Jason M. Bowers, RICP, CDFA

11/03/2026

This Monthly Recap summarizes market performance, major events, and news from October 2026. Read more here:

October was volatile for equities. Both the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 reached new all-time highs but closing the month well below their…

11/02/2026

Last week’s sell-off raised new questions about the market outlook. This week on , Brian Klimke breaks down what drove the weakness in tech stocks, why investors are focused on earnings guidance over headline results, and how key economic data, geopolitics, and the midterm elections could shape markets in the days ahead.

“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...

10/28/2026

Before you start sending an extra $3,000 a month toward your mortgage — run this calculation first.

What does that $3,000 a month become if it goes into a diversified portfolio instead? And what does that portfolio deliver as a monthly retirement paycheck seven years from now?

For the majority of pre-retirees, the answer is the same: the paycheck that invested money generates in retirement is larger than the mortgage payment itself.

The mortgage is $2,500 a month. The portfolio produces $3,000 a month. The mortgage gets paid. There is $500 left over every month for the rest of retirement.

Everybody can sustain a mortgage in retirement when there is a plan in place to do it. And for most people, the plan that invests instead of pays down produces the better financial outcome.

The math has to come before the decision.

▶️ Watch the full breakdown on YouTube:
📅 Book a complimentary session: calendly.com/jason-bowers-zio7/60-minute-virtual-meeting

10/27/2026

Most people assume eliminating a mortgage before retirement means writing a large check from their savings.

There’s a strategy most pre-retirees bring up in passing — and almost never implement.

If you’ve been in your home for 15 to 20 years, you’ve likely built substantial equity. The kids are grown. You’re maintaining a four or five bedroom home you no longer need. The mortgage balance has dropped significantly.

The move: downsize intentionally.

Sell the home. Purchase something smaller — maybe move from a three-story home to a rancher — using only the equity. The mortgage is gone completely. Your savings, your portfolio, and your retirement liquidity stay fully intact.

No savings drained. No sequence of returns risk. No financial vulnerability entering the most critical window of retirement.

This is one of the cleanest moves in retirement planning — and most people never act on it.

▶️ Watch the full breakdown on YouTube:
📅 Book a complimentary session: calendly.com/jason-bowers-zio7/60-minute-virtual-meeting

10/26/2026

Who you gonna call? This week, CIO Gene Goldman is joined by two very special guests as he suits up for Halloween with his baby twins in a Ghostbusters-inspired edition of .
Beyond the costumes, Gene breaks down the biggest event on investors’ radar: the upcoming Fed meeting. Will policymakers hold rates steady, signal a December hike, or surprise markets? Tune in as he explores inflation trends, Fed messaging, and the key signals investors should be watching this week.

“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...

10/23/2026

The AI trade isn't ending. It's expanding. Cetera's latest commentary examines what's driving the recent selloff, where they see opportunities emerging, and why staying invested still matters.

The AI trade isn't ending. It's expanding. Our latest commentary examines what's driving the recent selloff, where we see opportunities emerging, and why…

10/19/2026

Read the latest issue of Financial Watch here:

You can do everything right online and still end up on a spreadsheet you never agreed to be part of. In this month's Financial Watch, learn how to respond…

10/19/2026

Earnings season takes center stage this week. Brian Klimke breaks down what investors should watch, including corporate guidance, earnings revisions, market breadth, and the latest signals from Cetera's weekly chartbook.

“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...

10/14/2026

Read the latest issue of Retire Wise here:

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and for retirees and near-retirees, that awareness matters more than most people realize. Scammers increasingly…

10/14/2026

Phenomenal perspective from the team at Convergent Financial Partners.