Payant Wealth Management Group

02/16/2026

Some of the most lasting presidential legacies show up in everyday financial life.

🤔 Quiz time: can you name the presidents who are credited with each of these milestones in America’s retirement policies?

Q: Which president created the foundation of America’s retirement safety net by signing the Social Security Act?
A: President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935

Q: Which president strengthened protections for workers’ pensions by signing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act?
A: President Gerald Ford in 1974

Q: Which president signed the Revenue Act that included the provision that became the 401(k)?
A: President Jimmy Carter in 1978

The day marks the weight of that role, the continuity of the office over time, and the commitment to serve the country at the highest level.

02/12/2026

Recent data shows that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults say stress about money is harming their mental health, more than politics or world events, according to a study in the May report by PressReader.

That stress can quietly shape how you save, spend, and invest.

💡 Where Behavior and Money Collide
Common emotional triggers we see:
● Panic during market downturns
● Fear of missing out during rallies
● Clinging to outdated assumptions
● Avoiding all risk after a bad experience

These reactions are human; they are also why even a strong financial strategy can go off track if it ignores the emotional side of decision-making.

🤝 How We Help
Our role is part strategist, part coach:
● Clarifying realistic long-term goals
● Keeping focus on direction, not headlines
● Using structure to help manage risk
● Creating “emotional circuit breakers,” like waiting periods before big moves

Your financial strategy should support your life, not the other way around. If you are feeling anxious or your goals have shifted, this can be a good moment to talk. 💬

02/10/2026

Thinking about a Roth IRA conversion this year, but not sure if it makes sense?

Here are a few key points to keep in mind ✅

What a Roth conversion is:
🔹 Moving money from a pre-tax account, such as a traditional IRA, into a Roth IRA
🔹 The amount converted is typically taxable as ordinary income in the year of conversion

Why investors consider it:
🔹 May allow for tax-free growth and tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement if certain requirements are met
🔹 Currently, there are no required minimum distributions for the original Roth owner under existing law
🔹 May provide more flexibility for heirs than a traditional IRA, depending on individual circumstances

How to potentially approach it:
🔹 Consider smaller, multi-year conversions instead of one large move
🔹 Monitor how added income may affect Adjusted Gross Income, tax brackets, and future Medicare premiums
🔹 Once converted, it generally cannot be reversed under current rules

Key considerations:
🔹 With a Roth IRA, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances.
🔹 With a traditional IRA, once you turn 73, you must take the required minimum distribution. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10 percent federal income tax penalty if taken before age 59½.

Roth conversions may be a useful strategy when they align with an overall, personalized tax and retirement strategy. As always, consult a tax and financial professional before making any decisions.

02/09/2026

Did you update your retirement contributions for 2026?

It’s February, but you may still have your 401(k) and IRA deferrals set to last year’s numbers, even though the limits went up for 2026.

Here are the key updates to know for 2026.

Workplace Plans - 401(k), 403(b), 457s:
● Employee limit: $24,500
● Age 50+ catch-up: extra $8,000, total $32,500
● Ages 60–63 “super” catch-up: up to $35,750

IRAs (Traditional + Roth Combined):
● Base limit: $7,500
● Age 50+ catch-up: $1,100, total $8,600

🔍 High Earners - A Big Change.
If your 2025 wages were above $150,000, your 401(k) catch-up contributions in 2026 must be made in a Roth account, not a pre-tax one.

If your plan does not offer a Roth option, catch-ups may not be available.

With most retirement accounts, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions. Roth accounts are the exception. Withdrawal penalties may apply if you take the money before age 59½. Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after the account holder reaches age 59½.

So, if you haven’t already:
● Confirm your current deferral rate reflects the new limits, not last year’s
● Check whether your plan offers Roth and how catch-ups are handled

02/06/2026

Stocks climbed in January as solid economic data offset geopolitical tensions. The S&P 500 rose 1.37%, the Dow gained 1.73%, and Canada's TSX picked up 0.66%, setting multiple record highs early in the month. The Fed held rates steady as expected, with all eyes now on the March meeting. From \$27.5 billion spent in the U.S. to \$97.80 per person in Canada, Valentine's Day spending spans the globe. Check out this month's by-the-numbers.

Stocks climbed in January as the tailwinds of solid economic data offset the headwinds of geopolitical tensions that rattled investors during the month.

02/04/2026

🎗️ Cancer touches almost every family in some way.

With each diagnosis comes navigating treatment, uncertainty, hope, and fear all at once.

