Three generations of Veterans - WWII, Korean and Vietnam - view monuments built in their honor  

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today welcomed the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities to the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington.  Loebsack presented the members of the Honor Flight, and the Vietnam Veterans who accompanied them as guardians, with copies of the Congressional Record statement he submitted in recognition of their service, as well as copies of the Constitution.  The Honor Flight of the Quad Cities brings both World War II and Korean War veterans to Washington to visit our nation's capital and Memorials built in their honor.  This visit also included Vietnam Veterans who served as escorts for the WWII and Korean veterans and the Honor Flight also visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 

"I look forward to welcoming each Honor Flight to our nation's capital so they can see the memorials that were built in their honor.  Being able to welcome three generations of veterans today was especially meaningful," said Loebsack.  "We cannot thank these veterans enough for their service to our nation.  I was honored to present them with a copy of the statement I made for the official Congressional Record to recognize their service."

The honor flights are all fully paid for, and the veterans are typically accompanied by volunteers who donate their time to ensure that the veterans have a safe trip. This group included over 100 veterans. The Honor Flight left from the Quad Cities Airport this morning and will return tonight.

Loebsack is an avid supporter of our veterans. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has worked to improve care and benefits for our servicemembers and veterans, including expanding Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits for the National Guard; expanding access to mental health care; helping our veterans find civilian jobs; and opening new Community Based Outpatient Clinics to improve access to VA services for Iowa veterans.  He also recently co-introduced bipartisan legislationto eliminate the waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for servicemembers wounded in combat.

Join us this summer at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Scott County as weexplore the amazing world of insects in "Insectaganza!" our 4-H Clover Kids summer program.Youth ages five through nine will closely investigate insects such as crickets, butterflies and ladybugs to learn how they communicate, eat, grow, and survive in their natural habitats. Please note that 5 year olds must have completed kindergarten during the 2012-2013 school year.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Families can chose from a Monday group or a Wednesday group. Both groups will meet from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. for eight weeks beginning the week of June 10, 2013. The program costs $10.00 for new 4-H Clover Kids. For more information and to print the registration forms visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/scott orcontact Jodi at (563) 359-7577 or jmbecker@iastate.edu.

You wouldn't authorize a company to dive into your checking account at will to withdraw money for undisclosed "services rendered," right?

"But that's what many people are unwittingly doing with the retirement plans," says financial advisor Philip Rousseaux, a member of the esteemed Million Dollar Round Table association's exclusive Top of the Table forum for the world's most successful financial services professionals.

"While a new law now requires disclosure of previously hidden fees applied to 401(k) plans, it's up to you, or your financial advisor, to find and review that information and determine whether the fees are reasonable," says Rousseaux, founder and president of Everest Wealth Management, Inc. (www.everestwm.com).

By some estimates, up to 90 percent of fees attached to retirement plans are hidden.
As of July 1, 2012, the new Department of Labor rule requires all hidden fees attached to retirement plans and mutual funds be disclosed to employers and employees.

"For many 'average joes' with 401(k) and 403(b) savings plans, disclosure hasn't helped at all," Rousseaux says. "The paperwork supplied can be so dense and full of jargon, they can't make heads or tails of it. I've even heard some financial advisors say they've seen statements that were nearly impossible to read."

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor is reportedly investigation 50 complaints of violations of the new rules.

Rousseaux offers these tips for examining and understanding retirement plan fees.

• Trading fees: Trading fees apply to mutual funds, which generally comprise more than half of a 401(k). These previously undisclosed fees occur are brokerage commissions that are charged to the plan holder every time a fund is traded. The charge is a percentage of the fund's value usually ranging from less than 1 percent to less than 2 percent.  In some cases, trading fees can double the cost of the transaction. "If your funds are being frequently traded, you may be spending quite a bit on trading fees - in addition to the other fees associated with managing the fund," Rousseaux says. "If you can't determine whether the trading fees are reasonable, you should consult with an independent financial advisor."

• Revenue sharing: These fees occur when mutual funds and other plan providers pay a third party for administrative services such as record-keeping, which the fund is expected to perform. These may be labeled "sub-transfer," "agent/sub-TA" or "shareholder servicing" and they're built in to the plan's expense ratio, so it's not a double charge. Again, the idea is to review these charges and ensure they seem reasonable.

• 12 b-1 fees: This term - named for the section in the regulation that allows for it - applies to marketing and distribution costs. They're generally paid as commissions to brokers who service retirement plans and they also may be paid to non­investment professionals such as recordkeepers or insurance companies. Most mutual funds have share classes that provide for varying revenue amounts from 12b­1 fees.  Brokers and recordkeepers have an incentive to use funds with 12b­1 fees and to share classes with higher 12b­1 fees because they make more money.

