Financial Planning Alternatives

11/03/2026

🩵 Long-Term Care Insurance Awareness Month 🩵

November is a great time to learn about Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance and why it can play an important role in your family's long-term financial wellbeing.

What is Long-Term Care Insurance?

Long-term care insurance helps cover the cost of care services that many people may need as they age, particularly assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom. These services can be provided at home, in assisted living communities, adult day programs, or nursing facilities.

Medicare and traditional health insurance generally do not cover long-term custodial care. As a result, individuals often pay these expenses out of pocket unless they have LTC insurance or qualify for Medicaid.

Why it matters:
🧓 Nearly 70% of adults age 65 and older will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime.
💰 The cost of home care, assisted living, and nursing facility care can be substantial and may affect long-term financial goals.
🔒 LTC insurance can help manage the financial impact of future care needs and reduce the burden on loved ones.

Wondering whether LTC insurance belongs in your financial plan?

Monisha Potter, CFP® can help you evaluate your options and determine whether long-term care coverage aligns with your overall goals and circumstances. 🩵📊

Let's make preparing for future care needs part of a confident financial future.




Adapted From: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-long-term-care-insurance-premium-1698913/

10/29/2026

🌐 International Internet Day: Are You Paying More Than You Need To?

Many households may be paying more for internet service than necessary. Promotional rates expire, equipment rental fees add up, and many consumers pay for speed tiers they don't fully utilize.

A quick review of your internet bill may uncover opportunities to reduce monthly expenses:
✅ Review your current plan and monthly charges
✅ Consider purchasing your own modem or router instead of renting equipment
✅ Make sure you're paying for the internet speed your household actually needs
✅ Contact your provider to discuss available promotions or loyalty discounts
✅ Compare competing providers in your area

💡 Smart Money Habit: Review recurring household expenses at least once a year. Small savings from internet, streaming services, insurance, and subscriptions can add up over time and be redirected toward other financial priorities.

10/28/2026

If Oil Is Flowing, Why Are Prices Rising?
Oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz, so why is Brent trading above $110 per barrel? In the latest Markets in a Minute, Kara explains how attacks on commercial ships are raising transportation and insurance costs, fueling inflation and shaping the economic debate ahead of the midterm elections.

Read more in this week’s Markets in a Minute.

Oil is moving through the Strait of Hormuz, yet prices keep climbing. Kara Murphy explains how shipping and insurance costs are feeding inflation.

10/27/2026

Make Managing Your Finances a Little Easier

Managing your finances doesn’t always have to mean adding more to your to-do list. Sometimes, setting up a few automatic systems can make it easier to stay organized and consistent.

Consider automating things like:
● Recurring bills and loan payments
● Credit card payments
● Direct deposit of your paycheck
● Transfers from each paycheck to savings
● Contributions toward other financial goals

Automation can help reduce the chance of a missed due date and make saving more consistent without requiring you to remember to take action each month.

Of course, “automatic” doesn’t mean “set it and forget it.” It’s still important to monitor your accounts, keep enough money available for scheduled payments, and periodically review automated amounts as your finances change.

A little organization behind the scenes can make managing your money simpler when life gets busy.

10/22/2026

💙 Estate planning starts with a plan.

Estate planning can help you organize your wishes, make important decisions for the future, prepare for the unexpected, and make things a little easier for your loved ones by helping them avoid unnecessary probate costs.

Not sure where to begin? Our Estate Planning Checklist highlights a few key items that may be part of an estate plan, depending on your individual needs and circumstances.

✅ Beneficiary designations
✅ A will
✅ Health care directive
✅ Power of attorney
✅ A trust, revocable or irrevocable when appropriate

Taking small steps today can help ensure your wishes are known and provide clarity and support for your loved ones if the unexpected happens. ❤️

10/21/2026

Money with Murphy: AI and Debt Markets

Is AI’s infrastructure boom beginning to reshape the bond market? In the latest Money with Murphy, Kara examines how hyper-scalers are financing their enormous capital needs, why borrowing costs are rising and whether future AI revenues can justify the growing debt supporting the buildout.

Is AI’s infrastructure boom beginning to reshape the bond market? I...

10/20/2026

🗂️ National Estate Planning Awareness Week

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the elderly. It’s for anyone who wants to help protect their loved ones, communicate their wishes, and plan for the future.

Yet misconceptions about estate planning can sometimes keep people from getting started. Swipe through as we break down four common estate planning myths.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Start small, get informed, and build a plan that supports your goals now and for years to come.

10/15/2026

🧠💳 Get Smart About Credit Day

Did you know your credit report and credit score are not the same thing?

📄 Your credit report contains information about your credit history, including your accounts and payment activity.

📊 Your credit score is a number calculated using information in your credit report. Different scoring models can result in different scores, so the score you see may not be the same one a lender sees. Lenders may use credit scores to help determine whether you qualify for credit and the terms you may receive.

A few things to keep in mind:
✔️ Higher credit scores can make it easier to qualify for loans and lower interest rates.
✔️ Errors on your credit report could negatively affect your credit history and credit score.
✔️ Reviewing your credit reports regularly can help you spot and correct errors.

What Can Affect Your Credit Score?
⏰ Payment History – Consistently making payments on time can help your score, while late or missed payments can negatively affect it. Payment history is an important factor in credit scoring.
💳 Credit Utilization – Using a larger portion of your available revolving credit can negatively affect your score. Keeping balances lower in relation to your available credit is generally better.
📅 Length of Credit History – A longer history of responsibly managing credit can positively contribute to your score.
🧾 Types of Credit – Credit scoring models consider your mix of credit accounts, along with the other information in your credit report.
🆕 Recent Credit Activity – Applying for or opening several new credit accounts can affect your score negatively.

Get Smart About Credit Day is a good reminder to know what’s in your credit report and address errors when you find them.

10/14/2026

Familiar Territory: A Small Group Leads the Market Higher
Is the market rally broader than it appears? In the latest Markets in a Minute, Kara Murphy, CIO, KIM, examines why a handful of sectors are driving market gains, what's behind the recent bond market selloff and how higher oil prices could impact inflation, interest rates and investors in the months ahead.

Read more in this week’s Markets in a Minute.

Review third-quarter market performance, including stock and bond trends, rising interest rates, inflation pressures, and key risks shaping the economic outlook.

10/13/2026

💳 All About Credit Utilization

Do you know how much of your available credit you’re using?

That percentage is known as your credit utilization rate, and it can play an important role in your credit score.

📉 In general, lower credit utilization is better for your credit score.

A few ways to help keep your utilization lower:
✔️ Pay down credit card balances, especially before statements close
✔️ Avoid unnecessarily closing unused credit cards
✔️ Consider requesting a credit limit increase, when appropriate

Being mindful of how much of your available credit you’re using can help support healthy credit habits over time.