Municipal Bonds: Compare the Income After Understanding the Tax Treatment
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s current investor materials distinguish tax-exempt municipal bonds, taxable municipal bonds, and bonds with alternative-minimum-tax considerations. As households review income choices in October 2026, that distinction is a useful reminder: municipal does not automatically mean tax-free for every investor. The planning question concerns the specific security, the account holding it, and […]
What Acquisition Headlines Leave Out of a Business Owner’s Financial Plan
In its August 5, 2026 earnings release, Eli Lilly reported completed acquisitions including Orna Therapeutics, Ajax Therapeutics, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and Kelonia Therapeutics. Such announcements describe corporate transactions. For an entrepreneur considering a sale, they also provide a reason to examine the planning work behind a transition from business ownership to personal investment capital. A public […]
Business Lending Conditions: Review the Household Exposure Behind the Company
The Federal Reserve’s July 2026 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey examines changes in lending standards, loan terms, and demand during the preceding three months. Those are separate dimensions of credit conditions. For a business owner, a discussion about interest rates alone may overlook important questions about access to financing and the obligations behind it. A […]
Before Year-End: Coordinate Portfolio Decisions and Tax Questions
Title: Before Year-End: Coordinate Portfolio Decisions and Tax Questions Focus keyword: year-end tax planning Subheading: How to Coordinate Investment Sales, Tax Questions, and Charitable Giving Before Year-End Image: 12-year-end-tax-planning.jpg With the end of the 2026 tax year approaching, households with taxable investments have a reason to gather the information behind their next portfolio decisions. IRS […]
Changing Bond Yields and the Retirement Income Calendar
The Federal Reserve’s September 2026 rate increase renewed attention to interest rates. For a retiree, the planning question is more specific: How do the portfolio’s payments and maturity dates relate to the dates on which the household needs to spend? A yield figure alone cannot answer that question. Current income, market value, and future reinvestment […]
2026 Retirement Contribution Limits: Turn the Numbers Into a Year-End Review
The IRS set the 2026 employee deferral limit for 401(k) plans at $24,500 and the IRA contribution limit at $7,500. Those figures, announced on November 13, 2025, apply to the 2026 tax year. As year-end approaches, they offer a concrete reason to compare planned contributions with what has actually reached the relevant accounts. A published […]
Planning for a Market Pullback Before You Need to React
October’s planning conversations follow a September Federal Reserve rate increase and a new U.S. inflation report. Those developments give investors economic information to assess, but they do not establish when equities will fall or recover. Preparing for a market pullback is a separate task from predicting one. The SEC’s asset-allocation guidance emphasizes the importance of […]
Earnings Season and Employer Stock: Look Beyond the Share Price
JPMorganChase’s October 2026 third-quarter earnings cycle is one example of the corporate reporting calendar that puts company performance in front of investors. For employees holding shares in their own employer, earnings season also creates a reason to examine how compensation, employment, and investments fit together. The planning issue extends beyond any one company. A quarterly […]
When a Market Rally Leaves Your Portfolio More Concentrated
A rising account balance can obscure an important change: more of the household’s wealth may now depend on fewer investments. The SEC’s investor guidance identifies diversification as a way to spread exposure across investments. In an October portfolio review, that principle can be particularly useful after an investor’s strongest holdings have increased substantially. This article […]
Consumer Spending Rose in August: Questions for Families and Business Owners
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on September 30 that U.S. personal consumption expenditures increased 0.9% in August 2026. After adjusting for prices, spending increased 0.6%. Disposable personal income rose 0.3% in current dollars, while real disposable income was unchanged. These measures describe different parts of the household picture. For families and business owners, the […]