American Executive Tax & Financial Services

08/06/2026

🎓 Most of the conversation around college savings is about whether you're saving enough. Fewer people talk about what happens when a 529 plan outlasts the beneficiary’s education needs.

Maybe your child earned a scholarship. Maybe they chose a less expensive school. Maybe the plan changed entirely.

However it happened, you built this account carefully, and now it has more in it than you need.

For years, your options were limited: take a taxable distribution and pay a 10 percent penalty on earnings, or change the beneficiary and hope someone else uses it.

SECURE 2.0 added a third option. Not everyone knows that you can roll unused 529 funds directly into a Roth IRA for the account's beneficiary.

Here's what to know:

🔹 $35,000 lifetime cap per beneficiary

🔹 The account must be at least 15 years old

🔹 Annual rollovers are capped at that year's Roth IRA contribution limit ($7,500 in 2026)

🔹 Only contributions made at least 5 years before the transfer date qualify

🔹 No income limits apply (unlike regular Roth contributions)

This doesn't happen overnight.

If your 529 has more in it than your child will use, it may be worth a conversation before that money sits idle any longer.

📝 A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged education savings plan. Before choosing a plan, it's important to consider not only the state tax treatment but also any associated fees and expenses. Availability of a state tax deduction will depend on your state of residence, as state tax laws and treatment may vary from federal tax laws. If you make nonqualified distributions, earnings will be subject to income tax and a 10 percent federal penalty tax.

📝 To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

#529

08/05/2026

Oil prices rose sharply after renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran raised concerns about global energy supplies.

Brent crude futures gained 7.2% to $90.12 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 6.6% to $84.46.

The move followed reports of an attempted attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East and renewed concerns about shipping routes tied to global oil exports.

Markets have been closely watching the Strait of Hormuz and the southern Red Sea, two key chokepoints for oil exports from the Middle East.

When geopolitical tensions affect energy markets, the impact can move beyond oil futures. Higher crude prices can influence gasoline, diesel, transportation, shipping, and airline fuel costs, as well as inflation expectations.

For households and businesses, energy prices remain an important part of the broader economic picture.

Oil rose sharply amid renewed tensions in the Middle East after Iran launched an attack on U.S. forces using ballistic missiles.

08/05/2026

Your family could know every password you have and still be legally locked out of your photos, email, and accounts after you're gone.

☁️ Most estate strategies never address this gap.

A password helps practically. But it doesn't give your family legal permission to access an account.

Many platforms restrict access under their terms of service, and privacy laws can limit what companies disclose, even to a spouse or adult child.

These tools exist because knowing someone's password is not the same as having the right to use it.

Here are some suggestions:

◆ Reference digital assets generally and name a digital executor or fiduciary

◆ Keep a separate, secure inventory with accounts, passwords, recovery keys, and wishes

Many states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, or RUFADAA. It creates a legal path for fiduciaries to access digital assets. But the law works best when paired with documented instructions and properly configured platform settings.

Your memories are saved. Make sure your family can access them.

08/04/2026

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its July meeting, but the decision was not unanimous.

The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 to keep the federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%.

Three regional Fed presidents voted against the decision, preferring to raise rates by 0.25 percentage points instead.

The split reflects ongoing concern about inflation, which has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for more than five years.

Recent price pressures have been tied to several factors, including tariffs and higher energy costs connected to conflict in the Middle East.

The Fed’s statement noted that economic activity continues to expand at a solid pace, while job growth has kept pace with workforce growth, and unemployment has changed little.

For households and businesses, the decision is a reminder that interest rates remain closely tied to inflation, borrowing costs, employment, energy prices, and the broader economic outlook.

Despite increasing support for a rate increase, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 to leave the federal funds rate in a range between 3.5% and 3.75%.

08/04/2026

☂️ One lawsuit has the potential to undo what it took a lifetime to build.

Most people assume their home and auto insurance policies cover everything. For everyday situations, they often do.

The problem is the situation that you never saw coming.

Think about where liability risk actually shows up.

🔹 A serious car accident where you are found at fault and multiple people are injured

🔹 A guest getting hurt on your property

🔹 A defamation claim from something posted online

🔹 A teenage driver in your household

🔹 An incident involving a rental property you own

🔹 A dog bite that leads to a settlement

Standard home and auto policies typically cap liability at $300,000 to $500,000. For someone who has spent decades building wealth, that coverage limit can leave a gap.

