Thirteen Twenty-Two Advisors

04/20/2026

During the Artemis II mission, a deeply personal tribute became part of lunar history.

What began as a heartfelt gesture from the crew has now been made official: a crater on the Moon has been named Carroll.

The name honors Carroll Wiseman, the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman, who passed away in 2020. While in orbit, the crew identified a “bright spot” on the Moon and dedicated it to her memory — a moment that resonated both onboard and back on Earth.

The International Astronomical Union later approved the name, ensuring it will appear on lunar maps moving forward.

It’s a reminder that even in moments of exploration and discovery, the connections we carry with us can leave a lasting mark far beyond Earth. 🌙

"Integrity and Carroll Crater, loud and clear."

04/20/2026

Stocks rallied last week as investor enthusiasm built for an end to the war in the Middle East and hopes of a resumption of normal global trade. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 4.54 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked...

04/16/2026

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and caring for aging parents is one of the biggest stressors many families face.

In our experience, stress drops when the basics are handled before there is urgency.

Here are 5 things to consider:

➡️ Financial power of attorney, so someone can act if needed

➡️ Healthcare proxy, so medical decisions are clear and legally supported

➡️ Account access, so a trusted contact can see what is happening without scrambling

➡️ Bill pay strategy, so nothing becomes a late fee problem on top of everything else

➡️ A shared “where things live” file, documents, logins, contacts, including key professionals

These are not fun conversations, but they are often a gift to future selves and to siblings who may need to step in.

When preparations have been made, families can give more time and attention to what actually matters.

04/15/2026

New research shows a shift in how income is distributed across U.S. households.

About 31% of households are now considered upper middle class, making it the largest income group in the country — a significant increase compared to past decades.

This change reflects long-term income growth as more households move into higher-earning brackets. Factors such as dual-income households and increased workforce participation have contributed to this trend.

At the same time, the share of households in traditional middle-income ranges has declined, largely because many have moved into higher categories.

Even with these shifts, perceptions of financial well-being can vary. Rising costs in housing, education, and healthcare continue to shape how households experience economic progress.

America's middle class is shrinking, but not because people are getting poorer. Instead, more households are climbing the ladder, new research suggests.

04/14/2026

Your Social Security claiming age doesn't just affect you. It could affect your spouse's income for life. 👇

If you're the higher earner, the age you claim shapes what your spouse receives as a survivor benefit after you're gone.

Claim at 62, and that smaller payment could follow them for decades.

A few things that surprise people when we walk through the math:

✅ Max monthly benefit in 2026: $2,969 at age 62 vs. $5,181 at age 70. Same person, very different outcome.

✅ Up to 85 percent of benefits may be taxable. A new $6,000 senior deduction helps, but it expires in 2028.

✅ Divorced after 10+ years? You may be eligible for benefits based on your ex-spouse's record without affecting their payments.

The break-even point between claiming early and delaying benefits falls between ages 78 and 81.

With the potential for one spouse in a married couple reaching 90, this decision deserves more than a guess. 💡

04/13/2026

Mortgage demand is showing signs of slowing, even as interest rates moved slightly lower.

Applications for home purchases were 7% lower than the same time last year, marking the first annual decline in over a year. Refinance activity also fell, with applications down compared to both the prior week and last year.

While rates dipped modestly, with the average 30-year fixed rate around 6.5%, broader economic uncertainty continues to influence buyer activity.

Some segments of the market are holding up better than others, particularly where lower-rate loan options or increased housing inventory are available.

These shifts highlight how interest rates, affordability, and market conditions can all play a role in housing demand.

Weakening consumer sentiment in the overall economy is weighing heavily on mortgage demand from both homeowners and homebuyers.

04/13/2026

Hope won out over fear last week as investors set their sights on a Middle East ceasefire holding and optimistic prospects for the Strait of Hormuz reopening.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.56 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite...

04/11/2026

🐕 🐶 🐈 Whether you have a dog who loses their mind every time you walk in the door or a cat who barely acknowledges your existence, you know how much pets mean to the people who have them.

They show up in our work more than you'd think.

Not just in estate preparation or budgeting for care, but in bigger conversations about what retirement looks like or what happens when circumstances change, and a pet's care becomes part of the equation.

For a lot of people, their pets are family, and preparation that ignores them misses the point.

Happy National Pet Day!! 🐕 🐶 🐈

04/10/2026

National Siblings Day is different for adults.

Growing up, it was about who was the favorite, who touched whose stuff, and who told mom.

Later, it can be about much bigger things, like helping a parent, dividing responsibilities, making decisions under stress, and eventually navigating estate details with fairness and clarity.

In our world, the smoothest family outcomes usually come from conversations that start early: who is doing what, where information lives, what “equal” really means, and what happens if someone has to step in quickly.

Grateful for siblings, the shared history, and the kind of support that shows up when it matters most.

04/09/2026

Any guess how much you’ll spend on healthcare costs in retirement?

A 2025 study by Fidelity puts the after-tax cost at about $330k for an average retired couple and $165k for a single person, excluding long-term care.

Did you know…

⚠️ The $330k and $165k estimates are after-tax and do not include long-term care.

⚠️ Healthcare costs have typically risen faster than the average rate of inflation, the Fidelity report showed.

⚠️ Costs can vary by medical conditions and where someone lives, so rules of thumb can miss.

A lot of people underestimate this line item, enough that if you haven’t included assumptions for it in your retirement strategy, you should.

It deserves an in-depth financial conversation.

04/06/2026

Stocks rose over the short trading week on fresh hopes for a quick end to the Middle East conflict, while March job growth was unexpectedly strong.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index picked up 3.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

04/06/2026

New data shows that some Americans are contributing less to retirement accounts, reflecting ongoing financial pressures.

On average, contribution rates fell slightly, with full-time workers setting aside 8.9% of income, down from 9.2% the previous year. At the same time, about 1 in 4 workers reduced their savings, and nearly 20% took loans from their accounts.

These changes may be tied to rising everyday expenses, as some households adjust to manage short-term needs.

While the shift is relatively modest, consistent contributions over time can play an important role in long-term outcomes — making even small changes worth paying attention to.

Trends like these highlight how broader economic conditions can influence saving behaviors across different income levels.

Full-time employees cut their 401(k) participation and contribution rates last year amid an affordability crunch, new research shows.