Fox Financial - Bradford, PA

11/17/2025

⏰ The end of the year presents unique opportunities for financial strategy decisions.

Here are a few smart moves to consider before December 31 that could make a real difference. According to Plancorp’s Ultimate Checklist:

✅ Use the IRS Withholding Estimator to see if you might need to make a final estimated payment by January 15
✅ Consider rebalancing your portfolio and exploring tax-loss harvesting before December 31
✅ Review your FSA contributions. Remember, FSAs may be “use it or lose it”
✅ Consider boosting your college savings while making the most of the annual gift exclusion

Year-end preparation isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about making small, timely moves that can have a lasting impact.

Taking an hour now can help you start 2026 confident and prepared.

💡 If any of these ideas create some interest—or if you have some of your own—we might be able to provide you with additional information. But we would encourage you to check in with your tax, legal, or accounting professional before making any changes.

11/14/2025

🚨 It could cost you $290,000/year to give your loved one 24/7 home care.

If you have a family member over the age of 75, this reality may already be on your mind.

63 million Americans are now caregivers, which is up 45 percent in 10 years.

The stats are brutal:
▪️ 1 in 4 caregivers go into debt or raid retirement accounts
▪️ The average caregiver works 27 hours/week (unpaid)
▪️ Medicare covers nursing homes for just 100 days max
▪️ Half of those under 50 are caring for aging parents and raising kids

What families who navigate this successfully do differently:
✅ Have the money conversation before the crisis hits
✅ Get power of attorney and healthcare directives sorted now
✅ Run actual care cost calculators (not wishful thinking)
✅ Understand what insurance actually covers (spoiler: not much)

"The new inheritance isn't money for your kids—it's having enough to cover long-term care."

Whether it's you or someone you know, don't wait for the emergency room call to start preparing.

What's your biggest concern about having to care for an aging parent?

11/13/2025

11/11/2025

Today, we honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform.

The courage, sacrifice, and selflessness of our veterans protect the freedoms we often take for granted.

Their service is a powerful reminder of what it means to put others before oneself.

Today, and every day, we are deeply grateful.

11/05/2025

11/04/2025

🏥 Preparing for health and care needs is one of personal finance's most important and often overlooked parts.

According to the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey:
✨ Home health aide: $77,800 per year (+3 percent from 2023)
✨ Homemaker services: $75,500 per year (+10 percent)
✨ Assisted living: $70,800 annually (+10 percent)
✨ Nursing home, semi-private room: $111,325 per year (+7 percent)
✨ Nursing home, private room: $127,750 per year (+9 percent)

These are sobering numbers, but they highlight an opportunity: the earlier families begin preparing, the more options and flexibility they may have.

This month reminds us of the value of preparing not only for retirement from a lifestyle perspective, but also for the possibility of care needs along the way.

A thoughtful approach today might help preserve independence, protect assets, and ease the burden on loved ones tomorrow.

10/29/2025

📅 Many of you will start getting notices about benefit open enrollment for 2026 soon.

Don't just put your benefits on autopilot!

Here are a few suggestions:

✓ Review last year's actual healthcare spend in-network and out-of-network, and deductibles

✓ Check if your doctors are still in-network for 2026

✓ Factor in any life changes: new baby, chronic conditions, planned procedures

✓ Consider an FSA to use pre-tax dollars for healthcare expenses. In 2026, the maximum annual contribution limit is $7,500

✓ Consider the pros and cons of HSA-eligible high-deductible plans

Remember: The cheapest premium isn't always the best financial choice, and the most expensive plan isn't always necessary.

What questions do you have about making smart benefits decisions that align with your financial goals?

Once you start Medicare, you can no longer contribute pretax dollars to your health savings account (HSA). Any money withdrawn from your HSA for nonmedical reasons is considered taxable income and faces an additional 20% penalty. This penalty is void after the age of 65; however, it will still become taxable income.

10/23/2025

🍼 Did you know the new tax law creates a federally backed investment account—the “Trump Account”—for every American baby born between 2025 and 2028?

🤔 FAQs:

Q: When does this start?
A: The program launches in 2026, with funds accumulating tax-deferred until your child turns 18.

Q: What does a new baby get automatically?
A: Each eligible newborn receives a one-time government contribution of $1,000 to start the account.

Q: Can you contribute more than the $1,000?
A: Yes! Parents, relatives, employers, and others can contribute up to $5,000 per year per child. Starting in 2028, this amount adjusts for inflation.

Q: Where is the money invested?
A: Investment earnings grow tax-deferred. Money is invested in a diversified index of U.S. stocks for potential long-term growth.

Many details remain uncertain, such as who will administer the accounts, how to open them, and how parents will be notified.

💡 Bottom line: This is worth paying attention, but stay tuned as many operational details are still being finalized!

10/20/2025

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

10/20/2025

Charitable giving is about generosity but can also have tax considerations.

Here are three approaches to review as the giving season approaches:

1️⃣ Donate appreciated assets
Consider giving long-term appreciated assets instead of cash. You might be able to manage capital gains taxes.

2️⃣ Use a donor-advised fund (DAF)
A donor-advised fund (DAF) lets you give now, perhaps take a deduction, and distribute the money to charities later, offering flexibility and tax efficiency.

3️⃣ Consider bunching donations into a single tax year
If you don’t itemize every year, consider “bunching” several years’ worth of donations into one.

Charitable giving can be one of the most rewarding parts of year-end preparation. If you want to be both generous and strategic, let’s talk.

Some donor-advised funds are considered mutual funds and are sold only by prospectus. The prospectus will provide information on charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives and should be reviewed carefully before investing. Investment companies can provide a prospectus, or you may prefer to ask a financial professional. Please read it carefully before you invest or send money.

10/10/2025

What if you received a call from a number that looked like a family member’s, only to hear them sobbing, claiming to have been in a car crash?

That’s what happened to a Florida mother this summer who received a frantic call from her daughter, saying she’d been in a car accident and needed bail money.

Convinced it was real, the mother wired $15,000. Only later did she learn the entire thing was a scam. The voice had been cloned using AI, according to News 6 in Knoxville, TN.

Scams like this are getting harder to detect.

According to the FCC, criminals are now using AI-generated voices, robocalls, and texts to impersonate loved ones, bank reps, and public figures.

Here’s how to help protect yourself and your family:

⚠️ Pause before responding to urgent requests based solely on a voice or text, even if it sounds familiar

⚠️ If a loved one claims to be in trouble, contact them directly through a number you know

⚠️ Be skeptical of videos or messages from public figures asking for purchases or donations—many are deepfakes

Cybercriminals are weaponizing emotion, trust, and familiarity.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month isn’t just about protecting passwords. It’s about staying alert at all times!