Your COLA is here (Not the fizzy kind)

Okay, so here's where we're at: Social Security benefits are going up 2.8% next year, your 401(k) is probably looking better than it has in months, and year-end bonuses are starting to hit bank accounts.

Sounds great, right? But here's the thing: when everything's going well, that is exactly when you need to pause and make sure you're actually set up for what comes next.

Here’s what’s inside:

• How to check your exact 2026 Social Security increase online

• Markets are way up. Time for a gut check on your investments.

• 5 strategic ways to use your year-end bonus

• How to stop impulse spending

P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here ☎️

How to check your 2026 Social Security COLA

The Social Security Administration announced that benefit payments will increase 2.8% in 2026. But here's what matters: your exact increase.

The good news? You don't have to wait for your letter in the mail to find out. The SSA lets you check your personalized benefit information online through your My Social Security account at SSA.gov. After creating an account and verifying your identity, you can see exactly how much your 2026 benefits will be (and even get estimates based on different retirement ages).

Want to calculate it yourself? Just multiply your current monthly benefit by 0.028 (the 2.8% increase) to see what you'll get in 2026.

💡 Keep in mind: The 2.8% increase won't keep pace with what seniors actually spend on. Healthcare, prescriptions, housing, and energy costs are rising faster. Your real expenses will likely outpace your COLA, so plan accordingly and maintain a buffer for those gaps.

Here's how to fit Social Security into your bigger financial picture:

💰 Build a buffer for when COLA falls short: Assume your real costs will rise faster than your COLA, and maintain an emergency fund specifically for those gaps.

💰 Coordinate with your other retirement income: Social Security is just one piece of the puzzle. Map out how it works alongside your 401(k) withdrawals, pension (if you have one), and any part-time work. The goal is to create a sustainable income stream that covers your actual expenses, not just hope it all works out.

💰 Factor in the healthcare coverage gap: If you retire before 65, you'll need to bridge the gap until Medicare kicks in. That 2.8% COLA won't help if you're paying $800+ monthly for private insurance. Plan for this expense separately, and know exactly how you'll cover it.

💰 Understand the tax hit on your benefits: Up to 85% of your Social Security can be taxable depending on your total income. If you're also pulling from a 401(k) or have investment income, you could owe more than you expect. Run the numbers now so you're not blindsided in April.

💰 Time your claiming strategy with your overall plan: Delaying Social Security from 62 to 70 can boost your monthly benefit significantly, but only if you have other money to live on during those years. Don't delay just because "experts say so." Delay because it fits your specific cash flow needs and life expectancy.

Need help planning for rising costs? Let's build a realistic budget together.

Markets are at record highs. Here’s your reality check

Your 401(k) is probably looking pretty good right now. Stocks (both in the U.S. and abroad) keep hitting new highs. Even the traditionally stable parts of your portfolio like bonds are up, not to mention gold and crypto.

But when everything's winning, that's exactly when you need to pause and reassess.

Here's the question: Back in April, when Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, what did you do? Did panic take over? Did you sell and lock in those losses, only to watch the market roar back 35%+ without you? Or did you stay the course?

Your answer matters, because the next downturn is always around the corner.

Here's what you need to keep in mind:

📈 Markets don't go up forever. Historically, the S&P 500 drops about 10% every couple of years. These "corrections" are normal. Bigger crashes of 20% or more happen less often but can drag on for years. April's nearly 20% plunge? It recovered. The next one will come eventually.

📈 Check if you're coasting by default. High prices give you a chance to review your setup. Are you taking on more risk than you can actually handle? Now's the time to fix that, not during the next panic.

📈 Three risks loom over this rally: Companies need to keep posting massive earnings to justify their sky-high prices. The Fed needs to keep cutting rates. And U.S.-China trade relations need to stay calm. If any of these cracks, we could see a sharp reversal. For context, the S&P 500 is trading near its priciest level since the dot-com bubble.

📈 Timing the top is a losing game. Wall Street has a saying: "Being too early is the same as being wrong." Case in point: investors who bailed in 1996 after Greenspan's "irrational exuberance" warning missed out on gains of over 100% before the crash finally came in 2000. The smarter move? Build a portfolio you can stick with through ups and downs.

📈 Your timeline matters more than the headlines. If you're young with decades to go, downturns are actually buying opportunities. You're accumulating shares at lower prices. Closer to retirement? You still need growth, just less of it. A typical rule of thumb: workers just starting out hold about 92% stocks, while those near retirement drop to around 50%.

Feeling lost? Let’s chat about your financial foundations first.

How to use your year-end bonus

Year-end bonuses averaged around $2,500 last year. That's enough to make a dent in your financial goals if you're strategic about it.

You've earned it, so yes, treating yourself is fair game. But before it vanishes into everyday spending, consider these moves that could actually change your financial trajectory.

Here are 5 ways to put that bonus to work:

💰 Pay yourself first: Before you even see that bonus hit your account, decide where a portion goes. Set up an automatic transfer to savings or investments the day your bonus deposits. When it's already moved, you won't miss it and you won't be tempted to spend it on things you'll forget about in a month.

💰 Cover your "what-if" expenses: Think about the financial curveballs that could mess up your year. Car repairs, medical deductibles, home maintenance, insurance deductibles. Use your bonus to pre-fund a sinking fund specifically for these predictable unpredictables. When they happen (and they will), you won't be scrambling or reaching for credit cards.

💰 Invest in something that increases your income: Rather than just parking money, could you use your bonus to level up professionally this 2026? Certifications, courses, coaching, networking events, or tools that make you better at your job can pay dividends through raises, promotions, or side income opportunities. Your bonus could be the seed money that grows your earning power.

💰 Accelerate a specific goal by 6-12 months: Pick one financial goal you've been working toward, whether it's a house down payment, paying off a car, or building retirement savings. Calculate how much this bonus could move that timeline up. Suddenly reaching your goal in 18 months instead of 30 months becomes real.

💰 Tackle high-interest debt strategically: If you're carrying credit card balances, your bonus can save you serious money. That debt is actively costing you in interest every month. Throwing your bonus at the highest-interest debt first can free up cash flow, improve your credit score, and save you hundreds (or thousands) in interest charges you'd otherwise be paying over the next year.

Want help deciding where your bonus should go? Let's talk it through.

3 ways to stop buying things you don’t need

Let's be honest: we all have that one (or five) impulse purchases collecting dust somewhere in our homes. The gadget you "needed," the clothes with tags still on, the subscription you forgot you're paying for. It adds up fast.

The average American household wastes thousands of dollars annually on unnecessary purchases. But here's the good news: breaking the cycle doesn't mean depriving yourself. It means getting intentional about where your money actually goes.

 Worth the Click This Week

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