Republicans in the House have unveiled legislation to extend government funding through Nov. 21, excluding provisions addressing health care costs that had been sought by Democrats. The legislation could get a vote in the House by Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has suggested that he would prefer that the upper chamber also consider the bill this week.

Panelists at a LIMRA conference projected that annuity sales could double by the end of 2030, with favorable demographic trends helping drive growth in the sector. Bryan Hodgens of LIMRA Research notes that stock market volatility in recent years has been accompanied by "flight to protection, and this flight to annuities."

The Federal Reserve concludes its policy meeting today, and markets expect officials to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point, responding to recent softness in the labor market. Investors will be watching quarterly economic projections and other signs about the potential path of future monetary policy. Major stock indexes moved downward on Tuesday, when the meeting got underway.

The average US credit score has dropped for the second consecutive year, falling from 717 in 2024 to 715 in 2025, according to a report by FICO. The decline may be related in part to elevated interest rates, inflation and the resumption of federal student loan delinquency reporting.

A J.P. Morgan Wealth Management white paper highlights the use of pet trusts in estate planning, noting that these vehicles may provide peace of mind that furry friends will be taken care of. "Consider potential future expenses and inflation when setting the trust amount," the report notes. "Do you want to put the full amount into the trust, or will you rely on asset growth to fund some of the expenses?"

Reps. Seth Magaziner and Ron Estes have introduced the Unclaimed Retirement Rescue Act, which aims to help workers recover unclaimed retirement benefits. The legislation would allow retirement plan administrators to transfer unclaimed distributions to state unclaimed property programs and would call for states to update the Labor Department's Retirement Savings Lost and Found database.

The SECURE Act has significantly changed inherited IRA planning, requiring most nonspouse beneficiaries to distribute assets within 10 years. Debbie Taylor of Carson Group outlines a five-step process for segmenting clients and helping them address the issues they may be facing.

Naming beneficiaries is a crucial and sometimes overlooked part of estate planning, helping ensure that assets are distributed without going through probate. Financial advisors emphasize the importance of regularly updating designations, especially after major life events, and to avoid common pitfalls such as failing to name contingent beneficiaries.

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