Income Planning Group, LLC

05/28/2026

The cost of raising a child in the U.S. continues to rise, reaching a new milestone in recent estimates.

A new analysis puts the total cost at approximately $303,000 through age 18, or about $16,800 per year on average.

These figures include everyday expenses like housing, food, and childcare, but do not account for college costs, which can add significantly more over time.

Costs can also vary widely depending on location. Some states saw notable increases, while others experienced slower growth in certain child-related expenses.

While the overall total has increased, some categories, such as early childcare, have shown signs of stabilizing in recent data.

As costs evolve, these trends offer a broader view of how family-related expenses are changing.


Source:

Raising a child through age 18 is most expensive in Hawaii, where a family would spend an estimated $412,661 in 2026, LendingTree found.

05/21/2026

That yellow section? That's money you never saved, your money made it for you.

This is compound interest in action. Start with $1,000/year at a hypothetical 5 percent return, and by year 30, you've built nearly $70,000. But the real story is the yellow: Interest earning interest.

Year 1: almost no interest at all.
Year 30: the interest on your interest alone might cover a year of car payments (or more).

You don't need to invest more. You need to stay focused on your strategy. What's one financial habit you wish you'd started earlier? Drop it below. 👇

05/14/2026

Artificial intelligence is becoming a more common expectation in early-career roles.

Recent data shows that about 4.2% of entry-level job postings now reference AI skills, nearly double the share from a year ago. Internship postings are even higher, with more than 10% including AI-related requirements.

The trend spans a range of industries, with the strongest presence in technology roles, along with growing adoption in areas like financial services and marketing.

At the same time, many students report learning these tools on their own, as formal training continues to catch up with workplace expectations.

While the overall job market for new graduates remains competitive, familiarity with AI tools is becoming one way candidates can stand out across a variety of roles.


Source:

As of March, 4.2% of full-time early-career jobs called for AI skills, nearly double the share from a year ago, according to Handshake's 2026 graduate report.

05/07/2026

A common online security tool is now being used in a new type of scam.

Cybercriminals are increasingly using fake CAPTCHA prompts — the familiar “I’m not a robot” checks — to trick users into taking actions that can compromise their devices.

Instead of a simple verification, these prompts may ask users to click “Allow,” enable notifications, or follow additional steps that can lead to persistent pop-ups, phishing attempts, or unwanted software.

These scams often appear through ads, suspicious links, or redirected web pages, making them harder to spot at first glance.

Security experts note that legitimate CAPTCHA tests do not require enabling notifications, downloading files, or entering system commands — making those requests a potential red flag.

As these tactics evolve, staying cautious when interacting with unexpected prompts can help reduce exposure to online threats.


Source:

Cybercriminals are increasingly using fake CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into enabling malware and scam notifications Security experts warn the ta

05/04/2026

We'll be hosting a Tax, Estate, & Retirement Planning workshop in Minnetonka on May 13th. Call our office to register!

04/07/2026

We're in Plymouth next Tuesday for another Retirement Workshop! Call our office to register:

03/25/2026

Our next retirement workshops are Tuesday, March 31st and Thursday, April 2nd at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. Call our office to reserve your spot!

02/24/2026

Mark your calendar!
Our next retirement workshops will be held on March 3rd and 5th at the Minnetonka Community Center.

11/11/2025

✨ The holidays are full of joy… and, let’s be honest, a little stress too. One way to stay grounded? A checklist that brings you back to what matters. Try this:
🔥 Build a fire
🛷 Go sledding
🍪 Bake cookies
💙 Prioritize your financial goals
⛄ Make a snowman

These small, intentional steps—especially checking in on your financial priorities—may help you create a strategy for the holiday season and beyond. Here’s to a winter that feels cozy, connected, and just a little bit magical.

11/07/2025

Paleontologists have uncovered a remarkable discovery in Wyoming: two “stunningly preserved” dinosaur mummies with fossilized skin patterns, spikes, and even hooved feet.

The fossils, belonging to the duck-billed species Edmontosaurus annectens, were first found more than a century ago but have now been reexamined using modern imaging techniques. Researchers determined that the specimens retained fine surface molds created by microbes as the dinosaurs decayed, revealing details such as a neck crest, tail spikes, and the earliest evidence of hooved limbs in a reptile.

These findings help scientists better understand how their soft tissues decayed and fossilized, offering new insight into what dinosaurs may have looked like in life.


Source:

The skeletons of a duck-billed dinosaur found more than 100 years ago are so well-preserved that they contain fleshy body parts embedded in thin layers of clay.