Clifford Financial Planning, Inc.

09/22/2026

🏠 Higher mortgage rates are pushing some homebuyers to look for lower-cost alternatives.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.79%, while the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 5.94%.

That gap is drawing more attention to ARMs, which made up 8% of mortgage applications last week, their highest share in five weeks.

🔑 The tradeoff is that an ARM’s rate can change later, which means the lower initial rate may come with more uncertainty down the road.

For buyers comparing mortgage options, it’s worth looking beyond the starting rate and understanding how the loan could change over time.

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Source:

Mortgage rates continue to rise, pushing some buyers to riskier, adjustable-rate loans in order to find savings. Rates are at the highest level since June 2025.

09/16/2026

Most officials penciled in one more increase this year. An energy shock and a surge of AI investment have reshaped the inflation outlook.

09/15/2026

09/09/2026

The wait is finally over, football fans!

The new season promises to deliver all the excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments we cherish. Whether you're rooting for your favorite team or simply enjoying the thrill of the game, it's time to gather your friends, fire up the grill, and prepare for some incredible touchdowns and heart-stopping finishes.

💰Here are some fun money facts about the NFL:

🏈The Dallas Cowboys boast a valuation of $13 billion.
🏈During the 2025 season, the NFL generated over $14 billion, surpassing the combined central revenues of the NBA, MLB, and NHL.
🏈The Green Bay Packers hold the distinction of being the only NFL team operated as a nonprofit.
🏈Patrick Mahomes currently has the largest NFL contract, worth $504.7 million ($63.1 million per year).
🏈Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are both in the race to become the first players in NFL history to reach $400 million in career on-field earnings.
🏈Streaming services such as Amazon generated $488.1 million in NFL ad revenue, while Netflix earned $112.8 million for its holiday advertising slots.

Share your thoughts in the comments on which team you believe will reach the Super Bowl this year.🏆

Let the games begin!

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09/08/2026

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.

09/01/2026

Welcome September!

September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to celebrate everything that's possible, reachable, and worth pursuing. This year's theme, Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself, resonates with so many of the conversations we have with clients every day.

Whether you're thinking about a new chapter in retirement, taking steps to proactively manage your health, or simply reassessing what matters most, transformation doesn't have an age limit.

What is one new goal or habit you are pursuing this month? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

Wishing you a happy and healthy September!

08/19/2026

A record number of U.S. adults under 35 are living with their parents, according to a recent Realtor.com study.

In 2025, 25.2 million adults under 35 lived at home, a higher share than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many are working, but wages are not always keeping up with the cost of living. Among adults ages 25 to 34 who live at home, roughly 7 in 10 have jobs.

Housing affordability is a major factor. Higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, rent, student loan payments, car payments, and everyday expenses can make living independently harder to sustain.

For some families, moving back home may be a way to reduce expenses, rebuild savings, or create more breathing room before taking the next step.

The broader takeaway is that financial independence does not always follow a straight timeline. Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping what adulthood, housing, and household decisions look like for many families.


Source:

One woman in her mid-30s said her $60,000 annual income wasn't enough to cover all her bills after a breakup, leading her to move back home.

08/12/2026

📱 Be honest: where are you reading this post right now?New data shows exactly where we use our cell phones the most. The top spot isn't even close!

Whether we are walking the dog or sitting at a restaurant, our phones are always within arm's reach.

👇 Drop a comment below! Are you sitting on the couch, hiding at work, or somewhere else entirely? Let's see who matches the stats!

08/11/2026

Please talk to your Financial Planner before you get sucked into spending money on viral 'back-to-school' trends.

☎️ (707) 526-1203

Students and parents are breaking their back-to-school budgets thanks to inflation and social-media trends.

08/07/2026

The Common Cents Act has passed the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The bill is tied to the phase-out of the penny and would create a national rounding standard for cash transactions.

Under the proposal, cash purchases would be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents when exact change is not available.

For example, a purchase totaling $10.02 would round down to $10.00, while a purchase totaling $10.04 would round up to $10.05.

Pennies would still retain their value under the act, even as the Treasury stopped minting them.

The bill is especially relevant for businesses that handle cash, including restaurants and retailers, because it could reduce confusion and legal risk around exact change.

For consumers and businesses, the broader takeaway is that even small changes in currency rules can affect daily transactions, checkout systems, and cash-handling practices.


Source:

New law aims to address how businesses and consumers should transact amid the phase-out of the penny.