Insights
Plain-English answers on planning, tax, estate and the markets.
Filter by topic first, then by who you are or the format you want. Guidance for families, business owners, plan sponsors and participants.
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Five topics run across everything MCF publishes: Company News, Investment Markets, Financial Planning, Tax Planning and Estate Planning. Narrow by who you are or by format, or search.
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Business OwnersFinancial Planning
Building Beyond the Founder with Chuck Frank
Chuck Frank discusses buying out his father, selling his company, and starting over with his son on The Legacy Behind the Logo, with themes on succession, buyers, and planning ahead.
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ParticipantsRetirement Planning
Gen X & Retirement: It's Not Too Late
Transamerica 2025 data on Generation X, the so-called sandwich generation, covering retirement confidence, median savings, emergency savings, and the habits that may help households make progress.
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ParticipantsRetirement Planning
Getting Your Financial House in Order
A six-step framework that compares financial planning to building a house, from emergency savings and workplace retirement plan contributions to debt, outside savings, protection, and ongoing upkeep.
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Plan SponsorsRetirement Planning
Research: Advisory Support Boosts Retirement Confidence, Lowers Stress
Research from the Journal of Financial Therapy, Charles Schwab, and the 2026 EBRI/Greenwald Retirement Confidence Survey suggests access to trusted financial guidance is associated with greater confidence and less money-related stress among workers.
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Plan SponsorsRetirement Planning
Retirement Savings Reached an All-time High in 2025
Vanguard's How America Saves 2026 reports a record average total savings rate of 12.1% in 2025, alongside higher participation in plans with automatic enrollment and wide use of target date funds.
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Plan SponsorsRetirement Planning
Younger Workers Look to Employers for Retirement Help
Survey results from J.P. Morgan Asset Management suggest younger plan participants place greater responsibility on employers to support retirement planning, alongside considerable uncertainty about contributions and investment options.
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Individuals & FamiliesFinancial Planning
Five Financial Decisions Worth Revisiting Before Year-End
Five areas of a financial plan that may be worth a second look before the year closes: cash needs, charitable giving, retirement income, tax decisions, and the estate plan.
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Individuals & FamiliesEstate Planning
Safeguarding Your Family's Future
Six estate planning topics worth reviewing: powers of attorney, a living will, a last will and testament, trusts, regular updates, and an organized legacy binder.
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Individuals & FamiliesFinancial Planning
The Conversations Every Family Should Be Having About Wealth
Why family conversations about values, goals, and intentions are part of financial planning, and five questions that can help start them during the year-end holidays.
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Business OwnersFinancial Planning
Chasing Purpose, Not Just Profit with Dan Allison
A Legacy Behind the Logo conversation with Dan Allison on purpose, delegation, operational capacity and succession planning.
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Individuals & FamiliesInvestment Markets
The American Economic Miracle: 46 Years in the Market
Several days ago, I was visiting with a good friend and client about the current state of the capital markets, and I shared a few experiences from my career. Shortly thereafter, I thought, “I should write this down and share it, as many would find the historical American Economic Miracle quite fascinating.”
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Individuals & FamiliesInvestment Markets
August 2026 Market Commentary
Markets mostly advanced in August as strong corporate earnings, continued artificial-intelligence investment, and resilient business activity outweighed softer labor and consumer data. The S&P 500 gained 2.7%, International Developed equities gained 2.5%, and Emerging Market…
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Individuals & FamiliesInvestment Markets
July 2026 Monthly Market Commentary
Markets finished July with mixed results as strong corporate earnings and continued investment in artificial intelligence were offset by slower economic growth, renewed energy-price pressure, and a more divided Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 was approximately flat for the month…
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Individuals & FamiliesInvestment Markets
2026 Mid-Year Review & Outlook
The first half of 2026 was a good reminder that successful investing requires distinguishing between sensational headlines and the long-term forces that drive portfolio returns. At the beginning of the year, investors questioned whether the U.S. economy could avoid recession…
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ParticipantsFinancial Planning
AI Used Widely (Though Not Always Wisely) For Retirement Planning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly popular tool for retirement planning, with many Americans using it for budgeting, investing, and retirement savings guidance. While AI offers convenient financial education and planning support, users should verify…
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ParticipantsFinancial Planning
Benefits of Joining a Retirement Plan
Learn why your employer-sponsored retirement plan may be one of your most valuable benefits and how it can help you build long-term financial security.
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ParticipantsFinancial Planning
Knowledge Gap Drives Retirement Plan Nonparticipation
Automatic enrollment has helped increase participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans, but many employees still opt out due to a lack of understanding or concerns about affordability. Providing clear retirement plan education, enrollment support, and ongoing…
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ParticipantsFinancial Planning
Retirement Expectations vs. Reality: What Workers May be Getting Wrong
Many Americans have a clear vision of when they'll retire and how they'll fund life after work—but the reality often looks very different. According to the 2026 Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research Retirement Confidence Survey, significant gaps…
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ParticipantsFinancial Planning
Retirement Plan Portability
Learn what retirement plan portability is and explore your options when changing jobs, including rollovers, IRAs, and employer plans. Discover how to avoid taxes and penalties, preserve your retirement savings, and make informed decisions that support your long-term financial…
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ParticipantsInvestment Markets
The Importance of Staying Invested Through Volatility
Learn how to navigate market volatility with confidence. Discover why staying invested during market downturns and maintaining a long-term investment strategy can help support your financial future.
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Individuals & FamiliesEstate Planning
Preparing Heirs for Wealth: The Missing Piece of Estate Planning
Many families spend decades building wealth with the goal of creating financial security and opportunity for future generations. They work diligently to save, invest, and develop thoughtful estate plans designed to transfer assets efficiently.
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Individuals & FamiliesTax Planning
The Hidden Tax Risks in Your Retirement and Estate Plan
Many investors spend years diligently saving and investing for retirement. Yet one of the biggest threats to long-term wealth isn’t market volatility—it’s taxes. Over time, successful savers often accumulate substantial balances in retirement accounts, taxable investment…
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Individuals & FamiliesCompany News
MCF Advisors Expands Presence in Northern Kentucky with Acquisition of Hoff Bujnoch & Associates
Acquisition underscores MCF’s dedication to building lasting advisor partnerships rooted in culture and community LEXINGTON, Ky. — May 8, 2026 — MCF Advisors, LLC (“MCF”), a Kentucky-based registered investment adviser (“RIA”) serving families, business owners, and retirement…
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Plan SponsorsFinancial Planning
How Are Plan Sponsors Measuring Participant Success?
The ultimate proof of retirement plan participant success is in the results: whether the participant achieves a financially secure retirement. In the meantime, plan sponsors can look at a variety of metrics to help evaluate and track plan outcomes. The 2025 PLANSPONSOR Defined…
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Investment Insights
Preparation, not prediction.
Commentary on what moved the markets and what it means for a long-term plan, alongside the guides on investing that hold up in any cycle. Videos and downloadable pieces are marked on the card.
Latest commentary
Evergreen guides
Older pieces kept in the library because the lesson does not date.
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