Jefferson, Iowa — 11/17/25 — Tim Heisterkamp, Certified Financial Planner™ of Journey Financial LLC, has completed advanced IRA and retirement-tax training with Ed Slott and Company, LLC by attending the firm’s Fall 2025 workshop of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group^SM, held November 6–7 in Austin, Texas.

This invitation-only training gathered financial professionals from across the country for two days of in-depth education on new 2025 tax law updates, SECURE 2.0 implementation, and estate-planning strategies. Participants received a 300-page manual and live instruction from Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group^SM on helping retirees keep more of their savings under the latest IRS rules and year-end planning strategies that affect retirees and beneficiaries heading into 2026.

“Every rule change creates both new risks and new opportunities,” said Ed Slott, CPA, founder of Ed Slott and Company “The advisors who master these updates help clients save not just on taxes, but on costly mistakes that could derail years of planning.”

Key Takeaways for Retirees and Families

• 2025 Tax Update & SECURE 2.0 Guidance: Final and proposed RMD regulations plus new 10-year beneficiary-distribution rules taking effect in 2026.
• OBBBA 2025 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”): Extended tax cuts and expanded Roth and estate-gift exemptions creating new multi-year planning opportunities.
• New “Trump Accounts”: Introduction of a tax-advantaged savings vehicle designed for families and small businesses.
• Surviving-Spouse Strategies: Preparing families for financial transition after a partner’s death, what experts call horizontal wealth transfer planning.
• Estate and Trust Pitfalls: Why many IRA trusts drafted before the SECURE Act no longer work as intended and how to update them.
• Roth Conversion Sequencing: Coordinating conversions with income thresholds, Medicare surtax exposure, and OBBBA’s new Roth rules.
• Inherited IRA Enforcement in 2026: Clarified IRS guidance on when the 10-year clock starts for non-spouse beneficiaries.
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): Updated rules allowing charitable giving to offset RMDs and reduce taxable income.
• Women and Wealth Transfer: The growing focus on strategies for women inheriting or managing family wealth.

Featured guest sessions included:

• Timothy P. Bogert, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF® – “The $600 Billion Question:” How caregiving impacts financial plans and how to protect benefits, income and family well-being.
• Christine Benz (Morningstar) – “The Art and Science of Safe Withdrawal Rates:” Evidence-based withdrawal guidance and strategies to give clients “permission to spend.”
• Attorney Shannon L. Evans, JD, LL.M. – “Advanced IRA Estate Planning for Blended Families:” What can go wrong and how to fix it.

“Some of the most costly and surprising retirement mistakes aren’t about investments; they’re about taxes and timing,” said Heisterkamp, a member of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group^SM since 2019. “This training sharpened our playbook for year-end moves and 2026 planning, especially Roth strategies, survivor planning, and estate coordination, so we can seek to help families protect more of what they’ve earned.”

The Austin workshop also highlighted the firm’s new nationwide consumer-education initiative, “Ed Slott and Company’s Ultimate Retirement Tax-Savings Roadmap.” This program helps retirees understand how to generate tax-efficient income, time Roth conversions, and avoid beneficiary mistakes by working with a trained advisor.

Heisterkamp can be contacted for IRA and retirement-related questions. Visit planwithtim.com or call (515) 386-2570.

ABOUT ED SLOTT AND COMPANY, LLC:

Ed Slott and Company, LLC, America’s IRA Experts, is the nation’s leading authority on retirement tax and IRA education. Backed by a team of tax, legal, and retirement specialists, the firm trains financial professionals nationwide and provides retirement savers with clear, practical answers to their most important planning questions. Its flagship program, Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group^SM, includes 500 of the nation’s top financial professionals. The company also publishes Keep More Quarterly, a consumer newsletter focused on retirement tax-saving strategies. Led by founder Ed Slott, CPA, with nationally recognized experts Sarah Brenner, JD; Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF®; and Ian Berger, JD, the team is frequently featured in major media including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes, and The New York Times. Slott is the author of “The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder” and co-host of “The Great Retirement Debate” podcast. Visit irahelp.com for more information.

ABOUT JOURNEY FINANCIAL LLC:

Journey Financial, LLC, led by founder Tim Heisterkamp, CFP^®, with advisor Max Neese, CFP^®, is a client-focused financial firm dedicated to helping individuals and business owners pursue their financial goals with clarity and confidence. We offer a full range of personalized financial planning and investment services, tailored to each client’s unique needs and long-term aspirations.

Our advisors, as CFP® professionals, take a wide-angle view of your financial picture, building collaborative relationships that guide you through every life milestone. With a commitment to thoughtful planning, customized strategies, and unwavering support, we work as your trusted partner to help you navigate today's financial landscape and plan confidently for tomorrow.

Chart your course with confidence. Discover what Journey Financial can do for you.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Ed Slott is not affiliated with LPL Financial.

A Roth IRA conversion—sometimes called a backdoor Roth strategy—is a way to contribute to a Roth IRA when income exceeds standard limits. The converted amount is treated as taxable income and may affect your tax bracket. Federal, state, and local taxes may apply. If you’re required to take a minimum distribution in the year of conversion, it must be completed before converting.

To qualify for tax-free withdrawals, you must generally be age 59½ and hold the converted funds in the Roth IRA for at least five years. Each conversion has its own five-year period, and early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies. Income limits still apply for future direct Roth IRA contributions.