CEO & publisher of Rethinking65.com, a website for financial advisors. Interests: 100-year life, wealth management, retirement, impact investing
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Articles by Dorothy Hinchcliff
Vehicle Thefts Are Falling, But Not Where It Matters Most
InsuranceLatest News Vehicle thefts across the U.S. are dropping, but advisors should be careful about how they interpret the headlines. By Dorothy Hinchcliff | March 18, 2026 Linkedin X Facebook Email Vehicle thefts across the U.S. are finally moving in the right direction, but advisors should be careful about how they interpret the headlines. A new analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) shows that vehicle thefts declined 23% in 2025, following a 17% drop in 2024.
Federal Reserve Names New IPAC Members
InsuranceLatest News The Federal Reserve Board today appointed four new members from major insurers to its Insurance Policy Advisory Committee. By Dorothy Hinchcliff | January 29, 2026 Linkedin Twitter Facebook Email The Federal Reserve Board today appointed four new members from major insurers to its Insurance Policy Advisory Committee (IPAC). IPAC provides information, advice, and recommendations to the Fed on domestic and international insurance issues.
Military Judge Takes Over as SEC Enforcement Director
The senior military judge tapped as the SEC’s enforcement director will start in the job Tuesday. The SEC named Margaret “Meg” Ryan, a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, earlier this month.
Heirs to Get $2.7 Million Under Settlement
A company that provides heirs with advances on inheritances has agreed to a settlement that requires it to return nearly $2.7 million to Maryland residents. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the settlement was reached with Probate Advance LLC, a Rye Brook, N.Y.-based company, and his office’s Consumer Protection Division. For individuals named as heirs, Probate Advance provides money before the will is probated and inheritances are distributed.
Court Upholds SEC 'Gag' Rule
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s so-called “gag rule,” rejecting a claim it illegally silences defendants who want to criticize the regulator after settling civil enforcement cases. In a 3-0 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the rule was not unconstitutional on its face, but could violate the First Amendment depending on how it is applied.
Proposed Rules Will ‘Devastate’ Financial Advisors
New Jersey’s proposed independent contractor rules will have a devastating impact on independent advisors in the state, the Financial Services Institute maintains. Attorney Paul P. Josephson made the statement on behalf of FSI in a letter to the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which proposed the new rules this past spring. FSI supports the state DOL’s goal of better informing employers on how to make appropriate decisions on classifications of workers, Josephson wrote.
NASAA Seeks Comments on Advisor Marketing Rule
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is proposing marketing rule changes for investment advisors that would permit testimonials, endorsements, third-party ratings, and performance reports as long as certain regulatory standards are met. NASAA is proposing the changes so that its rules more closely align with the Securities and Exchange Commission investment adviser marketing rule (Rule 206(4)-1), which was amended in 2020 to allow such advertising.
Alliance for Lifetime Income to Merge
The Alliance for Lifetime Income is being merged into LIMRA and LOMA, the leading trade association for the life insurance, annuity and workplace benefits industry. LL Global announced the merger and is the parent company of LIMRA and LOMA, which in 2008 merged into one organization. ALI is a nonprofit consumer education association that was founded in 2018 to help consumers and financial advisors better understand the importance of protected income in retirement.
Trump's Tax and Policy Bill Passed by House, Overcoming Resistance
The House early Thursday narrowly passed a wide-ranging bill to deliver President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda, after Speaker Mike Johnson put down several mini-rebellions in Republican ranks to muscle the legislation to its first major victory over unified Democratic opposition. The early morning vote was 215-214, mostly along party lines.
Wealth Management Platform Hits $3.25B Valuation
Wealth management platform provider Addepar has hit a valuation of $3.25 billion in a fresh $230 million funding round, as it benefits from a race by financial advisors to arm wealthy clients with better data in volatile markets. Silicon Valley-based Addepar, which counts tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump’s crypto czar David Sacks among its early backers, was last valued at $2 billion at a funding round in 2021.
Major Tax Elements of Republican Budget Package
Republicans in the U.S. Congress are advancing a sweeping budget package that would fulfill President Donald Trump’s calls to cut taxes and reduce spending, though details still need to be resolved. Here are major elements of the package, along with the impact on the budget over the next 10 years, as estimated by the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office. Smaller elements of each section are not included in the list.
What's Next for Berkshire as Buffett Hands Over Baton?
