Behnken Financial Services

09/02/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.

Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

09/02/2026

Protect yourself from identity theft.

Having your identity stolen may result in financial loss plus the cost of trying to restore your good name.

08/31/2026

Stocks rebounded last week as falling bond yields and upbeat AI-related corporate reports rekindled positive market sentiment despite the Fed Chair’s slightly hawkish speech. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.49 percent, while...

08/31/2026

How confident are you in the strength of your passwords? These days, one’s passwords are almost as important as the keys to your house. Check out these handy, current tips on crafting a secure password.

Have fun and learn how to craft the perfect password with the help of this highly engaging infographic.

08/31/2026

Inflation is still running above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures price index, rose 0.2% in July and 3.7% from a year earlier. Core PCE, which strips out food and energy prices, increased 3.3% annually.

The report also showed personal income rose 0.4% while spending increased 0.2%.

For consumers, that means price pressures haven’t disappeared, even as some categories, including gasoline and other energy-related goods, moved lower during the month.

With inflation still elevated, the latest numbers may remain an important part of the Fed’s upcoming interest-rate discussions.

The personal consumption expenditures price index was expected to rise 0.1% monthly and 3.6% on a 12-month basis, according to economists surveyed by Dow Jones.

08/28/2026

Do you know what all those emojis you keep seeing in your text messages mean? Here's a handy guide.

Do you understand these common mobile slang terms?

08/26/2026

Financial stress is common, affecting sleep, relationships, and overall well-being, but mindfulness and meditation offer a path to approaching money decisions with greater calm, clarity, and control.

An article about meditation, mindfulness, and financial well-being.

08/26/2026

A pay raise does not always mean a paycheck goes further.

New research found that from February 2021 to June 2022, real wages fell by more than 4% as inflation outpaced many workers’ pay increases. The impact lasted for many households, with 37% of workers in the study earning less in inflation-adjusted terms in December 2024 than they had four years earlier.

Now, a similar squeeze is happening again. In July, the Consumer Price Index rose at a 3.4% annual pace, while hourly wages rose 3.2% over the same period.

When prices rise faster than pay, purchasing power declines. That can make everyday expenses feel heavier, even when income is technically increasing.

When inflation rises faster than workers' wages, it feels like they're getting a pay cut. Companies, meanwhile, benefit.

08/24/2026

Stocks declined last week as global investors fretted about oil-supply-induced inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 2.05 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

08/24/2026

The Treasury Department is increasing the size of its government debt buybacks amid ongoing pressures in the longer-term bond market.

The department said it will at least double the maximum size of certain buyback operations, from $2 billion to at least $4 billion, targeting the 10- to 20-year and 20- to 30-year portions of the Treasury market.

Following the announcement, the 10-year Treasury yield fell 6 basis points to 4.647%, while the 30-year bond yield fell 9 basis points to 5.196%. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.

The move is designed to support liquidity in longer-dated Treasury securities, though economists noted that it does not change the broader fiscal backdrop or the government’s ongoing financing needs.

The announcement targets the sensitive longer-duration part of the Treasury market.