FINANCIALLY FOCUSED
May 2026 Newsletter
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May is here, and Memorial Day is coming up quickly—kicking off the “summertime” travel season. As we do each year, we’d like to share a few tips and resources to help you and your family travel safely and smoothly:
- If you are flying, be aware of identification requirements that can change. REAL ID is now required for domestic air travel (or bring another acceptable ID, like a passport).
- If you are driving, make sure your vehicle is ready, inspected for safety, and serviced. The last thing you want is an unforeseen delay or interruption that could have been prevented.
- Consider travel health and trip interruption insurance to protect you and your trip in case things don’t go as planned. This is especially important for clients who are Medicare-eligible (age 65+), since Medicare coverage outside the U.S. is limited. Before your trip, review the benefits available—plans and options are priced per trip and are typically very affordable.
We wish everyone a great travel season filled with wonderful memories!
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at any time—we’re always happy to help.
Thank you!
Duane, Donna, Jessica
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HOW LONG WILL YOUR RETIREMENT ACTUALLY LAST?
How long will your retirement last? It's a question many Americans haven't thought through carefully enough, and the answer may surprise you.
According to a March 2026 report from the TIAA Institute, only about one-third of Americans can correctly answer a basic question about how much longer a 65-year-old woman is likely to live.
The correct answer, which is roughly 22 more years, to age 87, stumps many people. That knowledge gap has real consequences for retirement planning.
The Numbers May Surprise You
The life expectancy figures most of us learned in school are calculated at birth. But here's the key insight: life expectancy rises with age. A man who turns 65 today can expect to live another 19 years, to around age 84. A woman of the same age will live nearly 22 more years on average.
Simply put, the longer you live, the longer you're likely to keep living.
Underestimating Can Be Costly
When people underestimate how long they'll live, they tend to plan for a shorter retirement and that can be a costly mistake. More than half of those who underestimated life expectancy said they expected to live fewer than 20 years after retiring, an estimate that's likely too low.
Many Americans retire in their early 60s. Many financial services professionals suggest preparing for a retirement that’s 30 years or more, depending on your personal situations and needs.
When gauging your own longevity, resist relying solely on family history. Life expectancy tends to improve with each generation.
Talk with your financial services professional about building a strategy designed to help you go the distance!
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WHAT WE’RE READING
Here are four of our favorite recent financial news stories:
- If the ins and outs of long-term care insurance leaves you feeling baffled and overwhelmed, the AARP article, This Isn’t Your Parents’ Long-Term Care Insurance, is a can’t-miss read.
- Many people, as they draw close to retirement, often look around and say to themselves, “Where did all this stuff come from!” A Kiplinger article, 5 Myths Keeping You From Getting Rid of Your Stuff, has great insight into paring back your possessions.
- Many financial services professionals will tell you that doing all you can to maintain your health may help your money last longer, and the U.S. News and World Report article, How Music Rewires the Aging Mind, explains how music may positively impact your health.
- As you likely already know, many people list travel as their top retirement goal, and the Travel and Leisure magazine article, 17 Trips You Need to Take as Soon as You Retire, has potential trips you’ll probably want to add to your bucket list.
SOURCES
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/03/14/how-long-does-retirement-last/89104038007/
https://www.tiaa.org/public/institute/publication/2026/longevity-expectations-and-retirement-readiness
https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/hybrid-ltc-life-insurance/?src=psn
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/real-estate/t029-c000-s002-myths-keeping-you-from-getting-rid-of-your-stuff.html
https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/the-power-of-music-for-older-adults
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/trips-to-take-when-you-retire
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Links to third-party articles are provided for convenience; we do not control or guarantee the accuracy of third-party content, and such links should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Financial Services Professional and their company are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
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PEACH BRUSCHETTA WITH WHIPPED RICOTTA
Sweet, juicy peaches and creamy whipped ricotta make this peach bruschetta a fresh twist on a classic appetizer. Layered onto crisp toasted bread and finished with a touch of honey, herbs, or balsamic, it strikes the perfect balance of bright, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. It is an easy, elegant recipe that feels special enough for entertaining but simple enough to enjoy any time.
Let's Get Cooking
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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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