Sam File at Principal Financial Group

The IRS has announced new contribution limits for 2026!

If you're currently maxing out your retirement account(s), or intend to next year, here's what you need to know:

🔸IRA/Roth IRA Contributions:
$7,000➡️$7,500

🔸IRA/Roth IRA Catch-Up Contributions (Age 50+):
+$1,000➡️$1,100

🔸401(k) Deferral:
$23,500➡️$24,500

🔸401(k) Catch-Up (Age 50+):
+$7,500➡️$8,000

🔸Extra 401(k) Catch-Up (Age 60-63):
+$11,250 [No Change]

Have you thought about how this impacts your retirement goals?

IRS unveils 2026 IRA contribution limits, raises savings cap cnbc.com

Are Your Money Habits Built to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast?

I've watched every season of Survivor (through S42), so it's safe to say I'm a fan of the show. What strikes me is that success in the game isn't about strength. Instead, it's about strategy, adaptability, and foresight. The players who win anticipate challenges, manage resources wisely, and think long-term. [I can name a dozen examples of these players.]

Your finances works the same way.

Outwit: Are you planning for the future, not just today?

Outplay: Can you adapt when life throws curveballs?

Outlast: Are you building habits that endure for the long game?

In Survivor, short-term moves can cost you a million dollars. In life, short-term thinking can cost you peace of mind.

1) What's your strategy, are you playing the short game or the long game with your money?
2) Who's your favorite survivor player?

If you've left an employer in the past, you may have a retirement account somewhere that you're unaware of.

It's important to know where your money is and that it's helping work towards your financial goals.

Do you know where your money is?

Millions of 401(k)s Are Left Behind, and It’s Costing Workers nerdwallet.com

The default method for taking income in retirement may not be the most suitable for your plan.

Some individuals plan to draw a set percentage each year from their Retirement Account(s) (employer &/or individual) and collect Social Security.

Every persons retirement looks different, as do the assets they'll utilize to fund that section of life. Thus, it's important that your plan for income in retirement is personalized. This article sheds some light on that.

If you're curious if your plan is up to date and on track, reach out to me.

I'm 63 With $1.35 Million in My IRA and a $2,200 Social Security Check. What's My Retirement Budget? yahoo.com

AI is the talk of the town. Will this technology come to replace a new generation of workers?

Gen Z brings exactly what our industry needs: digital fluency, fresh perspectives, and strong relationship-building skills. While AI can help us work more efficiently, it can't replace the human connection that's central to financial services.

Powerful insights from Amy Friedrich's Forbes article on Gen Z and AI in the workforce. In financial services, we're seeing firsthand that success isn't about AI replacing talent, it's about finding ways to incorporate the technology into new models.

Gen-Z Workforce: AI Can't Replace A Critical Generation In The Talent Pipeline forbes.com

A point I hear all the time from younger generations is that buying a home seems unattainable. Despite this, Millennials and Gen-Z are actively saving for a future home purchase.

Buying a home may not be my area of expertise, but this article helps shed light on some important considerations when looking at a home purchase.

How To Regret-Proof Your Home Purchase nerdwallet.com

Employees change jobs every 4 years on average, making it likely that many have had several jobs before their current role. But retirement savings don't always stay strong through those transitions.

Individuals: Review your financial plan regularly to ensure it's up to date with the new variables in your life.

Business Owners: Explore the hurdles savers face and how automatically enrolling new and existing employees can make all the difference.

https://livesocial.seismic.com/MZA5A https://livesocial.seismic.com/aLmhZ9