Summit Wealth Strategies, LLC

09/23/2026

📱 More and more people are now using AI for financial questions.

And with tools like ChatGPT adding bank account integrations, personalized financial guidance is starting to feel more accessible than ever.

So yes, AI can help organize information, model scenarios, and answer technical questions faster than most people could on their own.

BUT… financial insight isn’t just a math problem.

AI cannot talk to you about the pros and cons of making a portfolio adjustment when stock prices are falling. It might struggle to fully weigh your family dynamics, health concerns, risk tolerance, competing goals, or what will actually help you feel confident in your decisions.

🧠 That is where human guidance still matters.

Vanguard’s long-running Advisor’s Alpha research highlights behavioral coaching as one of the most valuable aspects of a relationship.

Not stock picking. Not market timing.

Helping people manage emotion when the stakes are high.

🤝 The future is not AI vs. financial professionals.

The future is for those who use better tools while still bringing judgment, context, and a real understanding of the person behind the strategy.

09/21/2026

Did you know your Medicare plan can change for next year even if you don't touch a thing?

📬 Each fall, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans send a letter called the Annual Notice of Change.

It arrives by September 30 and outlines what's different starting January 1: premiums, copays, network doctors, and covered medications.

Most people never open it. A large share of Medicare beneficiaries never compare their options.

Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Take the time to note what is changing for the coming year.

09/17/2026

Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently bought a $42 million mansion on Lake Tahoe.

But the most interesting part of the transaction isn’t the private beach. It's the exact state line where the property sits.

The estate is on the Nevada side, in Crystal Bay. The purchase was part of a strategy to shift his permanent residency and corporate holdings out of California ahead of a proposed 5 percent billionaire wealth tax.

Let's be realistic: there probably aren't many billionaires reading this post.

But we have seen clients:

▪️ Move in advance of a major liquidity event to a lower-tax state

▪️ Shift their permanent residence to help manage their taxes

▪️ Evaluate how state-imposed estate and inheritance rules may impact where they live in their later years

Tax strategy is a year-round discipline, not an annual scramble.

Whether you are preparing for a business exit or mapping out your retirement years, we’re here to help.

Any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Consult your tax, legal, and accounting professional if you are considering a decision in order to manage your tax situation.

09/15/2026

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate independence on September 15, the same day Hispanic Heritage Month begins. Mexico follows on the 16th.

There’s a lot of pride behind the celebration: in heritage, in family, in what's been built, and in generations of hard work that made it possible.

To all of us keeping that tradition alive: Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.

09/14/2026

📦 Wholesale prices moved higher in August, with the Producer Price Index rising 0.4% for the month, right in line with expectations.

On an annual basis, headline PPI was up 5.4%, while core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% for the month.

Energy was one of the biggest drivers. ⚡ Final demand energy prices increased 4.2%, while goods prices overall rose 1.1%. Services prices increased just 0.1%.

The latest report adds another piece to the inflation picture as the Federal Reserve weighs its next interest-rate decision.

For consumers and businesses alike, wholesale price trends are worth watching because they may eventually show up in the cost of everyday goods and services.

The producer price index was expected to rise 0.4% in August, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.

09/14/2026

Which month historically gives the S&P 500 its biggest headache?

If you said October, think again!

Although October has a reputation for market events, September is actually the month that's experienced more downturns.

September finishes higher less than half the time (historically around 44 percent).

There are theories behind it.

Institutions often rebalance their portfolios at the end of the third quarter, adding to the volatility.

Traders return from a slower summer, which can shake up trading.

And the federal government's fiscal year ends September 30, so budget uncertainty also tends to land in September.

📰 Did you already know this? Or is this new news?

📋The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index that is considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago today, the world stopped.

Never forget the lives lost. The families who carried on without them. The first responders who ran toward danger without hesitation.

And the unity that followed.

Some days aren't about lessons or takeaways. They're just about remembering.

09/10/2026

🚨 Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and the financial toll is growing.

Americans reported a record $15.9 billion in scam losses last year, up 25% from the year before. And the real number may be much higher, since many victims never report what happened.

⚠️ The problem is also widespread: 98% of Americans surveyed said they believe scammers have targeted them, and 3 in 10 said they’ve personally lost money or information.

Recovering stolen funds can be difficult, especially when someone is tricked into authorizing a payment. Victims may also be targeted again by criminals claiming they can recover the original loss for a fee.

🔐 If someone contacts you unexpectedly about money, an investment, or recovering funds you’ve already lost, slow down before sending anything. Verify who you’re dealing with through a trusted source, and be especially cautious if there’s pressure to act quickly.

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows.

09/09/2026

📌 Most families think they have until next June to file the FAFSA.

For a lot of state and school aid, that's already too late.

FAFSA for the 2027-28 school year is set to open on October 1.

The federal deadline runs through June 30, 2028, but most states and colleges set their own deadlines, some as early as January, and aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

File in October, and you're near the front of the line. Wait until spring, and the aid you were counting on may already be spoken for.

Tip: Create your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov before October 1 arrives, ahead of the day-one rush.

If you have a student applying to college this year, make a note in your calendar.

09/08/2026

Do you know who just took the helm of the Fed?

Kevin Warsh is the new Federal Reserve Chair, though most people have never heard his name. Unlike his predecessors, he doesn't have an academic background. He spent the last decade and a half at a private investment firm, not in a university lecture hall.

He's already signaling a different approach, promising shorter statements and more transparency in how the Fed communicates.

That matters more than it might seem. The Fed Chair's decisions ripple through the economy, affecting everything from mortgage rates to car loans to credit cards.

Lately, we've heard one question more than any other: What does this mean for me? Honestly, it depends on your situation. But knowing who's steering the ship is where smart financial decisions start.

What's your biggest question about this shift at the Fed?