Clear Trail Advisors

Bonds have had anything but a quiet few years. From zero interest rates during COVID to the fastest hiking cycle in four decades, and now the possibility of a rate hike back on the table for late 2026, the fixed income market has been anything but predictable.

Matt Price breaks down why high-quality bonds still play a critical role in a retirement portfolio, where credit spreads stand today, and what higher interest rates actually mean for income opportunities going forward.

Read the full post: https://cleartrailadvisors.com/blog/bonds-have-been-anything-but-boring/

There are periods where this strategy leads and periods where it lags. We are not making a prediction about what other investors will do or when markets will reward or punish any given category. We do not think that is a helpful exercise as families approach and walk through retirement.

The case we are making is this: when a company can raise its dividend consistently year after year, a lot of good things have to be true about that business. Real cash flow. Disciplined management. A competitive position that is holding up. A growing dividend is more of a report card than a sales pitch. We focus on what the companies are doing, not what the market happens to think about them on a given Tuesday.

We also think retirement is fundamentally a cash flow exercise. You stop working, and something has to replace that income. Dividend growth investing fits naturally into that picture in a way that chasing price appreciation alone may not.

The recording from our recent virtual event on long-term cognitive health is now available to watch at your convenience.

Join Clear Trail Advisors and featured speaker Danielle Mitchell for a science-backed conversation on protecting your cognitive health for the years ahead. From the role of nutrition and supplements to the surprising connections between sleep, stress, and brain aging, this session is packed with actionable insights you can start applying today.

Watch the full recording: https://vimeo.com/1192328138?autoplay=1&muted=1&stream_id=Y2xpcHN8MjQyODYzODA4fGlkOmRlc2N8W10%3D

For those of you who have been to our office, there is a good chance you have seen this painting hanging in our conference room. George Washington, kneeling beside his horse. It has been there since we moved into our permanent office space earlier this year.

America turns 250 later this week, and this painting represents a lot of what we have to be thankful for as a country. Washington kneeling in that scene is not a man celebrating a victory. It is a man in a moment of dependence, asking for something he could not provide for himself.

We founded Clear Trail Advisors with faith, family, and freedom at the forefront of our minds. The faith to trust what is out of our hands. The importance of the families we serve and the family we come from. And the tremendous freedom we have in this country because our founding fathers were willing to kneel for something bigger than themselves.

On this special occasion, we are grateful for our country, and also the personal and professional trust that our valued clients have placed in our firm.

From all of us at Clear Trail Advisors, happy 4th of July.

A new type of savings account is coming this summer, and if you have young children or grandchildren, it is worth understanding before the doors open.

Think of the Trump accounts as a head start on retirement savings that begins at birth. The accounts are scheduled to become available on July 4, 2026.

Matt Price's recent blog breaks down everything families need to know, including:

- The $1,000 federal government contribution and how to claim it
- How annual contributions work and who can contribute
- How withdrawals are taxed and what creates tax-free basis
- The Roth conversion opportunity at age 18
- Where Trump Accounts and 529 plans make sense

Read the full blog: https://cleartrailadvisors.com/blog/trump-accounts-what-families-need-to-know/

Please join us in congratulating Skyler Seidman and Ale Seidman on their growing family! They recently welcomed their second child into the world, Kellen Christopher Seidman.

Skyler has been with Clear Trail Advisors since we launched last August, and he has made a real impact in that time. He is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about the families we get to serve. At Clear Trail Advisors, we ask that all team members take our client-first mentality seriously, and Skyler has been a great example of this. We are proud to have him on the team and happy to celebrate this new milestone for his family.

Please join us for our upcoming webinar as we sit down with Jeff Lanza, a leading cybersecurity expert.

Jeff spent over 20 years as an FBI Special Agent investigating cybercrime, organized crime, and terrorism. He has lectured at Harvard and Princeton, authored multiple books on cybersecurity and fraud, and is featured in a Netflix documentary about the FBI.

During this session, we will cover:
- How cybercriminals target individuals and what makes you a potential victim
- The most common scams and fraud schemes circulating today
- Practical steps to protect your personal information and financial accounts
- What to do if you believe your information has been compromised
- Simple habits that may help reduce your exposure to cybercrime

Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_95rvsgO0R4mc2JCkDsvS0g

We are proud to share that Matt Price has been named a 2026 Excellence Awardee by InvestmentNews. This recognition reflects the dedication and leadership Matt brings to our clients and team each and every day.

To our clients: it is a privilege to serve you. Thank you for the personal and professional trust you place in us. For those exploring our firm, we are honored to be considered. Our team specializes in retirement planning and investment management. Everyone has a unique story, and we hope to become an integral part of yours.



[The 2026 InvestmentNews Excellence Award is presented by InvestmentNews. Neither Clear Trail Advisors nor Matt Price paid a fee to participate or be considered for this award. This award does not reflect the investment performance of any client or guarantee future results. For more information, visit investmentnewsawards.com.]