James Brown III - First Financial Group

10/18/2026

Property taxes too high? Here are ways to potentially lower your assessment.

For homeowners who think their property taxes are too high, there are ways to appeal.

10/15/2026

When was the last time you updated your will?

Preparing for the eventual distribution of your assets may not sound enticing. But a will puts the power in your hands.

10/13/2026

The choice of business structure is not a final decision. You may amend your business structure to your changing needs.

Entrepreneurs all face the same question, “Which business structure should I adopt?”

10/13/2026

Fidelity's 2025 wealth transfer study found that roughly 67 percent of parents age 55 and older have never told their adult children what they will inherit, or whether they will inherit anything at all.

About 33 percent would prefer the kids are kept in the dark about the amount.

Their reasons should feel familiar:

• Worry that a specific number will dampen a child's drive

• Discomfort talking about money at all

The same study found:

Most adult children say they are ready to handle whatever they inherit and would rather shape things while their parents are still around to explain the "why" behind decisions.

Families who have inheritance strategies share some similar habits:

• Kids know who the financial professionals are and how to reach them

• Everyone knows where the estate documents are

• They try to manage any surprises well ahead of time

So, do you tell your children or not? There's no single right answer here.

Sharing exact numbers isn't necessary, but most families find that a broad discussion can help with priorities and expectations.

10/11/2026

Have you ever had to deal with a "white elephant" inheritance? Learn how to avoid holding on to a burden in our latest article.

10/08/2026

If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles, and online accounts?

If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?

10/08/2026

Stocks finished the third quarter mixed. The S&P 500 gained 2.03%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.47%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 2.70%. Halloween is next on the calendar, with U.S. consumers expected to spend \$13.5 billion USD this year and 6.26 million Canadian children in their trick-or-treating years.

10/07/2026

What’s one financial decision you’ve made that helped you feel more prepared for your future?

For many of the people we work with, it’s not a single investment or product; it’s taking the time to create an overall strategy.

October is Financial Planning Month—which is all about how the pieces of your financial picture fit together to help pursue your financial goals.

It's about putting together a comprehensive approach that manages your investments and retirement, provides for your loved ones—all while staying flexible enough to adjust as things change.

If you’ve been meaning to update your strategy or to create one for the first time, it’s never too late to start.

10/06/2026

Settling an estate can be like putting together a puzzle. Make a cheat sheet for your heirs.

10/05/2026

Some financial decisions get a second chance. A handful don't.

• When you actually retire. In EBRI's 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, 46 percent of retirees left the workforce earlier than they expected.

• Stepping into a parent's finances. A 2026 Care.com report found sandwich-generation caregiving duties typically begin around age 34.

• Receiving an inheritance. Ohio State research found nearly one in five people who inherited $100,000 or more had spent or lost the entire amount within two years.

• Selling a business. For a typical owner, roughly 80 percent of their net worth is tied up in the business itself, per the Exit Planning Institute.

• Writing (or updating) a will. Only 24 percent of Americans currently have a will, down from 33 percent in 2022, according to Caring.com.

None of these moments announce themselves on schedule. The families who handle them well are usually the ones who started talking years before circumstances forced their hand.