Alisa Schultz, CFP, Financial Advisor with Estes Wealth Strategies

03/10/2026

🤔Thinking ahead about intergenerational wealth? A Roth conversion can help reduce future taxes, lower RMDs and give your heirs more flexibility – especially children in higher tax brackets.
There are several reasons you might consider a Roth conversion for your own income strategy:

🟢Tax rates in the current year could be lower than expected in future years.
🟢A mix of taxable and tax-free accounts – and the ability to take strategic distributions from both – could make it easier to adjust to a future tax environment.
🟢A Roth conversion will result in a smaller traditional IRA, which translates to lower RMDs; Roth IRAs do not have RMDs.
🟢During times of market volatility, converting while asset values are depressed could result in a lower tax bill for the converted securities.
🟢Conversions can be done in-kind, with any potential appreciation due to a market rebound growing tax-free in the Roth IRA.

raymondjames.com

03/04/2026

🛢️The conflict in Iran could push oil prices higher in the near term. However, as with most geopolitical events, the situation remains fluid, and these events tend to have short-lived impacts on the broader economy and financial markets.

Oil prices reached a 7 month high on Friday Feb 27 with prices rising beyond what supply and demand would justify. Once the conflict subsides, oil prices tend to cool as the risk premium fades.

🪫Minimal impact on US corporate earnings is expected, assuming the conflict is short-lived. Higher oil prices tend to benefit the energy sector.

The picture could change if elevated oil prices were to persist for several months. In this scenario, we could see gas prices above $3/gallon and inflation could weigh on consumer confidence and spending.

raymondjames.com

02/18/2026

🎯The Dow closed above 50,000 points for the first time. How did it get there and what does this milestone mean?

🧗‍♀️Each 10,000-point jump represents a smaller percentage increase than the one before it, meaning big round numbers can come faster than many expect. For example, over the past 20 years (January 2006 to January 2026), the Dow has returned ~7.8% annually. If that pace continued, the index could reach 70,000 by 2030 and even 100,000 by 2035. This underscores a key point: the importance of staying invested for the long term.

raymondjames.com

02/11/2026

🤔What's happening with the markets?
💲Expect consumer spending to remain healthy in 2026 due to job growth firming up, larger tax refunds, and household net worth rising.
👩‍💻Technology is off its highs (-8%), but AI megatrend remains intact with capital spending projected to reach $650B in 2026.
💹European stocks are up, but their earnings not as strong as US companies. We still favor US over Europe.

amazonaws.com

02/02/2026

⬆️US stocks finished higher for the month after a busy start, and the economy remains cool but resilient.
Some highlights:
🪙Surge in gold prices
💲Weaker US dollar with international equities outperforming US equities in January.
🏢 US economy showing resilience amongst uncertainty around tariffs, and Fed kept interest rates unchanged.

Read the details in the January market recap below.

raymondjames.com

01/15/2026

💕After a loved one passes away, there are important actions to take to protect their legacy and your peace of mind. Learn how to navigate this difficult time with clarity.
*Even the strongest person may need a helping hand. The passing of a loved one is emotional, and executing an estate plan is highly administrative. The help of financial advisors, accountants, insurance agents, attorneys and supportive family and friends can make the process smoother and less stressful.

➡️Action items for those first few weeks:
*Notify beneficiaries and gather important documents such as the will, death certificate, and financial statements.
*File death certificates with the Social Security Administration, other government agencies, and financial institutions as required by the state. *Apply for veteran benefits, if applicable.
*Open a bank account for the estate.
*Contact creditors and other debtors.
*Begin paying the deceased's final expenses, such as funeral costs and medical bills.

raymondjames.com

01/05/2026

🪙What's possible for the Stock Market in 2026? 🛢️We expect a longer-term disinflationary trend to take hold as home and oil costs ease.
Our forecast is a GDP growth of 2.2% (up frm 2% in 2025).
⬇️We anticipate just one fed cut for the year as near-term inflation remains stubbornly above the 2% target.
⚡Market Volatility may intensify this year. US corporate earnings are epected to rise about 12%.

raymondjames.com

12/29/2025

🥑Buying organic can add up to higher grocery bills (and less money to save or invest), so which produce is worth the extra cost?
💠Here's a list of the "clean fifteen" low pesticide fruits and vegetables...
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Onions
5. Papayas
6. Frozen sweet peas
7. Asparagus
8. Honeydew
9. Kiwis
10. Cabbage
11. Mushrooms
12. Mangoes
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Watermelons
15. Carrots

raymondjames.com

12/23/2025

🧗🏼‍♀️Three day rally brings the S&P into positive territory for the month.
🥚Egg prices fall below $1/dozen.
🏘️The housing market remains sluggish wiht the average home for sale spending 53 days on market.
🪙Gold and Silver setting record highs, with Platium ready to jion them.

amazonaws.com

12/19/2025

✨Wishing you peace, joy and togetherness this holiday season.

12/14/2025

🕎Wishing you a season of love and light. Happy Hannukah!