Financial Enhancement Group: Lafayette, Indiana

10/12/2026

This Week's Two-Minute Financial Insight: "Blended Families: One Form Can Undo Your Estate Plan"

https://bit.ly/3VUxfKI

Article authored by Sam Neff, CFP®

October 12, 2026

10/09/2026

Critical Element of the Week: Legacy Planning
This Week's Focus: Estate Planning for Blended Families
Elements in Focus – October 9, 2026
Presented by: Aaron Rheaume, CKA® and Sam Neff, CFP®

In this week’s discussion, Aaron and Sam explain why even a well-written will or trust may not be enough to carry out your wishes in a blended family. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies and certain other assets can pass according to the beneficiary designation on file, not necessarily according to what your will says.

They walk through how this can create unintended outcomes when there are children from previous marriages, assets brought into the marriage and different goals for taking care of a surviving spouse while still providing for children.

Topics include:
- Why blended families may need a more intentional estate plan
- How beneficiary designations can override a will
- What can happen when a surviving spouse inherits an account outright
- Why outdated or missing beneficiary information can create problems
- The question to ask about every account you own: “If I died today, where does this actually go?”
- Why beneficiary forms should be reviewed alongside your will and trust
- How communication can help reduce confusion among spouses and children

Estate planning for a blended family is not about choosing between your spouse and your children. It is about creating a plan that clearly reflects what you want to happen and making sure the accounts you own actually support those intentions.

Visit us at https://www.yourlifeafterwork.com

Or give us a call and we will connect you with an advisor at 800-928-4001

This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Please consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.

10/08/2026

Trending Market News:
-AI’s Growing Influence on the Stock Market
-Thinning Market Participation Beneath the Major Indexes

October 8th, 2026

Presented by Andrew Thrasher, CMT

In this week’s Market Carver, Andrew Thrasher takes a closer look at what is actually driving the stock market higher. Using a new S&P 500 index that excludes artificial intelligence-related companies, Andrew shows just how dependent recent market strength has become on AI and technology stocks. He also puts the size of that trend into perspective, including NVIDIA’s growing influence within global equity markets.

Andrew then looks beyond the headline indexes to examine what is happening to individual stocks. While the broader market has remained positive, nearly half of the S&P 500 has fallen at least 5% over the past three months, with almost one-third down by double digits. Andrew explains why capitalization-weighted indexes can mask that weakness and why broader participation would provide a healthier foundation for the market.

The takeaway isn’t that strength in technology or AI is automatically a warning sign. Instead, the growing concentration makes it increasingly important to understand where returns are coming from, where weakness is developing, and how much risk investors may be taking to keep pace with the major indexes.

If your portfolio feels different from what the market headlines are telling you, it may be worth looking beneath the surface. Visit YourLifeAfterWork.com to learn more about Financial Enhancement Group and schedule a complimentary Your Next Steps Meeting with our team.

10/05/2026

This Week's Two-Minute Financial Insight: "Why Retirees Are Targeted by Scammers and How to Recognize the Pattern"

https://bit.ly/3VmgRTe

Article authored by Grant Soliven, CFP®, AIF®

October 5, 2026

Scams aimed at retirees are not simply a matter of someone being gullible or careless. In many cases, the real issue is timing.

10/02/2026

Critical Element of the Week: Risk Management

This Week’s Focus: Protecting Yourself From Financial Scams
Elements in Focus – October 2, 2026

Presented by: Aaron Rheaume, CKA® and Grant Soliven, CFP®, AIF®

Scammers don’t pick their targets at random. They often wait for a specific moment—especially when someone is dealing with a major life transition, making important financial decisions, or operating without their normal support system.

In this week’s discussion, Aaron and Grant explain why retirees are frequently targeted by financial scams and why it has less to do with being gullible and more to do with timing, accumulated assets, and major changes in life. They also break down the pattern that appears in many common scams and what families can do before a crisis occurs.

Topics include:
- Why major life transitions can create opportunities for scammers
- How isolation can make financial decisions more vulnerable
- The three common ingredients of many scams: urgency, isolation, and secrecy
- Examples involving Social Security impersonation and family emergency scams
- How AI can make impersonation attempts more convincing
- Why scammers want you to act before talking with someone else
- The importance of having a trusted team in place before a financial crisis
- Why a quick second opinion can help prevent a costly mistake

Knowing the warning signs can help, but those warning signs are hardest to recognize when you are alone and under pressure. Aaron and Grant explain why building a trusted support system before a major transition may provide an important second set of eyes when something does not feel right.

Visit us at https://www.yourlifeafterwork.com
Or give us a call and we will connect you with an advisor at 800-928-4001.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

10/01/2026

Trending Market News:
-Fed Rate Hikes and Stock Market Performance
-Magnificent Seven vs. the Rest of the Market
-AI Stock Concentration

October 1st, 2026

Presented by Adam Harter, CFA®, and Andrew Thrasher, CMT

In this week’s Market Carver, Adam Harter looks back at previous Federal Reserve rate-hike cycles and how stocks performed along the way. While higher interest rates are often assumed to be bad for equities, history has been more nuanced. Adam explains why rate hikes can sometimes reflect underlying economic strength and why the market’s response has varied significantly from one cycle to another.

