Mike Brooks and Associates, Inc

12/24/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May we all be blessed in the year ahead with good health and peace of mind.

11/26/2025

Sending warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our many blessings. May they continue.

12/18/2024

Dreaming of Retirement? Consider Maxing Out Your 401(k) in 2025

About 70% of U.S. private-sector workers have the option to contribute to a retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) plan provided by an employer. Unfortunately, many of them don’t take full advantage of this tax-friendly opportunity to save for the future.

This article covers the contribution and catch-up limits for workplace retirement plans, including the less-common opportunity to make larger after-tax contributions.

11/27/2024

HOT TOPIC: High Foreign Investment in the U.S. – Will It Last?

The United States received almost one-third of all global foreign investment from 2021 to 2023. This article looks at how different types of foreign investment may impact the U.S. economy.

The United States received almost one-third of all global foreign investment from 2021 to 2023. This article looks at how different types of foreign investment may impact the U.S. economy.

10/30/2024

What’s Your Real Return?
While investors typically look at the nominal return on their investments, it’s important to understand the real return in order to target financial goals.

While investors typically look at the nominal return on their investments, it’s important to understand the real return in order to target financial goals.

09/11/2024

It’s Complicated: Inheriting IRAs and Retirement Plans

The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries.

The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries.

08/29/2024

Watch for These Hazards on the Road to Retirement

The road to retirement is typically not a smooth ride. This article looks at five potential risks that can slow progress along the way.

The road to retirement is typically not a smooth ride. This article looks at five potential risks that can slow progress along the way.

07/11/2024

How Much Will Your Retirement Cost?

Estimating how much income you will need in retirement — and determining whether your current program of savings and investments can provide that income — is a good start to developing a retirement plan. This calculator is designed to help you estimate how much income you may need in retirement and the savings necessary to produce that income.

Use this calculator to estimate how much income and savings you may need in retirement.

05/23/2024

HOT TOPIC: What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean for the U.S. Economy

This article looks at some of the reasons behind the inflation numbers, the likely effect on Fed decisions, and the potential economic impact.

https://www.mikebrooksandassociates.com/HOT-TOPIC-What-Stubborn-Inflation-Could-Mean-for-the-U-S--Economy.c10228.htm

05/23/2024

HOT TOPIC: What Stubborn Inflation Could Mean for the U.S. Economy

This article looks at some of the reasons behind the inflation numbers, the likely effect on Fed decisions, and the potential economic impact.

This article looks at some of the reasons behind the inflation numbers, the likely effect on Fed decisions, and the potential economic impact.

05/02/2024

New RMD Rules Give Retirement Savings More Time to Grow

This article explains the rules for required minimum distribution from tax-deferred retirement accounts with an emphasis on the new provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act.

This article explains the rules for required minimum distribution from tax-deferred retirement accounts with an emphasis on the new provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act.