Aspen Financial Strategies, LLC

10/08/2026

🎂 Japan just crossed a milestone: for the first time, more than 100,000 people there are age 100 or older.

According to the country's Health and Welfare Ministry, Japan now counts 107,677 centenarians, up nearly 8,000 from the year before. Almost 88 percent are women. The country's oldest resident, Kyoto's Fuyo Kishimoto, recently turned 114.

🎌 Officials point to progress in medical care, along with healthier lifestyles and diet, as part of what's driving the trend. And Japan isn't alone; life expectancies have been rising in many countries over the past several decades.

It's a good reminder of how many more years many of us may be around for, and why that's worth factoring into conversations about the road ahead, from healthcare to how a longer stretch of years gets supported financially.

That's exactly the kind of long-term thinking we like to talk through together.


Source: https://apnews.com/article/japan-aging-centenarians-population-decline-health-34e0fecbf9b31946d986abba42e3f427

10/05/2026

🏛️ The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate this week for the first time in three years, lifting the federal funds rate a quarter point to a range of 3.75% to 4%. Most officials expect at least one more increase before the year's end.

A few things are driving the move:
▪️Energy prices have climbed amid global tensions
▪️Spending tied to AI infrastructure has surged
▪️Together, they've pushed inflation above the Fed's 2% goal

The effects reach different corners of your budget in different ways:
▪️Credit cards and auto loans tend to reprice quickly
▪️Mortgage rates track longer-term Treasury yields, which have also climbed, pushing the 30-year average to nearly 7%

💼 The labor market has held steady through it all, with unemployment at 4.1%.

This is exactly the kind of shift worth talking through together, especially anywhere it touches your own borrowing or spending decisions.


Source:

Most officials penciled in one more increase this year. An energy shock and a surge of AI investment have reshaped the inflation outlook.

10/02/2026

A carton of milk 🥛. A set of golf clubs ⛳. A bottle of perfume 🌸. All three just got pricier to send north into Canada. 🍁

Canada's new tariffs on $20 billion in American goods took effect this week, ranging from 15 to 50 percent depending on the product.

It's the latest move in a trade dispute that's dragged on for more than a year between two of the world's largest trading partners.

The ripple effects won't directly affect most household budgets. But they're a reminder that global headlines and everyday costs are more connected than they seem.

That connection, and what it might mean for your own situation, is exactly the kind of thing we're keeping an eye on for you.


Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/canada-retaliatory-tariffs-us-goods-milk-perfume-golf-clubs-trump/

09/29/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.


Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gen-x-social-security-retirement-savings/

09/24/2026

Some hospitals and medical providers are asking patients to pay more before receiving non-emergency care.

The trend comes as deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket costs continue to rise.

Traditionally, many patients received bills after treatment. Now, some providers are collecting preservice deposits based on their estimate of what a patient may owe.

A KFF Health News report noted that the average deductible for employer-sponsored family coverage is $3,762 per person. The average deductible for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage rose 37% this year to $3,786.

For patients, upfront payment requests can create confusion, especially when insurance networks, deductibles, and estimated costs are unclear.

Emergency care has different rules. Hospitals that accept Medicare funding cannot demand upfront payment before stabilizing a patient who arrives at an emergency room.

For non-emergency care, it may be worth asking for an itemized estimate, confirming network status, and checking with the insurance company before making a large payment.


Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospitals-upfront-payments-rising-deductibles/

09/21/2026

Inflation is still running above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures price index, rose 0.2% in July and 3.7% from a year earlier. Core PCE, which strips out food and energy prices, increased 3.3% annually.

The report also showed personal income rose 0.4% while spending increased 0.2%.

For consumers, that means price pressures haven’t disappeared, even as some categories, including gasoline and other energy-related goods, moved lower during the month.

With inflation still elevated, the latest numbers may remain an important part of the Fed’s upcoming interest-rate discussions.


Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-shows-core-prices-rose-3point3percent-annually-in-july.html

09/18/2026

Is your estate strategy full of cobwebs? Does your investing approach have too many tricks and not enough treats? Does your retirement timeline read like a ghost story?

These things have a way of going bump in the night.

Knowing where you stand is the first step.

09/15/2026

🏠 Higher mortgage rates are pushing some homebuyers to look for lower-cost alternatives.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.79%, while the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 5.94%.

That gap is drawing more attention to ARMs, which made up 8% of mortgage applications last week, their highest share in five weeks.

🔑 The tradeoff is that an ARM’s rate can change later, which means the lower initial rate may come with more uncertainty down the road.

For buyers comparing mortgage options, it’s worth looking beyond the starting rate and understanding how the loan could change over time.


Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/02/demand-for-riskier-mortgages-rises-along-with-interest-rates.html

09/10/2026

The price you see on the shelf may not be the exact amount you pay at checkout.

With penny production ended, some merchants have started rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest nickel. Depending on the total, that could mean a few cents more or a few cents less.

Paying by credit card may come with another wrinkle. Some retailers and service providers are adding surcharges to help offset card processing costs, which may increase the final price.

That means the same purchase could cost slightly different amounts depending on whether you use cash, debit, or credit.

Before you pay, take a second to compare the total for cash, debit, and credit so you know which option makes the most sense for that purchase.


Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/cash-rounding-credit-card-surcharges-penny-production-ends.html

09/07/2026

The Politics of Inflation