Bertram Financial

10/12/2026

📊 What could the 2026 midterm elections mean for the markets? And what’s changing with Medicare in 2027?

Markets don’t just react to economic data. They react to uncertainty, too.

Historically, the S&P 500 has averaged a 3.8% gain during U.S. midterm election years, compared with 10.9% during the other years of a presidential term. Yet, as of September 2, 2026, the S&P 500 was already up 11.48%.

History also shows an average 16.3% market return in the 12 months following midterm elections. Of course, past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, but understanding historical trends can help investors keep things in perspective.

💡 Looking beyond market volatility

Dividend-style income is another area worth exploring. Traditional dividends can be reduced or eliminated during difficult economic periods, making it important to understand the risks and features of any income strategy before investing.

🏥 What about Medicare in 2027?

New CMS projections point to some notable changes:
• Average Medicare Advantage premiums are expected to fall by more than 16%.
• Average prescription drug premiums within Medicare Advantage plans are projected to decline by 38%.
• Some insurers are reducing plan offerings in certain markets, despite lower projected average premiums.

With Medicare Open Enrollment running from **October 15 through December 7**, now is a good time to review your coverage and understand your options for the year ahead.

The takeaway? Whether you're navigating market uncertainty, exploring income strategies, or reviewing healthcare coverage, staying informed and making decisions based on your individual needs can make a meaningful difference.

Have questions about Medicare, health insurance before age 65, or retirement income strategies? Our team is here to help you understand your options.

📩 Reach out to start the conversation!

10/05/2026

5% on the 10-year Treasury. Higher oil prices. AI optimism. Data center backlash.

There’s a lot happening in the markets right now.

Last week, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield pushed above the psychologically important 5% level, putting pressure on equities. Then optimism around AI and other market factors helped stocks bounce back.

At the same time, higher oil prices are adding another layer of uncertainty.

The bigger question isn’t simply, Where is the market going next?”

It’s:

Is your portfolio prepared for multiple outcomes?

AI continues to create enormous opportunities, but the concentration of investment around a relatively small group of companies deserves attention. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of data centers is creating economic growth while also raising concerns around energy costs, infrastructure, and local communities.

That’s the interesting part of today’s market:

The same trend can create opportunity and risk at the same time.

And for people approaching or already in retirement, managing that risk matters even more.

# # # Strategy Spotlight

Before automatically renewing that CD, take a step back.

Higher rates can look attractive today, but locking money in for another year may not always be the best long-term strategy.

There are life insurance strategies designed to provide:

• Market-linked growth potential
• Protection from market losses, depending on the policy
• Liquidity after applicable surrender periods
• An alternative to simply leaving cash in traditional savings or CDs

The right strategy depends on your goals, timeline, and overall financial picture.

The goal isn't to predict the next market move. It's to build a financial plan that can adapt when the market does.

09/29/2026

Is the AI boom creating a new market bubble?

Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest forces driving today’s stock market.

Billions are being invested in AI, some of the world’s largest companies are seeing enormous growth, and investors are increasingly gaining exposure to the same handful of technology companies.

But there’s an important question worth asking:

How much exposure is too much?

The opportunity around AI is real. But so is concentration risk.

For investors—especially those approaching or already in retirement—the conversation isn’t simply about whether AI will continue to grow.

It’s about what happens to a portfolio if expectations change, valuations fall, or one market trend becomes too dominant.

Diversification and understanding where your portfolio’s risk actually comes from can become increasingly important in an environment like this.

We recently sat down with Guy, our Portfolio Manager, to discuss the AI boom, potential market risks, concentration, and what investors should be thinking about.

👉 Read the full article: https://bertramfinancial.com/market-update/ai-boom-market-bubble-understanding-investment-risk

What do you think—are we seeing sustainable growth, or could the AI boom eventually become another market bubble?

Is the AI boom creating a market bubble? Explore AI investment growth, market concentration risk, and what it could mean for investors and retirement portfolios.

09/24/2026

Retirement planning doesn't have to feel overwhelming. 💚

For women, building a confident retirement starts with having the right knowledge, tools, and strategy.

That's why we're offering The Women's Retirement Toolkit — completely FREE!

