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Roger Wohlner

Roger Wohlner

Roger is a financial and business writer who brings his extensive experience as a financial advisor to his writing. He writes on a full range of financial planning related topics including all aspects of personal and business insurance. His experience as a financial advisor includes helping clients evaluate their personal insurance needs and in some cases helping them obtain the coverage needed.

Prior to working as a financial writer and advisor, Roger held a number of corporate financial positions with several companies.

Roger’s work has been featured on TheStreet, Investopedia, Morningstar Magazine, Go Banking Rates, US News & World Report, Yahoo! Finance, Investor Junkie, and numerous other sites. He also ghostwrites for a number of financial services firms as well as for financial advisors.

Roger earned his bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and his MBA degree from Marquette University.

My blog:The Chicago Financial Planner

Articles by Roger Wohlner

Savings accounts
Banking

Types Of Savings Accounts

Updated on January 13, 2022
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8 Min Read
Savings accounts can be a great vehicle for cash that you don't want to take a risk with or that is otherwise on the sidelines. There is a wide range of savings accounts from which to choose, so do your homework up front.
Read more >
what is a backdoor roth ira
Retirement

What is a Backdoor Roth?

Updated on March 7, 2023
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5 Min Read
A backdoor Roth IRA is a way for those earning too much to directly contribute to a Roth IRA to make an IRA contribution and convert this contribution to a Roth IRA.
Read more >
tax deduction form
Taxes

What Is Standard Tax Deduction?

Updated on March 7, 2023
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4 Min Read
The standard tax deduction offers all taxpayers a reduction to their taxable income regardless of their income level based on their filing status.
Read more >
Investing

How to Invest in Index Funds

Updated on March 7, 2023
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7 Min Read
Index mutual funds and ETFs track a specific stock or bond market index. These are passive, generally low cost funds that offer a number of advantages.
Read more >
financial advisor with young couple
Investing

CFA vs. CFP

Updated on March 7, 2023
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5 Min Read
Both the CFA and CFP designations are widely respected designations within the financial services industry. Holders of each have demonstrated the willingness and ability to satisfy the educational and other requirements to earn the designation, as well as the ability to pass the exams.
Read more >
Stock trading graph
Investing

Day Trading vs. Swing Trading

Updated on January 13, 2022
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4 Min Read
Day trading and swing trading are two approaches to short-term trading in stocks, currencies and commodities. Both strategies involve risk and commitment in order to be successful.
Read more >
Active vs Passive investing
Investing

Active vs. Passive Investing: What's the Difference?

Updated on January 13, 2022
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6 Min Read
Both active and passive investing styles can have a place in your portfolio. It’s important to understand the differences in order to make good investing decisions for your situation.
Read more >
Taxable Social Security
Retirement

Is Social Security Taxable?

Updated on November 10, 2022
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3 Min Read
Social Security benefits can be subject to taxation if the recipient’s total income reaches certain thresholds.
Read more >
Investing 100,000 dollars
Investing

How to invest $100K

Updated on March 13, 2022
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9 Min Read
There are a number of options for investing $100,000. Be sure to look at your overall financial situation in choosing how to best put this money to work.
Read more >
Mortgage Paid Off
Mortgages

7 Types of Mortgage Loans for Buyers and Refinancers

Updated on March 13, 2022
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7 Min Read
Buying a home is the largest financial purchase most of us will ever make. How you finance this purchase is a critical decision. Here are seven types of mortgage loans to consider.
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financial advisor advising a couple
Personal Finance

How To Choose a Financial Advisor

Updated on September 28, 2022
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7 Min Read
A financial advisor can assist you in planning and managing your financial affairs. This can be a one-time need or ongoing. Choosing the right financial advisor for your needs is important.
Read more >
403b plan money next to piggy bank
Retirement

What is a Roth 403(b) Plan?

Updated on September 22, 2022
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4 Min Read
A Roth 403(b) offers high contribution limits and has no income restrictions like a Roth IRA. Roth 403(b)s are often used in conjunction with traditional 403(b)s as a planning tool.
Read more >
RMD wooden cubes calculating tax money
Taxes

How to Avoid Taxes on Your RMD

Updated on January 27, 2022
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7 Min Read
RMDs are the cost of the tax benefits you get by using a tax-advantaged retirement account to save for retirement. While there is no way to totally avoid taxes on RMDs in one form or another, there are strategies to reduce or defer these taxes that you can consider.
Read more >
roth ira conversion
Retirement

Roth IRA Conversion Guide

Updated on February 25, 2022
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6 Min Read
A Roth IRA conversion is a great way to build up retirement assets in a Roth account. Be sure to do your upfront planning before going this route.
Read more >
Mega Backdoor Roth
Retirement

Mega Backdoor Roth - What Is It And How To Do It

Updated on December 21, 2021
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7 Min Read
The mega backdoor Roth is a way to increase the amount available to convert to a Roth account with after-tax contributions to your employer’s 401(k), if allowed by the plan.
Read more >
Investments options
Investing

Best Investment Options

Updated on September 13, 2022
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7 Min Read
The best investment options for 2022 or any other year are those that fit best with your financial and investing goals and risk tolerance.
Read more >
Retirement

What Is Social Security?

Updated on August 31, 2022
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5 Min Read
Social Security is a governmental insurance program providing retirement, disability and survivor’s benefits. Your benefit level is based on your earnings record while working.
Read more >
Personal Finance

What is the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio?

