Parents Start Saving for College?

A resident of Nebraska, Kirby Spencer McDonald is the founder and president of Illuminate Financial Group. Kirby McDonald offers wealth accumulation, life insurance, retirement, and education planning advice to his clients at the financial advisory firm.

According to a college savings study done by Fidelity Investments, a leading financial services firm, 42 percent of parents regret starting a college fund late for their child. The study found that, on average, parents start a college fund when their child is six and a half years old, which most financial advisors consider late.

According to the advisors', parents should start a college fund when their child is born because the monthly payments made and interest earned could be a third or more of the college fees by the time their child goes to college.

For example, if at birth a parent puts $50 a month in a 529 college savings plan, they’ll have about $21,000 saved by the time their child is 18 years. Currently, a four-year degree at an in-state university costs on average $36,556 according to the College Board. With $21,000 saved, this parent will have more than half of what is required to take their child through college at current rates.

Revitalize Omaha’s Neighborhoods

Kirby Spencer McDonald is an established presence in the Omaha, Nebraska, community who emphasizes knowledgeable, transparent investment advice with Illuminate Financial Group, LLC. Among the charitable organizations that Kirby McDonald supports is the Abide Network, which was established in 1989 in North Omaha and works to revitalize underserved neighborhoods through a “Lighthouse Leader” approach.

As CEO Josh Dotzler, son of the nonprofit’s founders, describes it, the Abide mission is one that encompasses stronger families and residential communities that are more safe. This is accomplished through training and supporting a next generation of leaders who are committed to remaining in the neighborhoods they serve.

A major Abide commitment has centered on renovating in excess of 70 local homes in just a few years. Another extended project has involved expanding facilities on a 24-acre campus that was formerly home to the Nebraska School for the Deaf. With the addition of a gym and fitness center, the property now encompasses 208,000 square feet of community space. One annual volunteer-driven highlight is a Christmastime campaign that encompasses toy distribution, hot meals, and food to eat at home with the family.

Putting Yips - What Causes Them?

Kirby Spencer McDonald is the founder and a managing partner of Illuminate Financial Group in Omaha, Nebraska. Among other responsibilities, he handles compliance matters, trains financial advisors, and oversees recruitment. Outside of his work, Kirby McDonald lives an active lifestyle and enjoys playing golf. One phenomenon that can affect golfers is putting yips, the cause of which remains a subject of debate.

Putting yips are involuntary wrist movements that golfers may experience when putting, and other symptoms can include spasms, freezing, twitches, or tremors. This results in poor putting and wild swings on the golf course. Although yips were once considered a manifestation of nervousness during a game, many researchers theorize that some cases have other causes. Most believe that there are two types of yips.

Type I yips concern players who exhibit signs of focal dystonia, a neurological dysfunction that triggers involuntary muscles contractions when performing a specific task. Putting yips of this sort might possibly develop in a manner similar to writer's cramp. Due to the positive correlation between yips and golfing experience, some experts suggest that certain muscles in the wrists and upper arm become overworked over time. Furthermore, a golfer's anxiety can increase the frequency of involuntary movements.

Type II yips occur as a result of elevated anxiety and psychological mechanisms associated with buckling under pressure. The overthinking that accompanies these feelings impairs concentration and skill execution, leading to muscle spasms and a subsequent decline in performance.

Student Retreats Run by Youth Frontiers

The founder of Illuminate Financial Group in Omaha, Nebraska, Kirby Spencer McDonald supports local and national charitable organizations. Through Illuminate Charity, the company’s nonprofit arm, Kirby McDonald assists groups such as Youth Frontiers.

Youth Frontiers improves the lives of students through character-building events called for students, educators, and parents, each focused on a certain attribute and associated skills. Student-focused events share a similar format, with students from the same grade learning a chosen skill together. Each “retreat” lasts between five and five-and-a-half hours, and concludes with a collective sharing session.

The Kindness Retreat, for fourth- and fifth-graders, teaches conflict resolution skills and the value of kindness. The Courage Retreat addresses adolescents’ fears and how to process them and take positive action.

Youth Frontiers’ Respect Retreat teaches ninth- through 11th-graders the importance of respecting themselves and others, and standing up to disrespectful behavior. To help seniors prepare for life after high school, the Wisdom Retreat provides a safe environment for students to share their high school experiences, gain closure for their time there, and enhance relationships with high school friends.

Considerations for a Safe Bicycle Ride

A financial services professional since the early 1980s, Kirby Spencer McDonald heads the Omaha, Nebraska-based wealth-management firm Illuminate Financial Group as president and OSJ compliance officer. A staunch supporter of community-oriented activities and charities, he most enjoys spending time with his family. Kirby McDonald keeps fit by playing golf, running, and bicycling.

Bicycling is a fun way to get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy the neighborhood and surrounding regions, whether for pleasure or business. Riding a bicycle does have its challenges and hazards, and riders need to make safety their first consideration whenever they take to the road.

For bicyclists, one of the most important elements of a safe ride is a well-fitting helmet that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. Many jurisdictions require that children wear helmets while bicycling, but children aren’t the ones at most risk: in 2018, the average age of bicyclists killed in traffic accidents was 47. Other important personal protective equipment, especially when riding at dusk or night, is light-colored clothing or reflective tape or devices on clothing, helmet, and the bike itself.

After a well-fitting helmet, the next safety consideration is a well-fitting and properly-maintained bicycle. A bike that’s too big or too small for its rider is inherently unsafe. Smaller bicycles are available for children, and while adult bicycles are standard-sized, their seats and handlebars are adjustable so riders of all sizes can ride them safely and comfortably. Before getting underway, riders should also check that the tires are properly inflated and that the brakes work.

Bike riders and vehicle drivers alike can reduce traffic accidents by knowing the rules of the road. Bicyclists should ride predictably and look before they turn or change lanes and then signal their intentions when it’s safe to do so. Likewise, vehicle drivers should be aware of bicyclists sharing the road and yield to them as appropriate. Riding a bicycle is no time for texting, using headphones, or drinking – anything that distracts or impairs a rider can carry unwanted consequences.

Financial Professional Background Check

An accomplished financial and investment business executive with nearly three decades of experience, Kirby Spencer McDonald serves as the compliance officer and managing partner of Omaha, Nebraska-based Illuminate Financial. In this capacity, Kirby McDonald works closely with clients in creating innovative financial management objectives.

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Catch-Up Contributions for Retirement

Since establishing Illuminate Financial Group in Omaha, Nebraska, financial planner Kirby Spencer McDonald has completed credentials in wealth strategy and investing. As the managing partner of his company, Kirby McDonald guides his clients on retirement planning strategies, including contribution catch-up options.

Many tax-deferred retirement accounts place limits on the amount individuals can contribute every year. However, the IRS increases these limits for individuals aged 50 and over. This helps people build their retirement savings if they do not have the time to grow their accounts through compound interest.

Older individuals with employer-sponsored traditional or Roth IRAs can contribute $1,000 more per year than younger account holders. However, some filing statuses reduce the catch-up contribution.

For example, some married couples and people who make between $125,000 and $140,000 a year must use a formula to determine their contribution limit. While the IRS increases contribution limits yearly, catch-up contribution limits stay in place for five years.

Employers may approve catch-up contributions to other retirement accounts, such as the Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees and 401(k)s. Pension plans for the public sector, such as the 403(b), often use a formula or guidelines to determine catch-up allowances.