Berkshire Hathaway shareholders mourning the departure of legendary investor Warren Buffett anticipate the conglomerate he built over 60 years will retain its long-term focus and culture but worry about the loss of Buffett’s vision and star power.
Social Security Proposal Could Mean Big Changes for Applicants
The Social Security Administration proposed a major change that could force thousands of people every week to show up at a shrinking list of field offices before they can receive benefits. In an effort to combat fraud, the SSA has suggested that citizens applying for social security or disability benefits over the phone would also need to, for the first time, verify their identities using an online program called “internet ID proofing,” according to an internal memo viewed by the Washington Post.
Bill Ackman Is Betting $900 Million He Could Become The Next Warren Buffett
The 94 year-old Oracle of Omaha bought into a dying textile producer 60 years ago, transforming it into the $1 trillion behemoth it is today. Billionaire Bill Ackman may be one of the best-known hedge fund managers on Wall Street, but he’s no Warren Buffett.
Trump’s Federal Resignation Program Moves Ahead After Court Win
The Trump administration moved Wednesday to close entries for the deferred resignation program for federal workers and continue to next steps, after a federal judge’s assent. The court victory allowed the White House to advance a crucial part of its plan to reduce the federal workforce through mass payment offers. In a ruling denying a request to halt the plan, Judge George A. O’Toole Jr., a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Massachusetts, did not weigh in on the program’s legality.
Citi's CEO Bucks Return-to-Work Trend
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is maintaining a hybrid work policy despite a broader industry trend toward stricter return-to-office (RTO) mandates, reportedly positioning the bank’s flexibility as a competitive recruitment advantage. Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser is planning to keep hybrid work—despite a wider trend across the sector toward a return-to-office.
How to Buy Bitcoin: the 3 Best Ways
Bitcoin has been roaring like never before, achieving all-time highs that would have been unimaginable a decade ago or even in early 2023 when Bitcoin was trading closer to $20,000. Bulls expect the momentum to continue with many predicting Bitcoin will cross the six figure mark before the end of the year. When Bitcoin was created, there was only one way to get it: mine it yourself.
Trump Victory Being Priced In by Wall Street
In campaign field offices across the country, the Presidential Election is very much neck-and-neck, yet on Wall Street it’s a settled matter. “The investor community they’ve been very, very, favoring Trump based on my conversations and based on just a general ambiance,” Interactive Brokers senior economist Jose Torres told Fortune. The market has already started pricing in a Trump victory.
Navient Faces Proposed $120M Settlement, Student Loan Servicing Ban
Navient, one of the largest student loan servicers, faces a potential $120 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) following accusations of widespread student loan misconduct. The CFPB filed a proposed order to permanently ban Navient from servicing federal Direct Loans and from acquiring most Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans. The CFPB said Navient used abusive practices for years.
Record Apartment Construction in 2024, But Slowdown Expected
The U.S. is on track to complete over 500,000 new apartment units this year, marking the highest level of construction in decades. Cities like New York, Dallas, and Austin are at the forefront of the boom, says a new report from RentCafe. “The New York metro area tops the list with 32,935 new units expected this year; Brooklyn alone adding three times more apartments than Manhattan,” RentCafe said in a statement. But Dallas, with 32,932 units expected, is nearly tied with New York.
Banks Withstand Fed's Commercial Real Estate Shock Scenario
Big U.S. banks survived a hypothetical 40% drop in commercial real estate values as a part of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s annual health test, easing fears about the banking sector as landlords struggle in a higher-for-longer interest rate world.
Avoid the Mailbox on the Corner
Think twice about putting a package or letter in a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mailbox or express mail drop box on your local corner. Be sure to tell your clients, too, many of whom may not realize that the days are gone when it was unheard of for mail to be stolen out of large public mailboxes. A good friend of mine who lives in an upscale New York City neighborhood had his rent check stolen out of a mailbox.
Persistent Inflation Pressures Could Delay Fed Action
The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.38% in March, slightly hotter than the consensus forecast and continuing an unsettling trend. Taking out more volatile food and energy prices, the net 3-month annualized core CPI inflation rate is now above 4.5%. More concerning, one of the Federal Reserve’s preferred aggregations within that measure – core services ex shelter – accelerated to 8% on a net 3-month annualized basis.
