The fall colors are beautiful, as is the weather, yet all of us Midwesterners know it won’t last forever; winter is coming. Just like we prepare for changing temperatures, we ensure your retirement is prepared for any market changes!

Take time and enjoy the beautiful fall without worrying about news headlines. Enjoy God’s beautiful creation! We are taking hikes, horse rides, pumpkin patches, and just spending time outdoors! Watch our Facebook for fall pictures and share your own fall fun adventures!

Market Update

Volatility in October is nothing new, and it’s especially prevalent as we head into elections. Here are a few recent highlights-

First, markets sold off on expectations that the Federal Reserve may actually raise rates again at its next meeting later this month. Then, we saw a bit of a bounce-back. Bond yields declined as investors fled to the safety of bonds amid the volatility of the stock market and AI jitters.

Third-quarter earnings reporting is in full swing. As of Oct. 16, 9% of S&P 500 companies have reported results, with 84% reporting positive earnings per share (EPS) and 67% reporting positive revenue. So far, the blended year-over-year earnings growth rate for the index is 29.0%. If that’s the actual growth rate for the quarter, it will mark the third-straight quarter of earnings growth above 25% for the index.

AI and positive earnings (aka companies growing and producing returns) – both are covered in our recent market update.

As always, if you have questions, give us a shout or just hit reply!

Strategy Spotlight

Fixed Index Annuities, an Alternative to Consider

In this study published by Zebra Capital Management, the case is made for Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs) as an important alternative to fixed income options such as bonds. A major advantage of an FIA is the ability to “transform” equity returns into a more “tailored” risk/return profile by eliminating downside risk and providing interest earnings based on a portion of equity returns. This research shows FIAs having similar returns to bonds over time but with greater downside protection.

Simply put, the returns in FIAs are tied to a major index, such as the S&P. The simplest way interest is calculated is up to a cap of what that index makes. Caps are largely influenced by the interest rates when a contract starts, which means caps are around 9-10% on the S&P today, assuming no bonuses or other riders.

That means if the S&P goes up 15% in a year and your cap is 10%, you make 10%. However, if the S&P goes down 15% in a year, you would make 0, but not lose. In this case, zero is your hero.

Average returns conservatively are 4-7% per year when looking at any 10 years.

So, instead of running to bonds for safety, many are “running” to FIAs, a smart move!

If you want to learn more or review your FIA, just let us know!

In The News

Medicare Confusion

This Retire65 article highlights:

• Confusion over coverage has caused 48% of Medicare beneficiaries to skip or delay medical care in the past year.
• Concerns about out-of-pocket costs caused 54% of Medicare beneficiaries to skip or delay medical care or filling a prescription in the past year.
• 56% of Medicare beneficiaries mistakenly believe that Medicare may call to discuss their coverage — potentially leaving them vulnerable to scams.
• 71% of Medicare beneficiaries plan to review their plan options the 2026 annual enrollment period. \
• 54% of those enrolled in Medicare Supplement (Medigap) are considering switching to Medicare Advantage, citing high premiums.
• 71% of beneficiaries say shopping for Medicare coverage is confusing.
• 61% of Medicare beneficiaries say that they would trust a real person rather than an AI tool when comparing plan options if given conflicting advice.

If you have questions about Medicare orpre-65 health insurance, we have a team to help you! Just hit reply or give us a call and we will connect you to the right person who can answer your questions, clear up confusion, and guide you in the best healthcare plan for you.

2026 Retirement Expectations Survey from Thrivent

Survey Says…

• 47% of workers doubt they will be able to retire completely.
• Only 58% of workers think they’ll have enough money to retire on schedule.
• 36% of workers expect to continue earning income in retirement.
• More than a third of the workers surveyed for the report said they feel they are behind other people their age in saving for retirement.
• Half of workers said thinking about retirement makes them anxious.
• When the survey asked people how much savings they think they will need to retire in comfort, only 23% chose a figure under $1 million.

Here’s what I have found – most people near or in retirement have more than enough saved for their retirement. Just this week, I reviewed a basic income snapshot with a few new clients, and they were surprised and relieved by how much income they could generate in retirement.

The problem is that the talking heads and all the reports on the magic number for retirement or the median retirement cost are all based on a nationwide average, not on individual needs. Living in the Midwest is less costly than living in the heart of a big city, which lowers retirement income needs. Plus, retirement is about YOU! What do you need to be comfortable in retirement and enjoy the lifestyle you want? That is the question we ask, and we find most people have enough to live their retirement their way with the proper planning.

Don’t let talking heads or retirement magic numbers cause you anxiety; let’s talk so you can enjoy retirement with confidence.

Just for Fun

Dad Joke of the Week:

Which days are the strongest? Saturday and Sunday. The rest are weekdays.

This Week in History

1814 One of the first modern plastic surgeries in the West is performed by Joseph Carpue on a soldier’s nose in England using Indian techniques

1819 First ship sails through the Erie Canal from Rome, New York, to Utica, New York

1915 First national horseshoe throwing championship in Kellerton, Iowa

1923 A US patent (No. 1471465) is issued to American inventor Sebastian Hinton for a playground climbing structure popularly known as “monkey bars”

What did it cost? (chainsaw)

1975 – $44.99-$56.99

2005 – $139.88-$159.88

2025 – $200-$500