James Brown III - First Financial Group

09/03/2026

10 tips that can head-off marriage money problems.

Couples may be able to head off many of the problems in a marriage that money can cause.

09/03/2026

Roughly 56 percent of IPOs bought at the offer price lost money after 3 years.

That's not the headline you see on day one.

You see the first-day pop. The company goes public, and its stock has averaged a 19 percent gain since 1980. Feels like a moment you should catch.

Here's what actually happens:

1.) Institutional investors get the offering price before trading opens.

2.) You buy at market open, after the move.

Then the real story starts.

This gap is based on research led by Professor Jay R. Ritter, who authored a 2026 report on IPO performance for the University of Florida. His analysis of 9,300 U.S. IPOs is one of the most comprehensive databases available.

Chasing IPOs can provide a thrill, but there are pros and cons.

A sound portfolio should reflect an investor's goals, risk, and time horizon. The risks of an IPO are not for everyone.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The return and principal value of IPOs and other stocks will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

09/01/2026

Building a personal legacy may be the highest order of altruism. It can begin with four simple steps.

A four-step framework for building a personal legacy.

08/31/2026

wo retirees can earn the same average return and have very different outcomes.

Why? Because in retirement, timing matters.

An early market downturn in retirement can be more damaging than the same downturn later.

That is the sequence-of-returns risk.

The risk is not simply “the market went down.” It’s “the market went down while income still had to come out.”

A strong retirement strategy should look beyond average returns and address:

• Where income will come from
• How much cash or short-term reserves make sense
• Which accounts to draw from first
• When to rebalance
• How RMDs and Social Security fit into the withdrawal strategy

Sequence-of-returns risk does not make many headlines.

But for anyone entering retirement, it can be one of the most important ideas to understand.

The goal is not to predict the next downturn. It’s about being prepared.

08/30/2026

Did you hear about Aretha Franklin’s handwritten will? How did Frank Sinatra keep his family from contesting his \$100m estate? The examples of famous celebrities underline the need for a clear estate strategy.

The examples of famous celebrities underline the need for a clear estate strategy.

08/27/2026

Some simple, inexpensive energy-saving tips that may help you save money.

Here are some simple and inexpensive energy-saving tips that may help you save money.

08/26/2026

Donating appreciated stock to charity has pros and cons. So, most donors still write the check.

When you contribute appreciated securities directly to a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can manage capital gains tax on the gain and perhaps deduct the full fair market value.

The charity receives the full amount. Nothing is lost to taxes in between.

From there, you can focus grants to any eligible nonprofit on your own timeline. The funds can stay invested and may grow while you decide.

If you're holding appreciated positions and giving is part of your strategy, how you give matters as much as how much you give.

**Some donor-advised funds are considered mutual funds and are sold only by prospectus. The prospectus will provide information on charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives and should be reviewed carefully before investing. Investment companies can provide a prospectus, or you may prefer to ask your financial professional.**

Consider asking your financial professional to work with your tax, legal, or accounting professionals if a DAF sounds interesting.

08/25/2026

The average college senior graduates with credit card debt. How will your kids manage money?

You taught them how to read and how to ride a bike, but have you taught your children how to manage money?

08/24/2026

There's a difference between leaving money to your family and giving it to them.

One happens after you're gone. The other lets you see the impact.

The annual gift exclusion is one straightforward way to do the latter.

For 2026, the IRS says that each person can give up to $19,000 per recipient, free of gift tax. A married couple can combine up to $38,000 per recipient, with no gift tax return required and no reduction to the lifetime exemption.

For example, a couple with two adult children and four grandchildren can transfer up to $228,000 this year under the current rules.

Done consistently, annual gifting can help manage a taxable estate while putting money to work for the people you care about, now.

If you haven't reviewed your gifting strategy for 2026, there's still time. The window closes on December 31.

08/23/2026

Discover the YOLO Economy and why Millennials are prioritizing experiences over material things in this thought-provoking article.

The YOLO Economy is a focus on experiences over material possessions, prompting Boomers to consider a similar mindset.