World Cancer Day is about:
● Raising awareness and promoting prevention
● Encouraging early detection
● Calling for fair access to treatment and support
● Honoring those living with cancer, survivors, caregivers, and those we have lost

To everyone carrying this in some way, whether personally or through someone you love, you are not alone. We are thinking of you and standing with you. 🎗️

02/03/2026

Black History Month reminds us to acknowledge the significant contributions of Black leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals whose work enriches our communities and the economy.​

In the financial profession, this month underscores the importance of access, opportunity, and trust for every client and every investor.​

Honoring Black history means continuing to support education, mentorship, and pathways to well-being throughout the year.​

01/29/2026

A Colorado mother wired $2,000 to criminals who cloned her daughter's voice from online clips—in just 3 seconds of audio.

Her daughter was home the entire time.

AI has fundamentally changed how fraud works.

Criminals can now create fake voices, videos, emails, and documents that are nearly indistinguishable from real ones.

The emotional realism—especially of voice cloning—can make these scams devastatingly effective.

Three simple steps can help you manage your risk:
1️⃣ Create a family code word for emergencies. If someone calls asking for money, ask for the code. This defeats voice cloning instantly.
2️⃣ Verify before you act. Hang up and call back on a verified number. Real emergencies can wait 60 seconds.
3️⃣ Limit your digital footprint. Review social media settings and manage public videos/voice recordings that could be used against you.

The threat is real, but so is the solution: awareness, skepticism, and verification.

If you haven’t talked to your family, especially aging parents and young adult children, about these risks, don’t wait any longer.

01/28/2026

What’s the smallest piece of your data that could cause the biggest problem if exposed? 🔐

Why January 28?
Data Privacy Day commemorates the Council of Europe’s Convention 108, which was opened for signature on January 28, 1981, marking the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.

For Individuals:
● Review privacy settings on social platforms, apps, and devices
● Consider turning on multi-factor authentication when available
● Update software and browsers
● Replace weak or reused passwords; consider a password manager

For Businesses:
● Revisit data privacy policies and access controls (least privilege)
● Refresh employee training on phishing and social engineering
● Validate vendor/third-party data practices and breach response steps
● Log and minimize the sensitive data you collect

For Everyone:
● Talk with family about the value of personal information and the risks of oversharing—come up with a “safe word”
● Agree on household norms for passwords, app permissions, and updates

Make security a daily practice—not a once-a-year project.

01/27/2026

Today, January 27, we honor the six million Jews and millions of others murdered in the Holocaust and reaffirm a simple commitment: memory, truth, and vigilance.

As a firm built on trust and relationships, we recognize the importance of remembering our shared history. Today reminds us to approach our work and our community with empathy, dignity, and unwavering respect for all people.

01/23/2026

Are you supporting your adult child financially—or subsidizing their lifestyle?

A July 2025 article in “The Wall Street Journal” titled “Four Ways to Prepare for When Your Adult Kids Need Financial Help” examines how parents can support their grown children without compromising their own financial stability.

Key ideas worth pressure-testing:
Set the frame before the funds. Define purpose, amount, and end date in writing. Treat it like a mini-agreement—clarity preserves relationships. 🤝

● Decide: gift, loan, or guarantee.
● Gift: simple, but set expectations about whether it’s one-time.
● Loan: document terms and a repayment schedule; automate payments.
● Co-signing: can be the highest risk—know you’re taking on the debt if things go sideways.

Your retirement should come first. If help jeopardizes savings, timeline, or insurance coverage, it may be too much.

Avoid open-ended support. Create guardrails, including milestones (such as job search and budgeting courses), time limits, and a check-in date.

Build skills, not dependency. Pair any money with a strategy: budget, emergency fund targets, and next steps to independence. 🧠

Bottom line: Thoughtful structure helps turn thought into progress—and can help keep family dynamics healthy.

01/21/2026

Is “Waiting Until 70” a smart Social Security move? ⏳

An October 2025 piece in “The Wall Street Journal” titled “Why Delaying Your Social Security Benefits May Not Make Sense” pointed out that delaying may not be the best fit for every household. Four angles to consider:

1️⃣ Behavior & Cash-Flow: Many retirees spend income but hesitate to draw principal. Delaying can unintentionally pinch lifestyle early on.
2️⃣ Market/Sequence Risk: “Bridging” with larger portfolio withdrawals while you wait can raise exposure to early-retirement downturns.
3️⃣ Timing & Medicare: Timing can affect how you sequence retirement plan withdrawals and handle Medicare payments.
4️⃣ Longevity & Survivor Needs: Health outlook, age gap, and survivor benefit priorities can tilt the math toward earlier—or later—claiming.

Takeaway: There’s no one-size-fits-all rule. A tailored strategy that models cash-flows, risk, and household goals beats a one-size-fits-all solution.