Menninger & Associates Financial Planning

06/03/2026

This week on Financial Planning: Explained, host Michael Menninger, CFP® sits down with Michael Mandio, Vice President of Production for the Community Mortgage Team at AnnieMac Home Mortgage, to discuss today's housing market, mortgage financing options, and innovative solutions for homebuyers. AnnieMac Home Mortgage is a leading nationwide residential mortgage lender that helps homebuyers and homeowners secure financing for home purchases, mortgage refinancing, and home equity access.

In this episode, Michael and Mike break down how AnnieMac guides buyers through every step of the home-buying process and helps them navigate today's competitive real estate market. They also take a deep dive into AnnieMac's popular Cash2Keys® program, which allows homebuyers to make competitive cash offers, avoid stressful bidding wars, strengthen their purchasing power, and improve their chances of winning their dream home.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/093MK3YzAvA?si=OFakP2T-d_q1zMP6

06/01/2026

Stock Gains Cap off Strong May; Bonds Rally June 1, 2026 Good morning, and welcome to June already!The Dow (+0.9%), NASDAQ (+2.4%), S&P 500 (+1.4%) and EAFE (+1.1%) all exhibited gains last week.  Similarly, strong gains were seen by bonds, as taxable bonds gained 0.8% and tax-free municipal bonds ...

05/29/2026

Choosing a bank is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make. The right fit depends on how you manage your money on a day-to-day basis and what you value most: convenience, savings potential, or personalized service.

This guide walks through nine practical factors to help you find a bank that meets your goals. From digital tools and safety features to fees and customer experience, you’ll learn what to look for so your money works as efficiently as you do.

Check out this LendEDU article that Mike was quoted in discussing important considerations when choosing a bank.

Learn how to choose a bank that fits your lifestyle. This guide walks through nine key factors—like account types, access, safety, and fees—to help you compare options, avoid unnecessary costs, and find a financial partner that supports your goals.

05/27/2026

On this week's episode of "Financial Planning: Explained”, host Michael Menninger, CFP welcomes back Mackensie Ellis. Mackensie is a student loan professional at Juno. Juno student loans uses collective bargaining power to negotiate better rates on undergraduate, graduate, and refinance student loans.

In this episode, Mackensie and Mike talk about loan repayment after graduation. The two get into refinance options, loan deferment, and public service loan forgiveness. This is a great episode for students of any age or students who have recently graduated looking for repayment options.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/WoDlTE_Z6AM?si=asCKFb99rt2UyYnM

05/26/2026

Stocks Advance on Rumors of Iran Deal; Bonds Mixed May 26, 2026 Good morning,The Dow (+2.1%), NASDAQ (+0.5%), S&P 500 (+0.9%), and EAFE (+2.2%) all gained modestly for the week.  Meanwhile, taxable bonds gained 0.3% while tax-free municipal bonds fell 0.3%.  The 10-year Treasury yield fell 0.03% t...

05/22/2026

We were truly honored to sponsor the 6th Annual Montgomery County Hero Fund's Herofest and support such an incredible event celebrating the heroes in our community. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s event so special — it was an amazing day filled with appreciation, connection, and community spirit.

As we head into the holiday weekend, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Wishing everyone a safe, meaningful, and happy Memorial Day weekend.

05/20/2026

This week on "Financial Planning: Explained", host Michael Menninger, CFP welcomes Mackensie Ellis. Mackensie is a student loan professional at Juno. Juno student loans uses collective bargaining power to negotiate better rates on undergraduate, graduate, and refinance student loans.

In this episode, Mackensie and Mike discuss what Juno is an how the service works. They also talk about federal vs private student loans, along with the pros and cons of each. Other topics include: Parent PLUS loans and Stafford loans. This is a great episode for students of any age that are looking to negotiate a better student loan rate, or refinance their current loan.

Click here to watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/doO1VBCo-uA?si=dUFpgg1ImCYg2oYO

05/18/2026

Stocks Finish Mixed While Rising Inflation Pushes Yields Higher May 18, 2026 Good morning,The Dow (-0.2%), NASDAQ (-0.1%), and S&P 500 (+0.1%) were roughly flat for the week, while the EAFE (-1.5%) finished lower. Meanwhile, taxable bonds fell 1.1% and tax-free municipal bonds declined 0.6%. The 10-...