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Is it Fall Yet?

Autumn seems to start a little bit later every year. With hot, humid days now the norm until well past the midpoint of September. This year has also featured drought conditions throughout large swaths of the Ohio River Basin. With projected cooler temperatures and rainfall next week, we're looking forward to this year’s autumnal equinox bringing the fall season to Ohio. 

Happy Birthday to Us!

Alexander Financial Planning turned 27 years old this week. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with so many wonderful people over the years. We look forward to continuing to serve our existing clients and any new clients that come our way. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

Adam Lemke CFP® of Ward & Connolly

• AFP September Webinar – “Understanding Life & Disability Insurance” Nathan Swab CFP®, AWMA® and guest speaker Adam Lemke CFP® of Ward & Connolly on Friday, September 27th at noon. This webinar will be a discussion on some of the ins and outs of Life Insurance and Disability Insurance.

Adam received his degree in Business Administration from Kent State in 2020. He is a Certified Financial Planner and has worked for the Columbus-based life insurance company Ward & Connolly since 2021.

• How do you attend? A webinar link will be sent via email the morning of the webinar to all of our clients. If you know anyone who would like to attend, please pass along the webinar email to them.



• Upcoming Webinar Topics 

October: What Happens When You Die?

Click below to read our September 2024 Blog edition.

Medicare Advantage: Are Your Ready for Open Season?

Update for all WellCare Prescription Drug Plan enrollees:



In August WellCare’s parent company, Centene, announced that, effective Jan. 1, 2025, they will cease paying any commissions to insurance brokers for new and existing WellCare Prescription Drug Plans. As a result, it can be expected that insurance brokers will have no incentive to recommend these plans for Medicare enrollees. Additionally, it can be expected that brokers will also no longer service these plans and will direct all WellCare policy holders to WellCare customer service. We write this to inform our clients. When shopping for a Prescription Drug Plan during the 2025 open enrollment period you may need to compare WellCare to other available options on your own. If WellCare is the best option for you, you will most likely need to enroll directly through WellCare. Additionally, WellCare policy holders may need to contact WellCare directly with any questions or servicing issues.

Tracey on Lewis & Clark's Expedition

RATE CUTS ARE BACK – On 9/18, the US Federal reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.50% for the first time since March, 2020. That ends a streak of over four and a half years without a cut in rates, the second longest streak without such a cut in over fifty years, trailing only the ten year period from December 2008 through July 2019. (source: Bespoke)

BORROWING ON THE RISE – US consumer borrowing increased by $25.5 billion in July, the most since November 2022. Revolving debt (including credit cards) increased by $10.6 billion while nonrevolving debt (including auto and student loans) rose to a 12-month high of $14.8 billion. (source: Bloomberg)

OFFICE VALUES PLUMMET – According to the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF), the value of US office properties declined 14.4% on a year/year basis through 6/30/24. Outside of the previous 4 quarters, the only worse readings were during the Financial Crisis in 2009. (source: Bloomberg)

BELOW 100K – Automatic Data Processing's (ADP) monthly report released on 9/5 showed creation of 99,000 jobs in August. Consensus economist estimates were 145,000. This marked the first time since January 2021 that ADP's monthly reading has been below 100,000. (source: Bloomberg)

Click here to view the source.

Your Password Isn't Safe: The Danger of an Inactive 'Zombie' Account

By Brooke Crothers

Source: Forbes

Old “zombie” accounts can expose your passwords, or worse, credit card information. Here’s what you should know.

Over time, you may open dozens, if not hundreds, of accounts. Some of those accounts will contain credit card information and other sensitive data. And some of those may be neglected and forgotten.

These can pile up over time. “With pretty much every website and app either requiring or aggressively pushing visitors to sign up for a user account, consumers accumulate accounts very quickly,” according to Keeper Security, a cybersecurity and password management provider.

Click here to read this article.

How to Factor Your Health into Your Financial Planning, According to a Doctor-Turned-Advisor

By Sarah O'Brien

Source: CNBC

When you consider health as part of a financial plan, you may think in terms of insurance premiums and related out-of-pocket costs like copays.

While those expenses matter, your health should influence far more than a single line item in a budget, according to certified financial planner and physician Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida. 

“It’s way more than that,” said McClanahan, who also is a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council. “A healthy person needs a totally different [financial] plan from someone who has health issues.”

Click here to read this article.

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 27+ 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

“The windows are open, admitting the September breeze: a month that smells like notepaper and pencil shavings, autumn leaves and car oil. A month that smells like progress and moving on.”

- Lauren Oliver