Menninger & Associates Financial Planning

08/31/2026

Stocks Edge Higher Despite Inflation Concerns August 31, 2026 Good morning,The Dow (+0.6%), NASDAQ (+0.9%), S&P 500 (+0.5%), and EAFE (+0.1%) all posted fractional gains, bouncing back from the prior week's modest declines. Bonds were mixed, with taxable bonds gaining 0.1%, and tax-free municipal bo...

08/28/2026

What a way to wrap up the summer!

Our office Summer Olympics brought out competitive spirit, plenty of laughs, and—most importantly—team spirit. From friendly rivalries to unforgettable moments, it was a day full of fun, connection, and memories.

Congratulations to Mike and Kristen for taking home the gold!

08/26/2026

This week on Financial Planning: Explained, host Michael Menninger, CFP®, welcomes back Nick DeVito, CFP®, for part one of a Q&A series on life events, investments and general financial planning.

In Part I, Mike and Nick focus on life events, covering three major financial decisions many families face: buying a house, paying for a child’s college, and deciding what to do with an inheritance. The guys walk through how major life events can affect a family’s overall financial plan—and why making one decision in isolation can have unintended consequences for other areas of your finances.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/XSmo9CkZNgo?si=2tU4CPQ3tGX7ujKK

08/25/2026

Strong business communication is more than answering the phone—it’s about making sure every opportunity is captured, every customer feels valued, and your business presents itself professionally from the very first interaction.

In this episode of The Financial Blueprint, host Kyle Ryan, CFP® sits down with Kishor Rao, Founder of KKR Voice, to discuss the inspiration behind KKR Voice, the challenges businesses face when managing incoming calls, and why effective communication can have such a meaningful impact on business growth.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/C3O48Sa4-OE?si=U64bjTrjA7n__PCo

08/24/2026

Stocks and Bonds Fall on Inflation Worries August 24, 2026 Good morning,The Dow (-0.8%), NASDAQ (-2.1%), S&P 500 (-1.4%), and EAFE (-0.5%) all finished the week lower.  Similarly, bonds also fell as taxable bonds and tax-free municipal bonds dropped 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively.  The 10-year Treasu...

08/21/2026

Raise your hand if you don’t love the idea of keeping your savings at one of the large U.S. commercial banks. Many people feel uneasy banking with institutions that have had public scandals, offer tiny savings rates, or invest in industries that don’t align with their values. The good news? You don’t have to stay there.

Check out this LendEDU article that Kyle was recently quoted in discussing eight safe places to keep your money when you don’t trust big banks, plus how to figure out which is best for you.

Discover 8 safe places to keep your money if you don’t trust big banks. Learn how credit unions, online banks, Treasuries, and other low-risk options protect your cash—plus how to choose what’s best for you.

08/19/2026

This week on Financial Planning: Explained, host Michael Menninger, CFP®, welcomes back Nicholas DeVito, CFP®, to break down one of the most important and often misunderstood topics for beneficiaries of retirement accounts: Inherited IRAs and the IRS rules that apply to them.

When you inherit an IRA, the rules for taking distributions can be very different from the rules that applied to the original account owner. Depending on when the account owner died, your relationship to the deceased, and other factors, you may face specific distribution requirements, deadlines, and potential tax consequences.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/HZAS2cQdAEI?si=vXSeL0re2fE88LSx

08/17/2026

Stocks and Bonds Mixed Despite Favorable Economic Data August 17, 2026 Good morning,The Dow (-0.6%), NASDAQ (+0.1%%), S&P 500 (+0.4%), and EAFE (+0.6%) finished the week mixed.  Similarly, bonds were mixed with taxable bonds falling 0.1% and tax-free municipal bonds gaining 0.1%.  The 10-year Trea...

08/14/2026

We’re excited to be part of the 2026 St. Teresa of Calcutta Community Festival!

Stop by and visit us while you enjoy an incredible weekend of live music, delicious food, games, raffles, prizes, and family fun at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish.

08/12/2026

This week on Financial Planning: Explained, host Michael Menninger, CFP®, welcomes back Nicholas DeVito, CFP®, to walk through a practical estate planning and inheritance case study involving a daughter who is trying to piece together her late father’s financial affairs.

In this real-world scenario, the daughter is struggling to track down important assets, including her father’s pension, 401(k), and life insurance policy. Even more concerning, she doesn’t know whether she was named as a beneficiary—or who may have been designated to receive these assets.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/DpuABnBFOE0?si=odHGEGrFHx9tszTY