Tilton Wealth Management

07/22/2026

The Common Cents Act has passed the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The bill is tied to the phase-out of the penny and would create a national rounding standard for cash transactions.

Under the proposal, cash purchases would be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents when exact change is not available.

For example, a purchase totaling $10.02 would round down to $10.00, while a purchase totaling $10.04 would round up to $10.05.

Pennies would still retain their value under the act, even as the Treasury stopped minting them.

The bill is especially relevant for businesses that handle cash, including restaurants and retailers, because it could reduce confusion and legal risk around exact change.

For consumers and businesses, the broader takeaway is that even small changes in currency rules can affect daily transactions, checkout systems, and cash-handling practices.

New law aims to address how businesses and consumers should transact amid the phase-out of the penny.

07/20/2026

A new study suggests a blood test may someday help identify healthy older adults who are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms years in advance.

The test measures p-tau217, a form of tau connected to Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain.

Researchers found that symptom-free older adults with very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% risk of developing cognitive impairment within five years. That risk rose to 78% over 10 years, though researchers noted there is less confidence in the 10-year estimate.

For now, scientists say the test may be most useful for research, including identifying people who could participate in studies of possible Alzheimer’s treatments or prevention strategies.

They also caution that the test is not yet precise enough to guide an individualized prognosis for healthy people.

The broader takeaway: medical advances can create promising new tools, but timing, accuracy, and clinical usefulness matter. For now, researchers still emphasize familiar brain-health habits, including eating well, sleeping well, exercising, and staying socially engaged.

A blood test that helps diagnose Alzheimer's might also forecast if healthy older adults will develop symptoms.

07/20/2026

Mortgage rates recently climbed to their highest level since August 2025, creating another challenge for homebuyers.

The average contract interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a conforming loan balance rose to 6.65%, up from 6.58% the previous week.

Higher rates can affect affordability, as even a small increase can change a buyer’s monthly payment.

That pressure showed up in mortgage demand. Applications to purchase a home fell 7% from the previous week and were 2% lower than the same week one year ago.

Buyers are also still facing high home prices and a limited supply of affordable homes for sale.

Refinance applications rose this week, though refinancing remains less attractive for many borrowers because rates are not much lower than they were a year ago.

For households, mortgage rates are a reminder that borrowing costs can play a major role in affordability, timing, and monthly cash flow.

Mortgage rates moved higher last week, causing buyers to pull back, but refinancing did see small gains.

07/16/2026

Travel fraud gets worse every summer, and we hear more stories from clients every year.

A quick login from the lobby.

A brokerage app checked from the airport lounge.

A bank balance pulled up at a cafe.

Public networks are where accounts can get exposed.

A few habits worth building before the next trip:

🛑 Skip public WiFi for anything financial. Use cellular data or a personal hotspot.

🛑 Turn on real-time transaction alerts for every card.

🛑 Consider using credit, not debit.

🛑 Watch for skimmers (devices attached to gas pumps and ATMs that copy card data).

A few minutes of preparation before the trip can help prevent months of cleanup after.

07/15/2026

SpaceX has joined the Nasdaq-100, a major stock market index that tracks many of the largest nonfinancial companies listed on Nasdaq.

The move could make the company a holding in more index-based funds, including some funds used in retirement accounts.

Index inclusion can matter because index-tracking funds may need to add shares of a newly included company. That can affect demand for the stock, though it does not guarantee future performance.

The company recently went public and has seen notable stock-price movement since its initial public offering.

The broader takeaway is that index changes can indirectly affect what investors own, especially through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and retirement account holdings.

For investors, this is a reminder to understand what is inside the funds they own—not just the name of the index or account.

The move could add the Elon Musk-led firm to many retirement portfolios.

07/15/2026

Heat waves can affect more than daily comfort and public health. They can also create real economic costs.

Extreme heat can reduce productivity among outdoor workers, increase utility bills, strain power grids, reduce crop yields, and keep some consumers closer to home.

One federal climate assessment found that the average number of heat waves in major U.S. cities each year has doubled since the 1980s.

Researchers have also found that more frequent extreme heat and severe droughts can weigh on gross domestic product, while heat-related economic losses have reached trillions of dollars globally in recent decades.

The impact can be especially significant for heat-exposed industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and mining.

For households and businesses, extreme heat is a reminder that weather risk can affect budgets, supply chains, labor productivity, food prices, and energy costs.

Heat waves threaten costs for the economy, sapping workers' productivity, shutting shoppers inside their homes and driving up utility costs, analysts told ABC News.

07/14/2026

At Tilton Wealth Management, giving back isn't just something we talk about - it's something we genuinely enjoy being part of. The past few days members of our team had the opportunity to volunteer with two incredible organizations that are featured on our Giving Back page (tiltonwm.com/giving-back).

🏃On Sunday, Nathaniel and Annie volunteered at the Annual A Day at the Beach 5K / 1K Road Race to benefit KBIA, a summer enrichment and recreational camp for kids.

🏄‍♂️Yesterday, Nathan, Annie, and friends spent the afternoon volunteering with Special Surfers, an incredible organization dedicated to sharing the joy of surfing with individuals facing developmental, emotional, and physical challenges.

There's something special about seeing our communities come together, whether it's cheering runners as they start a race or helping create unforgettable experiences for individuals and families in the water. We're grateful to these organizations and the many volunteers who make events like these possible.

Thank you KBIA and Special Surfers for letting us be a small part of something meaningful.

07/13/2026

The price of a first-class Forever stamp rose from 78 cents to 82 cents on July 12.

The increase is part of a series of price hikes from the U.S. Postal Service, which has raised the cost of a first-class stamp several times in recent years.

USPS has cited financial losses, rising operating expenses, and declining mail volume as reasons for the latest increase.

Other postage costs also increased. Domestic postcards rose to 65 cents, while international postcards and letters rose to $1.75.

One important reminder: Forever stamps purchased before the increase still work after the price change. They continue to cover the current cost of one ounce of First-Class Mail postage.

For households and small businesses, postage may seem like a small expense — but recurring cost increases can add up over time, especially for anyone who still relies on mailed bills, invoices, cards, or client communications.

The cost of a first-class Forever stamp has climbed 41% since 2021, and postal officials have signaled they want prices to rise even more.

07/13/2026

Federal Reserve officials were divided on where interest rates could go next, according to minutes from the June meeting.

At that meeting, the Fed voted unanimously to keep its benchmark interest rate in the 3.5% to 3.75% range.

The minutes show that some officials saw a case for lower rates if inflation eases, while others saw a case for higher rates if price pressures remain elevated.

Inflation was a major part of the discussion. Officials noted that tariffs, energy prices, and supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz could keep inflation elevated in the near term.

They also discussed how demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure could put upward pressure on prices for technology products and electricity.

For households and businesses, the broader takeaway is that interest rate decisions remain closely tied to incoming economic data. Inflation, energy costs, employment, and market conditions can all influence how policymakers approach future rate moves.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released minutes from its June 16-17 meeting.

07/10/2026

Check out Nathaniel’s latest article on Forbes.com:

“The Question Many Women Investors Are Really Asking.”

Many women approaching or living in retirement aren’t just looking for investment advice, they’re looking for clarity and confidence. The most important financial conversations often aren’t really about money at all. They’re about answering one simple question…

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2026/07/10/the-question-many-women-investors-are-really-asking/

The most important question in financial planning isn't, "How did my portfolio perform this quarter?" It's a more personal question: "Am I going to be okay?"