ALTIUS Financial's Empowered Future Report Newsletter

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July 30, 2026

Financial Freedom in an Age of Broken Promises

What Social Security's warning signs mean for planning, portfolios, and independence

Last month, we focused on the American abundance story — the productive engine that makes financial freedom possible. This month, we turn to the other side of the coin: what happens when political promises grow faster than the productive base needed to support them?

This is exactly why our work at ALTIUS is built around helping clients defend and grow their assets, making thoughtful/proactive decisions, and pursue financial freedom with eyes wide open.

A recent Wall Street Journal article on Social Security carried a blunt message: the problem is not just coming someday. It is already here. That is not a reason to panic; it is reason to plan seriously and recognize that reform cannot be avoided forever.

The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund will be depleted in Q4 of 2032. At that point, incoming revenue would be enough to pay only 78% of benefits. The combined retirement and disability trust funds are projected to last only until 2034.

Quote of the Day

“No Government, whatever its political complexion, can suspend the laws of arithmetic or run away from reality.”

– Margaret Thatcher

2026 EVENTS

Sept 2 – Q3 Workshop
Nov 17 – Q4 Workshop
Dec 3 – Holiday Party

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE

Financial Freedom in an Age of Broken Promises
Taylor’s Take: Things are Heating Up at the Fed
Jenn's Jangle: What We Mean When We Ask You to Update Us
If you missed it, check out our Road to Independence Read & Watch List Archive
Krescent's Recommendation: Take a Colorado Day
250 Years Later: Supporting Financial Freedom

Social Security isn’t likely to disappear. But it is also imprudent to treat scheduled benefits as risk-free. For decades, Americans were encouraged to build retirement plans around a government promise. Many did exactly that. They worked, paid taxes, saved what they could, and planned around a benefit formula they were told they could rely on. They should not be blamed for that.

But we must be honest: Social Security is not savings or ownership. It is a transfer system in which current workers fund current retirees. That creates real moral and financial tension, especially for younger generations who face higher taxes, lower future benefits, or both.

So, what do we do? We do not panic. We plan. That means stress-testing assumptions, taxes, inflation, longevity, and policy risk. A simple question helps: if projected benefits were reduced by 20%–25%, would the plan still work? If not, we want to know now — while there is time to adjust. At ALTIUS, we are focused on being proactive and determining those adjustments for our clients.

This kind of stress testing naturally connects to portfolio construction. Next month, I will continue this theme by discussing what a resilient retirement portfolio should look like. You'll also see a new addition to your client meeting agendas designed to give you a better idea of your own Social Security resilience in the coming years. Financial freedom means building enough ownership, flexibility, and resilience that your life does not depend on political promises being kept.

Check out our recent Capitalize Your Fridays Podcast episode: Social Security Resilience Planning

Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Social Security Resilience Planning Podcast

Taylor's Take: Things are Heating Up at the Fed

With Summer in full swing, the temperature is heating up & so is the Federal Reserve. This May, Kevin Warsh replaced Jerome Powell as Chair of the Federal Reserve. While many of us thought that Trump selected this individual to be someone that he can sway to cut interest rates, that may not be the case. Warsh has already claimed he plans to pull back on the Fed market signaling (or “dot plot”) and has hinted at raising rates in the next quarter. This week the Federal Open Market Committee, FMOC, confirmed we will keep the federal funds rate at 3.5-3.75% with a target inflation rate of 2%. It’s worth noting that those who voted against the FMOC fed funds rate actually voted to raise it by .25%.

What does this mean for clients and investors? In the short-term, we have stable interest rates that will likely raise with time. This also means facing the trade- off of increased yields on fixed-income investments, but higher borrowing costs (mortgage, personal loans, business loans...). With Warsh not wanting to provide forward guidance on Fed moves we face uncertainty on his next steps. Uncertainty could mean we see more short-term market volatility following Fed meetings.

Overall, we want to remind clients that we are thinking long-term and that economic fundamentals mean more to your investment strategy than who is elected for any political position.

Jenn's Jangle: What We Mean When We Ask You to Update Us

When we ask you to keep us updated, we’re not just trying to keep our records tidy. Small changes in your life can have a surprisingly big impact on your financial plan. A new job, retirement date, move, marriage, divorce, birth of a grandchild, inheritance, major purchase (or even a change in how you’re thinking about the next few years) may affect planning decisions or how Mike and Taylor manage your portfolio.

