Blog

At Plancorp, we don’t wait for you to ask the right questions.
We take the initiative to offer insights and guidance — real enlightenment for real life.

What Does it Mean for an Investment Advisory Firm to be CEFEX Certified?

Ever wonder what goes into becoming "CEFEX-certified"? It's more of a rigorous process than you might think. CEFEX-certified firms adhere to a standard representing the best fiduciary practices in their industry. The standards include specific criteria which have been substantiated by regulation or Read more…

Why Am I Getting Refunds From My 401(k)?

If you are an executive or business owner, you may have received a refund from your 401(k). That can be a frustrating experience. What you thought was tax-deferred savings is now taxable income. So why are you getting refunds and is there anything you can do about it? Read more…

Financial Advisor Credentials: Which are Most Important?

You may have noticed that advisors go by many different professional titles, which are often followed by a trail of different three-letter acronyms representing special designations. They seem important—but not all titles and credentials are as valuable as they sound. Read more…

Investing for Inflation

After years of inflation readings well below 2%, financial markets expect to see higher inflation in 2021. Read more…

What to Look for in a Financial Advisor

The potential value of a relationship starts with the person who will be guiding your financial decisions. You’re looking for someone with deep knowledge and experience to back up their advice, and you want to gauge whether that advisor is a good fit for your family’s needs. Above all, you want Read more…

5 Things to Know in Case You Outlive Your Spouse

While women certainly seem to be taking a greater role in making household financial decisions, men still make the majority of them. The unfortunate reality is that women are much more likely to become widowed. In fact, more than 60 percent of women between the ages of 75 and 84 are single or Read more…

What You Need to Know Before Lending Money to Family

At some point, nearly everyone has frequented one of the most popular lenders: BOMAD—otherwise known as the Bank of Mom and Dad. Read more…

My 401(k) failed the Top-Heavy test. Now what?

What is the top-heavy test? 401(k) plans must be tested annually to determine if they are top-heavy. The top-heavy test compares the account balances of “key employees” to those of “non-key employees.” If the sum of all key employee balances exceeds 60% of the total plan balance the plan is Read more…

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