Many are delaying retirement

Insight: About 35% of adults say they’ve delayed or plan to delay retirement (New York Life “Wealth Watch” survey). New York Life
Why it matters: Delaying retirement is a common reaction to gaps in savings, health-care concerns, or macro uncertainty. For someone with $1M+ in investable assets, the practical lesson is to update your retirement timeline scenarios. A 2–5 year shift in retirement date changes required withdrawal rates, tax timing, and legacy targets. We run “what-if” scenarios so you can see the impact of working longer vs. drawing down now — and choose the path that preserves your goals and optionality.

 

 

Social Security COLA expectations for 2026

Insight: Analysts currently forecast a ~2.5%–2.8% COLA for Social Security in 2026 (estimates vary as October SSA announcement approaches). Yahoo Finance+1
Why it matters: COLA moves matter because Social Security is often a stable income anchor. Even a 2.5–2.8% increase changes taxable income, Medicare IRMAA thresholds, and how much portfolio income you need to generate. We model multiple COLA outcomes so you can see how sensitive your cash-flow plan is to benefit adjustments (and whether a modest increase reduces sequence-of-returns pressure).

 

 

One workout can produce anti-cancer myokines

Insight: New studies find a single exercise session raises myokines (muscle-released proteins) that can inhibit cancer cell growth by roughly 20–30% in lab settings. PubMed+2SciTechDaily+2
Why it matters: Longevity planning is both medical and financial. If short bursts of exercise meaningfully reduce health risk, that affects long-term medical cost assumptions and quality-of-life planning. Practically: encourage clients to treat physical activity as part of “risk management” — small, consistent habits can lower future care needs and the uncertainty in long-term spending models.

 

Middle-income NYC renters are rent-burdened

Insight: Roughly 65,000 NYC households earning $100k–$300k now spend ≥30% of gross income on rent; rent burdens have risen post-COVID. (NYC Comptroller and current reporting.) NYC Comptroller's Office+1

Why it matters: Higher local housing costs matter to retired clients who plan to downsize, relocate, or provide support to family. If you expect to move to or depend on income from expensive markets, incorporate higher housing and tax assumptions into your cash-flow model. For clients with adult children living in high-cost cities, consider contingency lines for family support — and model the impacts on legacy and withdrawal rates.

 

 

Ransomware gangs now use AI chatbots to negotiate

Insight: Ransomware groups are deploying well-spoken AI chatbots to communicate with victims — lowering a language barrier and scaling attacks. Axios+1
Why it matters: Cyber threats now scale with AI; that’s a personal financial risk. Identity theft, medical-identity fraud, or extortion can create cash demands, credit harm, or forced asset movements. For high-net-worth retirees, this means adding cyber hygiene and identity-protection checks into your risk checklist: custodial alerts, credit freezes, monitored accounts, and a simple emergency protocol if a breach hits.

 

 

Merrill launches a lending solutions group for High Net Worth clients

Insight: Merrill Wealth Management launched a Merrill Lending Solutions Group to place ~20 lending specialists serving HNW/UHNW clients. ThinkAdvisor+1
Why it matters: As lenders bring specialists into wealth channels, credit becomes a more strategic planning tool for wealthy households — from securities-backed lines to bespoke lending against real estate, art, or business interests. For retirees this means borrowing can be used tactically (tax deferral, bridging liquidity) but it requires disciplined collateral and repayment planning. We examine each credit use-case against your withdrawal plan and tax footprint.

 

 

Survey: retirees (50–78 with $100k+) want ~37% stocks

Insight: Center for Retirement Research / Greenwald survey found respondents ages 50–78 with ≥$100k investable assets say they’d like ~37% allocated to stocks. BC Center for Research and Recovery
Why it matters: This preference shows a desire for growth even in later life, but actual allocations must match goals and risk tolerance. For a $1M+ near-retiree, 37% equities may be appropriate if supported by a reliable income plan and buffer assets. Educational takeaway: translate allocation preferences into explicit income scenarios — what withdrawal rate, buffer size, and glidepath keep that allocation comfortable through down markets?

 

 

Gold’s strong rally — best year since the late 1970s

Insight: Gold has posted its strongest rally since 1979 in 2025 (major outlets reporting large YTD % gains). Business Insider+1

Why it matters: Precious metals often rally on inflation fears, currency weakness, or geopolitical risk. For retirees, gold can be a small portfolio diversifier or insurance asset — not a primary income source. We treat gold as a hedge against specific tail risks, size positions conservatively, and explain how it behaves differently from bonds and equities in stress environments.