🎁 Here's what you'll get:
✔️ Creating Your Dream Retirement (eBook)
✔️ 10 Tips to Help Empower Women Investors
✔️ Retirement Tax Planning Insights
✔️ The Social Security Decisions Guide
✔️ A Retirement Readiness Checklist
✔️ Will Your Money Last As Long As You Do?

Whether you're just starting to plan or looking to strengthen your existing retirement strategy, these resources can help you feel more informed and prepared for the future.

✨ Turn retirement anxiety into confidence — one smart step at a time.

🎁 Claim your FREE Women's Retirement Toolkit today!

👉 https://funnels.bertramfinancial.com/women-retirement-toolkit

09/16/2026

Retiring in the next few years? Don't wing it.

Most people spend more time planning a two week vacation than they do planning the next 20-30 years of their life.

We put together a free guide to help close that gap: The Ultimate Checklist to Navigate Retirement.

Inside, you'll get:
→ 22 questions that could change the course of your retirement
→ The "danger zones" most strategies overlook
→ What to do in the years leading up to your work-free life

If retirement is on your radar, this is worth 10 minutes.

Read the guide here: https://funnels.bertramfinancial.com/the-ultimate-checklist-for-navigating-retirement

09/14/2026

💰 Not all money is created equal.

You know green is the color of U.S. currency, but in the world of investing, smart money has three colors — and each one plays a different role in your financial plan:

🟡 Yellow Money — Cash & savings. Your safety net.
🟢 Green Money — Protected principal. Possibly the best-kept secret in finance.
🔴 Red Money — Growth-focused... but not all red money is created equal.

The real question isn't "which is best?" It's "which mix is right for YOU?"

Every investment trades off between safety, liquidity, and growth — no single option gives you all three. Understanding which "color" you're holding (and why) is the first step to building a retirement plan that actually works for your goals.

📘 Grab our free eBook, "The Colors of Money," and also learn how advisors get paid differently depending on the color — it might surprise you.

👉 Download it free here: https://funnels.bertramfinancial.com/color-of-money-7845

09/10/2026

72% of parents feel confident about retirement. Only 54% of people without kids feel the same way.

At first glance, it looks like having children is the secret.

It's not.

Dig one layer deeper and the real gap shows up: 62% of people without kids don't have a written financial plan, compared to 42% of parents.

Kids don't build retirement confidence. A plan does.

We broke down what the latest research (plus some interesting shifts in market risk tolerance) actually means for your retirement strategy, whether you have kids or not.

🔗 Read more: https://bertramfinancial.com/retirement-planning/its-not-about-having-kids-its-about-having-a-plan-what-new-retirement-research-actually-shows

New research shows parents feel more confident about retirement than people without kids, but the real difference is a written plan, not parenthood.

09/09/2026

Your family shouldn't have to guess what you would have wanted.

A solid estate plan does more than divide assets. It protects your family from confusion, conflict, and unnecessary stress when it matters most.

Our free 12-page guide covers:
✅ What your will should address (and who should write it)
✅ The two types of trusts and how they help avoid family disputes
✅ A checklist for choosing the right person to carry out your wishes

Give your loved ones the gift of clarity. Read the guide now.

https://funnels.bertramfinancial.com/estate-planning-9303

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!

Today we celebrate the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication that go into building a life you can be proud of. Every early morning, every late night, every year on the job, it all adds up to something bigger: the freedom to live out your Dream Retirement.

At Bertram Financial, we're grateful for the hardworking Midwesterners who trust us to turn decades of labor into a confident, faith-guided future. Wishing you and your family a restful, well-deserved Labor Day.

Faith. Family. Financial Planning.

09/06/2026

Here's something that might surprise you.

A new Allianz Life study found that only 54% of Americans without kids feel confident they'll hit their retirement savings goal. Compare that to 72% of parents who feel the same way.

The gap isn't really about kids though. It's about planning.

62% of people without children don't have a written financial plan. For parents, that number drops to 42%. Turns out, having a plan on paper (not just a vague idea in your head) makes a real difference in how confident you feel about the future.

Whether you have kids, grandkids, or neither, the takeaway is the same: a clear, written retirement strategy changes everything.

If you don't have one yet, now's a good time to start.

👉 Read more: https://bertramfinancial.com/first-friday/friday-focus-enjoy-you-weekend-and-put-your-money-to-work

Friday Focus - Work hard, play hard has become a common saying. Labor day is a time to honor all the labor that has and continues to build our country.