Thing One A Reminder About Markets As surprising as it is considering the mood of the country (and the world), markets have quietly worked their way back into positive territory this year. The S&P 500 closed 2025 at 6,845, then fell to 6,528 on March 31, 2026 - a decline of about 4.6%. From that low, it recovered to 7,230 0n May 1, 2026, a rebound of roughly 10.7% and about 5.6% above where it ended 2025. And it’s not just one area driving it - it’s happening across the boa

Thing One When Should You Take Social Security? A Practical Framework for Making the Right Decision One of the most important financial decisions you will make heading into retirement is when to begin taking Social Security. Many people approach this decision with the goal of “getting the most,” but the reality is that the right answer depends on how long you live and how this income fits into your broader plan. A simple way to evaluate this decision is through a break-

Thing One The Tax Trap You Might Not See Until It's Too Late After years of a strong, buoyant market, many people are quietly sitting on much larger IRA balances than they ever expected. What started as steady retirement savings has, in many cases, turned into one to two million dollars or more in pre-tax accounts. At age 62, everything still feels under control. Income is solid.Taxes look reasonable.Nothing feels urgent. In fact, many people look at their tax retu