Financial Pathway

  • Home
  • Financial Pathway
Directions Website

Financial Pathway Nathaniel Skelly CFP®

Financial Planning | Investment Management

Is having lots of kids the new status symbol? Compared to the 1990s, ONLY the TOP 1% are more likely to have 3+ kids now...
23/10/2026

Is having lots of kids the new status symbol?

Compared to the 1990s, ONLY the TOP 1% are more likely to have 3+ kids now.

23/10/2026

*VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL PASTORS AND ANYONE WHO IS LICENSED OR ORDAINED CLERGY*

The Clergy Act (HR 227) has been signed into law by President Trump. It creates a 2-year window for any clergy who previously opted OUT of Social Security to be able to opt back IN for the 2029 and 2030 tax years.

Many pastors were advised to opt out of Social Security and come to regret that decision. Whenever pastors ask me whether it is a good idea to opt out of Social Security, I always want to share two very important points:

1. The IRS language allows clergy to opt out of Social Security if they have a religious conviction against public insurance benefits (this is rarely the actual reason pastors want to opt out)

2. Theoretically, if a pastor invested the full 15.3% in Social Security/Medicare taxes instead, they very well may end up with a retirement nest egg that outweighs the lifetime benefit of Social Security and Medicare programs. However, in reality, this almost never happens. And you have to factor in benefits like premium-free Medicare Part A, survivor and disability benefits, and spousal benefits that you would also have to replace on your own.

Bottom line, I believe this is a great opportunity for many pastors who opted out to reestablish coverage. Sharing more details in the comments.

All investing carries risk. But not all investments carry the same risk. Emerging markets are countries that are shiftin...
22/10/2026

All investing carries risk. But not all investments carry the same risk.

Emerging markets are countries that are shifting to become more advanced, industrialized economies. Examples would be Brazil, Mexico, China, South Korea, and India.

This year, there has been some phenomenal growth from some of the bigger companies in this space. But on the other hand, about HALF of the companies in the emerging market space have lost money this year.

This is the risk trade off. There's plenty of room for growth in the emerging markets, but there's also much more unpredictability. Investors have to weigh them both.

Image source: Schroders

Social Security recipients will get a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027. That's a $72 increase for someone getting ...
21/10/2026

Social Security recipients will get a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027.

That's a $72 increase for someone getting $2000/mo right now.

Elon Musk pledges one share of SpaceX stock to every kid in America. ~73 million kids in America x $147.96 (current Spac...
20/10/2026

Elon Musk pledges one share of SpaceX stock to every kid in America.

~73 million kids in America x $147.96 (current SpaceX stock price) = ~$10.8 billion giveaway.

What's not clear right now is the mechanics of how this would even be done. Through Trump Accounts? Will each child receive 1 actual share or the cash equivalent? All US citizens under 18 or some other age?

And while $10.8 billion is quite the donation, it still only represents about 1% of Musk's current net worth!

What happens when you don't rebalance your investments? In real life, here's how I've often seen it play out:An investor...
19/10/2026

What happens when you don't rebalance your investments?

In real life, here's how I've often seen it play out:

An investor is getting close to retirement, and because of that it now makes sense to become LESS aggressive by lowering the % they have in stocks and increasing what they have in more conservative investments like bonds.

But since they haven't been rebalancing their investments, their stocks have outgrown their bonds and now, on the cusp of retirement, they have a significantly MORE aggressive portfolio than they had a few years ago.

"Just buy the S&P 500. It's got all the diversification you need."When you hear this kind of commentary, it's important ...
16/10/2026

"Just buy the S&P 500. It's got all the diversification you need."

When you hear this kind of commentary, it's important to point out that while the S&P 500 does contain 500 of the largest companies in the US. It holds them in PROPORTION to the their size.

That means if you have your money in an S&P 500 index fund right now, ~40% of your money is actually in just the top 10 stocks.

Is your city driver-friendly? According to WalletHub, these are the 30 metro areas that are best for drivers when factor...
15/10/2026

Is your city driver-friendly?

According to WalletHub, these are the 30 metro areas that are best for drivers when factoring all conditions like vehicle cost, traffic, road maintenance, weather, and vehicle repairs.

About 1% of Americans live abroad. And that figure hadn't changed much since 1990.But WHERE they live now is rapidly sta...
14/10/2026

About 1% of Americans live abroad. And that figure hadn't changed much since 1990.

But WHERE they live now is rapidly starting to change.

Americans are spoiled. How far can you drive in 8 hours if you left from 1 the 3 largest cities in the country?We take t...
13/10/2026

Americans are spoiled.

How far can you drive in 8 hours if you left from 1 the 3 largest cities in the country?

We take the interstate highway system for granted because it opens up so much of the country to travel and transport in a way that other countries just don't have.

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Financial Pathway posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed accountant?

Share