Is the Backdoor Roth Actually Legit? Breaking It Down
The name alone makes it sound sneaky. "Backdoor Roth." It brings to mind Prohibition and slipping through the alley entrance of some speakeasy. But here is the good news we walked away with after this episode: it is completely legal, completely legitimate, and for the right person, it can be a really smart way to build a bucket of tax-free money for the future. We sat down with Jolene Johnson, a financial advisor with Kemper Capital Management, to make sense of it all. Jolene has spent 20 years helping individuals, families, and business owners turn their financial goals into real plans, and she has a gift for taking something that sounds complicated and making it feel doable.
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Who Needs a Trust? Breaking Down Estate Planning
Say the word "trust" and most of us picture trust fund babies and generational fortunes. What if we told you that picture is almost entirely wrong? This week, attorney Evan Taylor is back in the studio to clear up one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance. We are digging into who actually needs a trust, who is just fine with a simple will, and why so many people are better served by one than they ever realized. Evan breaks it all down in plain English, from the real difference between a will and a trust, to the one step people skip that quietly undoes the whole plan, to the surprising reasons a trust protects families of every size and income level. Whether you own a little or a lot, this conversation will change how you think about protecting what matters most. Grab your headphones for this one. You will walk away with a whole new sense of peace of mind, and probably a few questions you have been putting off for far too long.
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The $1,000 Trump Account: Free Money for Your Kid, and How to Actually Get It
What if $1,000 today could turn into hundreds of thousands by the time your child is ready to retire? That's the quiet power behind the new Trump Accounts, and this week we're pulling back the curtain on how it all works. We'll start with the free money that gets the account going, then walk through how much your family and your employer can contribute, where the money gets invested, and how it grows year after year without anybody touching it. Then we get to the part that really matters: the decision your child faces at 18, where they can spend it, or leave it alone and let it become a genuine nest egg. It's the difference between a nice head start and life-changing money. A small beginning, a huge finish, and it starts with one account.
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Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom
As students head back to school, it's a great reminder that every child deserves the opportunity to start the year feeling prepared, supported, and encouraged. Kelly Green, Senior Vice President of our Herrin branch and President of the Herrin School Board, joins us to discuss the many resources our local schools provide for students and families, including meal assistance, transportation, counseling services, and other programs that help remove barriers to learning. We also talk about how each of us can make a difference this school year. Sometimes helping is as simple as buying an extra backpack, donating school supplies, volunteering, or reaching out to ask your local school what they need most. A strong school year starts with a strong community, and together, we can help every student feel supported from day one.
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From Counter to Clearing: How Checks Really Work
Depositing a check feels simple. You hand it to a teller or snap a picture with your phone, see the money show up in your account, and assume you're good to go. But behind that simple transaction is a surprisingly detailed process designed to protect both you and your bank. On this episode of Isn't That Rich, we sat down with Anna Richardson, Vice President of Deposit Operations at Farmers State Bank, to pull back the curtain on what really happens after you deposit a check. From why funds sometimes aren't immediately available to how banks catch fraudulent checks every day, Anna gave us an inside look at the work most customers never see.
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