And sometimes the important updates are even simpler: a new phone number or email address, an outdated beneficiary, a new bank account, or a trusted contact who should be added to your records. We don’t necessarily expect you to know which changes matter financially. That’s our job. We’d much rather hear about something and decide it doesn’t require any action than discover later that it did. But the bigger goal is to keep your financial plan catered to you, your needs, and your life.

So, when life changes, even a little, keep us in the loop.

The Road to Independence

Freedom = Financial Freedom

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, ALTIUS explored freedom-inspired ideas in our Road to Independence campaign. In this spirit, we curated a list of works to Read & Watch, enriching the connections between our nation's independence and one's financial freedom. If you missed our Road to Independence Read & Watch List or want to find anything we recommended, check out our Road to Independence Archive:

Our Road to Independence Archive

Krescent's Recommendation: Take a Colorado Day

Over the past several months, our Road to Independence series has explored how freedom and financial freedom connect. The ability to choose how we spend our time, pursue meaningful work, and build the life we want is one of the greatest benefits of financial independence. As Colorado celebrates its 150th anniversary on this Saturday, August 1st, I'd like to leave you with one more recommendation:

Take a Colorado Day.

Just one intentional day to appreciate the place so many of us are fortunate to call home. Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains. Pack a picnic and spend an afternoon beside an alpine lake. Explore the geological wonders of Fossil Beds, Paint Mines, or Red Rocks. Read up on the history of Colorado mining or the ancient cultures and their dwellings. Wander through a mountain town you've never explored or come see me in Georgetown. :)

At ALTIUS, we spend a great deal of time helping clients prepare for the future. But the future isn't the only reason we plan. Financial freedom isn't just about reaching retirement or accumulating wealth. It's about having the flexibility to spend a Tuesday morning on a trail, an afternoon beside a lake, or an evening watching the sunset, without feeling rushed to be somewhere else or worrying about what’s coming next. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves isn't another accomplishment, it's the opportunity to slow down long enough to be present.

I know not all of you live in Colorado, so the recommendation is the same. Take a day to explore the place you call home. Visit a nearby park, beach, forest, or scenic overlook. Find a favorite local café. Walk a trail you've never taken before. Find something or someone worth slowing down for.

Colorado's story has always been one of people drawn by possibility: first by opportunity, and later by the mountains, rivers, and remarkable quality of life. One hundred and fifty years later, I think the best way to celebrate the Centennial State is by stepping outside and experiencing it. Take a picture of your Colorado day and send it in to us, we’d love to see what you do!

250 Years Later: Supporting Financial Freedom

As we approached the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence last month, Mike reflected each month on the enduring spirit of liberty that drove real people to risk everything—not the slogans or stagecraft we often see today, but as a lived commitment to self-determination, dignity, and financial freedom. That same spirit continues to shape our values and the work we do at ALTIUS.

250 years ago, America’s independence was not secured by one person or one colony acting alone. After the Declaration, people had to stand together, support one another, and build a future around the idea of freedom.

In that same spirit, we want to thank everyone who joined us for our recent Client Appreciation Party and helped us celebrate Freedom = Financial Freedom. We are fortunate to work with amazing clients from across Colorado and the U.S., and we know no single location is convenient for everyone. We are especially thankful to those who traveled to celebrate with us and make the evening so memorable.

We are grateful for your presence and the continued trust you place in our team. If you have friends, family members, or colleagues who are looking for thoughtful guidance around financial freedom, planning, and long-term stewardship, we would be honored to help. If you missed our client appreciation event, we look forward to celebrating with you at an upcoming workshop or at our Holiday Client Appreciation Party later this year.

We hope you will join us for our upcoming Q3 Workshop on Wednesday, September 2nd at 6pm on Zoom. RSVP today!

Freedom begins with ownership—of your choices, your money, and your future.

Michael Williams Signature
Michael Williams, CFP
ALTIUS Financial, Inc.
michael@altiusfinancial.com
303-584-9271

* The views expressed represent the opinion of ALTIUS Financial, Inc. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While ALTIUS Financial, Inc. believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and ALTIUS Financial, Inc.'s view as of the time of these statements. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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