River Financial Planners

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

Extended care is one of the biggest wild cards in retirement.

Costs vary by location, care type, and health needs—but they've all been rising faster than many realize.

These five insights can help you understand what drives costs and why they often catch retirees by surprise.



Sources:
CareScout, Cost of Care Report, July–December 2024
AALTCI, Long-Term Care Insurance Statistics & Data 2025
EBRI/Greenwald, 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey, April 2025

04/29/2026

There's a crossover moment every long-term investor experiences, and it can change how you think about money forever.

It's the point at which your total investment earnings exceed your total contributions, meaning your portfolio is now doing more work than you ever did.

As this chart shows, it doesn't happen overnight. In year 5, earnings are barely visible. But by year 25, earnings have pulled ahead.

The most powerful financial decision you can make isn't picking the right investment. It's staying committed to your strategy long enough to reach that crossover.

Where are you on this chart? Drop a year or decade in the comments.

04/15/2026

Tax Day Is Here – and So Are Extensions! If you’ve already filed and ended your yearly business with the IRS, congrats! If you are filing extensions, congratulations on getting that process underway. Alongside your tax professionals, we wish you a timely resolution to this yearly ritual.

04/14/2026

Private-sector hiring showed modest growth in March, with payrolls rising by 62,000.

While that total was slightly below February’s revised level, it came in above expectations and reflects continued, though uneven, job growth.

Most of the gains were concentrated in a few areas. Education and health services accounted for the majority of new jobs, while construction also contributed. Other sectors saw more limited growth or declines.

Smaller businesses played a notable role, with companies employing fewer than 50 workers leading hiring activity during the month.

At the same time, borrowing costs and broader economic conditions continue to influence hiring patterns, with some industries showing more caution than others.


Source:

Private sector employment growth kept pace, but health care and construction continued to provide nearly all the momentum.

03/18/2026

A tax refund can be a welcome surprise, but deciding what to do with it matters.
From tackling high-interest debt to contributing to long-term goals (or simply treating yourself), every choice can reflect what’s most meaningful to you.



Sources:
FINRA, “6 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund,” March 18, 2025

CNBC Select, “5 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund,” April 11, 2025

03/11/2026

Just over 50 percent of homeowners still have mortgages with rates under 4 percent. But that number has been trending lower, especially in the past year. Are you thinking about making a change?

12/02/2025

Medicare’s standard Part B premium is set to rise 9.7% in 2026, reaching $202.90 per month—the first time the premium will exceed $200. The annual deductible is also increasing to $283, up from $257.

Because the Part B premium is deducted from most Social Security checks, this increase will offset part of the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) scheduled for next year. According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the higher premium will absorb roughly one-third of the COLA, and some beneficiaries with lower monthly payments may see little or no net increase.

These updates provide a clearer understanding of how healthcare costs and retirement benefits intersect as we head into 2026.


Source:

A higher Medicare Part B premium in 2026 could erode next year's cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients, experts say.

12/02/2025

At times, 2025 felt like an extraordinary year for stock investors. From tariff uncertainty to international tensions to drama at the Fed, 2025 felt like no other year before. But in hindsight, 2025 was pretty ordinary. In fact, from a volatility perspective, there was nothing special about 2025 at all. In fact, through November, there were three drops of five percent and one drop of more than 20 percent. Both numbers generally line up with historical trends.