Jeff Cotton, CPA, MBA

11/02/2026

The AI trade isn't ending. It's expanding. Cetera's latest commentary examines what's driving the recent selloff, where they see opportunities emerging, and why staying invested still matters.

The AI trade isn't ending. It's expanding. Our latest commentary examines what's driving the recent selloff, where we see opportunities emerging, and why…

10/30/2026

🤖 An AI assistant that handles your emails and pays your bills? That sounds pretty convenient.

But how much access are you comfortable giving it?

Personal AI agents are designed to handle tasks on your behalf, sometimes using sensitive information like banking details and email accounts. And while they may save time, some cybersecurity professionals warn that granting them too much access carries risks.

One concern is something called prompt injection, where malicious instructions hidden in a website or email could trick an AI agent into doing something you never authorized.

🔐 A couple of questions worth asking before giving an AI agent access to sensitive information:
▪️What information does it need? Researching products doesn’t necessarily require access to your accounts.
▪️Can it make purchases? There’s a difference between comparing prices and authorizing transactions.

Convenience and privacy don’t always go hand in hand. Reviewing what an agent has done on your behalf may help spot actions you never intended.



Source:

The more access you give personal AI agents, the more capable they can be. But should you trust them?

10/30/2026

Treasury yields pulled back from their recent highs after a strong auction eased some concerns about demand for government debt.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5.35%, its highest level since 2002, before easing following the Treasury's sale of $39 billion in 10-year notes.

Demand at the auction was stronger than average, particularly from indirect bidders such as global central banks, which accounted for 80.3% of the sale, compared with a 10-auction average of 72.4%.

The broader backdrop is still one of elevated yields, with investors weighing persistent inflation, rising energy prices, and expectations that the Federal Reserve may raise rates again before year-end.

For now, the auction offered a little reassurance that demand for longer-term Treasurys remains strong even as yields sit near multidecade highs.



Source:

U.S. Treasury yields came off their highs after a solid sale of 10-year notes.

10/30/2026

🎃 Filling the candy bowl is costing more this year.

Candy and chewing gum prices have climbed 8.1% over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chocolate prices are up, too, though estimates vary by source. 🍫

But higher prices aren’t necessarily keeping Americans out of the candy aisle.

The National Retail Federation expects Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion this year, with 96% of Halloween shoppers expecting to buy sweets.

For many households, the holiday is one of those small traditions worth making room for, even when everyday expenses are taking a bigger bite out of their budgets.

Whether you’re picking up candy for trick-or-treaters or sneaking a few pieces for yourself, what’s the one Halloween candy you can’t resist? 🍬👻



Source:

Average prices for chewing gum and candy have soared 8.1% over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

10/29/2026

06/21/2026

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?

06/18/2026

What would you do with a windfall?

A business sale. An inheritance. A bonus that lands bigger than expected.

Most people assume they'd handle it well.

But sudden money follows patterns. And the patterns aren't always flattering.

Psychologists call it sudden wealth syndrome: the anxiety, decision paralysis, and relationship pressure that arrive alongside a large sum. It shows up whether the windfall was a complete surprise or something you spent years building toward.

The 5 most common mistakes we see:

⏳ Upgrading your lifestyle before a strategy exists

🤝 Giving to family under emotional pressure

📊 Attempting to make decisions without professional guidance

⚖️ Freezing and making no decisions at all

📋 Missing the critical deadlines in year one

All five can be managed, but only if you get ahead of the emotions before the decisions start piling up.

The most important thing you can do in the first 90 days? Maybe nothing.

Tell very few people. Then consider building a team of professionals who can offer insights and guidance.

There is rarely a cost to waiting. There is frequently a cost to moving too quickly.

06/18/2026

Restoring the Great Wall of China is a careful process, and in some places, it is happening one brick at a time.

The Great Wall stretches roughly 13,000 miles, but it is not one continuous structure. Instead, it is composed of many sections built over several dynasties over about 2,000 years.

One restoration effort focuses on the Jiankou section, a steep, rugged section of the wall north of Beijing. The work requires traditional masonry skills, local knowledge, and a deep respect for preserving the structure’s historic character.

For Cheng Yongmao, known as Old Cheng, the work has become a life’s calling. After decades as a bricklayer and restoration specialist, he now helps guide efforts to protect and repair parts of the wall for future generations.

The project is a reminder that preserving history often depends on patience, craftsmanship, and the people willing to protect what came before.


Source:

NBC News visits the monumental 13,000-mile fortifications, which are not, in fact, one contiguous structure but many segments built over several dynasties spanning about 2,000 years.

06/16/2026

The Treasury Department in January said more than a million people have signed up for Trump accounts. Are you eligible? Feel free to give me a call at 334.268.1317 and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have.