FINANCIALLY FOCUSED
January 2026 Newsletter
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OPTIMUM INSIGHTS
Happy New Year!
As we welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your financial journey and set clear goals for the months ahead. Whether you’re aiming to build an emergency fund, pay down debt, or invest for the future, planning now can make all the difference.
Why Financial Goal Planning Matters
- Clarity & Direction: Goals give you a roadmap for your money.
- Motivation: Tracking progress keeps you focused and inspired.
- Preparedness: Planning helps you handle unexpected expenses.
Steps to Create Your 2026 Financial Plan
- Review Your 2025 Finances
- Assess income, expenses, savings, and debt.
- Set SMART Goals
- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
- Example: “Save $5,000 for an emergency fund by December.”
- Create a Budget That Works
- Allocate funds for essentials, savings, and discretionary spending.
- Automate Savings & Investments
- Make it easy to stick to your plan.
- Track & Adjust Quarterly
- Life changes—your plan should too!
Pro Tips for Success
- Start small and build momentum.
- Use financial apps for tracking.
- Celebrate milestones along the way!
"A goal without a plan is just a wish." – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Let’s Make 2026 Your Best Financial Year Yet!
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CREATE A SMOOTH PATH TO RETIREMENT
According to a recent U.S. News & World Report article titled 4 Essential Steps for Retirement Planning, there are four strategy moves that may help strengthen your long-term financial security.
ASSESS CURRENT SPENDING
Effective retirement planning begins with understanding your present financial picture. Experts recommend reviewing bank statements, tracking cash flow, and identifying which expenses will continue into retirement. Costs like commuting, work clothing, or supporting a child’s education may disappear, while essentials such as housing and utilities remain. Knowing your “core expenses” helps determine how much income you’ll need.
Most retirees should expect to spend 55% to 80% of their pre-retirement income, ideally drawn from predictable sources like Social Security or annuities. Healthcare and lifestyle choices remain the biggest variables.
PROJECT FUTURE NEEDS
Next, list the activities and goals that will shape your retirement lifestyle. Travel, visiting family, relocating, or home renovations can all affect future spending needs. If projected income falls short, you may need to adjust your savings rate or consider part-time work in retirement, which is a common choice among older Americans.
ACCOUNT FOR HEALTHCARE COSTS
Healthcare is a major long-term expense. Fidelity estimates that an average 65-year-old retiree may spend about $172,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs over 20–30 years. Medicare helps but doesn’t cover everything, so retirees should evaluate supplemental insurance or Medicare Advantage plans.
While future medical needs are unpredictable, assessing your current health and any chronic conditions can provide helpful planning guidance.
PLAN YOUR LIFESTYLE AND LEGACY
Retirement requires purpose as well as financial readiness. Consider how you’ll spend your days, what hobbies you hope to continue, and whether you want to leave an inheritance. Legal preparation is also key: ensure you have a will and documents like powers of attorney and healthcare directives in place.
Thoughtful planning today can create a more secure and fulfilling retirement tomorrow.
SOURCE
https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/4-essential-steps-for-retirement-planning
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WHAT WE’RE READING
We’ve been busy preparing for a fantastic and rewarding 2026 by catching up on some of our favorite financial and lifestyle news sites. Here are some articles that stood out:
- If you need a refresher on IRA rules, this Kiplinger article, The 10-Year Rule for Inherited IRAs has some eye-opening details.
- If you’re considering moving after you retire, don’t miss this U.S. News and World Report article, U.S. News Ranks the Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2026.
- See how your financial situation stacks up against other Americans with this Yahoo Finance article, 1 in 3 Americans say their financial situation has deteriorated in the past year, new survey finds.
- Many people list travel as one of their biggest retirement goals, and if you’re one of them, you’ll want to read this Yahoo Life article, I’m a Travel Expert: 5 Top Destinations for Retired Boomers in 2026.
- Winter may be settling in throughout much of the country, but it’s not too early to begin planning next summer’s garden! Freshen your green thumb with this Martha Stewart feature, 4 Garden Design Trends for 2026, From Nancy Meyers-Inspired Gardens to Container Planting.
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US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY AND MARKETS?
As the longest shutdown in history comes to an end, focus is shifting to reopening – and managing the lingering impacts on markets and the economy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- After 43 days the longest U.S. government shutdown in history has ended – but all is not yet back to normal.
- The delayed publication of official economic data is impacting the Federal Reserve, which is mulling the prospect of further rate cuts.
- The shutdown is expected to reduce the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter, and raise it in Q1 2026.
SOURCE
https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/government-shutdown
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SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH GRAVY
These juicy and flavorful Swedish Meatballs are smothered in a savory gravy cream sauce and are perfect by themselves or over noodles or mashed potatoes.
Let's Get Cooking
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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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