Updated on August 30, 2022
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4 Min Read
Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a critical metric that lenders, especially mortgage lenders, take into account when reviewing a loan application. DTI measures the ratio of an individual’s minimum monthly debt payments to their monthly gross income.
Read more >
Asset Allocation
Investing

Asset Allocation Guide

Updated on January 13, 2022
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8 Min Read
Asset allocation is about how you allocate your investments among stocks, bonds, cash and others. It's about balancing your potential return against the potential risks in your portfolio.
Read more >
What is an IRA?
Retirement

What is an IRA?

Updated on April 3, 2022
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5 Min Read
IRAs are tax-advantaged accounts that can provide a convenient way to save for retirement. There are a number of alternatives you can consider based on your situation.
Read more >
Options Trading Strategies
Investing

12 Options Trading Strategies

Updated on January 13, 2022
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10 Min Read
Options contracts allow the holder the right, but not the obligation to buy or sell stocks or other underlying securities. There are a number of strategies you can use.
Read more >
ETF vs. Mutual Fund
Investing

ETF vs. Mutual Fund

Updated on January 13, 2022
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4 Min Read
Both ETFs and mutual funds offer a professionally managed investing vehicle for investors. Which one is best will depend upon the investor’s own unique situation. It’s important for investors to understand the pros and cons of each type of security when deciding where to invest.
Read more >
Inherited IRA
Retirement

What Is an Inherited IRA?

Updated on December 27, 2021
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6 Min Read
An inherited IRA is a way to pass assets in an IRA or retirement plan to your desired beneficiaries. There are a number of rules associated that you should know and understand.
Read more >
Capital gains tax
Investing

How to Reduce or Avoid Capital Gains Taxes

Updated on January 13, 2022
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7 Min Read
Capital gains arise when an investment is sold for more than its cost basis. Taxes are generally due on capital gains, though there are steps that investors can take to minimize the impact.
Read more >
Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract
Retirement

Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC) Guide

Updated on January 30, 2022
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6 Min Read
A QLAC can be a good way to defer taking some of your retirement account balance out as far as age 85. A QLAC can be a good way to provide an income stream to fund that latter part of your retirement.
Read more >
Mutual Funds vs ETFs
Investing

Index Fund vs Mutual Fund: What’s the Difference?

Updated on December 13, 2021
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7 Min Read
Which is a better investment, index funds or actively managed mutual funds? The answer is that it depends. It's important to understand the differences between the two.
Read more >
Defined-Benefit vs. Defined-Contribution Plan
Retirement

Defined-Benefit vs. Defined-Contribution Plan

Updated on January 11, 2022
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3 Min Read
Defined benefit plans are funded by employers and are based on a benefit formula. Defined contribution plans grow and accumulate based on employee and employer contributions plus any returns on the money invested
Read more >
Banking

What is APY?

Updated on April 25, 2022
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3 Min Read
APY or annual percentage yield is the rate of return you will earn for a year in a bank account, including compound interest.
Read more >
Simple IRA
Retirement

What is a SIMPLE IRA?

Updated on April 3, 2022
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6 Min Read
There are a number of retirement plan options for those who are self-employed or who run a small business. For many of these businesses a SIMPLE IRA can be a good option to consider.
Read more >
401k matching
Retirement

What is 401(k) Matching & How Does it Work?

Updated on March 31, 2022
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4 Min Read
Employer 401(k) matching means that your employer makes a matching contribution to an employee’s account based on a percentage of the amount they contribute to the plan.
Read more >
401(k) QDIA
Retirement

What is a 401(k) QDIA?

Updated on March 24, 2022
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4 Min Read
QDIA stands for Qualified Default Investment Alternative. QDIAs can be used as a default investment option for 401(k) participants who don’t make their own investment selection. If the plan sponsor follows certain rules, the QDIA can provide a fiduciary safe harbor for them.
Read more >
what is rule 72
Investing

What is the Rule of 72?

Updated on March 13, 2022
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4 Min Read
The rule of 72 is a quick way to estimate the time that would be needed to double your investment with a given interest rate or an estimated rate of return.
Read more >
What is a SARSEP?
Retirement

What is a SARSEP?

Updated on February 10, 2022
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3 Min Read
A SARSEP is a small business retirement plan that allows for both employee and employer contributions. No new SARSEPs have been allowed since the end of 1996.
Read more >
Account book bank listing CD deposits
Banking

Are CDs Worth It?

Updated on January 13, 2022
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3 Min Read
CDs can be a good place to invest some of your cash. Returns are guaranteed and predictable. There are some restrictions to be aware of and they need to be considered when looking at CDs.
Read more >
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
Retirement

What Is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

Updated on December 27, 2021
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7 Min Read
RMDs are mandatory annual distributions from traditional IRAs and other retirement accounts. These amounts are based on the balance in the account from the prior year-end. There are steep penalties for RMD amounts not taken.
Read more >
Invest in Gold bullions
Investing

How To Invest In Gold

Updated on January 13, 2022
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7 Min Read
Gold has traditionally been a store of value and a hedge against inflation. Investing in gold can make sense for investors, but it’s important to understand how gold investing works and if it is right for you.
Read more >
Man day trading
Investing

Best Day Trading Platforms

Updated on January 13, 2022
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8 Min Read
Day trading is not an activity to be taken lightly. A key element of success in day trading is using a broker that offers a platform with best execution, low costs and other features to help make you successful.
Read more >
IRA vs 401K
Retirement

Solo 401(k) vs. SEP-IRA

Updated on December 13, 2021
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5 Min Read
Solo 401(k)s and SEP-IRAs are two of the best types of retirement accounts for the self-employed. Looking at the features and benefits can help you decide which one is best for you.
Read more >
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