Foundational Wealth Planners

11/02/2026

Are you interested in finding, renewing, or updating your health insurance coverage? The Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment begins November 1st. Check out healthcare.gov for more information.

10/29/2026

💳 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.



Source:

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

10/28/2026

Talking with your parents about their wishes as they get older isn’t always easy. ❤️

You may worry about making them uncomfortable, or they may not feel ready to discuss it. But understanding what matters to them can make a difference if your family ever faces difficult decisions.

💬 The conversation doesn’t have to cover everything at once. You might start with a couple of simple questions:
▪️“Have you thought about what you’d want if you ever needed help making decisions?”
▪️“Do you have important documents somewhere we could find them if needed?”

Over time, those conversations may cover medical preferences and documents like a will or power of attorney.

And if your parents aren’t ready to talk? That’s okay. Respecting their comfort and independence is part of the conversation, too.

This isn’t about taking over. It’s about listening, so their wishes are understood if they’re ever needed.



Source:

End-of-life planning can be difficult to discuss, but the right approach can make the conversation easier.

10/21/2026

🏠 Mortgage rates climbed above 7% last week, and more borrowers started looking for a different way in.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.12%, while adjustable-rate mortgages offered rates more than a percentage point lower. That difference helped push ARMs to 9.8% of all mortgage applications, up from 8.4% two weeks earlier.

🔑 The appeal is easy to understand: an ARM may offer a lower initial rate and monthly payment. But that rate doesn’t stay fixed forever. Once the initial period ends, it can adjust higher or lower depending on where rates are at that time.

Meanwhile, overall mortgage demand fell, with purchase applications down 1% for the week and refinancing applications down 3%.

A lower rate today can be tempting. What it does after the fixed period ends is the part worth thinking through before you sign.


Source:

As mortgage rates rise, borrowers are seeking savings in riskier, adjustable-rate mortgages that offer lower rates.

10/15/2026

Treasury yields pulled back from their recent highs after a strong auction eased some concerns about demand for government debt.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5.35%, its highest level since 2002, before easing following the Treasury's sale of $39 billion in 10-year notes.

Demand at the auction was stronger than average, particularly from indirect bidders such as global central banks, which accounted for 80.3% of the sale, compared with a 10-auction average of 72.4%.

The broader backdrop is still one of elevated yields, with investors weighing persistent inflation, rising energy prices, and expectations that the Federal Reserve may raise rates again before year-end.

For now, the auction offered a little reassurance that demand for longer-term Treasurys remains strong even as yields sit near multidecade highs.



Source:

U.S. Treasury yields came off their highs after a solid sale of 10-year notes.

10/09/2026

🛠️ The richest person in your town probably isn't a tech founder or someone in finance. It's more likely the dentist running four offices, or the owner of the HVAC company whose trucks are everywhere.

New research from economists Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick, based on IRS and Treasury data, found nearly 5 million U.S. households worth at least $5 million, holding combined wealth more than 13 times that of the Forbes 400.

A few patterns stood out:
➡️Most started their business themselves rather than inheriting it
➡️Most run ordinary, brick-and-mortar businesses rather than tech or finance
➡️Independence mattered more to them early on than getting rich ever did

🌭 Case in point: Dick Portillo started a hot dog stand in 1963 with just $1,100. Decades later, he sold the business he'd built for $1 billion.

Building wealth often looks much more ordinary and attainable than the headlines suggest. If growing or eventually stepping back from a business is part of your picture, that's worth talking through together.


Source:

Getting rich in the U.S. is still possible, but the most common path to wealth doesn't involve working for other people, according to a new book.

10/09/2026

🚨 Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and the financial toll is growing.

Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses last year, up 25% from the year before. And the real number may be much higher, since many victims never report what happened.

⚠️ The problem is also widespread: 98% of Americans surveyed said they believe scammers have targeted them, and 3 in 10 said they’ve personally lost money or information.

Recovering stolen funds can be difficult, especially when someone is tricked into authorizing a payment. Victims may also be targeted again by criminals claiming they can recover the original loss for a fee.

🔐 If someone contacts you unexpectedly about money, an investment, or recovering funds you’ve already lost, slow down before sending anything. Verify who you’re dealing with through a trusted source, and be especially cautious if there’s pressure to act quickly.


Source:

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows.

10/07/2026

📌 Higher rates sting borrowers, but they can be a real win for savers.

As rates rise, banks may increase the yields they offer on savings products to attract deposits. The average U.S. savings account still pays just 0.64% annual percentage yield. Some high-yield accounts are paying more than six times that, up to 4.2%, for the exact same deposit.

🔎 Certificates of deposit, or CDs, can offer even higher rates, but the tradeoff is access: your money is locked in for a set term, and pulling it out early usually costs a penalty.

Higher yields don’t erase the effects of inflation, and they won’t necessarily transform household finances. But if your savings account is still earning close to that 0.64% average, that gap alone might be worth a second look.


Source:

The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates for the first time since 2023.

09/30/2026

🌴 More Americans are deciding that enjoying life now matters just as much as making financial progress for later.

A recent SoFi survey found that 72% of Americans would be willing to make slower progress toward their financial goals so they can spend more time with family, travel more, and prioritize meaningful experiences.

That doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning long-term goals. In fact, 59% of respondents said enjoying life is how they define financial progress, compared with 27% who pointed to owning a home.

The challenge is finding a balance between what matters now and what matters later. ✈️ That can mean making room for a vacation, concert, or family event while still keeping an eye on retirement savings and debt.

But charge that trip to a credit card and carry a balance, and interest can turn a two-week memory into a much longer bill.

What does financial progress look like to you: reaching the next milestone, enjoying more of life now, or some mix of both?


Source:

SoFi found 72% of Americans are willing to make slower progress on financial goals to prioritize family, travel and meaningful experiences.

09/25/2026

🐻 Fat Bear Week is back, and the competition is looking VERY well-fed.

From September 22–29, fans can vote for their favorite brown bears at Katmai National Park and Preserve as they pack on the pounds before hibernation. 🐟

This year’s field includes 11 contenders, including reigning champion 32 Chunk, who’s back to defend his title after winning the 2025 crown. 👑

The bracket also features familiar faces like 128 Grazer, 856, 901, 909, and 910, along with several other salmon-fueled heavyweights hoping to become the internet’s next favorite bear.

Fans can watch the bears on Katmai’s live cams and vote through the single-elimination tournament until one gloriously chunky champion remains. 🏆

So, who gets your vote this year? 🐻❤️


Source:

The internet's favorite bear contest is back. See details on Fat Bear Week 2026.