After @Mike Milligan weekly calls recently, I wanted to pull some more data to further drive home the point that not only in LinkedIn your digital business card it's the future of your business: 1. THE STAGE IS EMPTY — AND THAT'S YOUR EDGE Only 1% of LinkedIn's 1.3 billion members post content weekly. That 1% generates 9 billion impressions every single week. 99% of your competition is completely silent. If you're posting consistently, you're already winning before you say a word. 2. THE AUDIENCE IS ALREADY THERE - 62% of HNW individuals are on LinkedIn weekly - 50%+ of Americans with $100K+ portfolios are active on LinkedIn - 52% of advisors say being connected on LinkedIn makes it MORE likely they'll do business with someone - 23% of Gen Z won't even consider an advisor without a social media presence The people you want to reach are scrolling right now. The question is whether they're seeing YOU. 3. THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE - 86% of advisors who use social media gained new clients from it - Advisors with a content strategy generate 168% more leads/month and onboard 50% more clients/year - The most successful advisors post ~35x per month — roughly daily - Carousel posts get 596% more engagement than plain text - One advisor tracked $7,840 in new revenue per post Posting content is like running a referral engine 24/7 without picking up the phone. The data is clear. The tools are free. The audience is there. Sources - Broadridge 2024 Financial Advisor Marketing Trends Report → info.advisorstream.com - Putnam Investments: Social Media for Advisors Study → napa-net.org - Forbes: How to Generate $50K in Leads Weekly by Posting on LinkedIn → forbes.com - Buffer: 26 LinkedIn Statistics to Know for 2026 → buffer.com/resources

3 year FIA with great first year FIXED rate. This is a great solution for: --CD's maturing --Money that is not needed except in absolute life emergency --Money needed later And, 6.75% fixed will not last forever. https://vimeo.com/1170779136/05f9b3e427

The world is rapidly changing with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence tools and software. The take away I had from this conversation is : what tools can I implement over the next month to do my work at a higher level and save time in doing so. The next two years will separate the champion advisors from those doing the bare minimum using outdated approaches to solutions.

1. oak Financial launched in 2025 as the next generation of "Ideas by Mike". Ideas by Mike, a dynamic financial planning and insurance agency, is a vision of Mike to create a unique next generation financial firm. I have added my lessons on the growth from Ideas by Mike to 1. oak Financial so you can see what is in front of you in the coming years. For those looking to be members of 1. oak Collective, watch the video below about what is included and comment "meet" below to schedule a time with our client success team and/or comment year you got in the business and one big goal for the next 12 weeks!

The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 — slightly higher than last year’s 2.5% increase. This change will affect nearly 75 million Americans, including retirees and those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Starting January 2026, the average Social Security benefit will rise by about $56 per month, bringing the average monthly payment to approximately $2,071. Married couples will see their combined benefit increase by an average of $88 a month.​ The COLA is designed to help retirees keep pace with inflation. While it’s a welcome increase for many, it’s important to note that the rise in living costs and Medicare premiums could offset much of the gain. AARP research shows that more than three-quarters of older Americans still feel these modest adjustments don’t fully cover real-world inflation, which continues to impact essential goods and healthcare costs.​ In addition to benefit increases, some key thresholds are also changing in 2026: - The maximum taxable earnings limit will rise from $176,100 to $184,500, meaning higher-income earners will contribute slightly more in payroll tax. - The maximum monthly benefit for new retirees claiming at full retirement age will climb to around $3,827, up from $3,822.​ For financial advisors, this update serves as both a planning checkpoint and a client communication opportunity. Now is the time to review Social Security strategies: - Reassess claiming decisions based on updated benefits. - Coordinate tax-efficient income strategies around the new taxable maximum. - Evaluate how inflation-adjusted benefits interact with Roth conversions, pensions, and portfolio withdrawals. Social Security remains a foundational element of retirement income — but as COLA adjustments remind us each year, relying on it alone may not be enough to keep up with inflation. A diversified, intentional income plan that integrates Social Security, tax planning, and investments remains the best path to long-term financial independence.