As stocks dip this year some investors are taking advantage of the market volatility by converting their traditional pre-tax IRAs to a Roth IRA Why Because the decline in the current market value of the Traditional IRA means a reduced tax liability upon conversion, How a Roth IRA works, Roth IRAs are similar to traditional IRAs except that Roth contributions are “after-tax” which means you pay taxes on your contribution upfront Consequently withdrawals from Roth IRAs are tax-free meaning that your investment earnings and growth are never taxed Traditional pre-tax IRA contributions are not taxed upfront so they can help you reduce your current taxable income and are taxed when…, Key advantages of a Roth IRA, The ability to withdraw money tax-free including the earnings This appeals to anyone who wants to minimize their tax bite in retirement or believes that taxes will be higher later than they are now There are no annual required distributions from a Roth IRA (as there are for a traditional IRA The ability for wealthier taxpayers to maximize assets and minimize taxes for their heirs A spouse…, How to convert to a Roth IRA, All taxpayers regardless of income can convert some or all of their traditional pre-tax IRAs to a Roth IRA During a “Roth conversion” you elect to pay income taxes now on a portion of your pre-tax accounts These amounts are then transferred into a Roth IRA account where they are treated as a regular after-tax Roth IRA Additionally during a Roth conversion income taxes are only calculated on the…, Why now might be a good time for a Roth, This strategy may be particularly valuable in today’s market conditions In difficult economic periods such as the current volatile market the value of your pre-tax traditional IRA may have declined By converting a portion of this account to a Roth you may pay taxes on a smaller market value As your portfolio recovers the Roth IRA and all future growth will be forever tax-free Today’s market…

Mesirow clients gain access to fundamentally driven actively managed equity and fixed income strategies, Front Barnett clients continue to benefit from the capabilities and client service they know while gaining a prominent parent firm with deep resources strong capital and robust infrastructure, No change to Front Barnett mission leadership or day-to-day operations, CHICAGO September 29 2023, – Mesirow an independent employee-owned financial services firm today announced that Front Barnett Associates LLC a leading high net worth and ultra-high net worth wealth manager and registered investment advisor (RIA firm has joined Mesirow and will operate as a distinct platform within the broader Mesirow Wealth Management offering  There is no change to the Front Barnett mission investment…, Marshall B Front, Mickey MacMillan, and, Peter Wahlstrom, CFA CFP ® The team will go to market as Front Barnett A Mesirow Company “We are excited to welcome the Front Barnett team to Mesirow” said, Natalie Brown, Mesirow CEO, “Their capabilities and commitment complement our firm’s 86-year history of advising families entrepreneurs and non-profits on their most important financial goals and this acquisition aligns well with our focus on comprehensive personal financial planning” “Our partnership with Mesirow brings important benefits to our clients and firm” said, Marshall B Front, who founded the firm in 1994 “We gain additional expertise and support in managing compliance technology and administrative matters as we continue to seek competitive investment returns and deliver the high level of personalized financial advice and communications our clients expect” The firms share important key characteristics Both have legacies of independence and employee ownership with long…, Brian Price, Head of Mesirow Advisory Services, “We look forward to ongoing organic growth and continued momentum through potential future acquisitions in the wealth management space” Mesirow CEO Natalie Brown with Front Barnett leadership Top L to R Peter Wahlstrom Ann M Marsh Brian Price Darren Feld and Mickey MacMillan Bottom L to R Natalie Brown and Marshall B Front As of June 30 2023 Front Barnett has more than $12 billion in assets…, About Mesirow ,    Mesirow is an independent employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937 Headquartered in Chicago with offices around the world we serve clients through a personal custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management Capital Markets & Investment Banking and Advisory Services we invest in what…, About Front Barnett,    Front Barnett is a Chicago-based employee-owned wealth management firm founded in 1994 The firm provides customized equity and fixed income investment management for high-net-worth and ultra-high-worth individuals and their related portfolios striving to assist clients in achieving their financial goals through strong and enduring relationship competitive risk-adjusted after-tax returns on…

Its a fact couples in the US are marrying later in life especially college educated professionals As a result both partners have often begun to save invest and accumulate assets Premarital financial planning has therefore become extremely important And the awkward question must be asked “How can we protect our assets when entering into marriage without tainting the romance of engagement” , According to the US Census Bureau the average age for first marriage in 2024 was 302 years for a man and 286 for a woman compared to 228 and 203 respectively in 1960¹ People often equate premarital planning with “prenuptial agreements” and mistakenly think these arrangements are only for the wealthy The fact is there are a number of planning strategies that can protect your premarital assets, Protect the integrity of non-marital property, Marital property is subject to division upon dissolution of marriage non-marital property is not It is important to understand how non-marital and marital property are defined and impacted in the event of divorce Non-marital property consists of assets each spouse either brings to the marriage or inherits after the onset of marriage Examples include Property one spouse acquired before the…, Title your assets appropriately prior to marriage, If the assets are held in an account titled in an individual’s name the assets should continue to be held in this manner However to maintain this property as non-marital one must ensure that they do not “taint” the character of these assets Commingling these assets with marital property or making contributions to the account with marital assets may make these assets marital For example Let’s…, Consider a family limited partnership or irrevocable trust, Family limited partnerships and irrevocable trusts are tools that can provide effective creditor protection Depending on the size of a family’s overall wealth personal situation and other variables a family’s strategic plan may provide for a portion of their assets to be retained in a partnership or trust If the trust is structured appropriately certain provisions will not only make the assets…, Retain financial independence, Regardless of whether a couple takes the steps noted above couples entering marriage might consider retaining some financial independence Below are a few easy ways this can be accomplished Retain a separate bank account that allows for immediate access to cash with funds that cannot be “cut-off” by the co-owner Both parties should maintain credit in their own name (utility bills car payments…, Consider a prenuptial agreement, While the above are ideas to consider a properly executed prenuptial agreement is not necessarily a recipe for marriage disaster A prenuptial should be viewed like any other insurance policy When you buy auto insurance you don’t excitedly wait to use the insurance but you have it in the event that something unfortunate does happen A prenuptial can provide clarity in the unfortunate event of…, Our recommendations, In summary while premarital planning can include the process of obtaining a prenuptial agreement there are other solutions and planning techniques one can utilize While all situations differ it is always recommended that the specifics of an individual’s situation be coordinated with appropriate legal counsel and other family advisors If you are planning to get married — , or know a friend or family member who is,  — your Mesirow wealth advisor can serve as a third party to initiate this conversation and to help structure and retain the integrity of non-marital assets prior to marriage , Published January 2025, 1 Source wwwcensusgov