HSB Financial Planning

08/13/2026

There are so many reasons to create a will this month, but here are three big ones to consider:

Direct Your Property: Creating a will tells the courts how you want your property distributed. Without a will, state laws will determine how your estate is divided, which may not align with your intentions.

Provide instructions to the probate court: A will can help manage the probate process, providing instructions to the court.

Designate Guardianship for Minor Children: If you have minor children, a will allows you to appoint a guardian to care for them. This crucial step directs that your children are raised by someone you trust, rather than leaving the decision to the courts.

08/11/2026

🌞 Did you know schools in the South tend to start the school year the earliest? 🌞

📚 As the back-to-school season approaches, approximately 54.1 million K-12 students and 5.7 million teachers are gearing up to head back to classrooms this fall. 📚

🍎 Teachers are the largest group among the nearly 10 million individuals employed in the country's elementary and secondary schools, which also include principals, school bus monitors, teaching assistants, and janitors. 🚌👩‍🏫



Information from the U.S. Census Bureau

08/09/2026

Books have a way of opening doors to worlds we never expected to find. On National Book Lovers Day, we're celebrating all the readers, dreamers, and curious minds who know that the best adventure often starts on page one.

08/06/2026

Travel can feel very different once time is no longer tightly scheduled.

For many, it becomes less about fitting a trip into the calendar and more about deciding how they want to spend their time. Whether that means staying longer, traveling more often, or bringing family along, those choices often reflect years of thoughtful decisions.

It may be worth revisiting how travel fits into your overall approach—especially as priorities continue to evolve. Reach out to your financial professional to discuss how your strategy can support the adventures you've earned.

08/04/2026

Creating a will is crucial, but remember: life changes. When it does, so should your estate strategy. Regularly updating your will keeps it aligned with your current circumstances and wishes. Here are 7 reasons to revisit your will:

1️⃣ Family Changes: Marriage, divorce, births, or losses can impact your strategy.
2️⃣ Relocation: Different places, different laws.
3️⃣ Financial Shifts: Reflect on your current assets.
4️⃣ Executor/Trustee: Ensure they’re still the right choice.
5️⃣ Law Changes: Stay compliant and minimize taxes.
6️⃣ Beneficiary Updates: Reflect evolving relationships.
7️⃣ Time: Review every 3-5 years.

07/31/2026

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments. Illustration assumes Early Investor contributes $10,000 annually to a tax-deferred retirement account for ten years, while Late Investor contributes $10,000 annually for thirty years. Both accounts earn a hypothetical 6 percent annual rate of return. Consider your ability to make contributions over time before committing to a long-term strategy.

The early investor put in $100,000.
The late investor put in $300,000.

They ended up with nearly the same amount.

Let that sink in.

Starting early didn't just save money—it saved $200,000 in contributions. Same destination, a third of the effort. That's not a financial trick. That's time doing what money alone never can.

If you've been waiting for the "right time" to start investing, this chart is your sign. Save this post and share it with someone who needs to see it.

07/27/2026

Some Medicare beneficiaries may soon have access to GLP-1 medications for weight loss through a new temporary pilot program.

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program is scheduled to run from July 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. Eligible patients would pay a $50 monthly copay for certain covered GLP-1 medications.

This marks the first time Medicare will help pay for GLP-1 drugs prescribed solely for obesity, rather than only for certain other medical conditions.

Eligibility depends on several factors, including Medicare Part D coverage, enrollment in an eligible plan, prior authorization, clinical criteria, and whether the patient already receives GLP-1 coverage for another condition.

KFF estimates that 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries may meet the eligibility requirements.

One important detail: because the program is outside Medicare Part D coverage, the $50 copay does not count toward a patient’s deductible or yearly out-of-pocket cap.

For Medicare beneficiaries, this is a reminder that coverage changes can affect health care costs, prescription access, and household budgets.


Source:

For the first time, Medicare will cover GLP-1 drugs prescribed solely for weight loss for eligible beneficiaries at a $50 monthly copay.

07/26/2026

The House passed a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent across most of the United States.

The bill passed by a vote of 308-117 and would end the twice-a-year clock change if it becomes law.

Supporters say permanent daylight saving time would provide more evening daylight during the hours when many Americans are most active. They also point to potential benefits for families, outdoor activity, tourism, and local businesses.

Critics have raised concerns about darker winter mornings, especially for children waiting for school buses and parents commuting to work.

States could opt out if their legislatures act before the bill takes effect.

The bill still needs to pass the Senate before it can be signed into law, so the current clock-change system is not changing yet.

For households and businesses, the debate is a reminder that even something as routine as changing the clocks can affect schedules, safety, commuting, consumer behavior, and local economic activity.


Source:

The Senate would also have to pass the daylight saving time bill before it could be signed into law, but it’s unclear if it will do so.

07/24/2026

The price of a first-class Forever stamp rose from 78 cents to 82 cents on July 12.

The increase is part of a series of price hikes from the U.S. Postal Service, which has raised the cost of a first-class stamp several times in recent years.

USPS has cited financial losses, rising operating expenses, and declining mail volume as reasons for the latest increase.

Other postage costs also increased. Domestic postcards rose to 65 cents, while international postcards and letters rose to $1.75.

One important reminder: Forever stamps purchased before the increase still work after the price change. They continue to cover the current cost of one ounce of First-Class Mail postage.

For households and small businesses, postage may seem like a small expense — but recurring cost increases can add up over time, especially for anyone who still relies on mailed bills, invoices, cards, or client communications.


Source:

The cost of a first-class Forever stamp has climbed 41% since 2021, and postal officials have signaled they want prices to rise even more.

07/23/2026

A honeymoon can be a meaningful first trip as newlyweds — and a major expense.

According to a LendingTree survey cited by CNBC Select, the average couple spends $6,260 on their honeymoon.

The final cost can vary widely depending on the destination, length of stay, travel season, accommodations, flights, activities, and the kind of experience a couple wants.

Some couples use savings, delay the trip to give themselves more time to set money aside, use gifted money from a honeymoon fund, or redeem credit card rewards to help cover travel costs.

There are also extra expenses that can be easy to overlook, including foreign transaction fees, resort fees, peak-season pricing, upgrades, transportation, meals, excursions, and souvenirs.

For couples preparing for a big life milestone, the takeaway is simple: the headline price is only part of the story. Looking at the full cost of the trip can help make the experience feel more intentional from the start.


Source:

With the average cost of a honeymoon topping $6,000, these tools can help you pay for the trip.