Benestar Financial

10/09/2026

How do you define financial success? If you’re setting financial goals, it helps to define what it means to you! Everyone is different so make your goals your own! Need some tips? Look no further:

To set and reach financial goals: 1. Start by finding your 'why' 2. Focus on the basics 3. Use the 'SMART' goals framework 4. Write your goals down 5. Make treating yourself a part of the plan

10/05/2026

🌴 More Americans are deciding that enjoying life now matters just as much as making financial progress for later.

A recent SoFi survey found that 72% of Americans would be willing to make slower progress toward their financial goals so they can spend more time with family, travel more, and prioritize meaningful experiences.

That doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning long-term goals. In fact, 59% of respondents said enjoying life is how they define financial progress, compared with 27% who pointed to owning a home.

The challenge is finding a balance between what matters now and what matters later. ✈️ That can mean making room for a vacation, concert, or family event while still keeping an eye on retirement savings and debt.

But charge that trip to a credit card and carry a balance, and interest can turn a two-week memory into a much longer bill.

What does financial progress look like to you: reaching the next milestone, enjoying more of life now, or some mix of both?


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SoFi found 72% of Americans are willing to make slower progress on financial goals to prioritize family, travel and meaningful experiences.

10/02/2026

As you think about working toward financial independence, should you prioritize paying off debt or saving for retirement? Optimally, both! This resource offers some insight on the benefits of both, check it out!

Paying off debt and investing are both important financial goals, but which should take priority? Learn what factors to consider when making your decision.

09/28/2026

Figuring out how much life insurance you need means considering several factors, including any debt, expected college expenses, and how much you’d like to leave your loved ones.

Use our life insurance calculator to figure out how much term or whole life insurance coverage you need. Plus, learn more tips for choosing the right amount in 2026.

09/28/2026

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.


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Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

09/25/2026

Having an emergency fund to cover a financial emergency is bedrock to any financial foundation. If you don’t have one yet, there is still time! Want to know how much you should have saved? Click to read more!

09/23/2026

Tailgating party menus can often lean towards fatty meats, mayo-based salads, and deep-fried snacks. If you’re looking to limit your calories or just want to keep things on the healthier side, check out this article for 6 tips to tailgate the healthy way.

Whether you’re tailgating at the big game or gathering with family at home, it’s easy to swap in healthier versions of everyone’s favorite game-day foods.

09/21/2026

Some employer-sponsored life insurance plans end when you leave the company. Investopedia offers intel on why you may need your employer’s policy plus an individual one.

Employer-provided life insurance is often inexpensive or free, but it may not provide enough. Learn how to determine whether to you should purchase additional coverage.

09/21/2026

A carton of milk 🥛. A set of golf clubs ⛳. A bottle of perfume 🌸. All three just got pricier to send north into Canada. 🍁

Canada's new tariffs on $20 billion in American goods took effect this week, ranging from 15 to 50 percent depending on the product.

It's the latest move in a trade dispute that's dragged on for more than a year between two of the world's largest trading partners.

The ripple effects won't directly affect most household budgets. But they're a reminder that global headlines and everyday costs are more connected than they seem.

That connection, and what it might mean for your own situation, is exactly the kind of thing we're keeping an eye on for you.


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Canada's steep retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion in U.S. goods took effect just after midnight ET on Tuesday, deepening the trade war between the two countries.

09/18/2026

Having and following a well defined budget is instrumental to the foundation of financial independence. Here are tips on how to build a rock-solid budget to set yourself up for success as you set out on your journey of financial freedom!

To budget money: 1. Figure out your after-tax income 2. Choose a budgeting system 3. Track your progress 4. Automate your savings 5. Practice budget management