October Monthly Newsletter

HEALTH, WELLNESS AND INDEPENDENCE
2026 Medicare Part B Projected Costs
Part B monthly premium is projected to increase to $206.50, up from $185 in 2025. This represents an 11.6% rise. The annual deductible is expected to rise to $288, up from $257 in 2025, marking a 12% increase. (More)

Open Enrollment is Here! Update Med List
You should’ve received an email from [email protected] asking you to update your information. If you are on Original Medicare, only update medications. Taking a few minutes to do this helps our team review your situation and make sure you’re in the best plan for 2026—so you can avoid surprises.

Drug Ads Can Raise Your Costs
Those flashy drug ads aren’t just annoying—they could be costing you more on your Medicare plan. Know how medications and coverage choices affect your out-of-pocket costs! (More)

Breaking Pharmacy Monopolies
Two new bipartisan bills, the Patients Over Profits Act and the Patients Before Monopolies Act, are gaining attention for their efforts to dismantle conflicts of interest in healthcare. These proposed laws aim to prevent insurers from owning medical practices and PBMs from owning pharmacies, potentially leading to lower costs and improved care for Medicare beneficiaries. (More)

FINANCIAL NEWS
Big Movement in the AI World
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) announced a multibillion-dollar GPU supply deal with OpenAI, lifting its shares by 27% alongside rises for a slew of other AI stocks this morning. (More)

Bitcoin Hits Record High Amid 'Uptober' Surge
Bitcoin has reached a new all-time high, surpassing $126,000, driven by increased investor demand, institutional interest, and macroeconomic factors such as a weakening U.S. dollar and political uncertainty. This surge aligns with the seasonal "Uptober" rally, where October has historically seen strong gains for Bitcoin. (More)

OPEC+ Announces Modest Oil Production Increase
OPEC+, including Russia, will raise oil output by 137,000 barrels per day in November—slightly less than expected—pushing oil prices up just over 1%. (More)

Retirement Income in 2025
The average Social Security benefit is $1,976/month, but most retirees need roughly $7,500–$8,500/month to maintain their pre-retirement lifestyle. (More)

ESTATE AND LEGACY
Estate Planning for Business Owners
Owners planning to sell a private company should consider strategic gifting of business interests to reduce taxes, protect their legacy, and ensure a smooth wealth transfer.(More)

Estate Planning Amid Tax Reform
The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) raises the federal estate and gift tax exemption to $15M per person starting in 2026, creating opportunities for high-net-worth individuals to use trusts like SLATs, GRATs, ILITs, and dynasty trusts for tax-efficient wealth transfer. (More)

Reviewing Estate Plans Before Year-End
October is a great time to review estate plans. Life changes like marriage, divorce, or a new child should prompt updates to wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.

SUREFIRE NEWS AND UPDATES
Our End-of-Year Focus: YOU
As we approach the end of the year, our team is focused on helping you navigate key financial priorities—end-of-year tax planning, Medicare questions, and updating estate plans.

Educational Workshops
We will continue to conduct our regular Medicare workshops and educate people new to Medicare, hopefully helping many avoid common pitfalls. Looking ahead, we’ve planned to do some additional workshops on RMDs and taxes, Social Security, and estate planning. If you have any suggestions of content you would like to see, let us know!

FOR FUN
This week in history

• 1863 – President Lincoln proclaims first official Thanksgiving Holiday

• 1890 – Yosemite National Park is established

• 1908 – Ford Motor Company unveils the Model T

• 1957 – Sputnik launched

• 2011 – Steve Jobs passes away

What did a pint of beer cost?

• 1975: $1.09

• 2005: $3.23

• 2025: $4.19

COMMUNITY EVENTS
These gatherings are a wonderful way to stay connected, meet new people, and explore what’s happening around our community.  

Tomorrow- Last Day to Register for Senior Games
Calling all active adults age 50+! The Martin County Senior Games is an annual sporting event, participants compete in various categories across five-year age brackets. Events include golf, cornhole, tennis, bowling, pickleball, and more. (More)

Langford Park Log Cabin Activities
Ping Pong, Tai Chi, Book Club, Etc. Also available to those over 50. (More)