Timothy J. Gandy Vice President - Investments Financial Advisor

11/02/2026

🌌 Astronomers just detected the most distant blazar ever observed, and its light has been traveling toward us for 8 billion years.

Known as Blazar OP 313, it’s powered by a supermassive black hole feeding on surrounding material and launching jets of plasma at nearly the speed of light. Because one of those jets points almost directly toward Earth, we see an especially intense burst of energy.

The light reaching us today shows the blazar as it existed about 5 billion years after the Big Bang, when stars and galaxies were forming at an extraordinary pace.

🔭 By studying its high-energy gamma rays, researchers can learn more about how supermassive black holes accelerated particles and shaped their surroundings during an earlier chapter of cosmic history.

Eight billion years later, that ancient signal is still teaching us something new about the universe. ✨



Source:

"Around 11 billion years ago, the universe experienced a period of peak activity known as the 'Cosmic noon,' characterized by an intense rate of star and galaxy formation."

11/01/2026

Treasury yields pulled back from their recent highs after a strong auction eased some concerns about demand for government debt.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5.35%, its highest level since 2002, before easing following the Treasury's sale of $39 billion in 10-year notes.

Demand at the auction was stronger than average, particularly from indirect bidders such as global central banks, which accounted for 80.3% of the sale, compared with a 10-auction average of 72.4%.

The broader backdrop is still one of elevated yields, with investors weighing persistent inflation, rising energy prices, and expectations that the Federal Reserve may raise rates again before year-end.

For now, the auction offered a little reassurance that demand for longer-term Treasurys remains strong even as yields sit near multidecade highs.



Source:

U.S. Treasury yields came off their highs after a solid sale of 10-year notes.

10/31/2026

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.

10/30/2026

🎃 Filling the candy bowl is costing more this year.

Candy and chewing gum prices have climbed 8.1% over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chocolate prices are up, too, though estimates vary by source. 🍫

But higher prices aren’t necessarily keeping Americans out of the candy aisle.

The National Retail Federation expects Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion this year, with 96% of Halloween shoppers expecting to buy sweets.

For many households, the holiday is one of those small traditions worth making room for, even when everyday expenses are taking a bigger bite out of their budgets.

Whether you’re picking up candy for trick-or-treaters or sneaking a few pieces for yourself, what’s the one Halloween candy you can’t resist? 🍬👻



Source:

Average prices for chewing gum and candy have soared 8.1% over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

10/30/2026

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.

10/29/2026

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.

10/28/2026

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.

10/27/2026

AI & You in 2027

10/26/2026

A gas station convenience store may not sound like an obvious place for a weekend destination.

But in Lakeville, Minnesota, The Farmer’s Cellar has turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into an upscale restaurant and hidden speakeasy.

The business, which includes the speakeasy, convenience store, and gas station, brought in almost $5 million in revenue during its first year. The speakeasy alone generated just over $1.7 million from its opening in May 2025 through April.

The concept stands out at a time when restaurant costs remain elevated, and many consumers are treating dining out as more of a special occasion.

For small businesses, the story highlights the value of location, creativity, and customer experience, even in unexpected places.


Source:

Tony Donatell turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into a sophisticated speakeasy, The Farmer's Cellar. Inside, it's still the "roaring twenties."

10/25/2026

🚨 Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and the financial toll is growing.

Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses last year, up 25% from the year before. And the real number may be much higher, since many victims never report what happened.

⚠️ The problem is also widespread: 98% of Americans surveyed said they believe scammers have targeted them, and 3 in 10 said they’ve personally lost money or information.

Recovering stolen funds can be difficult, especially when someone is tricked into authorizing a payment. Victims may also be targeted again by criminals claiming they can recover the original loss for a fee.

🔐 If someone contacts you unexpectedly about money, an investment, or recovering funds you’ve already lost, slow down before sending anything. Verify who you’re dealing with through a trusted source, and be especially cautious if there’s pressure to act quickly.


Source:

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows.