Core Insights - Consumers waste an average of nearly $2,000 annually on impulse purchases, which could be redirected towards financial goals like debt repayment or building an emergency fund [1][2] Spending Categories - **Unnecessary Subscriptions**: Many consumers have multiple subscriptions that may not be essential. Evaluating and cutting down on these services, especially food delivery and streaming, can lead to significant savings [3] - **Dining Out and Fast Food**: The rising costs of dining out, exacerbated by inflation, frustrate over 53% of consumers. Preparing meals at home can be a cost-effective alternative [4] - **Paying Credit Card Interest**: High interest on credit card debt can trap consumers in a cycle of debt. It is advisable to minimize expenses or find additional income sources to pay off debts quickly [5] - **Cell Phone Plans**: The average monthly cell phone bill in the U.S. is $141, totaling over $1,000 annually. Researching cheaper plans, particularly from smaller carriers, can yield savings [6] - **Gambling**: Small gambling expenditures, such as lottery tickets, are discouraged as they do not provide good value for money. Investing these funds is recommended instead [7]

Market Trends & Concerns - Political climate surpasses traditional economic concerns as top issue for Americans when discussing finances with advisors [2] - Half of financial advisors' clients mentioned the political environment when discussing financial goals, exceeding concerns about inflation, market volatility, national economy, and rising healthcare costs [3] - Client emotions regarding 2026 are complex, with optimism, confidence, caution, uncertainty, and anxiety all present [3] Investment Strategies & Outlook - Clients are more likely to increase their investment levels in the coming year [4] - Financial advisors emphasize focusing on policies, not politics, and discussing goals with loved ones and financial professionals [4]

Core Insights - Self-improvement is a priority for many Americans as 2026 approaches, with 42% planning to set New Year's resolutions and expecting to spend an average of $4,700 to achieve their goals [1][3] - Financial resolutions are a major focus, with 55% of those making resolutions committed to budgeting, saving, investing, paying off debt, or building credit [1][5] Spending Patterns - Men plan to spend more than women on resolutions, averaging $5,360 compared to $4,000, with men aged 35-54 being the highest spenders at over $6,000 [3] - The most expensive category of resolutions is personal-life resolutions, with an average budget of $3,047, including $1,251 for travel and $768 for meals and entertainment [4] Gender Differences in Financial Goals - 73% of both men and women prioritize financial goals, but men are more likely to engage in investing (55% vs. 37%), improving credit scores (49% vs. 35%), and contributing to retirement plans (39% vs. 26%) [5][6] - Women are more inclined to reduce spending (65% vs. 55%) and take on additional work (46% vs. 42%) to achieve their financial goals [7] Saving Goals - 81% of Americans are saving with specific goals in mind for 2026, with travel being the most popular goal (40%), followed by purchasing a car (25%) and buying a house (21%) [8] - CIT Bank offers tools for customers to create savings buckets for different goals, enhancing the ability to visualize and connect emotionally with saving [9]

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Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley maintains an Underweight rating on Western Union Co. with a price target of $7, highlighting elevated execution risks despite clear medium-term financial targets [1] Financial Goals - Western Union aims for a compound annual revenue growth rate of 7%, or 3% excluding the Intermex acquisition, targeting total revenue between $4.8 billion and $5.3 billion by 2028 [2] - Adjusted earnings per share are projected to reach $2.30, indicating an 11% compound annual growth rate [2] Revenue Projections - Digital payments revenue is expected to grow organically by 8%, reaching up to $1.5 billion, while retail revenue is forecasted to decline by 4% to approximately $2.2 billion, excluding Intermex [3] - Consumer services are anticipated to expand the fastest, with a projected annual growth rate of 20%, potentially reaching up to $1 billion [3] Cash Flow and Cost Efficiencies - Management expects to generate $1.7 billion in free cash flow over the next three years, aided by $150 million in cost efficiencies [4] - However, achieving these financial goals may be challenging due to declining retail volumes in North America and competitive pressures in key U.S.–Latin America corridors [4] Integration and Growth Risks - Risks are associated with integrating Intermex and replicating the European turnaround strategy in North America, with forecasts indicating only 1% revenue growth excluding Intermex between 2025 and 2027 [4]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of evaluating financial goals and making strategic financial decisions in the final months of 2025, particularly for those relying on Social Security checks [1][3][4] Financial Goals Assessment - Approximately 67% of seniors depend on Social Security for at least half of their income, making it crucial to assess financial performance as the year ends [3] - The last quarter is identified as a key time for individuals to evaluate their financial goals and progress [3] Economic Context - Economic uncertainties and tariffs have contributed to financial challenges for many, especially those dependent on Social Security [4] Holiday Planning - Utilizing Social Security funds to create a holiday budget is recommended to avoid debt during the holiday season [5] - A survey indicates that 78% of Americans plan to reduce holiday spending due to economic factors, while 47% anticipate incurring holiday debt [5] Debt Management - Using Social Security checks to settle debts, such as credit card balances, is advised to start the new year with improved financial stability [6] - AARP reports that 52% of adults aged 50 to 64 carry credit card debt, with significant portions of older adults also affected [6]

