Arizona Capital Management

09/23/2026

Is Roth always better? Not necessarily.

You've probably heard plenty about Roth accounts and their potential role in retirement planning, but one of the most important things to understand is that "Roth vs. pre-tax" isn't a one-size-fits-all decision.

Factors such as income, tax bracket, retirement timing, employer plan rules, and broader financial goals can all play a role.

And that's part of a bigger retirement-planning lesson: individual decisions shouldn't necessarily be considered in isolation. Your pension, Social Security, workplace retirement plans, personal savings, taxes, and other income sources can all affect the bigger picture.

Our recent article looks at several retirement rule changes for 2026 and, more importantly, the questions they may raise as you plan ahead. Read it at: https://acm.ceterainvestors.com/blog/retirement-rules-are-changing-heres-what-state-pension-employees-retire

09/21/2026

RMDs may be a year-end requirement. Planning for them doesn't have to be.

Required minimum distributions are often treated as a December task. However, waiting until year-end can leave less time to think through some of the decisions that may accompany a distribution, such as:
• Which accounts have an RMD?
• How much retirement income are you already receiving?
• Does tax withholding need to be reviewed?
• Is charitable giving part of your plan?
• Could your custodian or charity need additional processing time?

Retirement income decisions can affect other parts of your financial picture, which is why looking at them together can be helpful.

Our latest article explains what to consider and why September can be a good time to start the review. Read it at: https://acm.ceterainvestors.com/blog/why-september-is-the-right-time-to-review-rmds-and-charitable-giving

09/17/2026

Retirement misconception: "I have a pension, so my retirement is handled."

A pension can provide an important source of lifetime retirement income, but it's still only one part of the picture.

For Arizona public employees participating in pension systems such as ASRS or PSPRS, understanding your pension benefit is an important part of retirement planning, but it doesn't answer every retirement question.

As retirement approaches, there may be other questions to consider:
• How will inflation affect your spending power over time?
• When will you claim Social Security?
• What role will your personal savings play?
• How might healthcare costs affect your income needs?
• How do taxes fit into your withdrawal decisions?
• What do you want to leave for your family?

That's why retirement readiness isn't determined by any one account or income source.

Learn more about how the pieces work together, along with several retirement changes for 2026, here: https://acm.ceterainvestors.com/blog/retirement-rules-are-changing-heres-what-state-pension-employees-retire

09/15/2026

FINRA’s proposed fraud rules put a timely spotlight on trusted contacts and temporary account holds. The goal is not to surrender control, but to create a pause-and-verify process before money is lost.

FINRA’s proposed fraud protections explain how trusted contacts and temporary holds can help retirees pause suspicious transactions without surrendering control.

09/14/2026

We're on the road again this month!

The Arizona Capital Management team is enjoying the opportunity to connect with employees throughout the Valley at this month's CHWP Health & Benefit Shows.

We'll be at:
📍 September 15 – Southwest Networks North
📍 September 17 – Southwest Networks Chandler
📍 September 24 – Glendale Union High School District

If you're attending one of the upcoming events, stop by our table and say hello. We'd love to see you!

09/11/2026

Oil above $100 is raising inflation and rate concerns. The wiser response is to review cash flow, risk, and income plans rather than make short-term market bets.

Learn how higher oil prices may affect inflation, retirement income, household cash flow, business costs, and long-term financial planning.

09/10/2026

How do you know if you're actually ready to retire?

It’s one of the biggest questions people face as retirement gets closer, and the answer involves more than reaching a certain age or hitting a single savings number.

A good place to start is understanding:
• How much you've saved
• What your expenses may look like in retirement
• When you plan to begin Social Security
• Where your retirement income will come from
• How long your savings may need to last

Those pieces can help you begin to see whether your finances are aligned with the retirement you're planning for.

Not sure where you stand? Try our retirement calculator to explore how much you may need based on your own assumptions: https://acm.ceterainvestors.com/resource-center/retirement/how-much-do-i-need-to-retire

09/08/2026

Jobs, inflation, and interest rates remain closely connected, making this week's inflation data especially important for markets and the Federal Reserve.
Join CIO Gene Goldman on this week's episode of as he examines the final inflation reports before the Fed's September 16 meeting, what recent labor market data tells us about the economy, and why persistent price pressures could influence the outlook for interest rates and market performance.

“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms...

09/08/2026

Read the latest issue of Retire Wise here:

For a lot of retirees, filing for Social Security felt like crossing a finish line. But the strategy behind that decision doesn't have to stay frozen the day…

09/02/2026

This Monthly Recap summarizes market performance, major events and news from August 2026. Read more here:

U.S. stocks returned to gains in August after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both ended negative the prior two months while the Dow Industrials capped a…