Kenan Godfrey

10/09/2026

The American dream is getting more expensive—but are our paychecks keeping up? 💭

Homeownership, education for our children, healthcare, family vacations, and a comfortable retirement are all part of the dream many Americans are working toward. But as the cost of living continues to rise faster than salaries, achieving those goals is becoming harder for more and more families.

Understanding how money works is a crucial step toward making informed decisions, building a plan, and creating a stronger financial future.

What does the American dream mean to you—and what will it take to make it a reality? 🇺🇸

10/08/2026

What do Americans actually mean when they say “the American Dream”?

Surprisingly, it isn’t primarily about becoming wealthy.

Research highlighted in American Dream Sticker Shock found that Americans most often associate the Dream with:

Freedom.
Financial security.
Homeownership.
Opportunity.
A good family life.

One survey cited in the report found that 80% considered freedom of choice in how to live essential to the Dream.

76% said a good family life.

Only 17% identified becoming wealthy as essential.

That distinction matters.

For most people, the goal isn’t necessarily extravagance.

It’s having enough control over your finances that you can make choices for yourself and your family.

The problem?

Even that version of the American Dream has become increasingly expensive.

The new report asks a question every family should consider:

What does your version of the American Dream actually require financially?

And are you building toward it intentionally?

Read more here:
https://wealthwave.com/kenangodfrey/sticker-shock

10/06/2026

Here’s what makes financial planning difficult:

The target doesn’t stay still.

The first edition of American Dream Sticker Shock calculated the annual price tag at:

$130,357.

The new edition calculates:

$174,529.

That’s an increase of $44,172 per year over roughly a decade.

Some of the biggest increases identified in the report came from areas families cannot easily ignore:

Homeownership.
Healthcare.
Retirement.
Groceries.

And while wages increased too, the report argues that they did not keep pace with some of the expenses that matter most.

That should make all of us think.

A financial strategy that worked 10 years ago may not automatically work 10 years from now.

Your income needs can change
Your retirement target can change.
Your family responsibilities can change.

The question isn’t simply:

“Am I okay today?”

It’s also:

“Is my financial strategy capable of keeping up?”

That’s why financial education matters.
https://wealthwave.com/kenangodfrey/sticker-shock

10/05/2026

What happens to the family farm when the next generation takes over?

Without a plan, land that has been in a family for decades can end up divided, sold, or used for something completely different from the family’s original vision.

Estate planning isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about making decisions today that can help protect what your family has built for generations.

Whether it’s hundreds of acres, a family farm, or simply the family home, your legacy deserves a plan.

Start with the basics. Put the right documents in place. Make the decision.

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Building wealth isn’t just about having more money—it’s about having more choices.

The choice to work because you want to, not because you have to. The flexibility to pursue what matters to you. The freedom to say yes—or no—when life gives you an opportunity.

And it doesn’t have to start with a huge amount. Sometimes it starts with just $25 set aside consistently. Over time, those small decisions can create something much bigger: options for your future.

You don’t have to have it all figured out today. You just have to start.

Because ultimately, wealth isn’t just about the money. It’s about what that money can make possible.

09/30/2026

Think about who you were when you first bought life insurance.

Now think about your life today.

Maybe you got married.

Had children.

Bought a house.

Changed careers.

Earn significantly more.

Started a business.

Took responsibility for an aging parent.

Or maybe some responsibilities disappeared and your financial position became stronger.

Your life didn’t stand still.

But your policy may have.

Owning life insurance answers one question.

Whether it still fits your life is another.

A review doesn’t automatically mean buying something new.

It might confirm that everything is exactly where it should be.

It might reveal an outdated beneficiary.

A gap in coverage.

A workplace benefit you misunderstood.

Or simply a question you’ve never asked.

The goal isn’t more insurance.

The goal is understanding whether the protection you have still matches the people, responsibilities and future you have today.

09/28/2026

Financial success isn’t just about building wealth. It’s about building it in the right order.

There are 7 Money Milestones to understand:

1️⃣ Financial education
2️⃣ Proper protection
3️⃣ Emergency fund
4️⃣ Debt management
5️⃣ Cash flow
6️⃣ Build wealth
7️⃣ Protect wealth

Each Milestone has a purpose—and skipping steps can leave you building on an unstable foundation.

As the saying goes: “Protect the house before you decorate it.” 🏠

The goal isn’t to rush to the finish line. It’s to have a roadmap that gives you clarity, confidence, and a path forward.

09/28/2026

If your household lost its primary wage earner, how long could it cover the bills?

Nearly half of Americans, 47%, say they would have trouble paying living expenses within six months of their primary wage earner’s death.*

The mortgage, groceries, and tuition wouldn’t stop. Life insurance can help provide money to meet those needs while a family navigates loss.

Start with your actual monthly expenses. Compare them with available savings and existing coverage. Then consider how long that support would need to last.

It’s a difficult question. Answering it now can help you prepare for the people who depend on you.

*Source: 2026 Insurance Barometer Study, LIMRA and Life Happens.

09/24/2026

Most people think of their income as a number on a paycheck.

Your family experiences it very differently.

It’s the house they come home to.

The food in the refrigerator.

The activities your children love.

The college dreams you’re helping build.

The vacations, traditions, birthdays and ordinary Tuesdays that make up a life.

Your income quietly supports almost everything your family is building.

So one of the most important financial questions isn’t only:

What are we doing with our income today?

It’s:

What happens to everything depending on it if that income suddenly stops?

Building wealth takes years. A family’s need for protection exists right now.

Protecting income isn’t about expecting the worst.

It’s about recognizing what your work already makes possible and protecting the people who depend on it.