Financial Planning Resources

The post-Memorial Day holiday trading week was short but potent as stocks delivered more record gains while confidence grew that a peace deal would materialize. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq...

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According to a Fidelity article, for the ‘25-’26 school year, the average published all-in cost at a 4-year public school for out-of-state students is $45,780, and the average private school costs $60,920.

So, because today is 529 Day (it’s 5/29, get it? 😂), it’s a good time to revisit one of the most flexible tools for tackling those numbers.

What 529 plans actually do:

📚 Tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. State tax treatment will vary, and so will fees and expenses.

📚 Use them for college, trade school, K-12 tuition, and apprenticeships. A 529 can even repay up to $10,000 in student loans.

📚 Whether a 529 qualifies for a state tax deduction will depend on your state of residence, as state tax laws and treatment may vary from federal tax laws.

📚 Superfund up to $95,000 in a single year by using five years of gift tax exclusions at once. But remember if you make nonqualified distributions, earnings will be subject to income tax and a 10 percent federal penalty tax.

📚 Minimal impact on financial aid—parent-owned 529s are assessed at a maximum rate of 5.6 percent.

Grandparents, parents, aunts, or uncles can contribute.

And starting in 2026, the K-12 annual withdrawal limit doubles to $20,000.

The best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is now.

Stocks bounced back last week as enthusiasm for the AI trade continued and rumors of a Middle East peace agreement bolstered investor optimism. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.88 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

Weekly Market Insights | Markets Shrug Off Chip Worries, Finish Strong

Yes, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. But let's not forget what this day is really about.

Today, we remember those who gave everything. The men and women who served and never came home.

Some of us knew them. Some of us are here because of them.

However you spend today, take a moment to pause. Enjoy the long weekend, but hold space for what it actually means.

To the families carrying that loss: we honor them with you.

Cap and gown season is here. 🎓

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to every graduate walking across a stage this month! 🥳 🥳

The late nights, the stress, the uncertainty about what comes next have all led to this moment.

To the parents and grandparents in the audience pretending they're not emotional: we get it. ❤️

For the new grads, a few things to consider as you start this next chapter:

➡️ Start investing as early as possible, even if it's small. Time is the one advantage you won't get back.

➡️ If your employer offers a retirement plan with a company match, take it. It's free money.

➡️ Build an emergency fund before you worry about investing. Three months of expenses is a good first goal.

➡️ Understand your student loans: what you owe, the interest rates, and when payments start.

➡️ Your first budget doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to exist.

The financial habits you build now will help form the foundation for your future.

Congrats, Class of 2026. 👏

A rare wildlife moment is drawing attention in Chicago.

Two bald eagle hatchlings were recently spotted in a nest at Park 597 along the Calumet River on the city’s Southeast Side. Officials believe this may be Chicago’s first successful wild bald eagle breeding in more than a century.

The discovery is especially meaningful given the bald eagle’s long recovery story. Habitat loss and insecticide contamination once caused the species’ population to decline sharply, but conservation efforts helped support its comeback over the past several decades.

Park 597 has also gone through its own transformation. The site was previously home to a city water treatment plant, but restoration work improved the natural habitat.

Now, the appearance of two eaglets offers a hopeful reminder of how restored green spaces can support wildlife, even in the middle of a major city.


https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bald-eagles-hatchlings-5286956741af6943f305731cf9afe195?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tCUdl3qejc8Y90wDLxVO9CkcOzrNPVdH57yHEKuLXKOJyO2y__akusQMXcOHyslcvAH7UhnA3j_ZOv-h0DuyyraMI68l0OpFneTi-Bu1ztzADbuM&_hsmi=419179541&utm_content=418835828&utm_source=hs_email

Who else has a pet that runs the household? 🙋

May is National Pet Month, and whether it's a dog 🐕, a cat 🐈, or something with scales or feathers, pets have a way of taking over.

They love us unconditionally. They give us so much joy. They are a big part of the fabric of our families.

They also can cost more than we expected, require more preparation than we anticipated, and somehow we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

If you have one, or three, or had one in the past, then you know. ❤️

Stocks were mixed last week as investors fretted over hot inflation reports, which offset the move in chipmaker stocks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.13 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0.08 percent. The...

Weekly Market Insights | Inflation Bites, But Wall Street Bites Back

Think you have to start claiming Social Security at 62?

That's a myth that could cost you.

Fidelity recently broke down this common misconception with the facts behind Social Security:

➡️ Claiming at 62 locks in a permanent 30 percent reduction compared to waiting until full retirement age.

➡️ Waiting from 62 to 70 can increase your monthly benefit by approximately 77 percent.

➡️ If you're divorced after 10+ years of marriage and haven't remarried, you may be entitled to 50 percent of your ex-spouse's benefit, and claiming it doesn't affect theirs at all.

➡️ Benefits are based on your highest 35 earning years, not just what you made before 65. Working past 65 can still improve your calculation.

➡️ Once you claim it, that's your benefit, adjusted only for cost-of-living increases.

The decision of when to claim is one of the most consequential decisions when preparing for retirement.

For a benefit designed to last 20, 30, or more years, the math is worth getting right. 📊

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