Invest with Tess - Tessa Steinemann

09/09/2026

Americans reported losing $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025. It's a record, and since most scams never get reported, the real figure is higher.

Here's what the numbers make clear: getting scammed has nothing to do with being careless. Today's scams are built to feel urgent and official, and the most expensive ones often sound exactly like a text from your own bank. They almost all share one move. They convince you to send your money somewhere "safe" to protect it.

No legitimate bank will ever ask you to do that. That request, by itself, is the scam.

Swipe through for the full picture. Next up, I'm sharing a 6-point checklist to protect your money before any of this reaches you.

Save this one, and send it to someone you'd want to catch it in time.

09/07/2026

And this is exactly why I talk about financial planning as more than just picking a retirement age and saving a number.

You want to build enough flexibility into your finances that you have options long before retirement.

09/04/2026

Markets pushed higher in August as AI-driven optimism helped investors look past softer economic data. The S&P 500 gained 2.62% and the S&P/TSX Composite rose 2.96%, even as softening retail sales kept consumer spending in focus. Back-to-school season adds another data point to that story, with spending expected to reach \$146.8 billion in the U.S. and \$4.5 billion in Canada this year.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 2.62 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 3.93 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, adding 1.34 percent. The S&P/TSX rose 2.96 percent.1,2

09/03/2026

In this week’s Markets in a Minute, we explore the growing tension between policymakers and the bond market. After the 30-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level in nearly two decades, the U.S. Treasury stepped in by expanding its buyback program for long-dated bonds. Why did the move attract so much attention from investors? And what does it reveal about the forces driving long-term interest rates?

We explore the growing tension between policymakers and the bond market.

09/01/2026

Most people think retirement planning starts with a giant number.

I think it starts with a monthly budget.

When you understand what your future lifestyle will cost, you can build a realistic savings target and stop guessing.

Once you know the target, every dollar you save has a purpose.

Do you want your actual number that works with your retirement and long-term goals instead of a rule of thumb? Send me a message. That's what I do with clients.

09/01/2026

As complex as the details of taxes can be, the income tax process is fairly straightforward.

A quick look at how federal income taxes work.

08/28/2026

"The number" doesn't have to feel like a wall.

It's not one mysterious figure someone hands you. It's math, built from your own spending, and it comes apart in pieces once you look at it.

And here's the part that takes the pressure off: your investments usually aren't carrying the whole thing alone. Social Security, pensions, and other income can fill part of the gap.

Swipe through for a simple way to start estimating yours. You don't need it perfect today. You need a direction.

Questions about where to start? Send me a DM.

08/27/2026

Back-to-school season brings tuition bills into focus, but the effects of student debt can last for decades. Borrowers are facing missed payments, damaged credit, and difficult trade-offs involving spending, homeownership, and retirement savings.

In this week's Money with Murphy, our CIO Kara looks at what those challenges mean for individual households and why the broader consumer remains on relatively solid footing.

Kara Murphy explores how student debt affects spending, credit, homeownership, and retirement planning, and why the broader consumer remains on solid financial footing.

08/25/2026

In this week’s Markets in a Minute, we revisit the economic and market implications of the conflict with Iran and explore several questions that remain top of mind for investors as it grinds on. What could a prolonged conflict mean for the economy and markets, particularly after many expected the initial shock to be short-lived? And even if the conflict ended tomorrow, how quickly could global oil supplies recover? Read on for our take on these and other key questions.

We revisit the economic and market implications of the conflict with Iran and explore several questions that remain top of mind for investors as it grinds on.