We are emotional creatures. Everything we experience shapes our beliefs, behaviors––our reality. But if personal bias is how we favor or judge decisions, then those judgements can be exploited if incorrect. And during your next financial decision, they could unknowingly affect even the tiniest details. Though personal bias is natural, developing an awareness of these complex thought patterns is an excellent way to foster a more comprehensive view of our finances. The 5 biases listed below are some of the most common among us today, and offer amazing insight into the psychology of investment behavior. What exactly derails us? How can we avoid it? Here’s the truth…

After reaching new record highs in recent weeks, markets plunged on worries that cheaper AI competition from China could pose risks to U.S. tech companies. What caused the market reaction? Let’s dive in. What caused the tech market crash? Much of the market run-up over the last two years has been driven by AI mania, with U.S. companies leading the charge. However, this narrative faced a test when DeepSeek, a Chinese tech startup, released an advanced (much cheaper) AI model. DeepSeek claims it was able to develop its advanced model for just $6 million using fewer hard-to-find computer chips, compared to the hundreds of billions collectively invested by U.S. rivals to develop their own AI models. If the buzz around DeepSeek R&D numbers turns out to be more than just hype, it raises questions about the efficiency and competitiveness of U.S.-based AI firms. Why are AI models so expensive to train? That is the trillion-dollar question. The rising costs of AI development have been a key focus for investors. Capital spending on AI model development is soaring, driven by the cost of the massive computing power needed to analyze data. The chart below shows the estimated costs to train some of the major models released over the last few years.

Taxpayers and retirement-focused investors have plenty to be concerned about over the next few years. Economic uncertainty, high inflation, and potential policy changes could bring more legal and economic change. In addition to this, many of the provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are scheduled to sunset after 2025. 1 What could that mean? There is potential for tax increases, particularly for high-net-worth Americans. Capital gains tax rates could increase to match ordinary income rates, rather than topping out at 20% as they do now. 2 America's national "debt hangover" could mean other taxes could increase to generate more revenue for the U.S. government. 3 That means it's more important than ever to make sure that you're taking advantage of every tax edge that you possibly can this year. Acting now could be crucial because you might not have the ability to seize these opportunities in future tax years. Fortunately, there are strategies that you can capture right now to make sure you don't pay more than your fair share in taxes. But you’ve got to act quickly, because some of these opportunities may not be around forever. This tax-savvy guide is designed for high earners just like you who are concerned about their retirement funds possibly facing an uncertain future that could include higher taxes. If you're asking yourself questions like: How can I best benefit from tax-advantaged accounts right now? Is there a way I can make use of my current tax situation, given that my taxes could increase? Are there tax-saving opportunities I'm missing out on? Is there something in my tax returns that I can use to my benefit? Do I have a financial professional who can help me squeeze as much juice out of this tax year as possible? Keep reading …

Prepare for These Retirement Realities

The 3 Pillars of Successful Retirement Plans 

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts individuals must withdraw annually from retirement accounts like traditional IRAs, starting at a certain age. Here’s a concise guide on how to calculate RMDs and stay compliant with IRS rules. RMDs for traditional IRAs must begin when the account holder turns 73, following the SECURE 2.0 Act (2023). Before this, the RMD age was 72 under the SECURE Act of 2019 and 70½ under earlier rules. The first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the following year, but after that, all RMDs must be taken by December 31 each year.

What was your last major accomplishment? Did you achieve it overnight? Probably not if we’re talking about life-changing goals, like dropping bad habits or picking up good ones. And if you’re like most folks, you’re probably setting these types of big goals more than you achieve them. In fact, many of us set new goals every new year. When we do, we tend to be pretty optimistic, setting a high bar and long-shot goals. With that, we also tend to set ourselves up for failure. That’s because most of us don’t have a plan for working toward our goals. Instead, we embrace that “go-big-or-go-home” mindset that can leave us falling short. It can also set us back and put our motivation into a tailspin. We can turn all that around, though, and actually accomplish more by focusing on less. That means less occasional heavy lifting and more simple day-to-day steps that can help us make real progress. That small shift in our approach can be a powerful way to accomplish more in many aspects of life. Let’s see how it can work for us in finance by walking through some small, consistent steps any of us can take day to day to achieve extraordinary results in the big picture.

Thank you. When was the last time you said those words? How often do you really even say them? If you’re like most folks, you’re not saying, “thank you,” as much as you think. In fact, most of us rarely say, “thanks,” even when someone’s doing us a favor or giving us a gift. How rarely? Only about once every 20 times there’s an opportunity.1 And, yet, expressing gratitude can be really good for us. It ignites positive emotions and lets us focus on what's good in our lives. That can get us to step outside of our day-to-day thinking and start seeing things in a new light. Even the simplest expressions of gratitude can go a long way toward making life happier – or even healthier.

6 Considerations for a Fulfilling, Long-Lasting Retirement