Resilient Asset Management

Will you be 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2026?

If you're focused on maximizing retirement savings, this may be the most important post you read.

There's a contribution window called the "super catch-up" — and it only exists for exactly four years of your life.

Here's how the 401(k) contribution tiers look for 2026:
Under 50: $24,500
Age 50–59: $32,500 (+$8,000 catch-up)
Age 60–63: $35,750 (+$11,250 super catch-up)
Age 64+: $32,500 (back to standard catch-up)

A few important details on eligibility:

You qualify if you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 at any point during the calendar year
You must be 60–63 on December 31 — if you turn 64 before year-end, you do not qualify for that year
Your plan must opt in to offer the super catch-up — most large plans have, but confirm with your HR department or plan administrator before adjusting your contributions
If your 2025 wages exceeded $150,000, your catch-up contributions must go into a Roth account — confirm your plan offers a Roth option, as plans without one may not allow catch-up contributions for high earners

That enhanced catch-up is 40% larger than what every other age group gets. And it disappears the moment you turn 64.

For pre-retirees in this window who aren't maximizing contributions: you are leaving one of the most valuable tax-sheltered opportunities available on the table.

If this applies to you — or to a parent, sibling, or colleague in this age range — this is worth a conversation today, not next year.

If you live in a high-tax state, this is the most important tax planning opportunity of the next several years.

The SALT deduction cap — the limit on how much of your state and local taxes you can deduct federally — quadrupled starting in 2025 and remains elevated for 2026.

2024 cap: $10,000
2026 cap: $40,400

For households in New York, New Jersey, California, or Connecticut paying $20,000, $25,000, or more in state and local taxes annually, this changes the itemizing math entirely.

A few details worth knowing as you plan for this tax year:

• The $40,400 cap phases down for income above $500,000 MAGI
• It increases 1% annually through 2029
• It reverts to $10,000 in 2030 — this window is finite

Now is also the right time to revisit whether itemizing makes sense for your situation. The elevated SALT cap, combined with mortgage interest and charitable deductions, may tip the scales for households that have defaulted to the standard deduction for years.

Four years sounds like plenty of time. It isn't. The planning decisions you make now determine what you capture from this window.

Did you know 83% of small business owners recognize the value of working with a financial professional — ranking it higher than advice from family and friends? 🏦

That's according to a recent survey by Equitable and SCORE — and the rest of the findings are just as eye-opening.

Yet many business owners still don't have a plan for retirement, disability income, or business succession.

Consider this:
✅ 59% of business owners say they'll struggle to fully retire from their business
✅ 33% have no plan to replace their income if they become disabled
✅ Retirement goals vary widely — Boomers expect to work until 74, Gen X until 66, and Millennials aim to retire at 61

Every business owner's journey is different — and so is their financial plan.

At Resilient Asset Management, we specialize in helping small business owners build comprehensive financial strategies that cover everything from cash flow and tax planning to succession and retirement.

Whether you're just getting started or thinking about what's next — we're here to help you build a plan as resilient as you are. 💪

Drop a comment or send us a message to start the conversation.

Source: https://citywire.com/ria/news/sifma-urges-sec-to-overhaul-off-channel-comms-rules/a2476812

Did you know your Financial Power of Attorney might not work at your own bank? 🏦

It's one of the most common — and most preventable — gaps we see in estate planning.

Many banks won't accept a POA prepared by an outside attorney. They require their own proprietary form. And here's the critical part: once a person becomes incapacitated, they can no longer sign legal documents. If the bank's form was never completed, your family could be facing a costly court process at the worst possible time.

The good news? This is an easy fix — if you act now.

Before you need it, ask every financial institution where you hold assets:
✅ Will you accept my attorney-prepared POA?
✅ Do you have your own form I need to complete?
✅ Can I do that today?

One afternoon of preparation can save your family enormous stress down the road.

Most families think they're on the same page about the future.

They're usually not.

97% of parents say estate planning conversations are important — but 68% haven't told their kids whether they'll even receive an inheritance. And while 43% of adult children expect to step in as caregivers, only 12% of parents see that coming.

These gaps don't close on their own. They close with a conversation.

If you've been putting off the estate planning talk with your family — or your advisor — now's a good time to start. I'd love to help.

Working for yourself is liberating. But it can also mean nobody's automatically setting money aside for your retirement.

The good news? Self-employed workers actually have more retirement savings options than most traditional employees — and some of them allow you to put away a lot of money.

We just updated our guide breaking down the four main options: Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP-IRA, and Solo 401(k). Plain English, no jargon, with a clear breakdown of who each plan works best for.

If you're a contractor, freelancer, or business owner and retirement planning has been on your to-do list — this one's for you. 👇
https://www.resilientam.com/retirement-plans-for-the-self-employed

Most people don't think about estate planning until it's too late. If you're in the military, that's a risk you really can't afford to take.

Whether you're heading out on deployment or just getting your affairs in order, there are a few documents every service member needs — and some military-specific designations that often get overlooked.

We just updated our guide covering everything from Wills and Powers of Attorney to SGLI beneficiary designations and your TSP. It's straightforward, jargon-free, and written specifically with military families in mind.

If you don't have a Will yet — this is your sign to get one. 👇

Basic Estate Planning Tips for Military Members | Resilient Asset Management Do you have a Will? If not, you're not alone — but that doesn't make it okay. Here's a practical breakdown of the essential estate planning documents every military member needs, and the military-specific designations most people overlook.

Most financial content focuses on what you can't control — market movements, interest rates, economic cycles.

Here's what you can control.

After years of working with clients across all financial situations, I've found that the people with the strongest financial foundations aren't necessarily the ones with the highest incomes. They're the ones who've addressed the basics — consistently and deliberately.

The 7 Cornerstones of a solid financial plan:

1. Estate Plan — Disability is more likely than death for most people. A Durable Power of Attorney alone can save your family enormous pain.

2. Emergency Fund — Your financial shock absorber. The size depends on your income stability, but everyone needs one.

3. Insurance — You can't bear every risk yourself. Periodic reviews reveal blindspots you didn't know you had.

4. Tax Reserves — Especially critical for the self-employed. The penalties for non-payment are steep.

5. Executable Budget — Spending less than you earn isn't glamorous. It's also the single most reliable path to long-term wealth.

6. Employer Retirement Account — Employer matching funds are one of the only places in life you get an immediate, risk-free 100% return. Don't leave it on the table.

7. Long-Term Care Plan — Far easier to address when you're healthy and stable than after a medical event forces the conversation.

None of these are secrets. But most people address only a few — or none at all.
The full breakdown is on our blog. Link in comments.

What would you add as an 8th cornerstone?

Leadership requires the discipline to look past the current market cycle and focus on the horizon. Today, we honor the leaders who steered our country through every economic climate. How are you positioning your portfolio for the next chapter?

Reflecting on 2025, one thing is clear: diversification trumps prognostication every single time.

While international markets outshined their domestic counterparts this year, the lesson isn't in the "win"—it's in the preparation. As we look toward 2026 and the continued evolution of AI, the "mud-stained windshield" of the future remains.

In our latest Year-End Letter, we break down:

📌 Why "uncertainty" is an evergreen reality, not a modern phenomenon.
📌 The psychology of the "survival instinct" in investing.
📌How we are navigating the AI-themed market shift.

Read our full letter here: https://www.resilientam.com/blog/2025-annual-client-letter