Housing Prices Rising Fastest in These 5 Cities
BlackRock has been issued a legal warning by the U.S. state of Mississippi over "false and misleading statements to Mississippi investors" tied to its...
Legendary Behavioral Economist Daniel Kahneman Dies at 90
Daniel Kahneman, who never took an economics course but who pioneered a psychologically based branch of that field that led to a Nobel in economic science in 2002, died Wednesday. He was 90. His death was confirmed by his partner, Barbara Tversky. She declined to say where he died. Kahneman, who was long associated with Princeton University and lived in New York City’s Manhattan borough, employed his training as a psychologist to advance what came to be called behavioral economics.
Remote Work Creates 'Black Hole' in U.S. Office Space Demand
Remote work has caused a “black hole” in U.S. office occupancy, knocking demand significantly below pre-pandemic levels and vacancy rates to historic lows, with a recovery to prior usage unlikely for years, said real estate analysis firm Green Street. In addition to the decline in demand due to working from home, the office sector also faces headwinds from companies that are now more cost-conscious with their budgets, the firm said.
Fixed Income Investing and Economic Uncertainty
Soft or no landing? Time will tell, yet knowing how bonds behaved before, during and after prior recessions can inform allocation decisions.
Will Negative Stock-Bond Correlation Reverse?
Negative stock-bond correlations since 1998 were an anomaly versus history. See why we think correlations will revert and what to consider.
Biden Vows To Raise Taxes on Rich
U.S. President Joe Biden laid down some economic dividing lines on Thursday. In his State of the Union address, he vowed to raise taxes on big companies and the super-rich: “I propose the minimum tax for billionaires at 25%, just 25%. You know what that would raise? That would raise $500 billion over the next ten years. And imagine what that could do for America.” Biden proposed a raft of other measures on taxes. This video was provided by Reuters.
Bond Market Outlook 2024: Party Sunny
Why is the 2024 outlook for the bond market shaping up to be positive, at least for some sectors? The Federal Reserve says it expects to cut interest rates this year and bond income is finally above inflation rates. Although the Fed hasn’t given specific timing for cutting rates, many observers view the bond market outlook as positive for 2024.
Will Families Pay Less With Two Students in College? Now, It Depends
For many years, one financial aid principle seemed fair enough: If you had two or more family members in college at the same time, the aid formula would let you take the money you could afford to pay and divide it among the number of people in school. But on Jan. 1, a new federal law went into effect, and the formula changed. A million families with, say, two or more siblings in college simultaneously could pay thousands of dollars more per year as a result.
What’s in the New Tax Deal?
Lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee achieved a feat Jan. 19 after debating something that rarely comes together in an election year: bipartisan tax legislation. Earlier that week, a group of top Republicans and Democrats reached agreement on a $78 billion package that would expand a tax benefit that provides money to parents and restore three popular expired business tax breaks.
FSI Moves for Appeal of New DOL Independent Contractor Rule
The Financial Services Institute is banding together with other groups to ask the courts to allow an appeal of the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest independent contractor rule to move forward. On Jan.
U.N. Seeks Repayment of $63.6 Million Former Official Invested
The United Nations has ordered one of its former officials to repay $63.6 million personally, after he lost a vast amount of U.N. funds by entrusting them to a man he met at a party, according to court filings. The huge financial penalty that the U.N. is seeking to impose on the former official, Vitaly Vanshelboim — once the second-in-command at the U.N.’s logistics agency — is the latest fallout from a scandal that The New York Times first reported last year.
Envestnet Says AUM Fees Have Been Going Up
Phill Rogeson, head of the RIA channel for Envestnet, and his team have noticed a trend that should come as good news for every financial advisor: Assets-under-management fees have been going up. Rogeson spoke to me about the trend at the annual Schwab Impact conference in late October, but it was also mentioned at Envestnet’s fourth annual RIA Forum in September, too.
The Wit and Wisdom of the Late Charlie Munger
Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s witty and sardonic deputy who helped shape the strategy that transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a conglomerate, died on Tuesday at age 99. His humorous one-liners endeared him to thousands of attendees at Berkshire’s annual shareholder meetings, and a generation of corporate America’s executives swear by his investing insights.
A Robust Year for Fixed-Rate Annuities
The year 2023 has proven to be one where many people looking for stable retirement income have embraced fixed-rate and deferred income annuities. According to preliminary results from LIMRA’s U.S. Individual Annuity Sales Survey, total annuity sales increased 21% in the first nine months of 2023.
