Love Insurance and Financial Services, Inc.

Investors are anxious, and with good reason. The unsettling events in the Middle East are dominating the headlines, which can put even the most seasoned investor on edge. Will the number of corrections for the S&P 500 increase to 27 this year?

What’s the smallest piece of your data that could cause the biggest problem if exposed? 🔐

Why January 28?
Data Privacy Day commemorates the Council of Europe’s Convention 108, which was opened for signature on January 28, 1981, marking the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.

For Individuals:
● Review privacy settings on social platforms, apps, and devices
● Consider turning on multi-factor authentication when available
● Update software and browsers
● Replace weak or reused passwords; consider a password manager

For Businesses:
● Revisit data privacy policies and access controls (least privilege)
● Refresh employee training on phishing and social engineering
● Validate vendor/third-party data practices and breach response steps
● Log and minimize the sensitive data you collect

For Everyone:
● Talk with family about the value of personal information and the risks of oversharing—come up with a “safe word”
● Agree on household norms for passwords, app permissions, and updates

Make security a daily practice—not a once-a-year project.

2025 wasn't just another year; it rewrote the rules for tax, estate, and investment strategies.

If you haven't reviewed your approaches since July, you're potentially leaving money on the table (or perhaps exposed to unnecessary risk).

Here’s What Changed: Tax Reform Got Real

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made sweeping changes, including:

→ $15 million estate exemption per person ($30 million per couple)
→ Expanded State and Local Tax deduction to $40,000 (through 2029)
→ New $6,000 senior bonus deduction for those 65+
→ First-ever auto loan interest deduction up to $10,000

But here's the catch: Many of these provisions are temporary and set to expire in the coming years.

Markets Recovered—Then Rallied. Remember "Liberation Day" on April 2? The S&P 500 dropped following the tariff news. It then recovered within a month and continued to climb through the year. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Why 2026 Is Critical:
The elevated estate exemption is labeled "permanent," but we all know tax laws change. For families with significant wealth, this is a window, not a guarantee.

Families who act early to align their tax, estate, and investment strategies with the new landscape will be positioned for decades of advantage.

Have you reviewed your strategy since these changes took effect?

📋 Work with your tax, legal, and accounting professionals before making any changes due to the new tax law. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged index that is considered representative of the overall U.S. stock market. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.