It's that time of year again when the calendar seems to speed up as Dec 31st approaches. Of course there's lots of holiday spirit and fun in the meantime, but year-end also brings financial deadlines that can be stressful. Let's take a few minutes to review some of the bigger ones from my perspective. Leveraging capital gains… Consider your spending needs. Do you need to generate cash for monthly spending into next year or do you have a large expense coming up? I…

Things are busy here this Thanksgiving week and I'm sure the same is true for you. Lots going on and lots to think about. Still, I often quip that, "all my problems are good problems", and it's true; family, friends, clients, projects, hopes and dreams, etc, all vying for time. But who can complain about that? I'd rather have too much than not enough and I'm thankful for all I have, all we have, and for a future full of possibility. On that note I want to wish you…

It seems like more now than ever how the economy is doing depends on who you ask. People with assets like houses and stocks have been saying they’re doing well even if many are worried about the health of the republic. The wealth effect (the psychological boost from rising asset prices) is in full force for affluent folks. This shows up in consumer surveys and spending on categories like premium seats on flights, fancier cabins on cruises, and “sustainable luxury”…

Good morning. There’s news on this Veterans Day that the government shutdown could be coming to an end. Let’s be hopeful because, among other reasons, as of last week we’ve blown past the record for the longest shutdown in our history. This holiday reminds us that we helped end WWI, so we ought to be able to run a government. Besides that, the day also calls us to remember those who served in the armed forces. Thank you for your service.  On to this week's post…

The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for benefits beginning in January 2026. This is up from the 2.5% increase for 2025 but lower than the longer-term average of 3.1%. This 2.8% COLA will bring the average monthly Social Security benefit to $2,071 for an individual and $3,208 for a couple. SSA’s COLA is based on a particular version of the consumer price index, CPI-W, generated by the US Bureau of Labor Statisti…

There are a variety of things percolating this morning. I’ll share some below, although there’s no clear throughline. The Federal Reserve meets again this week for another decision on its short-term interest rate benchmark. As I type there’s a 99% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction. Then there’s a 94% chance of another quarter-point reduction at the Fed’s last 2025 meeting in December. Odds of further reductions even out quickly into the new year, but three…