Kelsey Wilson: BlackLines Financial

As we approach tax season, now is a great time to make sure you're maximizing the opportunities available to you—especially when it comes to funding your IRAs and HSAs. Swipe through to learn more.

A quick reminder:
• IRA and HSA contributions for the 2025 tax year can be made **up until you file your taxes** or **no later than April 15th**.
• Making those contributions before the deadline can help you take full advantage of tax benefits for the year.

If you want to walk through your options and make sure you’re maximizing your contributions before tax day, give us a call.

Trump Savings Accounts (Section 530A) are a new tax‑deferred way to invest for children under 18. Swipe to learn what parents should know before getting started.

Key benefits:
• Tax‑deferred growth
• Designed specifically for children under 18
• Potential long‑term compounding for future goals
• Flexible investment options tied to broad U.S. stock indexes

Contribution rules to know:
• Annual contribution limit: Up to $5,000 per child per year (from parents, relatives, and others)
• Employer contributions: Up to $2,500 per year, counting toward the $5,000 total
• Government “seed” money: A one‑time $1,000 deposit for children born 2025–2028 (does not count toward the annual limit)
• Indexed for inflation: The $5,000 limit will increase over time
• Who can contribute: Parents, guardians, relatives, and employers
• Charitable/government contributions: Certain contributions do not count toward the annual limit

Account features & restrictions:
• Investments must be in mutual funds or ETFs tracking the S&P 500 or other U.S. stock indexes
• Withdrawals are generally restricted until the child turns 18
• After‑tax contributions (employer contributions may be pre‑tax) with tax‑deferred growth

If you’re unsure whether this account fits your family's long‑term goals, our team is here to help you think through your options.

National College Financial Prep Week is here. It’s a perfect reminder for students and parents that it’s time to get your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application in if you haven’t already.

Here’s why it matters:

✅ The FAFSA is the gateway to federal grants, work-study programs, and federal student loans.
✅ Many states and colleges use FAFSA results to determine scholarship eligibility. It’s not just used for need-based aid; it is also considered for merit scholarships.
✅ Filing earlier (the FAFSA for 2026-2027 is open now) can help increase your chances of receiving the best aid package possible.

If you have questions about how student loans fit into your overall financial plan — or how they may affect your family’s long-term wealth management goals — we’d be glad to walk through the options with you. Give us a call anytime.

A Roth conversion lets you move money from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, paying taxes now in exchange for potential tax‑free growth and tax‑free withdrawals later.

Who can benefit?
• Anyone expecting to be in a higher tax bracket in the future
• Those who want tax‑free income in retirement
• People in lower‑income years looking to take advantage of a lower tax rate
• Retirees planning ahead to reduce future RMDs
• Anyone wanting more control over future tax risk

Common situations that may benefit.
• Going back to school
• Currently not working (Laid off, childbirth, etc.)
• Retired

With tax laws shifting, Roth conversions can be a powerful planning tool. Want to explore whether it fits into your financial plan? Give us a call—we’re here to help.

As we honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19th, we want to take a moment to reflect with gratitude on the progress made toward economic equality — progress made possible by Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to justice.

Thanks to leaders like Dr. King, many financial rights that were once denied to African Americans have become more accessible, helping pave the way for greater opportunity and generational growth:

🔵 Fairer access to mortgages and homeownership, opening doors for more families to build stability and long-term wealth.

🔵 Greater access to banking services, credit, and business financing, supporting entrepreneurship and financial independence.

🔵 Expanded opportunities for fair wages, better jobs, and workplace protections that create pathways to upward mobility.

🔵 Stronger protections against discriminatory lending and insurance practices, helping ensure greater equity in financial services.

🔵 More equitable access to programs like the GI Bill and FHA loans, creating opportunities for education, housing, and economic advancement.

Today, we honor Dr. King’s legacy with appreciation for how far we’ve come — and a continued commitment to supporting fairness, empowerment, and opportunity for all.

For more ways to reflect and celebrate, visit thekingcenter.org for events and resources.

Please note: In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed on Monday, January 19th. We’ll reopen on Tuesday, January 20th and look forward to connecting with you then.

From expanding our team to expanding client opportunities, this year was full of momentum — and we’re carrying that energy straight into 2026.

We helped clients save smarter, invest stronger, protect their futures, and step into new chapters with confidence. And we’re just getting started.

Here’s to more alignment, more impact, and more wins in 2026 — for our clients, our team, and our community.

If the last twelve months taught us anything, it’s this:

"when you move with intention, growth isn’t a surprise… it’s a habit."

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