Gardner Wallace Financial Solutions

As sundown approaches tomorrow, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year.

More than a simple celebration, this is a traditional season of deep introspection.

To hit pause, reflect honestly on the year that passed, and focus on what matters most: family, community, and our core values.

To all our clients, professional partners, and friends celebrating this weekend…

Shana Tova U'Metuka

May it be a healthy, peaceful, and deeply rewarding year for you and your loved ones.

🚨 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.

Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows.

🏠 Higher mortgage rates are pushing some homebuyers to look for lower-cost alternatives.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.79%, while the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 5.94%.

That gap is drawing more attention to ARMs, which made up 8% of mortgage applications last week, their highest share in five weeks.

🔑 The tradeoff is that an ARM’s rate can change later, which means the lower initial rate may come with more uncertainty down the road.

For buyers comparing mortgage options, it’s worth looking beyond the starting rate and understanding how the loan could change over time.

Demand for riskier mortgages rises along with interest rates Mortgage rates continue to rise, pushing some buyers to riskier, adjustable-rate loans in order to find savings. Rates are at the highest level since June 2025.

📌 Most families think they have until next June to file the FAFSA.

For a lot of state and school aid, that's already too late.

FAFSA for the 2027-28 school year is set to open on October 1.

The federal deadline runs through June 30, 2028, but most states and colleges set their own deadlines, some as early as January, and aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

File in October, and you're near the front of the line. Wait until spring, and the aid you were counting on may already be spoken for.

Tip: Create your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov before October 1 arrives, ahead of the day-one rush.

If you have a student applying to college this year, make a note in your calendar.

Do you know who just took the helm of the Fed?

Kevin Warsh is the new Federal Reserve Chair, though most people have never heard his name. Unlike his predecessors, he doesn't have an academic background. He spent the last decade and a half at a private investment firm, not in a university lecture hall.

He's already signaling a different approach, promising shorter statements and more transparency in how the Fed communicates.

That matters more than it might seem. The Fed Chair's decisions ripple through the economy, affecting everything from mortgage rates to car loans to credit cards.

Lately, we've heard one question more than any other: What does this mean for me? Honestly, it depends on your situation. But knowing who's steering the ship is where smart financial decisions start.

What's your biggest question about this shift at the Fed?

A long weekend gives us space to step back from work and reflect on the life we are building.

We honor the work our clients have done to build what they have. And we help make sure it actually serves their lives.

🗽 Wishing you and your family a meaningful Labor Day weekend.

Recent data regarding men's health highlight a critical reality that deserves closer attention:

1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, it stands as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in U.S. men. While that statistic is stark, the turnaround potential is incredible:

🚀 When caught early, the 5-year survival rate exceeds 99 percent.

Here are the most critical facts to know about risk and prevention:

◾ The Age Factor: Approximately 6 in 10 cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older.

◾ Family History: Risk increases for individuals with a father or brother who has battled the disease.

◾ The Silent Nature: Early-stage prostate cancer rarely shows any symptoms at all, making proactive screening the ultimate defense.

The American Cancer Society recommends speaking with a healthcare provider to make informed decisions about testing. This conversation typically begins at age 50 for average-risk individuals and earlier (around age 40 to 45) for those with a strong family history.

Consider sharing this information with a colleague, friend, or family member who might need a reminder to prioritize their next check-up.

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.

Gen Xers fret over the future of Social Security. "I will likely be working in retirement." Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

🏈 Football season is almost here, and all 32 NFL teams are bringing something new to the field.

From offseason moves and fresh faces to shifting expectations across every division, there’s no shortage of storylines heading into 2026.

The season opens with the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl 60 rematch, and that’s just the beginning.

Whether you’re following your hometown team, setting a fantasy lineup, or just counting down to Sundays on the couch, now’s a great time to catch up on what changed during the offseason.

🏆 Which team are you watching most closely this season?

2026 NFL Kickoff guide: Everything you need to know for the upcoming season NBC Sports has 32 team previews full of stats, storylines and projections that could shape your favorite team’s season.

👉 Roughly 56 percent of IPOs bought at the offer price lost money after 3 years.

That's not the headline you see on day one.

You see the first-day pop. The company goes public, and its stock has averaged a 19 percent gain since 1980. Feels like a moment you should catch.

Here's what actually happens:

1️⃣ Institutional investors get the offering price before trading opens.

2️⃣ You buy at market open, after the move.

Then the real story starts.

🔎 This gap is based on research led by Professor Jay R. Ritter, who authored a 2026 report on IPO performance for the University of Florida. His analysis of 9,300 U.S. IPOs is one of the most comprehensive databases available.

Chasing IPOs can provide a thrill, but there are pros and cons.

A sound portfolio should reflect an investor's goals, risk, and time horizon. The risks of an IPO are not for everyone. 🎯

📋 Past performance does not guarantee future results. The return and principal value of IPOs and other stocks will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.