Heartland Wealth Partners

08/31/2026

The bar keeps getting higher.

Earnings have been climbing and analysts are expecting that growth to continue. That is good for investors, but higher expectations also mean companies have less room to disappoint.

Markets are funny that way. A company can have a great quarter and still see its stock fall if everyone expected an even better one.

Common Cents: Good results matter. Expectations matter just as much.

08/25/2026

Tomorrow in Waukon — Passing on the Family Farm.

If you’ve been wondering about farm profitability, retirement, ownership, farming and non-farming children, taxes, estate planning or simply how all of those pieces are supposed to fit together, that’s what we’ll be discussing today.

This is an educational program presented through a not-for-profit organization. There is no product sales presentation and nothing you are expected to buy.

Families can also receive a complimentary farm financial and transition review as part of the program.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you come.

That’s kind of the point.

Details and registration are available on the event page. https://events.afceducators.org/9UACDQ

08/24/2026

Most farm families are really good at putting this conversation off.

Not because it isn't important.

Because nobody particularly enjoys sitting around the kitchen table talking about:

When Mom and Dad are actually going to slow down
Where their retirement income will come from
Who gets the land
Who gets the equipment
How to treat farming and non-farming children fairly
Whether the operation can financially survive the transition

And somehow, “we'll figure it out later” turns into another year.

That's exactly why we're holding Passing on the Family Farm.

No product pitch. No obligation. Just a practical conversation about how families can start putting the pieces together before a health problem, death, disagreement or financial pressure forces the decisions for them.

If you've ever said “we really need to get everyone together and talk about this” — this event is for you.

Come join us.
https://events.afceducators.org/9UACDQ

08/24/2026

There probably isn’t a farm family in Northeast Iowa where every part of the transition is simple.

One child farms. Another doesn’t.

Mom and Dad still need income.

The land may be worth considerably more than anyone ever imagined.

There may be debt, equipment, retirement accounts, insurance, taxes and estate documents all pointing in slightly different directions.

And somewhere in the middle of it all is a family trying to make a good decision.

That is why we’re hosting Passing on the Family Farm this Wednesday in Waukon.

The goal isn’t to tell anyone what they should do. It’s to help families understand the questions, explore the options and look at how the farm operation and family finances fit together.

The program is presented through a not-for-profit organization, there is no product sales presentation, and families will have the opportunity to receive a complimentary farm financial and transition review.

If your family has been meaning to have this conversation, come join us.

Registration and details are available through the event page. https://events.afceducators.org/9UACDQ

08/21/2026

Most farm transition conversations are bigger than a will.

They involve questions like:

Is the farm producing enough profit and cash flow to support the family and the future of the operation?

Can Mom and Dad afford to step back without putting too much pressure on the farm?

How should land, equipment, debt and other assets be handled as ownership changes?

How do you treat farming and non-farming children fairly?

What happens if someone dies, becomes disabled or can no longer run the operation?

And do the estate plan, beneficiaries and ownership structure actually support what the family wants to happen?

Those are the kinds of things we’ll be talking about Wednesday at our Passing on the Family Farm presentations in Waukon.

This is an educational program presented through a not-for-profit organization. There is no product sales presentation and nothing you are expected to buy.

Families who participate will also have the opportunity to receive a complimentary farm financial and transition review at no cost.

If some of these questions have been floating around your family already, this may be worth an hour of your time.

Details and registration are available on the event page.
https://events.afceducators.org/9UACDQ

08/14/2026

🌽 Corn Days Meal Location Update

Due to rain in the forecast, we’re moving the Corn Days Community Meal indoors to the Pavilion so everyone can stay dry and still enjoy the evening.

The good news: everything is still on!

🕓 Meal: 4–8 PM
💵 Meal: $10
🎶 Uptown Jazz: 4:30–8 PM
✏️ Character drawings available
🎈 Balloons by Kevin available

Same great Corn Days fun — just a new location.

Please help us spread the word, and we’ll see you at the Pavilion!

08/11/2026

Retire at 62 — or work 3 days a week until 70?

There isn’t one right answer.

For some people, retirement means being completely done. For others, it means finally having enough flexibility to work because they want to — not because they have to.

The better question is:

What do you want your life to look like, and what does your money need to do to support it?

If you had the choice, which would you pick?

A — Done at 62
B — Three days a week until 70
C — Something in between

That’s the plan worth building.

Let’s Make a Plan.

08/04/2026

🚒 FY27 Iowa LOSAP Application Window Now Open
Iowa fire chiefs, EMS directors, city clerks, township trustees and volunteer fire departments — the FY27 Iowa LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) application period is officially open.

If your department needs information on LOSAP reenrollment, volunteer eligibility, department rosters, governing‑board resolutions, state matching funds, or setting up a tax‑deferred LOSAP benefit, now is the time to begin.

The State of Iowa may provide up to $500 per eligible volunteer, but departments must submit their FY27 LOSAP application by September 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

If you already work with a LOSAP provider or financial professional, connect with them right away.

If you don’t — or if you have questions about eligibility, rosters, resolutions, matching funds or account setup — I’m here to help.

I’ve prepared straightforward information packets for:

Departments establishing theirs and those working on their reenrollment.

A little preparation now prevents a last‑minute scramble and helps recognize the volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel who serve our Iowa communities.

📍 Heartland Wealth Partners — Waukon, Iowa
📞 Nick Wilz: 563‑794‑1859
🌐 Learn more or request assistance: www.lospaiowa.com

Please share this with your fire chief, EMS director, city clerk, township trustee, or anyone responsible for your department’s Iowa LOSAP application.

Clear, plain-English guidance for Iowa fire and EMS departments navigating the LOSAP program.

07/30/2026

Business owners don’t just run a business — we carry it. We’re the marketing team, the HR department, the sales force, the bookkeeper, the visionary, and the person who fixes whatever breaks right before closing time.

And because we’re busy keeping the whole thing upright, we put ourselves last. Especially when it comes to retirement planning.

Here’s the part nobody likes to say out loud: Most owners are building a business… but not a future. We pour everything back into the operation and tell ourselves we’ll deal with retirement “later.”

But sometimes the thing you’ve been putting off is actually the best tool you have to reach your goals — whether that’s keeping good employees, growing assets for your next big step, or (most common) double‑checking that what you already have in place is actually working… and that your advisor isn’t asleep at the wheel.

You don’t need another headache. You don’t need another project. You don’t need to become an expert in 401(k)s, SIMPLEs, SEPs, or anything else.

You need someone who can look at your situation, weigh the options, put the pieces together, and implement the plan so it actually gets done. That’s me.

If you’re ready to fix the part you’ve been putting off — or just want a straight answer on whether your current setup is the right tool for your goals — reach out or stop by the office. Just like anything else in business, the best way to start is to start.

I got you.

Let’s chat. Call 563-794-1859, stop by the office, or learn more here:
https://www.heartlandwealthpartners.com/letsmakeaplan