FINANCIALLY FOCUSED
October 2025 Newsletter
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It’s that time of the year — annual open enrollments and the start of the holiday season. We hope everyone has a spooky, fun Halloween!
As noted above, these months are also the season for open enrollments for many benefits and health-care items. That means you have a specific time frame to add or make changes to your benefits and coverages. Here are some important dates to note:
- Medicare (people age 65 and older): October 15 through December 7, 2025.
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Reach-Out/Find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/Medicare-Open-Enrollment
- Individual medical coverage (two enrollment periods):
- November 1, 2025 through December 15, 2025 — for coverage starting January 1, 2026.
- December 16, 2025 through January 15, 2026 — for coverage starting February 1, 2026.
- Employer/employee benefits: Dates vary by employer, but many businesses hold open enrollment at this time of year to allow employees to make benefit choices, changes, or updates for the upcoming year. It’s a good idea to review your choices and make any needed updates.
We’re here to help with any of these open-enrollment processes. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Thank You!
Duane, Donna, Jessica, Cameron
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401(k) FEES: THE HIDDEN COSTS TO BE AWARE OF
If you have a 401(k), or if you’ve left one behind when changing jobs, fees are something you shouldn’t ignore. They may not sound exciting, but according to a recent USA Today article, Changing jobs? How to protect your 401(k) from hidden fees, these small charges can quietly reduce your retirement savings over time.
WHY FEES MATTER
Every 401(k) plan comes with fees. That’s unavoidable. What surprises many people is how those fees can change when you leave an employer. While you’re on the payroll, your company may cover certain administrative costs. But once you walk out the door, those costs often shift back to you.
At first, a small expense like as a monthly “maintenance fee,” may not seem like much. But over time, recurring charges may make a real difference. Unlike market fluctuations, fees are consistent: they don’t pause when your investments perform well. Instead, they may quietly reduce your balance, month after month, year after year.
HOW TO FIND THEM
The tricky part is that fees are rarely obvious. There’s no flashing warning sign. By law, every plan must provide a disclosure statement, often called a 404(a)(5) fee disclosure, though it might go by another name. The challenge is that these documents may not be easily located.
If you’re not sure where to look, ask your HR department or plan administrator. Once you get the disclosure, you’ll likely see charges with names like:
- Transaction fees
- Investment management fees
- Mutual fund expense ratios
- Administrative fees
- Individual service fees
Sometimes you’ll even find more technical-sounding charges such as “sub-transfer agent fees” or “distribution costs.”
The bottom line is that if it sounds like a fee, it probably is.
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE COSTS
The good news is that while you can’t eliminate fees entirely, you can take appropriate steps to minimize them:
- Look for lower-cost funds. If a fund’s expense ratio is higher than 0.50%, consider asking whether it really belongs in your portfolio.
- Consider index funds or target-date funds. These tend to be cheaper than actively managed funds and may be appropriate long-term choices.
- Use comparison tools. Complimentary online resources can show how your plan stacks up against others.
- Ask HR for help. They may be able to point you to lower-cost options within your plan.
- Review old accounts. If you still have a 401(k) with a past employer, consider all of your options and whether rolling it into an IRA for more flexibility and potentially lower costs is appropriate for you.
WHAT RETIREES SHOULD KNOW
Fees may look small on paper, but long-term can be significant. Knowing what you’re paying, understanding your options, and taking action to minimize costs can mean more in your retirement account.
The takeaway is simple: don’t assume your plan is fee-free. Get your fee schedule, learn how to read it, and make intentional choices. Every dollar saved on fees is one more dollar working toward your future.
SOURCE
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/17/hidden-401k-fees-when-change-jobs/85437256007/
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WHAT WE’RE READING
School’s back in session, the leaves are beginning their turn from green to reds and yellows, and its officially pumpkin spice season! Here are some of our favorite recent financial news articles to read while you enjoy your favorite fall beverage:
- A USA Today article, The 4% rule is now the 4.7% rule. That matters for your retirement, explains that some financial services professionals are recommending that retirees spend 4.7% annually during retirement, rather than the 4% that’s been the norm for many years.
- An eye-opening article from Kiplinger, Five Wealth-Building Moves You Can Make in Retirement, that describes how building your nest egg doesn’t have to stop once you’ve said goodbye to your career.
- An article from MoneyWatch, 3 ways you can lose your Social Security benefits, that serves as a good reminder that Social Security doesn’t just happen, it requires a thoughtful strategy that understands the program’s rules and nuances.
- If you’re looking for a refresher on the ins and outs of IRA rules, a U.S. News and World Report article, IRA Rules: Contributions, Deductions, Withdrawals, is a place to start.
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A DENTIST INVENTED COTTON CANDY
One might think it should be the other way around…but, in 1897, a dentist and a confectioner teamed up to create Cotton Candy. William Morrison, the dentist behind this sugary treat, hoped the new candy would drum up some extra cavity related business. He sought out confectioner John C. Warton, and they devised a machine that turned sugar into cotton strands. Although the candy originally was named Fairy Floss, it was not until the 1920’s when the name Cotton Candy was adopted.
SOURCE
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/507656/50-sweet-facts-about-your-favorite-halloween-candies
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GHOST S'MORES DIP
This s'mores-inspired dip is the perfect dessert to throw together for a last-minute Halloween bash! In just 15 minutes, you'll have a melty, chocolatey, dreamy s'mores dip that is downright scary good. Graham crackers make for perfect dippers, but sliced apple, pretzels, or potato chips would certainly do the trick too.
Let's Get Baking!
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Advisory services are offered by Optimum Wealth LLC a Registered Investment Advisor in the State of New Hampshire. Insurance products and services are offered through Optimum Financial LLC dba Optimum Benefits, an affiliated company. Optimum Wealth LLC and Optimum Financial LLC are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency, and are not engaged in the practice of law.
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This award was issued on 09/01/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/25/2024 through 07/18/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1183 New Hampshire-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 82 (7 % of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 1,094, 87, 8%, 9/1/24, 12/12/23 - 7/9/24; 2023: 1,017, 89, 9%, 9/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 979, 87, 9%, 9/1/22, 12/20/21 - 6/17/22; 2021: 943, 96, 10%, 9/1/21, 11/30/20 - 6/25/21; 2020: 928, 91, 10%, 9/1/20, 12/9/19 - 7/1/20; 2019: 928, 85, 9%, 9/1/19, 11/19/18 - 7/10/19; 2018: 955, 74, 8%, 9/1/18, 12/26/17 - 7/17/18; 2017: 739, 89, 12%, 9/1/17, 12/27/16 - 7/6/17; 2016: 666, 158, 24%, 8/1/16, 2/6/16 - 7/19/16; 2015: 853, 166, 19%, 9/1/15, 2/6/15 - 7/19/15; 2014: 1045, 189, 18%, 9/1/14, 2/6/14 - 7/19/14; 2013: 1049, 204, 19%, 9/1/13, 2/6/13 - 7/19/13; 2012: 743, 170, 23%, 9/1/12, 2/6/12 - 7/19/12. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria - required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria - considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
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