An umbrella policy extends that coverage to $1 million or more.

Most people who add an umbrella policy say the same thing afterward: they wish they had done it sooner.

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07/31/2026

The Perseids meteor shower is back, bringing one of the best skywatching events of the year.

The meteor shower occurs each summer from about July 17 to Aug. 23 and is expected to peak this year between Aug. 12 and 13.

Under clear, dark skies, the Perseids can produce 50 to 100 visible meteors per hour.

The shower is known for bright, fast-moving meteors that can leave trails of light and color as they move through Earth’s atmosphere. It is also known for fireballs, which are larger bursts of light that can appear brighter and last longer than a typical meteor streak.

For the best viewing, NASA recommends finding a spot away from light pollution, lying flat on your back, and giving your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.

The Perseids are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere during the predawn hours, but they can also be visible earlier in the evening.

Sometimes, the best summer moments are the ones that ask us to slow down, look up, and take in something bigger than our daily routines.

It's the time of the summer when the Perseids meteor shower is lighting up the night sky.

07/31/2026

🎒🎒 The backpacks are back.

Every year around this time, the phone calls change. ☎️

➡️ Tuition wires.

➡️ Grandparents asking how to help.

➡️ Parents of high school seniors are thinking about FAFSA for the first time.

➡️ Empty-nesters are asking what to do with the spending that just freed up.

➡️ New questions about insurance coverage when a teen starts driving to an out-of-state campus.

If any of this is sitting on the family list, it could be a good time to meet with a financial professional.

07/30/2026

We were all once someone’s intern.

Today is National Intern Day, and it made me think about the person who took a chance on me early in my career.

Most of us still remember that person.

For families, there is another reason to pay attention to the teenagers or young adults working this summer.

A paycheck can make a teenager eligible for a Roth IRA.

A teenager who contributes $2,300 a year starting at age 15 could have more than $707,000 by age 65, assuming a 6 percent average annual return.

And the contribution does not have to come out of the teen’s pocket.

A parent or grandparent can fund it, as long as the teen has enough earned income to qualify.

A summer job can be more than a first line on a resume.

It can be the start of a long-term financial habit.

If a teenager in your life is earning money this summer, have the Roth IRA conversation sooner rather than later.

📝 To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

📝 Consider talking to your tax, legal, or accounting professional before moving ahead.

07/29/2026

Without looking, when did you last update your will?

For most people, the honest answer is "a while ago." Sometimes it's "I don't remember." Occasionally, it's "I'm not sure I ever have."

Estate documents get signed in a year that felt important, and then they go into a drawer.

Four things most people don't realize:

✅ State estate taxes follow the property, not the person. A vacation home in another state can be taxed by that state's rules.

✅ Trusts in recent years may need to be updated to reflect current rules.

✅ Inheritance tax depends on who receives, not what's left. Nieces, nephews, and unmarried partners may owe what a child wouldn't.

✅ The beneficiary form on a retirement account typically overrides the will. The form is filled out once and quietly controls millions.

And many more nuances worth considering.

We’re here if you want an opinion on your estate strategy. If you have a trust, we would encourage you to speak with a professional who is familiar with the relevant rules and regulations before considering any changes.

07/27/2026

Wildfire smoke can travel far from the flames, creating poor air quality in communities many miles away.

Experts say one of the biggest risks comes from tiny particles in the air, which can contribute to short-term and chronic health issues.

When smoke levels are high, health officials recommend staying indoors and taking steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible.

If you have central air conditioning, use the highest level of filtration your system can handle. Filters rated MERV 13 or higher are ideal, and setting the system to recirculate can help limit outside air.

A portable HEPA air filter can also help. If you only have one, consider using it to create a “clean room” where you can spend most of your time.

Experts also recommend sealing gaps where smoky air can enter and avoiding sources of indoor combustion, including candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves.

Wildfire smoke can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, and burning eyes or nose. Anyone wheezing, struggling to breathe, or in distress should seek emergency care.

When the air is smoky from burning wildfires, health experts say to stay indoors. But there are steps you should take to keep the air clean inside your home.