Bedel Blog

Serving as a trustee is an honor and a serious responsibility. Trustees are expected to manage trust assets carefully, maintain accurate records, communicate with beneficiaries, and follow the terms outlined in the trust document.

Oil prices hit their highest price since 2022 on March 9, 2026, but just a day later, they had recovered most of the increase since the conflict began a week and a half ago. This seems largely due to the market responding to President Trump's various comments that the war would be over soon. Whether these comments will hold true remains to be seen.

Depending on the amount you owe or the refund you're expecting to receive, now is also a good time to consider modifying your form W4. Via the W4, you can make the appropriate changes to your tax withholding through your employer. This will prevent you from receiving a larger-than-anticipated refund or owing more than expected on next year’s return.

Here are some key money moves to consider after getting married. The good news is that these steps are designed to be straightforward and manageable, no matter the financial situation you’re starting from.

According to the Pew Research Center, 83% of individuals over age 60 have provided financial support to an adult child in the last year. On the other end of the spectrum, 32% of adults with parents over age 65 have provided financial support to a parent in the last year.

Diversification can provide exposure to various markets and investing trends, but it works best if you have it in place before the trend becomes obvious to everyone. As we move through 2026, we believe the combination of a softening dollar and more reasonable valuations makes international equities an essential part of a forward-looking portfolio.

Digital assets include any digital item that you own that has personal or financial value. The digital items are distinct from the physical hardware (ex., computer, iPad, mobile phone) on which the electronic data is stored.

The greatest use would be to pay down any high-cost outstanding debt. If you have credit card debt, that should be your primary use of your refund. Unless you are on an introductory rate, your credit card debt is probably costing you a pretty penny.

Income tax planning is not something to idle about. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or have multiple streams of income, a little bit of planning goes a long way in warding off surprise tax bills and penalties.

Several firms, including WisdomTree, BondBloxx, and Aberdeen, suggest that economic fundamentals entering 2026 appear relatively resilient. Expectations generally center on continued, though slower, growth, supported by fiscal spending, infrastructure investment, and steady consumer demand. BondBloxx, for example, estimates US growth around 1.5–2.0%.

For most people, the key will be understanding the risk, what each contract actually means, how the platform is regulated, and how much money they can afford to risk before they dive in.

As my family experienced, a terminal diagnosis is profoundly challenging, yet proactive financial planning offers control and reduces future burdens on loved ones.