OFS Financial Services

10/15/2026

🌕 Somewhere on the Moon, there's a crater that wasn't there two years ago, and it's the biggest one scientists have ever caught forming in real time.

A NASA researcher spotted it during what started as a routine check of lunar images. After comparing old and new photos, he realized he'd found the largest newly formed crater ever recorded anywhere in the solar system. It's now officially named McGetchin, after a pioneering lunar scientist, and it was carved out sometime between April and May of 2024, when a comet or asteroid roughly the size of a five-story building slammed into the surface.

The crater stretches about 728 feet across, roughly the length of two football fields, and drops 141 feet deep, enough to stack three school buses. 🔭 Scientists estimate that an impact this size only happens on the Moon about once a century.

There's more to it than just the hole itself. Researchers also found a patch of ground about four miles wide around the crater that stays noticeably cooler at night than the surrounding terrain, evidence of just how much a single impact can reshape the nearby surface.

It's a good reminder that even something as familiar as the Moon still has surprises waiting to be noticed; sometimes it just takes someone looking closely enough to catch them.


Source:

Scientists have discovered a crater on the moon that's bigger than the Roman Colosseum, the result of a powerful impact two years ago.

10/14/2026

Read the latest issue of Retire Wise here:

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and for retirees and near-retirees, that awareness matters more than most people realize. Scammers increasingly…

10/12/2026

Inflation is back in the spotlight as the Fed prepares for its next meeting. This week's CPI and PPI reports are expected to tell two different stories: higher headline inflation driven by rising energy prices, but potentially softer core inflation beneath the surface.
Join CIO Gene Goldman on this week's episode of as he breaks down what the latest inflation data could mean for Fed policy, interest rates, and the path forward for markets.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

10/11/2026

The two accounts aren't connected, and funds can't transfer between them, according to a 2026 update from Brightstart.com.

That makes things simpler for a lot of families. It's rarely a true either-or decision. Many households end up using both accounts, each one doing its own job. If you're weighing how Trump Accounts and a 529 might fit your family, bring it up the next time we talk.

#529

10/08/2026

Here's where the two accounts part ways, starting with who's in control. Trump Accounts is opened for a child, and the money stays locked up until January 1 of the year they turn 18. After that, it works like a traditional individual retirement account. The IRS in 2026 clarified that family, friends, and employers can contribute up to $5,000 per child per year, with employers capped at $2,500 of that.

A 529 runs on different rules. There's no federal cap on yearly contributions, though each state sets its own lifetime limit. The IRS says that a parent can contribute up to $19,000 per year ($38,000 for a couple) without any gift tax paperwork. Money can be withdrawn at any time for qualified education costs, and the earnings are exempt from federal tax.

#529

10/05/2026

Yields have surged to multi-decade highs, raising questions about inflation, interest rates, and what's next for investors. Join CIO Gene Goldman on this week's episode of as he unpacks what's driving the move in bond yields, why higher rates aren't all bad news, and the key catalysts that could bring relief in the weeks ahead.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

10/05/2026

Trump Accounts and 529s keep coming up in the same conversation. Both put money aside for a child's future. The similarity ends there. One is designed for educational expenses, but the other is open-ended. College, a first home, retirement, or anything else.

#529

10/02/2026

The Big Mac Index turns forty this year. Forty years old and still fun to explain at parties. Check out what this classic burger can tell us about the purchasing power of our dollar.

10/01/2026

This Quarterly Recap summarizes market performance, major events and news from Q3 2026. Read more here:

Markets carried their momentum into the third quarter, with the S&P 500 finishing near record highs. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 5.1% below…

10/01/2026

🏠 Mortgage rates climbed above 7% last week, and more borrowers started looking for a different way in.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.12%, while adjustable-rate mortgages offered rates more than a percentage point lower. That difference helped push ARMs to 9.8% of all mortgage applications, up from 8.4% two weeks earlier.

🔑 The appeal is easy to understand: an ARM may offer a lower initial rate and monthly payment. But that rate doesn’t stay fixed forever. Once the initial period ends, it can adjust higher or lower depending on where rates are at that time.

Meanwhile, overall mortgage demand fell, with purchase applications down 1% for the week and refinancing applications down 3%.

A lower rate today can be tempting. What it does after the fixed period ends is the part worth thinking through before you sign.


Source:

As mortgage rates rise, borrowers are seeking savings in riskier, adjustable-rate mortgages that offer lower rates.