Ideal Wealth Advisors's LTM E-Newsletter

Craig Lundquist and Kristin Becker photo

Craig Lundquist, MBA, ChFC^®, CRPC^®

VP of Wealth Management

clundquist@idealcu.com

651-773-2757

Kristin Becker

Senior Administrative Assistant

kbecker@idealcu.com

651-773-2821

Ideal Wealth Advisors

Located at Ideal Credit Union

8499 Tamarack Road

Woodbury, MN 55125

CRPC conferred by College for Financial Planning

March/April 2026

What Are "Trump Accounts"?

Introduced in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), these are government-funded investment accounts designed to help children build wealth from birth. Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who are U.S. citizens and have a Social Security number, are eligible to receive a one-time $1,000 deposit from the U.S. Treasury to start the account.

"On Target" for Retirement

Your employer's retirement plan may offer the option to contribute to a target date fund.* Target date funds feature an investment mix that becomes more conservative over time, reducing risk as retirement gets closer.

Tax Credits for Retirement Plans

Small businesses can greatly benefit from tax incentives that encourage the creation of employee retirement plans. Recent updates show that small business owners starting a new retirement plan can claim a tax credit of up to $5,000 annually for the first three years. This credit offsets the costs of setting up and administering these plans, making it easier for small businesses to provide valuable retirement benefits to their employees.

Benefits of Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care (LTC) insurance offers crucial financial protection for individuals who require ongoing assistance with daily activities due to aging, chronic illness, or disability. As healthcare costs rise, LTC insurance offers significant benefits, making it an essential consideration for many.

What to Know Before Investing in Alternative Investments

Diversifying* your portfolio is crucial to managing risk and enhancing returns. While traditional stocks and bonds have long been staples in the investment world, exploring alternative investments can open new avenues for generating wealth.

Making Charitable Contributions in 2026

OBBBA introduced several significant changes for individuals who deduct charitable contributions. Starting in 2026, you may deduct itemized charitable contributions if the total exceeds 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). This change effectively limits the deductibility of smaller contributions, particularly for lower- and middle-income taxpayers.

Preparing for Tax Day: Tips to Stay Ahead

Tax Day 2026 is April 15, and early preparation ensures a stressfree tax filing experience. Start by organizing key documents, including W-2s, 1099s, receipts, and records of deductible expenses. Avoid last-minute chaos by gathering these now.

Financial Literacy in America

Let's look at a few financial literacy scores from 2025.

Family Tax Credits

In 2026, there are some changes to the credits related to families and children, most notably the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. These credits include a phase-out structure based on certain income thresholds.

Spring Clean Up

Many of us think of Spring as a time to refresh our homes —decluttering rooms, sorting closets, or deep cleaning neglected areas —but it's also a great time to get your documents and files in order.

Understanding EBITDA

EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, is a financial metric used to evaluate a company's operating performance. It measures profitability from its core business activities by excluding nonoperating expenses, such as interest and taxes, as well as non-cash charges, including depreciation and amortization. This provides a clearer view of a company's cash flow and operational efficiency, making it easier to compare firms across industries.

Keep Calm, Stay the Course

We all hope for a prosperous year, having had the opportunity to evaluate the first quarter of 2026. However, we also know that markets are fluid, and their performance cannot be predicted or timed; therefore, it is essential for every investor to adhere to wellestablished fundamentals to help them stay on track toward their goals.

Is Inflation Impacting Your Retirement?

Thinking about retirement can evoke a range of mixed emotions. You may be looking forward to leisure time, but still have some concerns about whether you'll have enough money to live the life you want without a steady paycheck. Creating a realistic spending plan and planning for economic changes are essential.

March Mastery: Essential Checklist for Small Business Owners

As the last snowflakes melt and cherry blossoms tease the horizon, March arrives like a double-edged sword for small business owners. It's a pivotal point—bridging winter's quiet reflection with spring's explosive growth. Miss the mark here, and you risk a cascade of compliance headaches, financial blind spots, or missed seasonal opportunities. You'll emerge stronger, leaner, and primed for a thriving quarter. Let's break down the must-dos to make this month your launchpad for the second quarter of 2026.

Estate Planning and Taxes

From an estate and gift tax perspective, the most significant change OBBBA made is a permanent increase to the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption amounts. For 2026, these amounts are $15 million per individual or $30 million for a married couple (to be reviewed annually for inflation adjustments), up from $ 13.99 million per individual or $27.98 million for a married couple in 2025.

Roth Conversions May Be Trickier Under OBBBA

The One Big Beautiful Bill of 2025 (OBBBA) appears to make Roth conversions more attractive because of temporarily lowered federal tax brackets, expanded standard deductions, and additional deductions for seniors. However, planning for Roth conversions under OBBBA isn't simply a matter of transferring funds. You need to weigh the impact of the conversion on other tax considerations.

Ways to Trim Tax on Investments

Minimize taxes. Maximize returns. Knowing ways to manage taxes can significantly enhance your overall financial strategy, ensuring that you retain more of your hard-earned income.

Beware of These HNW Money Mistakes

Keep an eye on these potential big money mistakes.

OBBBA Shines on These Estate Strategies

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has opened new avenues for effectively managing your wealth for future generations.

Altternative Investments in 401(k)s

You may now or soon see a new investment choice available for your employersponsored retirement savings plan. A Fall 2025 Executive Order allows 401(k) plan participants to access investments such as private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and even digital assets

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Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Ideal Credit Union and Ideal Wealth Advisors are not registered as a broker/dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Ideal Wealth Advisors, and may also be employees of Ideal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from and not affiliates of Ideal Credit Union or Ideal Wealth Advisors. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

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