Francis

New Rules Make Saving for Retirement Easier! Are you up to date on the latest changes that could boost your retirement savings? In his recent article, Michael J. Francis breaks down the new rules that simplify and improve how we save for the future. Don’t miss out on this essential read to enhance your financial planning and retirement savings strategy. ?? Read more about these game-changing updates here: https://lnkd.in/eZ52E-cC

Just spent time in NYC ?? gathering insights from investment teams responsible for managing Francis client assets. By the numbers: 33 hours on the ground, 4 investment firms, 8 meetings, 16 portfolio managers/analysts. Lastly, 42 fouls called in the slugfest between #MUBB ?? and St John’s. Next up: London.

2025's RETIREMENT PLAN TRENDS Plan Sponsors - Hear from industry experts on what they see as key trends for this year across the retirement landscape. From managed accounts to litigation risks, there's a lot to track. Check out this article from Pensions & Investments to hear from the experts, including Francis' President and Co-Founder, Michael J. Francis: https://lnkd.in/g2WwKcGe #retirementplanning #retirementadvice #secure20 #litigation #managedaccounts #investmentconsulting

There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to building financial wellness...it's not just about the retirement plan. More than anything, employees today need to feel empowered and supported in their financial journeys. They need the resources to learn and take action that increase their confidence and help them get better at managing their money. Plan sponsors carry a lot of responsibility for ensuring their financial wellness benefits are up to the task and recognizing their employees as complex individuals with multifaceted needs, desires, and goals. One of our valued clients, Illing Packaging (represented by Krista Hanamann) and one of our Francis Financial Planners, Elizabeth Aidoo, sat down with PLANSPONSOR to discuss the incredible benefits Illing provides and the positive impacts they've had on their employees. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gffv-3v8 #financialwellness #worklifemoneybalance #retirementplan #financialadvice #moneyadvice

Each February, Black History Month is celebrated to honor and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of black people in U.S. history. We want to take the opportunity to learn and share about the achievements of a handful of black trailblazers in finance, whose work helped shape the finance industry in the U.S. ? Maggie Lena Walker Walker was the first black woman to establish and serve as president of a bank in the U.S. She found that white-owned banks did not readily accept deposits from black organizations and opened St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, VA. ? Richard R. Wright Wright founded the first professional organization for black people in finance, the National Bankers Association. The Association has worked to strengthen the financial standing of the black community and advocate for equal opportunities. Later in life, Wright founded the Citizens and Southern Bank and Trust Company in Philadelphia, PA, the only black-owned bank in the North at the time and the first African American Trust Company. ? Lilla St. John St. John was the first black woman to pass the New York Stock Exchange exam, and in 1953, became the first certified female investment counselor in the U.S., starting her career at Oppenheimer & Company. ? Ernesta Procope Procope founded the E.G. Bowman insurance company in Brooklyn in 1953. In the late 70s, she moved the business making it the first black-owned business on Wall Street. It grew to become the largest minority-owned insurance company in the U.S., and Procope became a powerful voice for insurance reform and fair coverage for low-income families. Though just a few names from the finance history books, their impact was and is no small thing. Join us in learning this month, and into the future, as we strive to create a financially equitable and well future for all members of the workforce and help our clients and their employees achieve Work-Life-Money Balance. At Francis LLC, we value diversity in all forms and celebrate the unique voices of our team members and those we serve. We strive to create a culture of authenticity and belonging where everyone, from any background, feels valued and supported. We recognize we have a lot of work to do and remain committed to moving our Firm forward. #blackhistorymonth #DEI #financialwellness #finance

PLAN SPONSORS...Have you ever found yourself wondering if your organization is covering all of its bases when it comes to the compliance of your retirement plan? Join us for a free webinar on the Fundamentals Of A Plan Operational Review to learn more about this important consulting exercise and how it can help protect your organization and employees. WHEN: Thursday, February 20th, 2025 at 12pm CST SPEAKERS: Kevin Skow, VP of Retirement Plan Consulting, and Brian L Anderson, Partner at DeWitt LLP Get registered here: https://lnkd.in/g2QSdjUi #webinar #retirementplan #consulting #advice Joseph Topp Dave Mandel Kasey Miller

Our CIO dropping some great information on inflation, consumer confidence, and international travel ??... ?? Might you be planning an international trip this year? Read more below! #investments #consumerconfidence #traveling #bucketlist

With the popularity of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it's easy to find financial advice online. If your feed has been full of videos from #FinTok, you're not alone. Though there is great information out there, make sure you're prepared to evaluate what you hear before making any big financial decisions. Click through to read our team's top tips for navigating the rise of "finfluencers" ?? #financialwellness #financialiteracy #worklifemoneybalance #fininfluencers #tiktok #instagram Source: https://lnkd.in/gXaPrt2q

This holiday season, the Milwaukee office has had a traveling visitor, a friendly gnome named Homey the Gnomey. Swipe to see his office adventures! #happyholidays #worklifemoneybalance #homeythegnomey Edward McIlveen, CFA

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to take stock of your financial health. Creating a year-end financial statement is a great way to understand where your money went this year, set goals for the coming year, and envision where you want to be in the years ahead. Here’s how you do it: 1) INVENTORY YOUR FINANCIAL ASSETS: Review the year-end balance of the following accounts... --- Bank statements (include checking, savings, and any other accounts) --- Investment accounts (gather records of 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage accounts, or other holdings), --- Loan statements (include mortgages, car loans, student loans, or personal loans), --- Pay stubs or income records (account for all sources of income, including side gigs). 2) LIST LIABILITIES: Account for what you owe... --- Debt balances (list all credit card balances and interest rates), --- Loans (record amounts owed on mortgages, car loans, or student loans), --- Outstanding bills (include medical bills or any unpaid taxes). 3) SUBTRACT YOUR LIABILITIES FROM YOUR ASSETS TO DETERMINE YOUR NET WORTH. Once you’ve calculated net worth, review trends and analyze where things are going. Is your net worth increasing ?? or decreasing ?? ? Continue to calculate your net worth each year to see how the decisions you make each day are gradually helping you to build wealth over the long term. #FinancialWellness #financialwellbeing #budgeting #moneymanagement