Avant-Garde Wealth Partners - Financial Advisor: Matthew Hooker

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

A client dug up my mid-90s yearbook photos. Thirty years ago I was a junior high terror teachers warned each other about. Today people hand me their retirement savings on purpose. If that’s not proof that people can grow up, I don’t know what is. Full circle is a wild ride.

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Trending Higher

08/28/2026

A question that comes up more often than people expect: "If my parent/spouse passes away with debt, do I have to pay it?"

In most cases, no. Debt is generally settled by the estate — not by the family. But there are a few real exceptions worth knowing before you're dealing with it during a hard week:

→ Cosigned or joint accounts stay yours

→ Guaranteeing someone's loan makes you responsible for what's left

→ Community property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) can extend a spouse's debt to you

→ Being an authorized user on a card, though, does not put you on the hook

Worth a conversation with your family before it becomes urgent.

https://studiotoolkit.dmplocal.com/main/index.php/?p=dsc.get&id=1xfmQ5QrXy4&user_id=23819&collateral_copy_id=41380&asset=3e659cb8-d9d2-4699-b94d-c0d15d305746

08/27/2026

This month's chart unpacks where we most commonly go for information. Take a look, and you'll see one source stands out from the rest.

08/27/2026

All eyes are on Jackson Hole tomorrow as Fed Chair Warsh gives his first speech there.

With debt above $40T and yields climbing, Chris Fasciano, Chief Market Strategist of Commonwealth Financial Network, explores the stakes — and why the outlook holds steady: https://bit.ly/4ixEQYW

08/26/2026

The Politics of Inflation

08/25/2026

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.


Source:

U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.