2026 Newsletter — Volume 2
Smart spending today, stronger retirement tomorrow¹
After a stressful day, buying a little treat can help you wind down. But when spending becomes your go-to way to manage emotions, it can affect your financial well-being. Emotional spending happens when unnecessary purchases are driven by feelings like stress, boredom or even excitement.
Over time, this habit can make it harder to stick to a retirement savings plan or manage your income in retirement. Common signs include spending beyond your budget, avoiding money conversations or shopping more during stressful periods.
The good news is that it's manageable. Start by identifying your spending triggers, setting a clear budget and taking time to reflect before making purchases. You might also want to consider removing your payment information from shopping websites and limiting your credit card use.
Stay on track: Why facing your finances matters²
While some people turn to spending when emotions run high, others respond by avoiding their finances altogether. This behavior, known as money avoidance, occurs when individuals ignore financial tasks like reviewing their accounts, paying bills or discussing money concerns.
Although avoidance can provide temporary relief, it often leads to bigger challenges over time, especially for those planning or living in retirement. Missed payments, unclear spending patterns and a lack of planning can impact your long-term financial security.
If you find yourself procrastinating or feeling anxious about financial decisions, you're not alone. Small steps can make a meaningful difference. Try setting aside a few minutes each week to review accounts, create a simple budget or talk through your goals with a trusted partner or advisor.
Facing your finances with patience and consistency can help reduce stress and build confidence — helping you stay on track toward a more secure retirement.
Invest with confidence: Overcome common biases³
Emotional spending and money avoidance both highlight an important truth: Our financial decisions are influenced by more than numbers. In investing, these influences are known as behavioral biases: the mental shortcuts that shape how we react to market events.
For example, herd behavior may lead investors to follow popular trends, while loss aversion can make it difficult to move on from underperforming investments. Confirmation bias may cause us to favor information that supports our views, while recency bias puts too much weight on recent market activity.
Over time, these patterns can impact retirement savings and overall investment performance. The good news is that awareness is a powerful first step. By taking time to evaluate choices, focusing on long-term goals and following a consistent investment strategy, you can reduce the influence of these biases on your decision-making.
Take the next step: Log in to BenefitsForYou to review your account, check your investment choices and make sure your strategy supports your long-term retirement goals.