James Brown III - First Financial Group

10/26/2026

How many years before you are ready to be “retired?” It’s one of the most important numbers yet.

TIAA's 2026 longevity literacy research found that workers who expect a shorter retirement save less consistently than those who expect a longer one.

That makes sense, but it also means the people who assume their retirement will be short are the same ones who may be building portfolios with shorter time horizons.

Once someone has already reached 65, the numbers shift.

According to Social Security Administration data:

• A 65-year-old man has roughly a 24 percent chance of living past 90

• A 65-year-old woman's chances are higher, closer to 35 percent

• For a 65-year-old married couple, there is about a 50 percent chance that at least one spouse lives past 90

The practical implication is not "assume you will live to 100."

It’s that a retirement income strategy built around the “average lifespan” often assumes a person will die on schedule. Most people do not.

If retirement is on your horizon, the question to ask is, "What happens to my income strategy if I live to 95?"

10/25/2026

If you don’t have an estate strategy, here's some reasons why you should.

Do you have an estate strategy? You should.

10/22/2026

Three tips for giving smart from the heart.

Do you have causes that you want to support with donations?

10/21/2026

Trust & Will's 2026 Estate Planning Report found that 56 percent of adults don’t have core documents in place, including:

• A will: who gets what, and who is in charge of making it happen

• A healthcare directive (or living will): what you want if you cannot speak for yourself

• Two powers of attorney, one for medical decisions and one for financial decisions, each naming a specific person

• A letter of instruction: the practical map to where accounts live, who your professionals are, and what your kids or pets need

The friction is that estate work forces a family to sit with mortality, name specific people for specific roles, and make decisions that feel too permanent to rush.

Without something in writing, though, families are left improvising during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Most say they fully intend to get to it, but too many put it off until it's too late. Don’t put it off. Talk to a financial professional who can help.

10/20/2026

If you want to avoid any potential surprises at tax time, it may make sense to know where you stand when it comes to the AMT.

If you want to avoid potential surprises at tax time, it may make sense to know where you stand when it comes to the AMT.

10/19/2026

What happens to your cash flow when you stop earning a paycheck?

The 2026 EBRI Retirement Confidence Survey caught something interesting about that shift.

• Among workers, 33 percent say they turn to a financial professional for guidance.

• Among retirees, that number climbs to nearly 40 percent.

National Retirement Security Week (October 19–25 this year) is a reminder to check whether your strategy is evolving with your lifestyle priorities.

If retirement is within a few years, the practical step is not rebuilding the strategy today.

It's identifying the two or three moving pieces that are no longer theoretical, the day you stop working, and consider working with a financial professional who can help guide you.

10/18/2026

Property taxes too high? Here are ways to potentially lower your assessment.

For homeowners who think their property taxes are too high, there are ways to appeal.

10/15/2026

When was the last time you updated your will?

Preparing for the eventual distribution of your assets may not sound enticing. But a will puts the power in your hands.

10/13/2026

The choice of business structure is not a final decision. You may amend your business structure to your changing needs.

Entrepreneurs all face the same question, “Which business structure should I adopt?”

10/13/2026

Fidelity's 2025 wealth transfer study found that roughly 67 percent of parents age 55 and older have never told their adult children what they will inherit, or whether they will inherit anything at all.

About 33 percent would prefer the kids are kept in the dark about the amount.

Their reasons should feel familiar:

• Worry that a specific number will dampen a child's drive

• Discomfort talking about money at all

The same study found:

Most adult children say they are ready to handle whatever they inherit and would rather shape things while their parents are still around to explain the "why" behind decisions.

Families who have inheritance strategies share some similar habits:

• Kids know who the financial professionals are and how to reach them

• Everyone knows where the estate documents are

• They try to manage any surprises well ahead of time

So, do you tell your children or not? There's no single right answer here.

Sharing exact numbers isn't necessary, but most families find that a broad discussion can help with priorities and expectations.