Subscribe to our Mailing List!

LEGACY INSIGHTS

Your trusted guide to a strong and secure retirement!

LBA Quarterly Newsletter - Spring Edition

2026 • Quarter 2 • Issue 18

Robert Dumais

Principal, LBA

THE BIG QUESTION FOR THIS ISSUE:

"What if one of the most powerful retirement strategies has nothing to do with the stock market and everything to do with what you do after dinner?"

Before you guess, no it’s not reorganizing your sock drawer. Stay with me.

This quarter we’re focusing on wellness — physical wellness, financial wellness, and the connection between the two. Because after years of helping clients transition into retirement, I’ve noticed something important:

When health declines, financial plans react. When health holds steady, retirement expands. Often the difference comes down to something surprisingly simple.

What is it? - We'll get there!

FROM THE DEAK OF BOB DUMAIS, PRINCIPAL:
Friends,

As time goes by, I find myself reflecting more on what truly matters. When I first started this business, retirement planning was mostly about numbers, returns, projections, withdrawal rates. Of course, those still matter deeply. But over the years, sitting across the table from families, I’ve seen something that spreadsheets don’t capture.

➢ It’s the retired couple who can travel because their mobility is strong.

➢ It’s the grandfather who can get on the floor with his grandchildren.

➢ It’s the widow who maintains her independence because her balance is steady.

If I’m being honest, there are times I wish I had started certain healthy habits earlier in life. Most of us feel that way about something. The encouraging part? It’s never too late to improve your future trajectory.

As we move through 2026, I encourage you to think about retirement not just as a financial milestone, but as a lifestyle you’re actively protecting. Throughout this issue, you may start to notice a subtle theme.

Warm regards,

Bob Dumais

Principal, Legacy Benefit Advisors

"It’s Just a Little Back Pain"

I hear this often. “It’s nothing serious Bob. It’s just stiffness.” But stiffness turns into avoiding long car rides. Avoiding long car rides turns into skipping trips. Skipping trips can turn into staying home more often than you’d like.

Back pain frequently develops not from one big injury, but from gradual weakening:

Core muscles lose strength.
Posture declines.
Circulation slows.

When movement decreases, discomfort increases. What’s interesting is that many back specialists recommend consistent, low-impact activity to strengthen the muscles that protect the spine:

Not intense workouts.
Not lifting heavy weights.

Just consistent movement, the kind you can do while talking to your spouse or listening to a podcast.

We’ll keep that thought parked here for now.

The Knees That Start Negotiating

Knees rarely surprise you. They negotiate. They whisper before they shout.

You start choosing parking spaces closer to the store.
You hesitate before taking stairs.
You think twice about long airport terminals.

The cycle often looks like this:

Knees hurt.
Activity decreases.
Leg muscles weaken.
Knees hurt more.

It’s frustrating and common. What many people don’t realize is that joints rely on movement for lubrication. Muscles protect joints. When muscles weaken, joints absorb more strain. Again, the solution usually isn’t extreme. As health worsens, financial plans must adjust, but when health remains stable, retirement opportunities can grow. Often, the difference comes down to something surprisingly simple... but we're still not going to tell you what it is.

Yet!

(No gym selfies are required.)

"Your Blood Pressure Is A Little Elevated"

Those words are often delivered calmly. But they’re meaningful.

High blood pressure, rising blood sugar and creeping cholesterol. These often develop quietly over time. You don’t feel them happening. They are lifestyle-driven conditions that respond remarkably well to moderate cardiovascular activity.

Regular movement improves:

Circulation
Heart strength
Insulin sensitivity
Energy levels

The good news? It doesn’t have to be exhausting to be effective.

Something consistent. Something rhythmic. Something most of us learned before kindergarten.

Hold that thought!

The Fall Nobody Planned For

Falls are one of the most disruptive events in retirement.

They often stem from:

Reduced leg strength
Decreased balance
Slower reaction time

What’s heartbreaking is how often confidence declines afterward. Independence shrinks. One of the strongest protective factors against falls is maintaining lower body strength and coordination through regular movement. Not competition-level training. Just staying in motion.

It’s almost too simple to be taken seriously.

The "Foggy" Feeling

Memory changes can be subtle. Misplaced keys. Forgotten names. Reduced focus. Brain health is closely linked to circulation. When blood flow improves, oxygen delivery improves. And when oxygen delivery improves, cognitive support improves. Many studies connect regular physical activity to reduced cognitive decline risk.

Again, not extreme. Just steady. On your own two feet.

When Health Impacts The Financial Plan

Here’s where my professional lens comes in.

When chronic conditions develop, we often see:

Increased prescription expenses
Higher Medicare out-of-pocket costs
Greater likelihood of long-term care
Accelerated withdrawals from retirement accounts

So, What’s the Thread Connecting All of These?

Back pain
Knee degeneration
High blood pressure
Falls
Cognitive decline
Healthcare expenses

What do they share?

It isn’t a supplement. It isn’t a complicated workout plan. It isn’t a new device. It’s something free. Something available almost anywhere. Something you can do alone or with someone you love.

Okay, I’ll tell you the Wellness Secret.

Walk! That’s it.

Regular Walking:

Strengthens the muscles that protect your back
Supports knee stability
Improves cardiovascular health
Will enhance balance
Boosts cognitive function
Regulates blood sugar
Reduces stress

It may be one of the most underrated retirement strategies available. Sometimes the best way to protect your portfolio is to protect your mobility. Perhaps, take the long way around the block tonight. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon!

Whether walking or running, athletes always stretch before they compete. Retirement deserves the same kind of preparation. Before you make the leap, get organized and build a strategy designed for success.

Start strong with our free downloadable Passport to Retirement Guide!

Just a friendly reminder: this isn’t medical advice—just encouragement to keep moving! Always talk with your doctor if you have any concerns before starting any new routines.

Passport to Retirement Guidebook

Remember: Retirement is a process not an event.

LBA can help with a no-cost consultation!

What are YOU stressed about? (We can help.)

☐ Running out of Monday
☐ Rising Inflation
☐ Healthcare and Long-Term Care Expenses

☐ Minimizing taxes

☐ Having a Steady Income Stream

☐ Stock Market Volatility

☐ Making Social Security and Pension Decisions
☐ Choosing the Right Medicare Coverage
☐ Managing RMDs, Avoiding Costly Mistakes
☐ Managing 401k, 403b, 457, IRA, Rollovers, etc. Without Penalty

☐ Leaving a Legacy for my Family

One of the more valuable tools we offer is our Passport to Retirement Guidebook. It is a practical, easy-to-follow companion for planning retirement.

It helps you:

• Clarify what retirement looks like for you

• See if you’re financially ready

• Understand healthcare choices

• Organize legal and legacy plans

We encourage you to complete it at your own pace, then schedule a complimentary consultation. Together, we’ll turn it into a personalized retirement plan.

Click Here to download the Passport to Retirement Guidebook PDF

Client Testimonial: "The Passport to Retirement helped us see everything in one place. It made retirement feel real — and manageable."

LBA Newsletter Library - A Great Resource

We have covered so many critical topics in our many quarterly newsletters over the past few years. We've created a simple roadmap to all of these great articles for your benefit.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OUR RETIREMENT ARTICLES