When people think about financial planning, they often focus on the retirement balances, home equity, or portfolio values. While these are important metrics of wealth, these results are the output of how you manage your money day-to-day. 

So what are the actual inputs that drive these results? Cash flow. Cash flow is the actual game being played. Understanding and optimizing the timing and volume of money coming in versus money going out is the primary input that determines your future wealth. It is the single most effective way to reach your goals in 2026 and beyond.

For many retirees, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are viewed as a mandatory administrative chore, a box to be checked to satisfy the IRS. However, viewing your RMD solely as an obligation is a missed opportunity.

Whether you need the cash for living expenses or not, how and when you take your distribution can significantly impact your tax bill and investment longevity. By reviewing your strategy now, rather than waiting until the end of the year, you open the door to proactive planning options.

The start of a new year is more than just a calendar flip, it is also the perfect natural time to assess your financial trajectory. While many people set broad resolutions, a systematic review of your financial life can ensure you are actually moving closer to your goals.

To help get you started, here are five key areas to focus on as you launch into 2026.

The United States Supreme Court could soon give greater clarity to how intellectual disability is determined. On December 10, 2025, the Court will hear oral arguments in Hamm v. Smith, a case that involves an Alabama death-row inmate who may escape the death sentence depending on whether he is found to be intellectually disabled. At issue is whether IQ test scores alone are sufficient when determining if a person is intellectually disabled — a designation that under U.S. law can make someone ineligible for the death penalty.

Last month, AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving published a joint report titled Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States. According to the research, an estimated 63 million Americans are serving as family caregivers. That is roughly one in four adults providing often unpaid care for a relative or friend with a disability, chronic illness, or other serious condition. The report also shows how caregiver experiences can vary across states.

Social Security wasn’t meant to be a primary source of income for retirees when it was first created in 1935. It sought to provide an umbrella of protection for people who couldn’t save enough for retirement. Most Americans didn’t think much about Social Security, perhaps because they were living shorter lives and relying on guaranteed incomes.

Nowadays, however, you might wonder how you can increase your Social Security retirement benefits. In fact, you may be able to double or even triple your monthly checks. Read on for potential strategies available to you.

As the calendar turns to January, we are often inundated with messages about New Year’s Resolutions. While the sentiment is good, resolutions tend to be vague wishes (I want to save more money).

For 2026, we encourage you to move beyond resolutions and focus on SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.