Rousseaux notes that it's also important to look at the expense ration for your plan, which should now be stated in dollars under terms of the new Labor Department regulation.

"Generally, the lower the ratio, the bigger the fund will grow," he says.

If you find any of these fees are draining an unreasonable amount of your retirement savings, you might consider rolling the money into another savings plan, such as a Roth IRA or fixed-rate variable annuity, Rousseaux says.

About Philip Rousseaux

Philip Rousseaux is the founder and president of Everest Wealth Management and Everest Investment Advisors money management firm. A staunch advocate of objectivity in investment advice, he's a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, the international association of independent advisors whose members are held to a rigid code of ethics. He is the co-author of "Climbing the Mountain to Financial Success" and co-hosts The Money Guys show on CBS Radio in various cities.  Philip received his bachelor's in economics from Towson University and completed the Wharton School of Business's Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management Executive Education Program.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

House File 112: an Act relating to the forfeiture of bail in a criminal case.

House File 197: an Act relating to certification of adult day services programs and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 210: an Act relating to the practices and procedures of the State Public Defender.

House File 212: an Act relating to conducting condemnation proceedings.

House File 223: an Act concerning issuance of a license or users permit for specified activities regarding explosives.

House File 311: an Act relating to water quality.

House File 312: an Act providing for certification requirements by persons involved in the management of manure, and including provisions for contingent implementation.

House File 361: an Act providing for the issuance of special hunting licenses to certain nonresident disabled veterans and disabled members of the armed forces serving on active federal service.

House File 394: an Act establishing a lifetime fur harvester license for residents who are sixty-five years of age or older.

House File 395: an Act relating to the alteration of the community of a motor vehicle franchisee.

House File 457: an Act providing for the leasing of agricultural land by the Department of Natural Resources to beginning farmers.

House File 472: an Act relating to school district funding by establishing a supplementary weighting program for shared operational functions of school districts and area education agencies.

House File 484: an Act relating to boiler inspections and including effective date provisions.

House File 522: an Act relating to the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species in the state and providing penalties.

House File 530: an Act relating to the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy and certain advisory councils.

House File 541: an Act relating to dam reconstruction standards.

NOTE: View the transmittal letter sent by Gov. Branstad regarding HF541, an acting allowing assistance with reconstruction of the dam at Lake Delhi.

House File 575: an Act relating to the technical administration of state financial and regulatory matters, including administration of income taxes, sales and use taxes, currency exchange licenses, and the wireless surcharge for enhanced 911 emergency telephone systems, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 114: an Act relating to the filing of a certificate of deposit by the owner of a motor vehicle as proof of financial responsibility.

Senate File 142: an Act providing that certain activities relating to business opportunity promotions are unlawful practices punishable as consumer fraud and making a penalty applicable.

Senate File 182: an Act relating to credit for reinsurance, including transition, applicability, and effective date provisions.

Senate File 189: an Act relating to a risk management framework for insurers and insurance groups and including penalty and applicability provisions.

Senate File 282: an Act relating to procedural requirements in in rem forfeiture proceedings.

Senate File 288: an Act relating to the placement of a juvenile on youthful offender status and the prosecution of a juvenile in juvenile or district court, and access to child abuse records by a juvenile court intake officer.

Senate File 298: an Act relating to the definition of the term "sex act" in the criminal code, lascivious acts with a child, and providing penalties.

Senate File 316: an Act relating to farm tenancies of less than forty acres by providing procedures for termination.

Senate File 318: an Act relating to the administration of the judicial branch including provisions pertaining to shorthand reporters and the practice of law, and making appropriations.

Senate File 332: an Act related to the administration of the National Guard Educational Assistance Program.

Senate File 340: an Act relating to the length of on-duty periods and required rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles, and providing penalties.

Senate File 343: an Act authorizing tribal governments to establish a force of reserve peace officers.

Senate File 355: an Act relating to the regulation of vehicles of excessive size and weight, establishing fees, and providing penalties.

Senate File 362: an Act relating to the use of the term relative in child in need of assistance and termination of parental rights proceedings.

Senate File 380: an Act authorizing charitable auctions for alcoholic spirits.

Senate File 384: an Act relating to removing or attempting to remove a communication or control device from the possession of a peace officer or correctional officer, interference with official acts, and providing penalties.

Senate File 388: an Act relating to sponsor projects under the water resource restoration sponsor program.