Alyssa Lueck, Financial Advisor, Strategic Wealth Solutions

What a $5 Frappuccino can teach your teen about building wealth:

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and here's a number worth sharing at the dinner table.

If your teen opens a Roth IRA at 18 with $1,000 from a part-time job and adds $1,000 a year, that single account could be worth nearly $500,000 by age 65. Tax-free. Think they can't save $1,000 a year? Skipping the daily Frappuccino more than covers it. But the best financial education isn't about the math. It's about real decisions with real consequences.

A few things that actually work:

✅ Hand them cash instead of a credit card for shopping. Let them keep what they don't spend.

✅ Give them a clothing budget for the year. If they blow it by October, that's the lesson.

✅ Have the college money talk before they fall in love with a school. As one counselor put it, "Have the conversation before they buy the hoodie."

✅ With the Roth IRA, you can show them that there are certain rules with certain accounts. For example, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Also, tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

Please consult with a tax and finance professional before making any decisions.



Sources:
-https://www.calculator.net/roth-ira-calculator.html?cstartingprinciple=1%2C000&cannualaddition=1%2C000&cmax=n&cinterestrate=8&ccurrentage=18&cretirementage=65&ctaxtrate=25&printit=0&x=Calculate -ira-result
-https://www.ngpf.org/blog/advocacy/how-many-states-require-students-to-take-a-personal-finance-course-before-graduating-from-high-school-is-it-6-or-is-it-21/

Market timing is one of the most common (and costly) mistakes investors make.

The reality? The market’s best days often come right after the worst ones. If you’re sitting on the sidelines, you risk missing the recovery.

Instead of trying to predict every move, focus on what actually drives results:
✔ Staying invested
✔ Having a disciplined strategy
✔ Making thoughtful adjustments—not emotional ones

This is where active management truly makes a difference. In 2025, the best single day of the entire year happened on April 9, right in the middle of the tariff volatility. Missing just that one day would’ve slashed your full year return by more than half.

Volatility doesn’t create risk, it reveals it.

When markets get choppy, emotions tend to take over. But reacting emotionally by selling low, chasing trends, or trying to time the market can derail even the best plan.

A disciplined strategy, paired with active guidance, helps you stay aligned with your long-term goals, no matter what the headlines say.

This is where having the right advisor truly matters. You should be hearing from your advisor, understanding your positioning, and feel confident in your plan. If not, it may be time to explore a different approach.

Thinking about retirement? You're not alone, and the numbers might give you something to think about.

From how much people rely on Social Security to what retirees actually spend, these stats highlight why it’s important to look at the full picture. It’s not about having every answer, it’s about starting a conversation that helps you feel more confident about what’s ahead.

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💬 Questions? I’m always here to talk things through

Grateful for the clients we serve and the new faces we’ve had the privilege to meet this year. Your trust, conversations, and goals inspire everything we do.

Wishing you and your families a warm and happy Thanksgiving!

There’s a lot happening under the surface of the market right now. While the headlines often focus on a handful of large companies, we’re seeing meaningful shifts in other sectors. Some strengthening, some slowing, and some just starting to show signs of life.

This is exactly where active management proves its value. It allows us to:
• adjust when conditions change
• look beyond the biggest names
• manage risk intentionally
• take advantage of new opportunities as they appear

Passive investing simply tracks the index. Active management helps you navigate it.
We’re not in a “set it and forget it” market environment. Your advisor should be proactively discussing how current market conditions may affect your portfolio and what thoughtful adjustments may be appropriate based on your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Crypto isn’t going away — is your advisor talking to you about it?

In August, the current administration signed an executive order allowing alternative assets including digital currencies, private equity, and real estate to be made available within 401(k) plans.

At the same time, investors already have the ability to hold certain crypto assets in self-directed IRAs or Roth IRAs, creating new options for diversification within retirement portfolios.

Digital assets have experienced periods of strong performance compared to traditional stocks and bonds, which has led many investors to ask how, and if, crypto could play a responsible role in a diversified strategy.

Most professionals agree that if crypto is considered, it should represent only a modest portion of your overall allocation, based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and other income sources.

This isn’t about chasing returns, it’s about staying informed and understanding how evolving asset classes may fit into your long-term plan, within your comfort zone and risk profile.

💬 Is your advisor having these conversations with you?
If not, you might be missing out on discussions around what could be, not just what is.



https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/17/what-experts-say-about-adding-crypto-to-retirement-savings-accounts.html

📢 Tax update alert! The IRS just announced the inflation-adjusted brackets & standard deductions for the 2026 tax year (filing in 2027).
✔️ Tax rates stay the same (10–37 %)
✔️ Income thresholds go up to protect against “bracket creep”
✔️ Standard deduction now:
• Single: $16,100
• Married filing jointly: $32,200
• Head of household: $24,150

Now’s a perfect time to revisit your financial plan: retirement contributions ✅, tax-efficient investing ✅, smart year-end moves ✅.

Want to see what this means for your strategy? Let’s talk.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/09/2026-federal-tax-brackets.html

💡 Mindset Shift:
Most people save what’s left after they spend.
True wealth builders do the opposite — they spend what’s left after they save.

This timeless Warren Buffett reminder isn’t just about money — it’s about priorities. Pay yourself first, automate your savings, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

A government shutdown sounds dramatic — but here’s the reality 👇

• Federal offices close or cut hours
• Some services pause, parks & museums may close
• Workers could face furloughs or late pay
• Social Security + mail still go out

Markets may wobble on headlines, but historically they’ve looked past shutdowns. 📊 Stay the course, stay informed, and don’t panic over short-term noise.

📌 If this news has you wondering about your investments or financial plan, let’s talk. Reach out to review your portfolio and ensure you’re prepared — no matter what Washington does next.