 

 

 

The “0.01% rule” for small spending decisions

Insight: The 0.01% rule (if a purchase is ≤0.01% of net worth, don’t stress it) has gained media attention as a mental model for small discretionary choices. The Wall Street Journal+1
Why it matters: Small-stake decision rules reduce cognitive load and household friction. For wealthy retirees, adopting a simple heuristic preserves bandwidth for material decisions (tax moves, withdrawals, care choices). Use the rule to define “mad-money” tolerances but still track cumulative discretionary spending in cash-flow plans.

 

 

CFP Board: online misinformation delays decisions

Insight: CFP Board research: 33% of Americans delayed major financial decisions because of online misinformation; many have made regrettable decisions after following bad advice. CFP Board+1
Why it matters: Misinformation increases decision paralysis and mistakes. For retirees, this can mean missed windows for tax moves, rushed rollovers, or poor product choices. The practical step is to build a decision protocol: verify online claims, run the numbers in a plan, and use a trusted advisor or credentialed source before acting.

 

 

 

Fund managers are shifting overweight to stocks (BofA survey)

Insight: Bank of America’s monthly fund-manager survey showed the share of managers overweight stocks doubled to a seven-month high (net overweight ≈ +28%). Barron's+1
Why it matters: Manager positioning helps gauge market sentiment and potential crowding. For retirees, it’s informative but not prescriptive: widespread manager overweight can push prices higher short-term but also raise drawdown risk if sentiment reverses. Use manager positioning as one input in your scenario planning, not the main decision driver.

 

 

 

Where Price-to-Earnings Ratio stands today

Insight: Current S&P 500 valuation snapshots: ~24.5× 2025 P/E (consensus), ~22× for 2026 estimates on a forward basis; GAAP/trailing measures can appear higher (reports vary — e.g., FactSet, FT commentary). FactSet+2First Trust+2
Why it matters: Valuation multiples tell you how much return is priced into the market. Higher P/Es mean future returns are lower unless earnings grow to justify prices. For retirees, valuation matters because it affects expected equity returns over the next 5–10 years — an important input when setting sustainable withdrawal rates and terminal wealth goals.

 

 

Walmart’s data & AI ambitions; e-commerce target

Insight: Walmart says it has deep first-party data on ~180 million customers and is pursuing AI “super agents,” aiming for e-commerce to contribute ~50% of growth/topline over the next five years (company investor meeting & press coverage). Walmart Corporate News and Information+2Reuters+2
Why it matters (educational): Data + scale can create durable competitive advantages (better pricing, targeted promotions, ad revenue). For high-net-worth retirees, this highlights how some retail giants are evolving into tech/data operators — which changes their profit mix and risk profile. When you own consumer or retail exposure, assess not just current sales but the company’s data strategy and margin levers.

 

 

Only ~22% of advisors charge separately for planning

Insight: Industry research (Cerulli and other surveys) finds ~20–22% of advisors report charging separate fees for financial planning; most bundle planning into AUM fees or blended models. Cerulli Associates+1
Why it matters (educational): Fee structure affects incentives, clarity, and the scope of advice. For clients with $1M+ assets, understanding whether you’re paying for ongoing planning or only AUM management is essential — separate planning fees can increase transparency and align compensation with specific advice (tax moves, trust design, cash-flow modeling). Ask advisors for a clear menu: what you get, how often, and what the deliverables are.

 

Final thoughts — practical takeaways

Stepping back, the threads running through these stories tell us a lot about the environment you’re retiring into. Longevity research and even a single workout can alter health outcomes, while financial realities such as slowing consumer spending, rising rents, and delayed retirements remind us that economic pressures still matter—regardless of wealth level. The investment backdrop is equally nuanced: equity valuations remain elevated, gold is having a historic run, fund managers are leaning more bullish, and new “rules” like the 0.01% test highlight how even wealthy households grapple with day-to-day decisions.

At the same time, technology is reshaping both opportunity and risk. Walmart leveraging data, Merrill building lending units, and AI reshaping industries (and fraud) illustrate the twin edge of innovation. Even within financial services, surveys show confusion, misinformation, and differences in how planning is valued and delivered.

 

For those approaching or in retirement with significant assets, the lesson is clear: financial success isn’t just about chasing returns or reacting to headlines. It’s about creating a coordinated plan that protects against risk, adapts to shifting markets, and ensures your wealth supports the lifestyle, health, and family priorities you care about most.