Sonder Wealth Advisors

11/03/2026

Stock options can be a valuable part of your compensation—but exercising them without a plan can create unexpected tax bills or add to your financial risk.

Before you exercise, consider four things: 💰 Cash required, 🧾 Tax impact, ⏳ Your timeline, and 📊 How much of your wealth is tied to your company.

The right move depends on *your* goals, not your coworker’s strategy.

11/03/2026

One investment gained 270 percent in the first five months of 2026. Two months later, it gave back 67 percent. 😳

Why do smart people chase numbers like that? Psychologist Daniel Kahneman said it best: "Stories trump statistics." 🧠

A hot streak always comes with a story. The story is what sells. The math is what stings.

Riches to rags is an old pattern, and so is the reverse. When a return looks too good to be true, give the story the same scrutiny you'd give the number.

If a market headline has your attention, run it past us before it runs your portfolio. 💬

11/02/2026

The Fed held interest rates steady in October, but not everyone agreed with the decision.

After raising rates in September, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate at 3.75% to 4%. Two officials voted for another quarter-point increase.

What's behind the disagreement?

The economy continues to grow, consumer spending remains strong, and unemployment is relatively low. But inflation remains above the Fed's 2% target, with consumer prices rising 3.7% over the past year.

For consumers, the decision matters because the Fed's benchmark rate influences borrowing costs for credit cards, auto loans, and other types of debt. It can also affect interest earned on savings accounts.

Economists are now watching the Fed's December meeting for signs of another possible increase. For now, rates are holding steady, but the inflation debate is far from over.

The U.S. central bank left borrowing costs unchanged this month after hiking rates in September for the first time in three years.

11/02/2026

How many years before you are ready to be “retired?”

It’s one of the most important numbers yet.

TIAA’s 2026 longevity literacy research found that workers who expect a shorter retirement save less consistently than those who expect a longer one.

That makes sense, but it also means the people who assume their retirement will be short are the same ones who may be building portfolios with shorter time horizons.

Once someone has already reached 65, the numbers shift. According to Social Security Administration data:

📌 A 65-year-old man has roughly a 24 percent chance of living past 90

📌 A 65-year-old woman’s chances are higher, closer to 35 percent

📌 For a 65-year-old married couple, there is about a 50 percent chance that at least one spouse lives past 90

The practical implication is not “assume you will live to 100.”

It’s that a retirement income strategy built around the “average lifespan” often assumes a person will die on schedule. Most people do not.

If retirement is on your horizon, the question to ask is, “What happens to my income strategy if I live to 95?”

10/29/2026

Smart investing isn’t just about knowing the market. It’s about knowing yourself.

📈 Chasing the highs and reacting to the lows can derail even the best-laid plans. The goal isn’t to predict every market move—it’s to build a strategy you can stick with when emotions run high.

Follow for more practical wealth planning insights, or reach out and let’s start building your wealth strategy together.

10/27/2026

What a pleasure it was to once again hit the links in support of St. Mary’s School! Chad and Mike took to the course on a gorgeous autumn day for the annual golf benefitting the SMS Knights. We are proud to once again be this year’s title sponsor for an incredible event, and a key part in raising funds for an amazing school!

10/27/2026

Trust & Will’s 2026 Estate Planning Report found that 56 percent of adults don’t have core documents in place, including:

📝 A will: who gets what, and who is in charge of making it happen

🏥 A healthcare directive (or living will): what you want if you cannot speak for yourself

✍️ Two powers of attorney, one for medical decisions and one for financial decisions, each naming a specific person

📄 A letter of instruction: the practical map to where accounts live, who your professionals are, and what your kids or pets need

The friction is that estate work forces a family to sit with mortality, name specific people for specific roles, and make decisions that feel too permanent to rush.

Without something in writing, though, families are left improvising during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Most say they fully intend to get to it, but too many put it off until it’s too late.

Don’t put it off. Talk to a financial professional who can help.

10/26/2026

💳 Carrying a credit card balance is becoming more common among Gen Z, even as other generations are moving in the opposite direction.

A Deloitte and ConsumerSignals survey found that the share of adults ages 18 to 29 carrying a balance from month to month rose more than 19% between late 2023 and mid-2026. Over that same period, the share declined among every other adult generation.

And with average credit card interest rates around 21% in August, those balances can become expensive.

For younger adults juggling housing costs, student loans, and everyday expenses, there's another challenge: deciding how to balance paying off debt with saving for the future.

High-interest debt can make it harder to build emergency savings or contribute toward long-term goals. But factors such as interest rates, available savings, and workplace retirement benefits can all influence which financial priorities deserve attention.

The important takeaway? A credit card balance isn't just about what you owe today. It's also about how interest may affect what you have available tomorrow.

Deloitte finds the share of Gen Z borrowers carrying credit card balances rose nearly 20% from Q3 2023 to Q2 2026.

10/26/2026

Two people. The exact same portfolio. Two completely different retirements. How?

It’s not the number on your statements, it’s what you want your wealth to do—whether that’s travel, family, healthcare, lifestyle, or leaving a legacy.

🔑 The portfolio funds the plan. The plan drives the portfolio.

Stay tuned for more practical retirement planning insights, or schedule a complimentary meeting to start building your strategy today. https://lnkd.in/gVQkqhDh

10/23/2026

We could not have asked for a brighter, more beautiful autumn day for our official ribbon cutting ceremony at the new West Hartford office! Thank you to the West Hartford Chamber for their support, and to our clients, friends and family for coming out to cheer and celebrate with us 🥂

More photos to come from our open house, stay tuned!