tournament for amputees. I’ll also be cheering on my good friend Cory Watson to win the whole thing!

07/06/2026

Why should someone between the ages of 50 and 55 meet with a financial advisor?

Because you’re entering one of the most important financial planning windows of your life.

With retirement only 10–15 years away, you still have enough time to make meaningful adjustments if you’re not quite on track. Small changes today can have a big impact on your future.

For many people, this is also a season of transition. The kids are graduating, moving out, or becoming financially independent. College tuition may be winding down, the house may be getting quieter, and for the first time in years, you have an opportunity to focus more on your own financial future.

This is the perfect time to:
✔️ Make sure your retirement savings are on pace.
✔️ Review your investment allocation and risk level.
✔️ Re-evaluate your life insurance needs now that your family and finances have changed.
✔️ Discuss long-term care planning while you’re still young and healthy.
✔️ Create a tax-efficient retirement income strategy.
✔️ Review beneficiaries and estate planning documents.
✔️ Set realistic retirement goals and build a plan to achieve them.

You’ve spent decades working hard and putting your family first. Now it’s time to make sure the next chapter is just as well planned.

The years leading up to retirement are too important to leave to chance. If you’re between 50 and 55 and haven’t reviewed your financial plan recently, now is the perfect time to start the conversation.

Call me or email:

[email protected]

(319) 883-0742