Your share in a mutual fund represents one piece of all the fund’s holdings. As the value of the securities in the mutual fund fluctuates, so does the fund’s share value, although the volatility of a mutual fund is generally less than that of the individual securities that make up the mutual fund.

Mutual funds:

• Are professionally managed so you don’t have to worry about selecting the investments within the mutual fund.
• Are liquid investments that may be conveniently bought or sold any day the market is open. Share prices are determined by the value of the underlying securities in the mutual fund as of the close of the market at the end of the day.
• May be held within a retirement account, such as a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA.

Our registered representatives have access to many different mutual fund families, including:

• Diversification does not assure a profit and is not a guarantee against loss.
• Consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks, including the potential loss of principal. For this and other information about the investment company, obtain a prospectus from your Modern Woodmen representative. Read it carefully before you invest or pay money.

A brokerage account may appeal to investors who want to:

• Invest in individual securities, like stocks and bonds.
• Consolidate mutual funds held with multiple mutual fund families.
• Consolidate different types of investments within one account.
• Have a comprehensive asset management account that combines your brokerage, check-writing, money market fund and Visa debit card activity into one package and reported to you on a single consolidated statement.

Brokerage accounts are established through Pershing, LLC, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon.

Here are some reasons why you may want to use a 529 plan for your college savings goals:

• Depending on the state you reside in and the plan you enroll in, your contributions may qualify for a state income tax deduction.
• Any earnings will grow tax-deferred.
• Withdrawals used to pay for qualified educational expenses may be received income-tax free.
• Many can be started with as little as $25 a month.
• Money may be transferred from one eligible family member to another eligible family member without experiencing any adverse tax consequences.

Some of the possible income tax benefits include:

• Income tax-deductible employer contributions.
• The employer may qualify for an income tax credit of up to $500 per year for the first three years of the plan.
• Pretax employee contributions.
• After-tax Roth employee contributions have the potential for income tax-free withdrawals after attaining age 59½.*
• 401(k) plans are usually invested in mutual funds, so each plan participant will have the ability to decide the level of risk he/she is willing to accept to achieve savings goals.
• 401(k) plans are available for businesses of all sizes, including the self-employed.

Employee salary deferral contribution limits** 

*The Roth 401(k) permits participants to take qualified distributions tax-free if withdrawn after five years of first Roth 401(k) contributions and attainment of age 59½, death or disability. Nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty, and the earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to income taxes. Tax issues involving Roth 401(k)s can be complex. Please consult with your tax or legal advisor before making any decisions.

**These amounts are subject to indexing by the Internal Revenue Service and may increase in the future.