Favor Wealth

10/26/2026

How many years before you are ready to be “retired”?

It’s one of the most important numbers yet.

TIAA's 2026 longevity literacy research found that workers who expect a shorter retirement save less consistently than those who expect a longer one.

That makes sense, but it also means the people who assume their retirement will be short are the same ones who may be building portfolios with shorter time horizons.

Once someone has already reached 65, the numbers shift.

According to Social Security Administration data:

📌 A 65-year-old man has roughly a 24 percent chance of living past 90

📌 A 65-year-old woman's chances are higher, closer to 35 percent

📌 For a 65-year-old married couple, there is about a 50 percent chance that at least one spouse lives past 90

The practical implication is not "assume you will live to 100."

It’s that a retirement income strategy built around the “average lifespan” often assumes a person will die on schedule. Most people do not.

If retirement is on your horizon, the question to ask is, "What happens to my income strategy if I live to 95?"

10/25/2026

Selling an asset? Before you do, get a sense of what the federal capital gains tax could look like. Enter your numbers and see a quick estimate.

Estimate your potential federal capital gains tax liability on the sale of an asset.

10/24/2026

Medicare and Medicaid are two terms that seem interchangeable, but aren’t. Learn more here:

The terms Medicare and Medicaid sound similar but are two very different things. Learn the differences in this informative article.

10/23/2026

Second homes have unique risks and insuring them is different than a primary home.

There are unique risks of owning a second home and obtaining the proper coverage may protect you from financial risk.

10/22/2026

Leasing a car? Consider gap insurance to protect against losses that may not be covered by your current policy.

If you’re thinking of leasing a new car, then you shouldn’t forget about gap insurance.

10/22/2026

Trust & Will's 2026 Estate Planning Report found that 56 percent of adults don't have core documents in place, including:

📝 A will: who gets what, and who is in charge of making it happen

🏥 A healthcare directive (or living will): what you want if you cannot speak for yourself

✍️ Two powers of attorney, one for medical decisions and one for financial decisions, each naming a specific person

📄 A letter of instruction: the practical map to where accounts live, who your professionals are, and what your kids or pets need

The friction is that estate work forces a family to sit with mortality, name specific people for specific roles, and make decisions that feel too permanent to rush.

Without something in writing, though, families are left improvising during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Most say they fully intend to get to it, but too many put it off until it's too late.

Don't put it off. Talk to a financial professional who can help.

10/21/2026

❄️ Heating oil prices are climbing, and some households are facing difficult decisions as winter approaches.
In Maine, the average price reached $5.97 per gallon in early October. One homeowner estimates her family could spend nearly $5,000 heating their home this winter.
Nationwide, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects households that rely on heating oil to spend 21% more than last winter.
Some fuel suppliers say customers are ordering smaller deliveries because filling an entire tank has become too expensive.
For families already managing rising everyday expenses, keeping the house warm may take an even larger share of their household budgets this winter.

Amid surging inflation and a rise in fuel prices, Americans who rely on heating oil to warm up their homes this winter are bracing for increased financial strains.

10/21/2026

The roof protects your home against nature’s risks. Is your personal wealth protected against life's risks?

Building wealth requires protection from the forces of wealth destruction.

10/20/2026

You are unique. Your goals and needs should be the basis of any financial strategy you follow.

Whole life insurance remains in force as long as you remain current with premiums. Here's how it works.

10/19/2026

Social Security recipients will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2027, translating to approximately $75 more per month on average.

The increase comes as inflation continues to affect everyday expenses. September's Consumer Price Index showed prices rising 3.7% over the past year.

But will the adjustment be enough? A September AARP survey found that roughly three-quarters of adults age 50 and older didn't believe a 3.5% COLA would keep pace with rising prices.

The actual increase will vary by recipient, and expenses such as health care, housing, and groceries may affect how far that additional income goes.

The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities starting in 2027.