Investment Portfolio Management - Fidelity provides tools to track portfolio performance and financial goals [1] - The platform allows users to monitor accounts, check balances and returns, and review asset mix [1] - Key insights are available on both desktop and the Fidelity mobile app to understand financial picture [1] Fidelity Resources and Services - Fidelity offers resources for evaluating investments and performance [1] - Users can open a brokerage account at Fidelity [1] - Fidelity encourages users to ask questions in the comments section [1] Fidelity Social Media Presence - Fidelity maintains an active presence on various social media platforms including YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Discord [1]

Core Insights - Achieving financial goals requires a clear plan and strategy to ensure success [2][3] - Financial accomplishments can be measured through tangible results, such as debt repayment and savings growth [4][5] - Consistent progress towards financial goals can lead to a sense of pride and accomplishment [5] Summary by Sections - **Financial Planning and Strategy** - A clear financial plan is essential for achieving specific goals, such as saving for a vacation or paying off debt [2][3] - Without a strategy, financial goals remain unfulfilled wishes [3] - **Measuring Success** - Success can be confirmed through mathematical proof, such as paying off high-interest credit card debt and having sufficient funds for investments [4] - Achievements in financial goals can be tracked through the ability to cover living expenses while saving [4] - **Emotional and Psychological Aspects** - Achieving financial goals should evoke a sense of pride and accomplishment [5] - Reflecting on past achievements can help in setting future goals [5] - **Actionable Steps** - Breaking down financial goals into manageable monthly savings targets is crucial [6] - Setting up automatic transfers to savings accounts can facilitate consistent saving [6] - Utilizing tax refunds or windfalls can enhance savings [6]

Investment Strategy Importance - A clear investment strategy is crucial for reaching financial goals, acting as a roadmap to navigate the market's unpredictability [1][2] - Investors with a well-defined and consistently followed strategy tend to outperform those without one [3] - Emotions can negatively impact investment decisions, but a solid strategy helps investors make choices based on goals, not feelings [3] Building an Investment Strategy - Experts recommend covering minimum payments, maintaining sufficient cash for daily expenses, utilizing workplace 401K matches, paying off high-interest debt, and fully funding emergency savings before investing [4] - Determine investment goals (long-term like retirement, short-term like education, or mid-term like buying a house) and their timelines to tailor the strategy [4][5] - Risk tolerance is a critical factor; higher risk can lead to greater gains or losses, while lower risk is suitable for shorter timelines [5][6] Investment Options and Considerations - When evaluating stocks, consider the company's business potential, market share growth, revenue and earnings growth, product/service value, and analyst ratings [8] - For bonds, assess the credit rating to gauge the issuer's financial health and repayment likelihood, as well as the bond's duration to understand its sensitivity to interest rate changes [8][9] - Diversification is essential; avoid over-concentration in a single stock or bond to mitigate risk [10] - When selecting ETFs and mutual funds, align the fund's objective with investment goals and consider funds with diversified investments [10][11] - Expense ratios impact returns; even small differences can accumulate significantly over time [11][12] Managing and Maintaining the Strategy - Regularly review and adjust the investment strategy to align with changing needs, timeframes, and risk appetite [14] - Rebalancing the portfolio periodically is essential to maintain the desired asset allocation [14] - Experts suggest reviewing and confirming investment goals at least annually [15]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of the initial meeting between clients and financial advisors, highlighting key questions that should be addressed to establish a successful relationship. Group 1: Key Questions for Financial Advisors - Understanding financial goals is crucial, including short- and long-term objectives such as education funding, home buying, and retirement planning [3] - Assessing risk tolerance early on helps shape an investment strategy that aligns with the client's comfort level regarding market fluctuations [3] - Exploring the meaning of money to clients allows advisors to tailor financial strategies that resonate with their values and motivations [4] Group 2: Personal Financial History - Advisors should inquire about clients' financial experiences growing up, as these early influences significantly shape current attitudes and behaviors towards money [5] - Discussing desired financial habits for children indicates an advisor's commitment to the client's long-term family financial well-being [6]