Andrew Thrasher then breaks down a growing divide beneath the surface of the market. While major indices remained relatively steady through September, the Magnificent Seven significantly outperformed the rest of the S&P 500. Andrew explains how a relatively small group of mega-cap stocks can keep the broader index elevated even while many individual stocks struggle.

Finally, Andrew examines the extraordinary concentration surrounding the AI and semiconductor trade. With a small group of companies accounting for a historically large share of the market, he compares today’s concentration with previous periods—including the technology boom of 2000—and explains why concentration alone does not mean the trend has to end. It may, however, make opportunities outside today’s market leaders increasingly important to watch.

Markets can look very different beneath the headline numbers. If you have questions about how today's changing market environment fits into your financial plan, visit YourLifeAfterWork.com or call Financial Enhancement Group at 800-928-4001. Our team would be glad to help you take a closer look.

10/01/2026

It is time to celebrate a few of the folks that make FEG, FEG!

Happy Birthday to Jamie, Tarna, Dean, Aaron Hunt, and Emaly!

Each of these team members brings something different to FEG, and we’re grateful for the care, energy, perspective, and personality they bring to our team. We hope each of you has a wonderful birthday and gets the chance to celebrate with family and friends!

This month, we’re also celebrating Barbara on 6 years with FEG, Tarna on 3 years with FEG, and Andrew on an incredible 15 years with FEG!

These milestones represent years of dedication, growth, relationships, and commitment to our team and the families we serve. We’re especially grateful to recognize Andrew’s 15-year milestone and the lasting impact he has made throughout his time with FEG.

Happy Birthday to all of our October birthdays, and congratulations to Barbara, Tarna, and Andrew on their work anniversaries!

09/28/2026

This Week's Two-Minute Financial Insight: "Can You Live Off Dividends in Retirement?"

https://bit.ly/4ynjlyY

Article authored by Sam Neff, CFP®

September 28, 2026

“Live off the dividends and never touch the principal” can sound like a safe approach to retirement income. The idea is simple:

09/25/2026

Critical Element of the Week: Investment Playbook
This Week’s Focus: Living Off Dividends in Retirement

Elements in Focus – September 25, 2026
Presented by: Aaron Rheaume, CKA® and Sam Neff, CFP®

“Live off the dividends and never touch the principal” sounds like one of the safest retirement income strategies available. But that approach may leave you with more risk—and less income—than you expected.

In this week’s Elements in Focus, Aaron and Sam explain what a stock dividend really is, why a high dividend yield isn’t automatically a better investment, and why focusing only on dividends can distract from the bigger picture of your retirement plan. Topics include:

What actually happens when a company pays a dividend
Why a higher dividend yield doesn’t necessarily mean a better investment
How falling stock prices can make dividend yields look more attractive
Why “never touch the principal” isn’t the safety net it may appear to be
The risks of concentrating a portfolio around dividend-paying companies
Why total return matters more than dividend yield alone
How diversification, taxes, and account location affect retirement income
Why retirement requires a distribution plan—not simply an income strategy

Dividends can absolutely play a role in an investment portfolio. But the goal isn’t simply to chase the highest yield or protect the number on an account statement. A retirement income plan should consider your entire financial picture and how your investments can support the life, people, and organizations that matter to you.

Visit us at YourLifeAfterWork.com
Or give us a call and we will connect you with an advisor at 800-928-4001

This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be financial, investment, or tax advice. Please consult with a qualified advisor regarding your specific situation.

09/24/2026

Trending Market News This Week:
-Oil Shipping Costs and Supply Chain Pressure
-Midterm Election-Year Seasonality and Market Breadth

September 24th, 2026

Presented by Adam Harter, CFA®, and Andrew Thrasher, CMT

In this week’s Market Carver, Adam Harter looks beyond the price of oil itself to a cost that can linger even if crude prices begin to normalize: shipping. He explains how conflict in the Middle East has pushed freight and insurance costs higher, why disruptions to oil supply are creating ripple effects across global markets, and why those pressures may take time to work through the system. Adam also highlights a longer-term bright spot in rising shipbuilding orders, even as near-term logistics remain strained.

Andrew Thrasher then turns to stock market seasonality as September winds down. Historically, the fourth quarter of midterm election years has been a stronger stretch for equities, but Andrew explains why seasonality is only a guide—not a guarantee. He also looks beneath the major indices, where many individual stocks and sectors are weakening even as the S&P 500 remains near its highs, leaving some of the market’s largest stocks to carry much of the load.

Together, these trends show why headline moves do not always tell the full story. From the cost of moving oil around the world to the number of stocks actually participating in a market advance, the details beneath the surface can matter just as much as the headline number.

If changing energy markets, shifting market participation, or the headlines heading into year-end have you wondering how your investment plan is positioned, schedule a complimentary 90-minute Your Next Steps Meeting at connect.yourlifeafterwork.com or call 800-928-4001.