Blog Investment & Financial News
Tax Planning Is a Lifetime Strategy, Not a Once-a-Year Event
When most people think about tax planning, they think about April — or, if they’re a little more proactive, December. They think about this year’s return, this year’s deductions, this year’s bill. That’s not a bad instinct. But it’s an incomplete one. We think about tax planning differently. We’re not just asking, “How we lower…
In Plain English – Beneficiary Designations
Introducing: In Plain English – Our New Monthly Term Series Financial jargon can get in the way of good decisions. Each month, we’ll break down one term or concept you’ve likely heard into a clear explanation you can use. Whether it’s something you’ve heard us mention in a meeting or seen on a statement, this…
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Bringing MIT’s AI Insights to Your Financial Plan
At LRIA, we believe that fulfilling our fiduciary duty means continually evolving so we can serve you with well-informed, thoughtful guidance. In that spirit, our CEO and CCO, Ben Rickey, recently completed the executive-education course Artificial Intelligence for Financial Services: Tools, Opportunities, and Challenges at the MIT Sloan School of Management. The program brought together…
Trump Accounts: A New Way to Give Your Kids (or Grandkids) a Head Start
If you have young kids or grandkids, you’ve probably seen the headlines: as of July 4, 2026, families can fund a brand-new type of account for children called a “Trump Account.” There’s been a lot of buzz — and a fair amount of confusion — so here’s a plain-English rundown of what these accounts are,…
Financial Spring Cleaning: 6 Things to Review This Season
Have you done your spring cleaning yet? I’m not talking about scrubbing baseboards or sorting through those drawers that somehow fill up with things we don’t need. I’m talking about financial spring cleaning—a dedicated time to review your goals, accounts, and overall financial plan to make sure everything is organized, efficient, and not creating unnecessary…
2026 1st Quarter Investment Commentary
Q1 2026 was volatile as the Iran conflict contributed to a rise in oil prices, reignited inflation concerns, and triggered a market selloff. The S&P 500 rebounded sharply, hitting a new all-time high on April 15th. The U.S. economy entered the quarter with several supportive fundamentals, including healthy corporate balance sheets and ongoing investment in…
What Are Retirement Gap Years?
What Are Retirement Gap Years? Timing Social Security, Roth Moves, and Medicare When people hear “gap year,” they often think of the year between high school and college. But there’s another kind of gap year that can have a big financial impact: the years between retiring and starting Social Security or pension income. These retirement…
2026 2nd Quarter Investment Commentary
The second quarter delivered a sharp rebound. As the Iran conflict de-escalated and oil prices returned to pre-conflict levels near $72 per barrel, the S&P 500 gained 15.2%—its best quarter since 2020—bringing its first-half return to 10.2%. Monetary policy shifted under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. The Fed held rates at 3.50%–3.75% but removed forward…