I hope the High Holidays brought you and your family meaningful moments of reflection, renewal and connection. To everyone who worked so hard to make this season special for our communities – thank you! 

In that spirit of looking back and looking ahead, welcome to the 100th issue of the JRB Financial Pulse!

One hundred issues, through bull and bear markets, through changes in the tax code, and through every turning of the Jewish calendar. We're grateful to the thousands of loyal readers who have followed the Pulse since our CEO Emeritus Mitchell J. Smilowitz, CPA, launched it in 2017, as well as to those who've joined us more recently.

To celebrate, we are introducing a new feature — Ask the JRB — and republishing a few of our most popular articles. 

But first, some news:

• Age 50 or Older? Don’t leave savings on the table.  You can make catch-up contributions before year-end and, if you are ages 60-63, an enhanced “super catch-up” lets you invest even more. To get started or make changes, contact your employer.   

• Our Fall Israel Bonds Offering is underway. We will announce the interest rate on November 1. The Offering ends November 9, 2026.

• Celebrating Our Staff. Please join me in congratulating Fasia Jabar on 35 years and Doug Spangler on 30 years of dedicated service. Their knowledge, care, and commitment help make JRB a trusted resource for the participants, synagogues, and organizations we’re honored to serve.

• Let’s Connect in Person. I will be meeting with participants at the NAASE/NATA conference and the Rabbinical Assembly Convention, where I will be joined by Andrew Jabar. Sign up below for a one-on-one conversation about your retirement questions, financial goals and next steps.

Every day, the JRB receives calls from our participants on a wide range of topics. We believe that there are probably many more of you with the same question. That's the spirit behind our new column, Ask the JRB. Our first topic discusses how Required Minimum Distributions are calculated. If you have a question you'd like the JRB to answer, just reply to this email.

Among the hundreds of topics we've covered in the Financial Pulse, some have proven particularly popular. We republish a few that hold continuing relevance.

• A long-term investor’s mantra in a volatile investing environment — I Have Lost Nothing in the Stock Market Because I Am Not Selling Today.

• Our three-part series on the housing allowance — Do you understand the dual tax status of clergy?

• Lower Investment Costs and More Ways to Save. At the end of 2025, the JRB replaced some mutual fund investments with Collective Investment Trusts and added a Roth after-tax contribution option. Together, these changes allowed the JRB to lower investment expenses and give you greater flexibility in managing taxes today and in retirement.  

One hundred issues is a publishing milestone, but the real purpose of the Financial Pulse is what happens after you read it: a question becomes clearer, a conversation begins, or you feel better prepared to make a decision.

Thank you for reading, for asking questions and for placing your trust in the JRB. As we look ahead to the next 100 issues, our focus remains on helping you build financial security and enjoy retirement with strength and dignity. 

If you have questions about catch-up contributions, Israel Bonds, or your overall financial goals, please contact us via email or call us at 888-JRB-FREE (572-3733).

L'Shalom,