Silva Fiduciary Advisors

01/29/2026

A Colorado mother wired $2,000 to criminals who cloned her daughter's voice from online clips—in just 3 seconds of audio.

Her daughter was home the entire time.

AI has fundamentally changed how fraud works.

Criminals can now create fake voices, videos, emails, and documents that are nearly indistinguishable from real ones.

The emotional realism—especially of voice cloning—can make these scams devastatingly effective.

Three simple steps can help you manage your risk:
1️⃣ Create a family code word for emergencies. If someone calls asking for money, ask for the code. This defeats voice cloning instantly.
2️⃣ Verify before you act. Hang up and call back on a verified number. Real emergencies can wait 60 seconds.
3️⃣ Limit your digital footprint. Review social media settings and manage public videos/voice recordings that could be used against you.

The threat is real, but so is the solution: awareness, skepticism, and verification.

If you haven’t talked to your family, especially aging parents and young adult children, about these risks, don’t wait any longer.

01/28/2026

What’s the smallest piece of your data that could cause the biggest problem if exposed? 🔐

Why January 28?
Data Privacy Day commemorates the Council of Europe’s Convention 108, which was opened for signature on January 28, 1981, marking the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.

For Individuals:
● Review privacy settings on social platforms, apps, and devices
● Consider turning on multi-factor authentication when available
● Update software and browsers
● Replace weak or reused passwords; consider a password manager

For Businesses:
● Revisit data privacy policies and access controls (least privilege)
● Refresh employee training on phishing and social engineering
● Validate vendor/third-party data practices and breach response steps
● Log and minimize the sensitive data you collect

For Everyone:
● Talk with family about the value of personal information and the risks of oversharing—come up with a “safe word”
● Agree on household norms for passwords, app permissions, and updates

Make security a daily practice—not a once-a-year project.

01/28/2026

excited to be on a professional vacation at a conference on finance technology in Phoenix!!

01/27/2026

Today, January 27, we honor the six million Jews and millions of others murdered in the Holocaust and reaffirm a simple commitment: memory, truth, and vigilance.

As a firm built on trust and relationships, we recognize the importance of remembering our shared history. Today reminds us to approach our work and our community with empathy, dignity, and unwavering respect for all people.

01/23/2026

Are you supporting your adult child financially—or subsidizing their lifestyle?

A July 2025 article in “The Wall Street Journal” titled “Four Ways to Prepare for When Your Adult Kids Need Financial Help” examines how parents can support their grown children without compromising their own financial stability.

Key ideas worth pressure-testing:
Set the frame before the funds. Define purpose, amount, and end date in writing. Treat it like a mini-agreement—clarity preserves relationships. 🤝

● Decide: gift, loan, or guarantee.
● Gift: simple, but set expectations about whether it’s one-time.
● Loan: document terms and a repayment schedule; automate payments.
● Co-signing: can be the highest risk—know you’re taking on the debt if things go sideways.

Your retirement should come first. If help jeopardizes savings, timeline, or insurance coverage, it may be too much.

Avoid open-ended support. Create guardrails, including milestones (such as job search and budgeting courses), time limits, and a check-in date.

Build skills, not dependency. Pair any money with a strategy: budget, emergency fund targets, and next steps to independence. 🧠

Bottom line: Thoughtful structure helps turn thought into progress—and can help keep family dynamics healthy.

01/21/2026

Is “Waiting Until 70” a smart Social Security move? ⏳

An October 2025 piece in “The Wall Street Journal” titled “Why Delaying Your Social Security Benefits May Not Make Sense” pointed out that delaying may not be the best fit for every household. Four angles to consider:

1️⃣ Behavior & Cash-Flow: Many retirees spend income but hesitate to draw principal. Delaying can unintentionally pinch lifestyle early on.
2️⃣ Market/Sequence Risk: “Bridging” with larger portfolio withdrawals while you wait can raise exposure to early-retirement downturns.
3️⃣ Timing & Medicare: Timing can affect how you sequence retirement plan withdrawals and handle Medicare payments.
4️⃣ Longevity & Survivor Needs: Health outlook, age gap, and survivor benefit priorities can tilt the math toward earlier—or later—claiming.

Takeaway: There’s no one-size-fits-all rule. A tailored strategy that models cash-flows, risk, and household goals beats a one-size-fits-all solution.

01/19/2026

Low car lease payments look great, but do you really save money in the end?

This calculator compares the financial impact of leasing versus buying an automobile.

01/19/2026

Dr. King didn't call for reflection; he called for action. Today, we honor his legacy by focusing on the active pursuit of justice and opportunity. 🕊️

Dignity, access, and opportunity are not abstract ideals; they’re daily work.

In our profession, this means providing insights, ensuring fair access to guidance, and helping families build financial strategies that can span generations.

We’re reflecting, listening, and recommitting to service in the communities we call home.

01/16/2026

Trying to decide whether to buy or rent a home? There are 4 important questions you should consider.

The decision whether to buy or rent a home may have long-term implications.

01/15/2026

Would you accept a lower salary if it meant maintaining a hybrid work schedule?

Stanford University, in June 2024, released a study on hybrid work called “Study finds hybrid work benefits companies and employees,” that’s worth sharing, especially for those who love (or miss) a flexible schedule.

Here’s what they found:
▪️ Employees working from home two days a week were just as productive as those in the office full-time
▪️ They were just as likely to be promoted
▪️ And they were 33 percent less likely to quit, with the biggest drop in turnover among women, non-managers, and those with long commutes

In other words, hybrid work didn’t hurt performance; it kept people engaged and helped them stay with their companies longer.

Many people don’t have a choice about where they work, but it’s still interesting to see different data points.

Would you trade a little salary to keep a hybrid schedule? Or does being in the office full-time feel worth it for the collaboration, energy, and routine it provides?

01/14/2026

The IRS has announced that it will begin accepting and processing individual federal tax returns for the 2026 tax season starting on January 26.



Here are a few important points to keep in mind:
➡️ Most individual returns are due by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
➡️ Filing early may help reduce delays related to processing or identity verification.
➡️ Refund amounts can vary based on withholding and recent tax law changes.



As tax season gets underway, reminders like these can help individuals stay aware of important dates and avoid last-minute filing challenges.

The 2026 tax season starts on Jan. 26, according to the IRS. Here are some key things filers need to know.

01/14/2026

Compare your taxable investment to a tax-deferred one. The results may surprise you.

This calculator compares the net gain of a taxable investment versus a tax-favored one.