Azose Johnson & Associates

10/22/2026

Yesterday afternoon, we helped Second Harvest sort and pack over 3200lbs of carrots!

10/02/2026

Is your estate strategy full of cobwebs? Does your investing approach have too many tricks and not enough treats? Does your retirement timeline read like a ghost story?

These things have a way of going bump in the night.

Knowing where you stand is the first step.

09/26/2026

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music.

Over the years, she gave millions to causes ranging from disaster relief and medical research to education and children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library alone has distributed more than 330 million books to children across five countries.

After devastating Tennessee wildfires in 2016, her My People Fund provided displaced families with $1,000 a month for six months, no strings attached. She also donated $1 million toward COVID-19 vaccine research and supported schools, scholarships, pediatric care, and communities close to home.

What tied so much of that work together was remarkably simple: trust people, see a need, and respond.

Her example is a meaningful reminder that generosity doesn’t have to follow one formula. It starts with deciding what matters to you and finding a way to make an impact.


Source:

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.

09/25/2026

🏠 Higher mortgage rates are pushing some homebuyers to look for lower-cost alternatives.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.79%, while the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 5.94%.

That gap is drawing more attention to ARMs, which made up 8% of mortgage applications last week, their highest share in five weeks.

🔑 The tradeoff is that an ARM’s rate can change later, which means the lower initial rate may come with more uncertainty down the road.

For buyers comparing mortgage options, it’s worth looking beyond the starting rate and understanding how the loan could change over time.


Source:

Mortgage rates continue to rise, pushing some buyers to riskier, adjustable-rate loans in order to find savings. Rates are at the highest level since June 2025.

09/24/2026

The price you see on the shelf may not be the exact amount you pay at checkout.

With penny production ended, some merchants have started rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest nickel. Depending on the total, that could mean a few cents more or a few cents less.

Paying by credit card may come with another wrinkle. Some retailers and service providers are adding surcharges to help offset card processing costs, which may increase the final price.

That means the same purchase could cost slightly different amounts depending on whether you use cash, debit, or credit.

Before you pay, take a second to compare the total for cash, debit, and credit so you know which option makes the most sense for that purchase.


Source:

More merchants are rounding change for cash purchases to the nearest nickel due to the end of penny production, or adding surcharges to credit card transactions.

09/23/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.


Source:

Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

09/18/2026

Congratulations to all 32 winners! 🤩

09/17/2026

It's BINGO Night! Here's a sneak peek of the prizes...1 in 3 guests have a chance to win!

09/09/2026

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 🛠️
Today, we take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hard work of individuals across the nation.

Whether you're relaxing at home or enjoying a well-deserved day off, I hope you're able to recharge and enjoy this special day.

To the builders, creators, and doers: Happy Labor Day!