James A Moore - Advisory Services - Planning Alliance

06/11/2026

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that a significant share of the world's oil, fuel, and industrial goods passes through, has been in a state of constant uncertainty for months.

Open. Closed. Threatened. Partially reopened. The back-and-forth has been constant, and every shift sends a ripple through energy prices, supply chains, and markets worldwide.

When nobody knows what tomorrow looks like, uncertainty becomes the rule. This kind of on-again-off-again volatility is often harder for markets to price than a straightforward crisis.

The lesson for everyday investors isn't to track every headline. It's to make sure your financial plan wasn't built assuming the world would stay calm because it rarely does for long. Guaranteed income, genuine diversification, and a long-term framework serve as practical financial protections against a world that doesn't move in straight lines.

If recent volatility has you second-guessing your strategy, let’s have a conversation.

06/08/2026

Markets continued their upward climb in May, supported by strong technology performance, positive economic data, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The Nasdaq gained 8.36%, the S&P 500 rose 5.15%, and Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 2.37%, while investors welcomed better-than-expected job growth and upbeat corporate earnings. With the Fed's next meeting scheduled for June, attention is turning to updated economic projections and what they may signal about the broader economy. From \$24 billion spent on Father's Day to the popularity of dining out and special outings, this month's by-the-numbers highlights how families celebrate the dads in their lives.

Jamie has specialized in Lifetime Growth and Protection planning for families and business owners since 1995. His proficient use of The Living Balance Sheet® gives his clients a simple and expertly designed tool to ensure they are addressing all the key factors needed to obtain personal and busines...

06/05/2026

I'd like to revisit a topic I posted about earlier in the week involving the false sense of security some pre-retirees and retirees experience with respect to Medicare; specifically, the out-of-pocket costs that many people don't account for in their planning.

Here's the breakdown of retiree health care spending:

- 39% on Medicare Part B & D premiums
- 44% on copays, coinsurance & deductibles
- 17% on prescriptions

That 44% is what retirement budgets have a tendency to overlook. It's also where supplemental insurance like Medigap can make a real difference.

For around $148/month, Medigap helps cover the aforementioned out-of-pocket costs Medicare doesn't.

I'll be the first to say that supplemental coverage isn't right for everyone but it is worth a conversation.

06/02/2026

Health care is one of the top concerns I hear from clients planning for retirement and it's understandable.

The average American spent $12,555 on health care in 2022. That's a per person statistic. If that isn't enough to grab your attention, consider that health care costs don't stop when your paycheck does.

What about Medicare? Sometimes, this is the client follow-up question. If you're within 10 years of retirement, here's a quick Medicare primer worth knowing:

Part A: This covers hospital care. It's free if you've worked 10+ years
Part B: This covers doctor visits. It costs around $175/month for most people
Part D: This covers prescriptions. It is often $0 for mid-income retirees

But Medicare doesn't cover everything. Copays, deductibles, dental, and vision can add up catching many retirees off guard and off balance with respect to retirement budgeting.

Planning ahead makes all the difference.

05/29/2026

Did you know 70% of family businesses won't survive to the next generation without a succession plan?

This article from Advertising Specialty Institute was included in my latest newsletter. It breaks down 5 practical steps to help business owners protect what they have built.

What do you consider the most actionable step?

In this course on the ASI Learning Network, Jeannette Rhodunda of ASI discusses important moves small-businesses owners should make to prepare firms for their next phase.

05/27/2026

As another Disability Insurance Awareness Month comes to a close, it’s a good time to revisit a foundational principle that, IMO, doesn't get the attention it deserves.

The Living Balance Sheet's 15 Financial Rules to Live By are organized with intentionality and purpose. Protection comes first. Here’s why:

There's no point building for tomorrow if you haven't protected yourself against what might happen today. That includes protecting income.

A disability event that sidelines your income for even a few years can permanently alter your savings and retirement trajectories. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Protection isn't a preliminary step you check off and move on from. It's the foundation the entire plan rests on.

If it's been a while since you've reviewed your disability coverage, make a plan to have that conversation.

Financial guidance for who you are and where you are in life.

05/25/2026

No matter what your plans are for today, let's always remember what this day is truly about. This Memorial Day, keep in your minds and hearts the servicemembers who gave their lives for this country as well as their loved ones.

05/20/2026

One of my LinkedIn connections, Lesley Bl**er with Aging Advisors, shared this Kiplinger article with me. The article introduces readers to a 73-year-old woman whose husband has been diagnosed with early-stage dementia. She has important questions:

How do I protect our savings?
How do I plan for long-term care?
What legal documents do we need in place?

The answers to those questions impact all families, all Americans. From durable power of attorney and account structuring to long-term care planning and modeling cash flow and survivor benefits, the article puts a spotlight on why goes far beyond investment returns.

I'm so worried about scams. And how should I structure our finances, estate and his long-term care?

05/15/2026

Many financial plans do a great job answering two questions:

“What if I live a long time?”

“What if I don’t live as long as expected?”

The question plans commonly forget to ask is somewhere in the middle:

"What if I’m here … but my income stopped and I can’t save for the future?"

That middle space is where income protection often plays an important role.

Disability insurance is designed to help replace a portion of income if illness or injury makes it difficult to work.

It helps create breathing room during an unexpected interruption, allowing savings and retirement strategies to stay intact instead of being used as a short-term workaround.

Basically, planning works best when all the “what ifs” are considered.

05/12/2026

Mother's Day just passed. Shout out to all the moms once again. And if the mom you know is also a business owner, what I’m about to share isn’t going to feel like something worth celebrating:

Female business owners pay more for disability insurance than men.

This is mainly due to gender-based pricing models. That’s a topic for another day.

The topic I want to talk about today is one that gives women business owners a workaround to adding disability protection to their financial portfolio. It's called Multi-Life DI.

By adding even two employees to a disability policy, a female business owner may gain access to:

- Unisex rates

- A multi-life discount

- Potential policy savings of thousands per year while covering the team

Now, this is something worth celebrating. If you know someone who could benefit from this, please tag them in the comments.