Blog

Your Business Is Growing — Is Your Retirement?

This week’s insight sheds light on the retirement savings boom among small business owners. It’s no secret that America boasts an enduring entrepreneurial spirit. Six years removed from perhaps the biggest financial risk-taking spark in modern history, the number of new business applications continues running hot. There are intended and unintended consequences. One such positive byproduct is the outright financial explosion in corporate retirement plans.

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Business, Planning Business, Planning

Small Business Guide to Employee Benefits: Optimize Costs and Improve Retention

A well-designed benefits package can keep your team happy, motivated, and loyal over the long termOffering the right mix of perks without breaking the budget helps attract and retain top talentTailoring benefits to fit your business and culture strengthens loyalty and builds a stronger workplaceIn a perfect world, you could hire the best people with the right skills, hold onto them for years or decades, and pay them accordingly, with top-tier benefits.

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Six Months Up and Counting: Stocks Rally as AI Spending and Earnings Power the Bull Run

Markets kept climbing through October, even as the government shutdown left investors flying blind on key data.AI momentum, strong corporate profits, and new tax stimulus hint at a surprisingly resilient economy heading into 2026.Beneath the surface, uneven consumer health and widening wealth gaps show this rally isn’t lifting everyone, all ahead of a mid-term election yearStocks extended their monthly winning streak to six.

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Planning Planning

Rising ACA Premiums and the New HSA Opportunity for 2026

This week’s insight looks at a troubling headline from last week and the “bronze” lining that many small business owners should focus on.On October 24, it was announced that health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans will rise 30% in 2026, the largest increase since 2018. That’s a shocking jump, but as with many headlines, there’s more to the story.

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Taxes, Planning Taxes, Planning

How Business Owners Can Maximize the Impact of Charitable Giving

Giving from the heart can meaningfully impact your small business’s bottom lineGifting strategies may reduce your taxes owed, increase brand value, and help your communityThere are key risks to consider, and a long-term charitable giving strategy helps build a legacyAs we approach year-end, it’s naturally a time to reflect on the year that was. If you’ve been blessed with significant revenue gains and profit increases, you may look to spread some extra holiday cheer.

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Planning, Taxes Planning, Taxes

Tax Brackets, Bigger Refunds, and What It Means for 2026

This week’s insight looks ahead to the upcoming tax-filing season.The IRS released its 2026 income tax brackets last week. There’s a 4% increase in the lowest two rungs, while upper brackets are nudged higher by just 2.3%. As is normally the case, the adjustments rarely impact long-term planning strategy, but they’re a reminder that inflation is an ever-present issue. What’s more, the federal government may be trying to help out lower-income households with a larger increase to the 10% and 12% marginal tax brackets.

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Shutdown? The Market Didn’t Get the Memo. Stocks Hit New Records.

The S&P 500 rallied 3.5% in September and built upon those gains as the federal government closed its doors to begin Q4.An AI supercycle and corporate dealmaking underpin 3%-plus GDP growth, along with consumer strength.The jobs market is weak, though, and more Fed rate cuts are likely on the way.Shutdown? Party on. The S&P 500 tallied its 31st record-high close of the year on Day 3 of the federal government shutdown. Wall Street traders and Main Street investors alike looked past all the D.C.

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Investing, Planning Investing, Planning

The Cost of Intelligence: Who Pays for the AI Boom?

This week’s insight tosses around a political football.Yes, the midterm elections are about 13 months away, and both sides are gearing up for a fierce battle. The usual issues will be at hand, including the economy, national security, immigration, and social issues. Of course, all of it will play out in today’s 24/7 cable-news world and social media–ridden culture.

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Business, Planning Business, Planning

Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs: Protecting Your Business Assets and Customer Information

Investing in data security is a non-negotiable for entrepreneurs handling digital assetsCyber criminals constantly devise new hacks that target small business ownersThere are key steps to take, both internally and externally, that can effectively mitigate emerging risks without crimping your company’s budgetRecession or not, large multinational corporations are unlikely to gut cyber security budgets.

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Planning Planning

Jobs Revision Shakes the Data, But Not the Market

This week’s insight offers a fresh look at the jobs market. It’s not so rosy anymore.Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual benchmark employment revision. Maybe you heard. The true-up resulted in a steep 911,000-job negative change to cumulative gains over the April 2024 to March 2025 period. Wall Street economists had expected a downward revision of 400,000 to 500,000 jobs. How did stocks respond? Just fine.

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Mortgage Rates Sink to 11-Month Low: Is a 5% Handle Coming Soon?

This week’s insight offers good news for prospective home buyers.The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage plunged 0.16% to 6.29% in the wake of last Friday’s weak August jobs report. That continued a trend of falling interest rates leading up to the mid-month Federal Reserve meeting. Prospective homebuyers may now lock in a mortgage at the cheapest rate in 11 months. For perspective, it was just this past May when 7% was the norm. But could it go even lower? And are there other options? Let’s flesh that out.

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