Basis Financial Group

🤖 An AI assistant that handles your emails and pays your bills? That sounds pretty convenient.

But how much access are you comfortable giving it?

Personal AI agents are designed to handle tasks on your behalf, sometimes using sensitive information like banking details and email accounts. And while they may save time, some cybersecurity professionals warn that granting them too much access carries risks.

One concern is something called prompt injection, where malicious instructions hidden in a website or email could trick an AI agent into doing something you never authorized.

🔐 A couple of questions worth asking before giving an AI agent access to sensitive information:
▪️What information does it need? Researching products doesn’t necessarily require access to your accounts.
▪️Can it make purchases? There’s a difference between comparing prices and authorizing transactions.

Convenience and privacy don’t always go hand in hand. Reviewing what an agent has done on your behalf may help spot actions you never intended.



Source:

Should you trust personal AI agents with your money and data? Here's what experts say. The more access you give personal AI agents, the more capable they can be. But should you trust them?

Before the Year Ends: Your Financial Planning Checklist ✅

The end of the year is a great time to pause and make sure your financial plan is keeping up with your life.

Before December 31, consider reviewing:

💙 Charitable Giving & Donor-Advised Funds
If charitable giving is part of your plan, review contributions to your donor-advised fund, including whether gifting appreciated investments makes sense for your situation.

🏥 Health Savings Account (HSA)
If you're eligible, review your HSA contributions. For 2026, the contribution limits are $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage.

💰 Traditional & Roth IRAs
Review whether an IRA contribution fits your strategy. The combined 2026 contribution limit for Traditional and Roth IRAs is $7,500, or $8,600 if you're age 50 or older, subject to eligibility and income rules.

📈 Workplace Retirement Plans
Check your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 contributions while there's still time to adjust payroll contributions. The employee deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026, with additional catch-up opportunities for eligible participants.

📉 Investment & Tax Review
Review realized gains and losses, portfolio allocations, concentrated positions, and whether year-end tax planning opportunities may be available.

👨‍👩‍👧 Beneficiaries & Estate Planning
Life changes. Make sure beneficiaries on retirement accounts, insurance policies, and other accounts still reflect your wishes.

🎁 RMDs & Charitable Distributions
If you're subject to Required Minimum Distributions, make sure your distribution requirements have been addressed. For charitably inclined IRA owners age 70½+, a Qualified Charitable Distribution may also be worth discussing. Remember, QCDs cannot be made to donor-advised funds.

Good financial planning isn't just about what your investments earned. It's about making sure all the pieces of your financial life continue working together.

Before the calendar turns, take a little time to review your plan with your financial and tax professionals.

Treasury yields pulled back from their recent highs after a strong auction eased some concerns about demand for government debt.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5.35%, its highest level since 2002, before easing following the Treasury's sale of $39 billion in 10-year notes.

Demand at the auction was stronger than average, particularly from indirect bidders such as global central banks, which accounted for 80.3% of the sale, compared with a 10-auction average of 72.4%.

The broader backdrop is still one of elevated yields, with investors weighing persistent inflation, rising energy prices, and expectations that the Federal Reserve may raise rates again before year-end.

For now, the auction offered a little reassurance that demand for longer-term Treasurys remains strong even as yields sit near multidecade highs.



Source:

10-year Treasury yield backs off from 24-year high after solid bond auction eases demand fears U.S. Treasury yields came off their highs after a solid sale of 10-year notes.

🍂 Fall Festival Fun is Here! 🍂

There’s something special about this time of year... crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and time spent making memories with family and friends.

As the season changes, take a break from the busy pace of life and enjoy all the simple joys that fall has to offer. Whether you're picking pumpkins, navigating a corn maze, sipping hot c***r, or gathering around a bonfire, fall festivals are a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment.

What’s your favorite fall tradition? 🎃🍁

🍂🎃🍎

📊 Did you know that October is National Financial Planning Month?

Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or refining an established strategy, a solid financial roadmap can help you feel more confident about your future. 🗺️

Here are some tips to consider:
✅ Set realistic goals
✅ Track spending & savings
✅ Review insurance & retirement goals

📲 Have questions or need help getting started? Reach out today and let’s get connected!

🏦 Bond yields may sound like something only investors need to watch, but they can also show up in everyday financial decisions.

The 10-year Treasury yield recently climbed to 4.78%, its highest level since January 2025. That matters because movements in Treasury yields can influence borrowing costs across the economy.

🏠 Higher yields may contribute to higher rates on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans. They can also have an upside for savers, since rates on high-yield savings accounts and CDs may rise as well.

So when Treasury yields move, the effects can reach well beyond the bond market.

If you’re borrowing or keeping money in interest-bearing accounts, it may be worth paying attention to where rates are heading and how they’re affecting the options available to you.


Source:

Rising bond yields threaten to push up U.S. borrowing costs. Here's what to know. The U.S. bond market influences how much American consumers pay for loans and the interest they can earn on their savings accounts.

🍁 From crisp mornings to cozy sweaters and pumpkin-spiced everything, this is the perfect season to reflect on your financial strategy. Whether you're savoring the autumn air or tackling your Q4 goals, take a moment to enjoy all the little things that make fall feel so special. ✨

Let the fall vibes fuel your focus and inspiration! Feeling inspired already?

The best time to plan for your future is today.

Financial confidence doesn't happen by chance. It comes from having a strategy, staying committed, and making informed decisions along the way. If you're wondering whether you're on the right track, now is a great time to review your plan and make sure your future goals remain within reach.

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.


Source:

Gen Xers fret over the future of Social Security. "I will likely be working in retirement." Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

Happy Labor Day! 🛠️
Today, we take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hard work of individuals across the nation.

Whether you're relaxing at home or enjoying a well-deserved day off, I hope you're able to recharge and enjoy this special day.

Please keep in mind that Basis Financial Group office will be closed today, but we will be back open tomorrow!

To the builders, creators, and doers: Happy Labor Day!