One State Dominates Top Places to Retire
It may be hard to believe, but one state has seven locations in the top 10 on the 2024 U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Places to Retire Ranking. Nope, it’s not Florida. Drum roll, please! It’s … Pennsylvania! Harrisburg is No. 1 because of its scores on healthcare for seniors, retiree tax rates and overall happiness of its residents. Reading was No. 2. Lancaster, which was No. 1 last year, fell to No. 3. Scranton is No. 4, and Allentown, No. 5. York ranks No. 7 and Pittsburgh, No. 10.
Not Since the 1970s
Although the bond market has recently rebounded a little, 2023 is on pace to be the third consecutive year of negative returns for fixed income. And that performance is remarkable. “Unless you were in the business when Jimmy Carter was president — I was not — you very likely have not seen a bond market like this,” noted State Street’s Allison Bonds, when I spoke with her in late October at the Schwab Impact conference.
An $84 Trillion Opportunity
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series that Rethinking65 is doing on viewpoints of industry leaders who attended the Schwab Impact 2023 conference. There’s a megatrend unfolding in wealth management, one that will continue for the next 20 years or so and presents a massive opportunity for financial advisors, said Manju Boraiah, a senior portfolio manager with Allspring Global Investments.
Financial Planning Recognized in Florida
For financial planner Michael Zmistowski, getting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to recognize October as Financial Planning Month is only a beginning. Zmistowski, a co-founding director of FPA of Florida, said the resolution is so positive and uplifting because it’s not self-serving advocacy, but an effort to improve financial literacy and recognize how financial planning can help improve the lives of Floridians.
Schwab Strategist Bullish on Bonds
Editor’s Note: This Q&A is the first in a series of articles that Rethinking65 is doing on viewpoints of industry leaders who attended the 2023 Schwab Impact conference. Kathy Jones is a Schwab managing director and is responsible for interest rate and currency analysis, as well as fixed-income education for Schwab clients. Before joining Schwab in 2011, she was a fixed-income strategist at Morgan Stanley. Dorothy Hinchcliff: Thanks for meeting with me.
At 104, She Wondered: Could She Skydive Again?
Dorothy Hoffner, born in 1918, had survived both the Spanish flu and COVID pandemics, as well as her first skydiving attempt at age 100. That might explain what was on her mind before her second skydive as she prepared for a roughly 10,000-foot descent. “What are we having for dinner?” she recalled thinking. Hoffner, now 104, had decided sometime in the spring to recapture the feeling of gliding in the air, buoyant, her wavy hair whipped by winds.
Inherited IRA Exceptions and Other Tax Strategies To Help Clients
Consider a widowed client who has an IRA with a $4 million balance as well as a brokerage account. How can you help her minimize taxes for her heirs? Steven Sweeney, CFP, vice president of advanced markets for Allianz, answered that question and others on how to minimize taxes for clients during a presentation on Sept. 28 at the Financial Planning Association’s national conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Since Secure Act 1.0, signed into law by President Donald Trump on Dec.
Financial Planning: Progress But A Long Way To Go
Despite progress over the last 40 years, a panel of industry leaders agreed much more needs to be done to bring financial planning to a lot more people — especially Americans who historically have not had access. They also agreed there needs to be more clarity on who is a financial advisor and what they provide to consumers, although they didn’t agree on how that should happen. The panel, Evolution of the Profession, spoke on Sept.
Estate Planning Questions Every Advisor Should Be Asking
For many people, creating or updating an estate plan is a task that lingers on their to-do list and is treated with a “let’s get this over with” mentality. And when they finally do address it, they put the docs in their file cabinet and cross it off for good. But great advisors know that a great estate plan is a living plan that must be revisited constantly. Estate planning can feel foreign and complex for clients, especially since it involves dense legal language.
Renting More Cost-Effective than Buying in Most Major U.S. Metros
Recent data reveals a shift in the U.S. housing market, with renting now surpassing buying in affordability in all but three of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. According to the August 2023 Monthly Rental Report by Realtor.com, buying a starter home in the top 50 metros averaged a staggering 60.3%, or $1,111, more than renting. Only three of the top 50 U.S. metro areas — Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; and Pittsburgh — favored buying starter homes than renting.
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