BW Insights (28)

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week Two Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.22.2021

With the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, this was a short week for lawmakers. On Wednesday, Senate Education Committee Chair Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) introduced two of the governor’s priority education bills. SSB 1064 would require all public and private schools to offer 100% in-person instruction for students. Schools would also be... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week One Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.17.2021

The legislature convened for the 89th General Assembly Monday, welcoming 26 newly-elected lawmakers to the statehouse. With Republicans maintaining their majority in the Senate and expanding it in the House, the GOP will continue driving the state’s policy agenda for the next two years. In his opening remarks, House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New... Read More

Year-End COVID Relief Legislation Becomes Law During the Holidays

By Christopher Nuss | 12.30.2020

This past Sunday evening (December 27), President Trump signed into law additional COVID-19 relief legislation, agreed to by Congress a week earlier, estimated at $900 billion as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Much of the relief comes in the form of tax provisions, known as the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act (the Act), the... Read More

2020 NAIC Fall Meeting Summary

By BrownWinick | 12.22.2020

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) held its final 2020 meeting virtually over four days: 12/2-4 and 12/7-9. Following the activist agenda from the Summer meeting, this meeting was unremarkable. New officers were elected, and a few issues were decided but overall, it was non-controversial. 2020 NAIC Fall Meeting Summary Some... Read More

BrownWinick Serves as Supporter Organization for United Way 21-Day Equity Challenge

By BrownWinick | 12.09.2020

BrownWinick recently concluded its participation in United Way of Central Iowa’s 21-Day Equity Challenge. The Challenge, which took place from October 5 to November 2, served as a self-guided program in which participants were encouraged to engage in group discussion, explore ways to take action, and launch a lifelong commitment to improving... Read More

How the 2020 Presidential Election Could Impact Your Succession Plan

By Robert Hodges | 12.08.2020

Like many other things this year, uncertainty reigns supreme for tax planning as we approach the end of 2020. Barring successful litigation by President Trump’s legal team, the Biden-Harris Administration will assume control of the executive branch of the Federal Government in early 2021. With that said, the focus for tax planning is control of... Read More

IRS Launches Centralized Partnership Audit Website

By William Daniel | 11.19.2020

The IRS recently launched the website for the Bipartisan Budget Act Centralized Partnership Audit Regime (often referred to as “BBA”). This website is intended to be the location for all information related to BBA, including regulations, electronic submission forms, how to elect out of BBA, and what can generally be expected during a BBA... Read More

Center for Economic Justice Pleads Its Case for Overhauling the Life Insurance and Annuity Illustrations

By BrownWinick | 11.18.2020

At the November 10th, 2020 Life Insurance and Annuities “A” Committee meeting, Center for Economic Justice’s (CEJ) Executive Director Birny Birnbaum got another 20 minutes of airtime claiming, “Life insurance and annuity illustrations obscure instead of explaining, the operation of the policy or contract.” He reviewed a lengthy presentation during... Read More

“Spooky” Halloween Pumpkins

By BrownWinick | 11.09.2020

BrownWinick’s Charity Committee is thinking outside the box due to COVID to help non-profit organizations during this difficult time. So we put our heads together and came up with a more creative way to support one of our chosen non-profit organizations – Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa. The Pumpkin Decorating Contest was all VIRTUAL, with 1st, 2nd... Read More

Mark Cady Day of Public Service