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MONTH-2-MONTH

OCTOBER 2026

MONTH-2-MONTH is intended to provide you with updates on AFP and timely financial planning and investment information on a variety of topics. 

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CRISP DAYS, FRESH POSSIBILITIES

With colorful trees and pumpkins on porches, October offers plenty to enjoy before the holiday rush begins. It also brings a chance to review a few financial decisions before the year closes. This month, we’re taking a look at year end tax planning and open enrollment to help you prepare for what’s ahead.

FALL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING -Last week, we hosted our fall Advisory Board meeting to discuss the changes and updates happening at AFP. We’re grateful to our board members for sharing their time, perspectives, and thoughtful feedback as our firm continues to evolve. If you’d like to serve as a member of our Advisory Board, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

A NIGHT AT THE THEATER - Teri and Mary recently enjoyed a Broadway in Columbus performance of Death Becomes Her. With plenty of laughs, fabulous costumes, and a little theatrical mayhem, the show made for a memorable evening. A wonderful night out together!

NEXT STOP, BOSTON! - Teri and Tracey are heading to Boston next week for the Charles Schwab conference. They look forward to connecting with others in the industry and bringing fresh ideas back to AFP.

TERI TAKES THE STAGE - Teri will be singing with Capriccio Noteworthy in “Shine the Light,” a free choral concert on Sunday, November 1, at 4 p.m. at Linworth United Methodist Church, 7070 Bent Tree Boulevard in Columbus. Join us for an afternoon of beautiful music and cheer on a familiar face! Chere here for details.

A FRESH LOOK, ONLINE AND IN PERSON - Our website and office welcome area have both received a refresh! From new photos and updated team information online to a more inviting space in the office, we look forward to sharing the changes with you. Take a look around our website or enjoy the updated surroundings during your next visit.

OFFICE SIDEWALK REPAIR - The sidewalk replacement project around our office is currently expected to be completed sometime this fall. We will continue to share updates if the timeline changes or if the work affects access to our office.

Click below to read our October 2026 Blog edition.

Financial Planning as a Profession



We would enjoy receiving your feedback on our Blog. Please share any comments or suggestions for future topics with us via email.

🏠 HOUSING: The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index fell 7.3% in September to 66.0, its lowest reading since the series began in 2001, with contracts down 11.3% from a year earlier (NAR, released Oct. 20). Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 7.40% for the week ending Oct. 8, the highest since November 2023.

📈 INFLATION: The Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in September and 3.7% year over year, up from 3.4% in August and above the 3.6% economists expected (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oct. 14). Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 2.6% over the year, and gasoline prices were up 34.2% (BLS).

⛽ ENERGY: Brent crude traded at about $112.85 a barrel on the morning of Oct. 20, roughly 84% above its $61.25 level a year earlier (Fortune). The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s October outlook says Brent averaged $114 in September and forecasts $105 for the fourth quarter.

🏦 INTEREST RATES: The Federal Reserve raised its target range to 3.75%–4.00% on Sept. 16, and its next decision is due Oct. 28 (Federal Reserve, via Admiral Markets). The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 5.11% on Oct. 20 (Bloomberg).

👷 EMPLOYMENT: U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September versus a consensus of roughly 90,000, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% (BLS, Oct. 2). Government payrolls fell by 17,000, and the average monthly gain over the prior 12 months was 45,000 (BLS).

For most of the past two decades, investors seeking higher returns had to rely more heavily on stocks. The Chart below compares the 10-year Treasury yield with the S&P 500’s earnings yield. Because stocks don’t pay a fixed rate of interest like bonds, the earnings yield provides a way to compare stocks and bonds. The earnings yield shows how much profit S&P 500 companies are expected to generate relative to their market value. For example, a 5.3% earnings yield means S&P 500 companies are expected to generate about $5.30 of earnings for every $100 of market value. When the line in Figure 1 is above zero, the stock market’s earnings yield is higher than the 10-year Treasury yield. When it falls below zero, Treasury yields are higher than the earnings yield. For most of the period since the early 2000s, stocks held a sizable yield advantage. Today, the advantage is much smaller.

Tax-Saving Moves You Can Make Before Year-End

By Hayden Adams

Source: Charles Schwab

Image by Canva

Some tax planning opportunities close with the calendar year, making fall a good time to look ahead. From managing investment gains and losses to coordinating retirement withdrawals and charitable gifts, the details can make a difference. Schwab’s checklist explores strategies to consider before December 31 and explains which decisions can wait until tax filing time. Take a look, and reach out if you’d like to discuss how these ideas fit your financial plan.

Click here to read this article.

Demystifying Medicare for Retirement

By Joseph Reyes

Source: Charles Schwab

Image by Canva

Choosing Medicare coverage involves more than comparing monthly premiums. Access to doctors, prescription coverage, and potential expenses all deserve a closer look, especially as your health needs change. With Medicare open enrollment underway, it’s a good time to revisit how the different coverage options fit together. This Schwab article compares Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and supplemental coverage to help you understand the tradeoffs.

Click here to read this article.

Worth A Watch



529 Short Course: Grandparents

Source: Ohio 529 College Advantage

Image by Canva

Looking for ways to support your grandchildren’s future education? Ohio’s 529 Plan offers a playlist created especially for grandparents, with short videos and quick reads exploring how education savings might fit into your goals. Browse at your own pace and explore the topics that interest you. Click here to view.

Do you know someone who can benefit from FINANCIAL PLANNING?

At Alexander Financial Planning, we are passionate about financial life planning. We also know that it is not just about the numbers. While numbers are important, they are there to support your hopes, dreams, and desires. When we can put all the components of financial planning together, (cash flow, insurance, investing, taxation, and estate planning) your unique picture of a path forward comes into view. For 28+ years, we have been helping individuals and families develop their plan and navigate the twists and turns each year.

Whether you’re planning for retirement, becoming an empty nester, or navigating how to take retirement distributions, we are your thinking partner. We are here to make sense of it all, one step at a time. If now is the time for you or someone you know to get serious about your financial future, contact us. We’d love to be of service. 

WHAT SETS US APART

In Honor of Make a Difference Day, October 24th

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

-Desmond Tutu