A Note from the Team
Welcome to Fourth Quarter!
We will be diving deep into key strategies and updates to help you stay ahead in today's evolving economic landscape. We will explore the powerful benefits of tax-free family gifting, outlining how you can transfer wealth efficiently. We'll also break down tax planning moves for 2025, giving you a head start on optimizing deductions, managing income timing, and navigating potential legislative changes. Finally, we'll examine the latest developments in tariff policy and what shifting global trade dynamics could mean for your investments and business planning.
Please pay attention to this edition's "Action Items" to ensure that you are prepared to end the year.
Whether you're managing family wealth or preparing for policy changes, we offer actionable insights to keep you financially strategic.
This Quarter's Featured Content
Washington Policy Research: Trump's Tariffs Face Legal Risk
Everything You Need To Know About Tax-Free Family Gifting
We simply want to remind you that we're here for you every step of the way. Check out our website for more details.The Dahlberg, Knott & Brand Group Website
Action Items
Fourth Quarter Means Year-End Deadlines!
As we approach the end of the year, we want to highlight a few important deadlines. While many of these actions can be completed up until December 31, we strongly recommend aiming for mid-December or earlier. Our staff becomes increasingly busy as the year wraps up, and early action helps ensure everything is processed smoothly and on time.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
If you are over the age of 73 or have a decedent IRA, your RMD must be taken by year-end.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you are over the age of 70 1/2, you may donate directly from your IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity. This can count toward your RMD or be a non-taxable distribution.
ROTH Conversion
If you wish to convert some or all of your IRA funds to a ROTH IRA, this must be done prior to year-end.
Charitable or Personal Gifting
As mentioned in this newsletter's featured content, all gifting must be completed by year-end. If you are donating shares of stock to a 501c3 please initiate this process 5-10 business days in advance to allow for proper processing.
529 College Education Account Contributions
While contributions may be made up until tax time for potential state tax deductions, they count as year-end gifts for 2025.
Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
The deadline to open a NEW donor advised fund through American Endowment Fund is December 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. We recommend starting no later than December 1 to ensure paperwork is completed and accepted in time.
DAF Contribution Deadlines:
- Gifts of cash sent via other methods - Wire, ACH, etc. - must be received by December 29, 2025.
- Gifts of publicly traded securities must post in AEF's investment account prior to December 29, 2025.
We appreciate your attention to these deadlines and patience throughout these processes. We look forward to helping you start 2026 on the right foot!
Keeping Up with Our Team
In September (thanks to unseasonably warm weather) we were able to take an afternoon out of the office to cruise Lake Koshkonong and enjoy the company of our teammates. While it is unusual for all of us to be out of the office at the same time, it was time well spent connecting with one another.
Good News: Our intern, Natalie, will be here through the end of the year. She will be helping with event planning, marketing, and other office needs. We're so glad to have extended her time with us!
We're featuring a new "Ask us Anything" phone meeting through our scheduling service, Calendly. If you would like to talk with an advisor to ask them questions, please click the link below. We're always here and happy to help.
Happy Quarter 4!