Thrive Financial Advisors

10/23/2026

🌴 More Americans are deciding that enjoying life now matters just as much as making financial progress for later.

A recent SoFi survey found that 72% of Americans would be willing to make slower progress toward their financial goals so they can spend more time with family, travel more, and prioritize meaningful experiences.

That doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning long-term goals. In fact, 59% of respondents said enjoying life is how they define financial progress, compared with 27% who pointed to owning a home.

The challenge is finding a balance between what matters now and what matters later. ✈️ That can mean making room for a vacation, concert, or family event while still keeping an eye on retirement savings and debt.

But charge that trip to a credit card and carry a balance, and interest can turn a two-week memory into a much longer bill.

What does financial progress look like to you: reaching the next milestone, enjoying more of life now, or some mix of both?


Source:

SoFi found 72% of Americans are willing to make slower progress on financial goals to prioritize family, travel and meaningful experiences.

10/13/2026

🛠️ The richest person in your town probably isn't a tech founder or someone in finance. It's more likely the dentist running four offices, or the owner of the HVAC company whose trucks are everywhere.

New research from economists Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick, based on IRS and Treasury data, found nearly 5 million U.S. households worth at least $5 million, holding combined wealth more than 13 times that of the Forbes 400.

A few patterns stood out:
➡️Most started their business themselves rather than inheriting it
➡️Most run ordinary, brick-and-mortar businesses rather than tech or finance
➡️Independence mattered more to them early on than getting rich ever did

🌭 Case in point: Dick Portillo started a hot dog stand in 1963 with just $1,100. Decades later, he sold the business he'd built for $1 billion.

Building wealth often looks much more ordinary and attainable than the headlines suggest. If growing or eventually stepping back from a business is part of your picture, that's worth talking through together.


Source:

Getting rich in the U.S. is still possible, but the most common path to wealth doesn't involve working for other people, according to a new book.

10/09/2026

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music.

Over the years, she gave millions to causes ranging from disaster relief and medical research to education and children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library alone has distributed more than 330 million books to children across five countries.

After devastating Tennessee wildfires in 2016, her My People Fund provided displaced families with $1,000 a month for six months, no strings attached. She also donated $1 million toward COVID-19 vaccine research and supported schools, scholarships, pediatric care, and communities close to home.

What tied so much of that work together was remarkably simple: trust people, see a need, and respond.

Her example is a meaningful reminder that generosity doesn’t have to follow one formula. It starts with deciding what matters to you and finding a way to make an impact.


Source:

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.

10/01/2026

A few simple habits can go a long way toward helping keep your personal and financial information protected. How does cybersecurity connect to your broader financial picture? What steps are you taking at home and with your business?

09/29/2026

Early estimates for the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment have moved lower as inflation moderates.

New projections suggest the 2027 COLA may fall between 3.4% and 3.6%.

The official adjustment has not been announced yet. The final number will depend on inflation data for July, August, and September.

Social Security COLAs are calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W.

July data showed CPI-W rose 3.4% over the past 12 months. The broader consumer price index also rose 3.4% year over year.

One estimate from AARP suggests a 3.5% COLA would raise the average retired worker’s benefit by about $73 per month.

For retirees and near-retirees, the COLA is an important reminder that inflation can affect income, purchasing power, household expenses, and long-term financial decisions.


Source:

New estimates show just how much Social Security benefits may increase in 2027, based on new government inflation data.

09/22/2026

Some hospitals and medical providers are asking patients to pay more before receiving non-emergency care.

The trend comes as deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket costs continue to rise.

Traditionally, many patients received bills after treatment. Now, some providers are collecting preservice deposits based on their estimate of what a patient may owe.

A KFF Health News report noted that the average deductible for employer-sponsored family coverage is $3,762 per person. The average deductible for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage rose 37% this year to $3,786.

For patients, upfront payment requests can create confusion, especially when insurance networks, deductibles, and estimated costs are unclear.

Emergency care has different rules. Hospitals that accept Medicare funding cannot demand upfront payment before stabilizing a patient who arrives at an emergency room.

For non-emergency care, it may be worth asking for an itemized estimate, confirming network status, and checking with the insurance company before making a large payment.


Source:

Hospitals and other medical providers are increasingly asking for payment before providing care, collecting more of what patients might owe.

09/18/2026

The price you see on the shelf may not be the exact amount you pay at checkout.

With penny production ended, some merchants have started rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest nickel. Depending on the total, that could mean a few cents more or a few cents less.

Paying by credit card may come with another wrinkle. Some retailers and service providers are adding surcharges to help offset card processing costs, which may increase the final price.

That means the same purchase could cost slightly different amounts depending on whether you use cash, debit, or credit.

Before you pay, take a second to compare the total for cash, debit, and credit so you know which option makes the most sense for that purchase.


Source:

More merchants are rounding change for cash purchases to the nearest nickel due to the end of penny production, or adding surcharges to credit card transactions.

09/15/2026

🏦 Bond yields may sound like something only investors need to watch, but they can also show up in everyday financial decisions.

The 10-year Treasury yield recently climbed to 4.78%, its highest level since January 2025. That matters because movements in Treasury yields can influence borrowing costs across the economy.

🏠 Higher yields may contribute to higher rates on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans. They can also have an upside for savers, since rates on high-yield savings accounts and CDs may rise as well.

So when Treasury yields move, the effects can reach well beyond the bond market.

If you’re borrowing or keeping money in interest-bearing accounts, it may be worth paying attention to where rates are heading and how they’re affecting the options available to you.


Source:

The U.S. bond market influences how much American consumers pay for loans and the interest they can earn on their savings accounts.

09/07/2026

We dedicate our efforts to ourselves, our families, our passions, and our needs. Whether you're an employee, an entrepreneur, or retired, here's to making the most of this holiday!

Have a wonderful !