Blog—December 31, 2024--It’s Your Business-9-10—

We closed out 2024----answering thoughts on this year---and looking ahead to 2025—with 4 very interesting, and projects we promise to watch looking ahead.

First guest----Tyler Tordsen---Sioux Metro Alliance---while many brag about Sioux Falls—and rightly so----I kind of favor when is going on with small communities working together. Tyler knows what it takes—he knows how to entice communities to join the party.

We know that Jodi Schwan is involved---she does a great job----we know the TV Stations are happy to put them on for dollars and cents-----but we haven’t charged Sioux Metro Alliance to get the notoriety our It’s YOUR Business Show gives them 8 times a week if necessary.

I do tell the Mayor and others from Sioux Falls—how proud we are of what they are doing----keep up the great work. But the friendly rural communities that come together is another story---we should be very, very proud of.

We will help----we will ask---and we will help where we can. I look for even a better year in 2025.

This movement is well started---but in the scheme of things—this could be a part of clustered of communities everywhere. I guess I look at this like the work I did as “Man in Motion” in the Texas Panhandle—where I convinced 40 communities to buy their own TV cameras or recording devises and tell their stories. It turned out to be such a big deal---ABC asks me to write articles to help other TV stations to do the same. By the time I finished with KVII-TV in Amarillo---we had gone from a 7% share of the news audience to 70% share. Those numbers were legendary-even in Texas---but small communities got their due---and TV stations here could use Sioux Metro Alliance to do something like that in the years ahead.

9:19---in the show Gary Popkes and Cameo Anders---Plains Commerce Bank gave us some last minute must go things before the clock strike 2025. It is the last day to sell securities to capture any benefits of tax-loss harvesting. You are encouraged to review conversations from Thanksgiving and Christmas—and yes update your estate plan.

Consider end of the year giving—although it may be too late to capture any charitable giving for this year-needing a postmark by December 31st---it is a prime time to think about how to be wise with your money for next year.

IRA QCD’s (qualified charitable distributions---the may count towards your required minimum distribution (RMD) up to $105,000. Pay directly from your IRA to the charity.

Another tool that works wells is a Donor Advised Fund—for example—if you had a donor advised fund and you reached the end of the year wanting to make a significant gift, but not all to the same place or all at once, you can receive the charitable deduction when you give to the fund, but then make charitable distributions to your favorite charities—thru the next year.

Another great tool for charitable giving is a trust—Trusts don’t have the same limitations on charitable giving—they may give you a bit more control over how the charity spends your gift.

Planning is important whether it be newly-weds, senior citizens, organizations or business. Gary and Cameo help us share ideas with you on a regular basis.

Casey Crabtree—talked with us what to expect in the 2025—Legislative Session that is not that far away—now that January 2025 is with us—though just being born. We work with the Leader as we talk about the Legislative session----before, during and after. We want you to listen to what Casey’s says are 3 priorities for the legislature in the 2025 session. We know there will be a new Governor---Larry Rhoden----new leadership ---who makes the initial speeches Rhoden or Noem? Still to be decided and announced. What will be the issues---will there be a new Lt Governor----

We asked Casey’s what the average South Dakotan is asking him----and what they are fearful for. What about the new President in DC---even though South Dakota fell for the lines from the Former President—Hook-Line-and Sinker--- what will DC throw at State like South Dakota, the Senior Citizens, the Businesses, and yes Agriculture. It is still to be determined---and with Noem and Senator Thune having leadership in he Nation’s Capital---will it make a difference? Listen—watch---and keep track---they have or still are working for you---let them know how you are doing with the changes from the Blue States to the Red States.

We’ll be talking with two new leaders in 2025—in the Senate---Jim Mehlhaff and Chris Karr. They are a welcome addition to our conversation with Pierre—and we hope to have them on as early as Monday to talk about 2025.

Final guest in our 2024 show finale---new Sioux Falls Health Director Joe Kippley. We know the Kippley’s----and the know us----health-wise—Joe has kept us informed monthly or more as necessary. Health care is important in not only 2024 but 2025---

Sioux Falls is a growing community, it serves as regional medical, educational, and metro center. We want to make sure that 2025---continues on—and if our audience wants a question answered—we’ll do our best to go to those that can voice their thoughts around it.

Our It’s YOUR Business Show—is available live at 1320, 105.1, 107.9—use the KELO-App---Streaming on line or just ask Alexa.

Norm Anderson will post the show’s podcast—as soon as possible-----my job is to write this blog—to give you information about what is in the show---and generally where it is in the hour. Most of the Blogs are written chronologically ---giving you a chance to know where it is. The Blog gives you times a running order too.

Questions for me—feel free to call/text at 605-728-BILL (2455) or email me at bill.zortman@mwcradio.com. Happy New Year to you and the best from all of us in 2025.