Washington County Weekend Post

GMTODAY.COM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • 3 If you would like to take part in this listing, call (262) 306-5075 for more details. 270124018 Jackson Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church N168 W20152 Main Street 262-677-3143 Sunday Worship: 9:00 AM Pastor Duane A Swenson Still Waters United Methodist Church 3617 Scenic Rd., www.stillwaterschurch.com; 262-677-1311; Contemporary Worship Sun Worship: 9 & 10:30am Sat. Worship: 5:00pm (Labor Day - Memorial Day) Staffed Nursery at all services for birth-3 yrs Sunday School - all services 3yrs-5 th gr Kewaskum Kewaskum House of Prayer 100 Clinton St. • 262-626-8337 • Pastor Joseph Brath • Worship Sun.10am and 6pm • Thurs. 7pm Monthly Creation-Evolution Meeting (2nd Mon.) 6:30pm Quest Youth Group, Warm Friendly Atmosphere Visitors Welcome! www.kehop.com Mequon Alliance Bible Church Sunday Worship Services are in-person & online: 9 & 10:45 AM; Kingdom Kidz (infant-5th gr) & Student Ministries (6th-12th) during both services. Brian Dainsberg, Lead Pastor, 13939 N. Cedarburg Rd, Mequon. 262-375-2400. Find us on FB, Instagram, Twitter, & YouTube. For more information: www.myabc.church Neosho Faith Bible Alliance Church W2477 Lehman Rd (on Highway 60) 920-625-3538, www.faithbiblealliance.com Sunday Worship at 10:00am (in-person & online) Discover Land-Sundays & Sunday School 9:00am Ignition Youth: Sundays 4:00pm (grade 7-12) Discovery Land-Mondays 6:00pm (grade 4K-8) Journey 2 Jesus Wed. 6:30pm (Ages 3yrs-6th Grade) West Bend Calvary Church 1110 E Decorah Rd • 262.338.1171 Sunday Worship 10:00am Kids Church & Nursery Available www.calvarywb.org Community Church 2005 S. Main St., 262-338-0725 Sunday 8:30am & 10am; Nursery at both services Children's Ministry K-6th grade 10am Live-stream at 8:30am on our website: www.westbendchurch.org Eagle's Wings Nazarene Fellowship 609 Sandy Acre Drive, 262-334-7124; Pastor Glenn Butts; Sunday School 9:30am; Sunday Worship 10:45am; Ladies Bible Study Mondays 9:00am; Bible Study/Prayer Mtg Wednesdays 6:30pm www.wbnaz.com Fifth Avenue United Methodist 323 South 5th Ave, 262-334-2059, faumc.org Pastor Clarissa Martinelli A Welcoming Christian Community; Sunday Worship 9:30am Good Shepherd Lutheran (WELS) 777 Indiana Ave., West Bend, 262-334-7881 Saturday 5pm; Sunday 8am & 10:30am Sunday School & Bible Study 9:15am Christian Elementary School, Pre-K thru 8th Grade Little Lambs Child Care Center www.goodshepherdwels.org St. Andrew Lutheran Church (LCMS) & Early Childhood Campus 7750 State Rd. 144 North, 262-335-4200 Worship Sunday 9am Sunday Bible Study 7:45am www.standrew-westbend.org St. Paul's & St. Peter's Lutheran (WELS) St. Paul's - Hwy. Z & German Village Rd. Thurs. 6:30pm; Sunday 9:30am St. Peter's - Beaver Dam & Town Line Rd Sunday 8am, Pastor John Cook, 231-290-3311 *Important!* Due to the COVID-19 Virus, please check with your church for changes or cancellations. Investing has always been a means for people to grow their wealth and make their money work for them. Investors know that protect- ing investment earnings is important, and that often can be achieved through tax- advantaged investments. Tax-advantaged invest- ing, also called tax-efficient investing, allows investors to maximize the profits they can keep after taxes are filed. Investment selection and asset allocation are impor- tant factors affecting returns, but minimizing taxes and other costs is also crucial, according to the Schwab Center for Financial Research. There are some ways for investors to keep more of their assets. A qualified financial advisor can help navigate the waters of the best tax-advantaged options. When investing on an annual basis, there are some general accounts people can use to their advantages. • A 401(k) or 403(b): These accounts are an ideal way to get "free" money. Funds in these accounts are put away pre-tax. Because your adjust- ed gross income is lowered, so is your federally taxable income. In addition, some employers may match contri- butions up to a certain per- centage. Companies also may offer Roth 401(k) plans, which differ from traditional plans in regard to when you pay taxes. With Roth plans, you pay taxes up front. When the money is eventually withdrawn, those with- drawals are tax-free. • IRAs: Individual retire- ment accounts are similar to 401(k) plans in that they're tax-deferred. However, they generally offer greater free- dom in investment choices. Roth IRAs, like the Roth 401(k) plans, must be paid with after-tax dollars. But the advantages are higher contribution amounts, with- drawals that are tax-free and no mandatory withdrawals when a person reaches a cer- tain age. • Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA): Canadian investors can explore TFSAs. These are accounts that do not tax any contributions, interest earned, dividends, or capital gains, and can be withdrawn tax-free. It is available to individuals ages 18 and older in Canada and can be used for any purpose. • College savings accounts: Investing in a 529 plan can be wise for parents. While money is invested after tax, it is tax-free when withdrawn for qualified higher education purposes. • Health savings accounts: To get a tax deduc- tion on health expenses, an HSA is the way to go. HSAs are linked to high-deductible health plans and allow account holders to use the funds for qualified spending. Working with a financial planner can help investors maximize their investments to be as tax-efficient as possi- ble. Financial experts under- stand funding limits and the timeline in which to invest for tax advantages. Tax-advantaged investing Successful financial plans often begin with the creation of a budget. A budget is an estimate of income and expenses in a given period of time. Bud- gets help with long-term goals like paying off a mort- gage or sending a child to college as well as short-term goals like financing a dream vacation. Not all budgets are alike, and when people hear the word "budget," they may get apprehensive. Budgeting may require making some concessions in regard to spending habits, but it does- n't have to put a complete damper on plans. In fact, with a budget in hand, peo- ple may be more free to spend because they will have a stronger grasp of their financial situation. Making a realistic budget does not have to be a chore. Here is how to get started. • List the necessities. Begin by calculating the costs associated with fixed needs, including rent/mort- gage, utilities, food, and any other bills you have to pay each month. • Add existing debt. Debt includes any routine pay- ments being made to credit card companies, student loan lenders, car payments, or unpaid medical bills. • Conduct a spending analysis over several months. Budgets are easier with fixed numbers, but unforeseen variables can affect spending every month. These can include the extras for clothing, enter- tainment and much more. Average the cost of these expenses throughout your analysis period so you can get some idea of how much to allocate for them. • Use software or apps to help. There are plenty of resources available to help people calculate their bud- gets and get a picture of their financial habits. Resources such as Mint, YNAB (You Need a Budget) and various accounting pro- grams can produce spread- sheets, pie charts and bar graphs as you work to create a budget. • Start trimming gradual- ly. Quitting a certain lifestyle cold turkey can be jarring. Gradually cut back on your spending if your analysis suggests that's the way to go. • Automate saving. Imme- diately removing a set amount from your paychecks by having it directly deposit- ed into a separate account can remove the temptation of spending too much from your financial equation. Budgets are a key part of a financial plan and can help people reach their goals. Simple ways to keep a realistic budget

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