Alexander Gray - Financial Advisor

08/29/2026

A personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine is showing promise in a late-stage melanoma trial.

Merck and Moderna said the individualized vaccine, paired with the existing immunotherapy Keytruda, significantly reduced the risk of cancer returning or spreading in high-risk melanoma patients whose cancer had been surgically removed.

Earlier Phase 2b data showed a 49% reduction in melanoma recurrence after surgery and a 59% reduction in the cancer spreading to distant organs.

The vaccine is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Regulators still need to review the full data once it has been collected and submitted.

For now, the results mark another step in the study of mRNA technology for cancer treatment.


Source:

Merck and Moderna announced Wednesday that a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine succeeded in a large, late-stage trial among patients with melanoma.

08/28/2026

U.S. credit card debt is approaching a record high.

Americans’ credit card balances reached $1.26 trillion in the second quarter, rising by $21 billion, according to new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

That puts credit card debt just below the all-time high of $1.28 trillion set late last year.

Strong consumer spending is one factor behind higher balances. Rising prices for essentials like groceries and gas may also be contributing.

Delinquencies remain a concern. The share of credit card balances more than 90 days delinquent rose from 7.6% to 12.8% from mid-2022 through early 2026.

Total U.S. household debt now stands at $18.8 trillion. Auto loan debt also reached a new high of $1.71 trillion.

For households, rising debt is a reminder that everyday expenses, interest rates, minimum payments, and emergency costs can all affect financial flexibility.


Source:

Americans' credit card debt reached $1.26 trillion, increasing by $21 billion in the second quarter of this year, according to new data.

08/26/2026

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08/25/2026

You're working, you're saving into your 401(k) plan, you're building your emergency fund. That's great, when is the last time you tested whether you're on track to retire?

Use the link below for a complimentary financial plan review!

Use this free tool to see how close you are to hitting your goals and to create a financial strategy. Request a consultation with a financial professional if you'd like to create a plan.

08/22/2026

Cell phone use has risen steadily, and the "where" may explain why.

08/20/2026

For decades, the focus was on accumulating. Saving, building, preparing. Retirement flips that dynamic.

Suddenly, the goal is to draw on what you’ve built, coordinate multiple income sources, and balance today’s spending with what’s ahead. Life expectancy data suggests many retirees may spend 20 or more years in this next chapter.

That’s not a footnote. It’s the whole story.

The early years of retirement are worth being intentional about. The routines you establish, the way you approach your time and your finances, tend to set the tone for what follows.

That’s something worth talking about.

Source
OECD Life Expectancy at Age 65, 2026

08/19/2026

One of the biggest changes in retirement isn’t financial. It’s social. Work provides structure, sure. But it also provides community. Colleagues, shared goals, and a reason to be somewhere at a specific time.

When that falls away, many retirees find themselves rebuilding their social lives from the ground up. Community groups, volunteer organizations, and new social circles often fill the gaps, but it takes time.

Research shows that more than one-quarter of adults age 65 and older volunteer each year. That’s not a coincidence. For many people, contributing to something larger is part of what makes retirement feel meaningful. If you’re navigating this transition, you’re not alone.

Source
AARP, May 28, 2025

08/18/2026

Many people are under the impression you need to have wealth in order to engage a Financial Advisor. In reality, working with a Financial Advisor may actually be the step you need to take to begin building wealth.

Use the link below for a complimentary analysis of your current Financial Plan!

Use this free tool to see how close you are to hitting your goals and to create a financial strategy. Request a consultation with a financial professional if you'd like to create a plan.

08/18/2026

The first year of retirement brings a shift that’s bigger than most people expect. Your schedule opens up.

Your income sources change.

The rhythms you’ve built over decades are replaced by something new and unwritten.

For many retirees, that first year is less a finish line and more a starting point. It’s a chance to experiment with routines, revisit long-postponed interests, and figure out what this next chapter actually looks like for you.

This week, we’re breaking down what that transition often looks like in real terms. Follow along for the full picture.