Reason Financial

The United States just turned 250 — and the story reads surprisingly well as a series of 50-year check-ins. Founding-era population the size of San Diego County, two presidents with impeccable dramatic timing, a telephone demo in Philadelphia, quarters you’re still finding in your change — and one compounding machine that started counting in 1926.

Long-term care keeps coming up in client conversations, usually when someone is helping a parent through it and starts thinking about their own plan. The good news is that the use-it-or-lose-it policy most people remember is no longer the only choice: asset-based coverage repositions an old annuity or idle cash into care benefits worth a multiple of what you put in, and a Pension Protection Act rule lets an annuity’s gains fund qualified care income-tax-free instead of coming out as ordinary income. We walk through how it works, a worked example, and who it fits (and doesn’t).

If you locked in a mortgage at 7% or higher in 2023 or 2024, you’ve probably been watching rates with one eye open for a while now. Thirty-year fixed rates have settled into the low 6% range. Freddie Mac’s weekly average hit 6.23% as of April 23, 2026, down from 6.30% the prior week. That’s…

By Team Reason | Reason Financial & Tax If you’ve watched a baseball game this season you’ve noticed something new. A batter freezes on a called third strike, pauses for a beat, then reaches up and taps his helmet. The stadium screen flashes an animated pitch trajectory. The crowd holds its breath. And then: ball…

Executive Summary Trump Accounts (IRC §530A) are a new federal, tax-advantaged investment account for children, structured as a special kind of traditional IRA that is owned by the child but managed by an authorized adult while the child is a minor. They are not a social media platform or consumer subscription service. The IRS describes…

ROSES ARE RED, TAXES ARE DUE: HOW VALENTINE’s DAY IS BASICALLY APRIL 15th IN DISGUISE At first glance, Valentine’s Day and the tax deadline seem like opposites. One promises romance, chocolates, and candlelit dinners. The other delivers receipts, spreadsheets, and mild panic. But look a little closer, and you’ll realize they have more in common…

The following 2026 Market Outlook is authored by Brian Andrew, Chief Investment Officer at Merit Financial Group, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Mr. Andrew, formerly Executive Vice President at Johnson Financial Group, oversees Merit’s investment department and leads asset allocation decision-making for client portfolios. As we expand our content offerings this year, we’re excited…

CalSavers Requirements California now requires all employers with at least one employee to offer a retirement savings plan. This mandate is fully phased in by December 31, 2025. Below is a summary of next steps: Who Must Comply by 12/31/25? Any California employer with 1 or more employees Applies even if employees are part-time or…