Retirement CFO, LLC

06/07/2026

Some days on the calendar mean more than others. Today is one of them. 💙

If someone you love has faced a cancer diagnosis, you know the journey doesn't end when treatment does. The fear doesn't just disappear. The follow-up appointments keep coming. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, there are these unexpected moments of pure gratitude that are hard to put into words.

Cancer doesn't just touch one person. It's the spouse who rearranged their whole life. The kids who grew up faster than they should have. The friends who showed up and kept showing up.

Behind every survivor is a family that went through it too.

Today is for all of them.

06/06/2026

"Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young,” observed Teddy Roosevelt.

You can plan ahead to protect yourself and your family against the financial consequences of deteriorating health.

06/04/2026

If you've watched a parent or grandparent navigate this disease, you already know.

It changes everything, and not just for them.

Families are often so focused on the day-to-day of caregiving that the legal and financial side quietly falls behind.

▪️ Who has the authority to make decisions if something changes?
▪️ Is there a long-term care plan?
▪️ Does anyone know where the documents are?

A power of attorney, a healthcare directive, a conversation about what care actually looks like.

These are so much easier to put in place when everyone is healthy and clearheaded than after a diagnosis.

If you have aging parents, this month is as good a time as any to start that conversation. We're happy to be part of it. 💙

06/02/2026

True or false: Americans in March 2026 are applying for fewer mortgages than they were during the Great Recession.

True. And it's not even close.

96 OF THE 100 LOWEST NUMBER OF WEEKLY MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS SINCE 1999 HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST 3 YEARS! (according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Mortgage Application Index)

Yet, unemployment today is a fraction of what it was during the financial crisis.

People aren't staying out of the market because they can't qualify. The market is gridlocked. Here's why. 👇

1️⃣ Millions of homeowners locked in at 3 percent during the pandemic. Selling means giving that up for another mortgage that may have a higher interest rate. So they're not moving.

2️⃣ If existing owners aren't selling, inventory can become thin, prices might stay elevated, and buyers wait for something to change.

3️⃣ Most are waiting for rates to drop. But when they do, demand may pick up, competition returns, and that window closes faster than expected.

Here's the truth about market timing: it almost never works the way people picture it.

The better question isn't "When is the right time to buy?" It's "Am I financially ready to move when the right opportunity comes?" 📋

06/02/2026

Fallen trees damage property and strain neighborly relations. Who pays when your tree falls?

Your liability for damages that occur when a tree on your property falls on your neighbor’s property is not clear cut.

06/01/2026

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...

06/01/2026

It isn't whether you should have auto insurance - it's what kind you should have.

What kind of auto insurance should you have? Do you know?

05/30/2026

Second homes have unique risks and insuring them is different than a primary home.

There are unique risks of owning a second home and obtaining the proper coverage may protect you from financial risk.

05/29/2026

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.

05/28/2026

Most parents think the last tuition check means game over for college. The data says it's halftime.

50 percent of parents with adult children still provide regular financial support, spending $1,474 a month to do so. That's more than twice what they're putting toward their own retirement.

Here's what "just helping out a little" actually looks like:

✅ 75 percent of parents aged 45+ are financially supporting at least one adult child, even though over half of those children can meet their own basic needs, according to a 2025 AARP survey.

✅ 42 percent of supporting parents report financial stress. 9 percent have retired early because of it.

✅ 47 percent say they've sacrificed their own financial position for the sake of their kids.

✅ 18 percent say the support could continue indefinitely. They don't see an end in sight.

This isn't about being less generous. It's about being intentional.

Whether your kid just graduated, graduated five years ago, or is still in school, the question is the same: Is your support happening by design or by default?

That's worth a conversation.