The Financial Specialists, Inc.

10/15/2026

Today is the start of the Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs October 15th to December 7th annually for those already on Medicare. Now is the time to check your plan for any changes in co-pays, deductibles, coverages, doctors, covered medications… and compare costs. You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, go back to Original Medicare, add vision or dental, or make other choices for the 2027 benefit year. And remember, for many beneficiaries, Medicare premiums may be affected by income reported from prior tax years.

10/13/2026

Healthcare costs are on the rise, and your retirement plan should help ensure you have adequate funds dedicated to this, especially as you get older. Fidelity’s newest projections are $185,500 needed during retirement for healthcare by the average person who has reached age 65. This includes Medicare premiums, copayments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs, but does not include long-term care: https://bit.ly/46Z4bnT

Let’s talk about your retirement plan!

10/08/2026

WHERE you retire matters more than ever. Is your location on this list? 🏙️ This annual ranking by Fast Company compares four key factors, affordability, activities, quality of life, and healthcare, across more than 180 cities:

With retirement budgets under pressure, a new ranking compares U.S. cities on costs, healthcare, quality of life, and activities.

10/06/2026

A recent article in Psychology Today magazine lays out aspects of retirement you may not have thought about. From making plans to travel, spending time with family and friends, or exercising more, to finding ways to stay useful and relevant as well as financially sound, the subjects explored here are truly worth considering BEFORE you stop working: https://bit.ly/3UYY7sL

10/01/2026

October is Financial Planning Month, which is a great reminder to consider all of your financial matters comprehensively, as a whole. Make sure your plan includes retirement savings, a retirement income plan, savings for life milestone goals (wedding, house, kids’ college), insurance to help protect you from potential adverse life events, your budget, your investments, your legacy plan… everything related to your finances!

We’re here to help. Call us!

09/30/2026

Grandparents Day recognizes the important role grandparents play in their families, from offering guidance and support to helping raise the next generation.

For many, that support extends beyond spending time with children and grandchildren. It can also include helping with college education costs and making thoughtful decisions about the assets and wealth they hope to pass down.

How assets are managed, gifted, and passed down can have important implications for taxes, financial aid, and the financial well-being of future generations. Here are some considerations grandparents may want to keep in mind.

Grandparents play an important role in their families, from offering guidance and support to helping raise the next generation.

09/30/2026

Many people may procrastinate until the very end of the year, but fall is an optimal time to review your finances to uncover potential tax-saving moves. Essential fall strategies could include maximizing your retirement and HSA contributions, planning charitable gifts, tax-loss harvesting, and evaluating Roth conversions or business expenses. And of course, RMDs (required minimum distributions) must be taken from taxable retirement accounts by December 31 for those 73 or older.

Contact us today to review your strategy and explore potential opportunities to mitigate taxes before the busy holiday season. We are more than happy to team up with your CPA!

09/24/2026

Americans aren’t turning retirement plans into action. New research from LIMRA reveals that while many Americans approaching retirement have thought about how they will generate income, many have yet to create a formal retirement plan or seek professional guidance. Contact us today to start building a retirement strategy designed around your goals.

Nearly six in 10 pre-retirees consider themselves well prepared for retirement, while about four in 10 do not, new LIMRA research finds.

09/22/2026

Hello, autumn!🍁 Today marks the fall equinox, welcoming cooler weather and fresh opportunities. What activities do you look forward to most this time of year?

09/16/2026

Relying on Social Security alone may not provide the retirement lifestyle you envision. It was designed to supplement your retirement savings, not replace them, making it important to understand why having a comprehensive retirement strategy matters. Contact us today to discuss how you can build a personalized plan with the tools and strategies to help support your financial goals.

Four in every 10 American workers expect Social Security to be their main form of income when they retire, according to NFP. Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Kerry Hannon takes a closer look at these survey results.