Financial Planning Considerations

Start the Year Strong: Let’s Refresh Your Financial Plan

A new year is a natural checkpoint—and the ideal moment to make sure your financial plan reflects what’s most important to you right now. Together, we can:

• Review your progress toward existing goals and add any new priorities for the year ahead
• Evaluate your insurance coverages to help minimize risk
• Revisit your assets and debt to confirm your risk tolerance remains appropriate

The Checklist below — What Issues Should I Consider at the Start of the Year? — may help guide your thinking. Small, year-to-year adjustments may seem minor, but they compound over time. Updating your plan helps protect and strengthen the people and causes that matter most to you.

If the checklist sparks questions or highlights areas to address, reach out to schedule a time to talk. I look forward to the conversation and to helping you make 2026 a confident, well-planned year.

Tax Planning Insights

New in 2026: “Trump Accounts” for Kids’ Retirement Savings

A Trump account is a child’s traditional IRA with special rules until the year before the child turns 18. Key points:

• Who opens it: An authorized individual (parent/guardian/adult sibling/grandparent) using Form 4547
• When funding starts: Not before July 4, 2026
• $1,000 pilot option: Possible for eligible children born 2025–2028 with a valid SSN (see Form 4547)
• Contributions: From family, the child, qualified organizations, rollovers, and employers (up to $2,500 during the growth period); most other contributions capped at $5,000 annually (COLA after 2027)
• Investments: Eligible U.S. index mutual funds or ETFs during the growth period
• Distributions: Limited during the growth period; after that, traditional IRA rules generally apply

Market Perspectives

AI is reshaping markets, much like past tech waves, creating short-term volatility as investors reassess winners and losers—but recoveries have followed once uncertainty fades. While the labor market has softened, other indicators remain resilient, so it’s wise to stay diversified and avoid chasing headlines. With valuations elevated in some areas, opportunities may also exist beyond AI-driven sectors. The bottom line: keep your portfolio aligned with your goals and time horizon.