Shana Hudson, CFP

Maxing out a workplace retirement plan is not as automatic as it used to be.

If you’re 50+ and earned more than $150,000 in 2025 from the employer sponsoring your plan, your 2026 age-based catch-up contributions to a 401(k), 403(b) or governmental 457(b) generally must be made on a Roth basis.

That shift can affect take-home pay, withholding and the balance between pretax and tax-free assets you’re building for retirement. It also means the contribution strategy that worked last year may deserve another look this year.

If you’re trying to maximize retirement savings, now is a good time to confirm how your plan is handling the new rule and whether the rest of your tax strategy still fits around it.

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Strong markets can hide weak spots in a financial plan.

If volatility increases in the months ahead, the real question is not whether markets decline. It is whether that decline would force you to change your spending, investment strategy or long term goals at the worst possible time.

A resilient plan considers diversification, cash reserves, income needs and time horizon before conditions become uncomfortable.

Now may be a good time to stress test yours.

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Summer has a way of bringing us back to the reason behind the plan.

More time together, slower moments and family traditions remind us that wealth is not only about what we build. It is about making sure the people we love are cared for, even when we are no longer able to guide them ourselves.

A thoughtful estate plan can help make your wishes clear by coordinating wills, trusts, beneficiaries, powers of attorney, health care directives and access to important information.

Let this season be a reminder to make sure your plan reflects your why.

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The best legacy plans pass down more than wealth.

Strong markets can hide weak spots in a financial plan.

If volatility increases in the months ahead, the real question is not whether markets decline. It is whether that decline would force you to change your spending, investment strategy or long term goals at the worst possible time.

A resilient plan considers diversification, cash reserves, income needs and time horizon before conditions become uncomfortable.

Now may be a good time to stress test yours.

https://bit.ly/4bWWFN7

Most people review their investments more often than the insurance protecting everything around them.

As wealth, property, family responsibilities and career circumstances evolve, gaps can quietly emerge across life, disability, long-term care, homeowners, auto, flood and umbrella coverage. Employer-provided protection may also disappear after a job change.

Protecting what you care about most begins with reviewing the full picture.

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You don’t have to agree on every dollar, but you do need to agree on where you’re headed.

One of the biggest education planning mistakes is waiting until college is close.

A thoughtful strategy considers more than how much to save. It coordinates account selection, tax advantages, family contributions and cash flow while protecting your own retirement goals.

Back-to-school season is a timely reminder to ensure both futures are being planned for.

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Bond investors may not need falling rates to find opportunity.

With yields still elevated, income is once again doing more of the work. But in a higher-for-longer environment, quality, diversification and careful selection matter.

It may be worth reviewing whether your fixed income strategy is positioned for what comes next.

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Stop postponing your life for a future that was never promised.