The holidays have a way of sneaking up on our wallets. One gift turns into five, a quick grocery run turns into a holiday party haul, and suddenly the season that should feel joyful comes with a credit card bill that lingers well into the new year.
Most estate planning conversations focus on the person leaving the assets. However, I often meet clients on the other side of that equation: they are in their 20s or 30s, or even 50s or early 60s, and suddenly become the beneficiary of their parent’s IRA or 401(k).
Last month, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time this cycle. October’s data showed why the Fed is staying cautious and why the path ahead is more complicated. Inflation rose in September, largely due to energy prices, while hiring slowed noticeably. The 10-year Treasury yield crossed 5%. Through it all, corporate earnings have held up, with companies’ summer-quarter results off to a strong start. Here’s what changed as the fourth quarter got underway and what we’re watching through year-end.
This article walks through the three pieces of that answer: setting a target number, mapping your income against your expenses, and stress-testing the plan against the things you can’t predict. It’s general education, not a personalized recommendation; your retirement readiness depends on your specific circumstances, and only a fiduciary advisor can build an answer for your life, not an average one.
Architecting scalable, proximate capital ecosystems to unlock capital markets and expand direct access to investment opportunities
Net worth isn’t a comparison scoreboard, just a simple snapshot: what you own minus what you owe. This article shows you how to calculate it correctly and explains why it’s a more honest measure of progress than income alone.
