DES MOINES— A temporary tax increase on some health insurers advanced by Iowa lawmakers would ultimately raise health care costs for employers and families already struggling with rising premiums, insurance industry officials and business advocates warned, arguing the burden will be passed directly on to consumers. The Iowa House approved the proposal…
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Charitable giving planning can strengthen advisor/client relationships
As investors increasingly seek advice that goes beyond portfolio construction and performance, new research highlights charitable-giving conversations as an under-realized aspect of financial planning.
What's being proposed: a temporary tax increase on health insurers and additional withdrawals from a state reserve fund to offset impacts on the state's budget from federal tax cuts contained in the Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act. House Democrats requested Wednesday's public hearing to give the public more time to weigh in on the proposal after it…
New $6K deduction could provide tax planning window for retirees
Following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, eligible retirees may face a lower tax bill in the coming years.
What's being proposed: a temporary tax increase on health insurers and additional withdrawals from a state reserve fund to offset impacts on the state's budget from federal tax cuts contained in the Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act. House Democrats requested Wednesday's public hearing to give the public more time to weigh in on the proposal after it…
The bill was tentatively scheduled for debate Thursday in the Iowa House after it passed the Appropriations Committee in a 14-10 vote Monday. The proposal also would transfer $296.2 million from the Iowa Taxpayer Relief Fund to account for state revenue decreases caused by tax cuts through the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act approved by President Donald Trump…
A bill advancing rapidly in the Iowa House would make a one-time tax increase on some health insurers and draw money from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to address the state's Medicaid shortfall. The bill would also include a $296.2 million transfer from the state's Taxpayer Relief Fund to account for state revenue declines caused by changes made through the…
What's being proposed: a temporary tax increase on health insurers and additional withdrawals from a state reserve fund to offset impacts on the state's budget from federal tax cuts contained in the Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act. House Democrats requested Wednesday's public hearing to give the public more time to weigh in on the proposal after it…
High-risk assets gaining attention from many Americans
A sizable number of Americans – particularly young adults – are investing in or are considering investing in high-risk/speculative assets such as prediction markets, sports betting and cryptocurrencies.
New premium for single-premium products — both buy-out and buy-in contracts — surged 132% in the fourth quarter to $28 billion, according to LIMRA’s U.S. Group Annuity Risk Transfer Sales Survey.
A proposal to temporarily increase a state tax on health insurance premiums to help cover a $1 billion shortfall in the state budget will impact Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the state's largest health insurer, much less than the company originally feared, Wellmark officials and state administration leaders said. Kim Reynolds' administration has…
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A bill advancing rapidly in the Iowa House would make a one-time tax increase on some health insurers and draw money from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to address the state's Medicaid shortfall. The bill would also include a $296.2 million transfer from the state's Taxpayer Relief Fund to account for state revenue declines caused by changes made through the…
OBBBA opens the door for advanced wealth transfer strategies
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act opens the door for advisors to implement advanced wealth transfer strategies in 2026.
Iowa House lawmakers are advancing legislation that would place a temporary tax increase on some health insurance companies in the state— matching a similar legislative proposal moving in the Senate. The House bill, like its Senate counterpart, would temporarily increase the tax on health insurance premiums from 0.925 percent to 3 percent to help the state…
If you’ re wondering why there are tax increases on top of tax increases this year, coming soon to a ballot near you if you haven’ t seen them already, one reason is Medi-Cal spending. In California, 14.5 million people are on Medi-Cal, the safety-net health insurance program for low-income people. A new report from the Legislative Analyst’ s Office warns that Medi-Cal…
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–Two of the nation's largest credit rating agencies are sounding alarms about New York City's escalating budget crisis, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani ramps up spending and pushes for tax increases to offset projected revenue shortfalls. “We believe the use of reserves for baseline budget management in the near term rather than developing other corrective…
Iowa House lawmakers are advancing legislation that would place a temporary tax increase on some health insurance companies in the state— matching a similar legislative proposal moving in the Senate. The House bill, like its Senate counterpart, would temporarily increase the tax on health insurance premiums from 0.925 percent to 3 percent to help the state…
