Have you ever fallen victim to a RAT attack? No, not the furry kind, a Remote Access Trojan attack.

I'm discussing how cybercriminals use social engineering to target victims, and the real-world impact these threats can have on your investment accounts and personal information. I reveal the latest tactics scammers use, and, most importantly, offer practical tips to help you recognize warning signs, safeguard your accounts, and minimize your risk, whether you're an individual managing your retirement nest egg or a business owner overseeing company assets.

• [00:00] What is a RAT attack?
• [02:45] Avoid clicking unknown links.
• [06:28] Preventing fraud through active monitoring.
• [09:44] Enhancing network security strategies.
• [10:48] Tips for staying secure online.

There are an estimated 2,200 cyberattacks every day, or one every 39 seconds. Global financial damages from cybercrime are projected to rise from $9.5 trillion (2024) to an estimated $10.5 trillion in 2025. It's no longer a matter of if, but when, the next attack will happen.

Most RAT attacks begin with "social engineering", that is, psychological manipulation designed to get you to act against your best interest. This can look like an email or text from what appears to be a trusted company (think Schwab, Amazon, or EZ Pass), urging you to click a link or download an attachment.

Do not click these links or download unknown files, even if the message creates a sense of urgency or familiarity. Even a simple PDF can be the Trojan horse that installs malware without you noticing.

Once delivered, the RAT malware quietly installs itself, evading your detection. It can come bundled with software downloads, or even through "drive-by" downloads, just visiting a compromised website can infect your device without any clicking at all.

Recently, cybercriminals hacked a client's phone and attempted to transfer money from their investment account. Because my team actively monitors accounts and receives real-time alerts from Schwab, we caught the fraudulent activity before funds were lost. But not everyone is so lucky, if hackers compromise your credentials and accounts aren't closely watched, money could be transferred out, leaving you to face a lengthy investigation to recover your hard-earned savings.

Most successful attacks don't involve sophisticated hacking, they leverage human error. Train yourself (and if you're a business owner, your staff) to recognize phishing emails and suspicious texts. Verify unexpected requests directly with the company, never through the provided links.

Implement "least privilege" access, using strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication for every account. For investment platforms and email, enable notifications for any account activity, so you're alerted instantly to suspicious changes.

Secure remote connections with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi. If you must work remotely, use your cell phone's secure hotspot rather than free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop. And never log on to bank or brokerage accounts on shared or public networks.

Constant vigilance is your shield. Regularly monitor account activity and set up a system of alerts. Layer your security by combining access controls, firewalls, and regular updates. Always verify new contacts or software installations, adopt a "zero trust" mindset: trust, but always verify.

Stay One Step Ahead

No single solution can prevent all RAT attacks, but a combination of awareness, good digital habits, and layered security makes a world of difference. Being informed is your best defense. Activate two-factor authentication, review your notifications and account alerts, and approach every digital interaction with a healthy dose of skepticism.

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Download my entire book for FREE

www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

A listener recently wrote in with a common and important retirement planning question: If I'm already maxing out my 401(k), can I also contribute to a traditional IRA in the same year? The short answer is yes—but whether it makes sense, and how much benefit you receive, depends on your income, tax situation, and long-term goals.

In this episode, I break down how traditional IRA contributions work alongside employer-sponsored retirement plans, when those contributions are deductible, and what options are available if your income is too high for a deduction. We also explore alternative strategies, including Roth IRA contributions and backdoor Roth conversions, so you can decide how best to use your annual IRA "coupon."

This episode is especially helpful if you're trying to balance tax savings today with tax flexibility in retirement and want to avoid common mistakes that can complicate your plan later.

[00:00] Whether you can contribute to a 401(k) and IRA in the same tax year
[01:55] The tax-deferral benefits of contributing to a traditional IRA
[03:55] When a traditional IRA contribution is tax deductible
[05:00] Income limits that affect IRA deductions
[07:00] Using non-deductible IRA contributions correctly
[10:00] Roth IRA contribution limits and income phaseouts
[11:45] How a backdoor Roth IRA strategy works
[13:30] Choosing the right IRA strategy for your situation

Even if you are already maxing out your 401(k), contributing to a traditional IRA can provide additional tax advantages. The primary benefit is tax deferral. Dividends, interest, and capital gains generated inside an IRA are not taxed in the year they occur. Instead, taxes are deferred until you withdraw the money, potentially years or even decades later.

This can be especially powerful if you do not need the money right away. With required minimum distributions now starting at age 73—and increasing to age 75 for those born in 1960 or later—many investors have a long runway for tax-deferred growth.

Whether your traditional IRA contribution is deductible depends on two main factors: whether you or your spouse are covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, and your adjusted gross income (AGI). Coverage includes plans such as a 401(k), 403(b), 457, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, or pension plan.

For 2026, married couples filing jointly can fully deduct a traditional IRA contribution if their AGI is below $129,000, with deductions phasing out completely by $149,000. For single filers, the full deduction applies below $81,000 and phases out by $91,000. If neither spouse is covered by a workplace plan, the contribution is fully deductible regardless of income.

If your income is too high to deduct a traditional IRA contribution, you still have options. One approach is making a non-deductible IRA contribution. While this does not provide a tax deduction upfront, your investments can still grow tax deferred. However, this strategy requires careful recordkeeping to properly track taxable and non-taxable portions when withdrawals begin.

Another option is contributing to a Roth IRA, if your income falls within Roth contribution limits. Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals, making them attractive for long-term planning. For those whose income exceeds Roth limits, a backdoor Roth IRA may be an option, provided there are no other pre-tax IRA balances that would trigger pro-rata taxation.

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Download my entire book for FREE

Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management

www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

Last week, we covered the best investments to preserve your money, but this week we are shifting gears to focus on growth. For retirees, the goal is to have an income that outpaces inflation, and historically, the best way to achieve that is by having 50% to 70% of your portfolio invested in stock funds.

In this episode, I break down five specific Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that can help you grow your wealth in 2026. I discuss why I prefer ETFs over mutual funds, specifically focusing on cost, transparency, and liquidity, and provide the exact ticker symbols and expense ratios for the funds I use with my own clients to build diversified, growth-oriented portfolios.

If you are willing to accept some volatility to achieve higher long-term returns, this episode provides a blueprint for structuring the equity side of your retirement plan.

• [00:00] Top 5 Growth ETFs to Own For 2026.
• [02:55] Why ETFs are superior to mutual funds.
• [05:23] The core holding: S&P 500 ETF.
• [09:28] Capturing extra growth with SPYG.
• [06:33] Small Cap stocks and the profitability factor.
• [13:38] Investing in the Developed World ex-US.
• [15:43] High growth potential in Emerging Markets.

Before diving into specific funds, it is important to understand why Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are often a better choice than traditional mutual funds. I prefer them for four main reasons:

• Cost: ETFs often have significantly lower expense ratios, some less than a tenth of a percent, compared to actively managed funds that can charge up to 2%.
• Performance: Many active funds struggle to outperform their benchmarks over time.
• Transparency: You can see exactly what an ETF holds, whereas mutual funds may only report holdings twice a year.
• Liquidity: You can trade ETFs throughout the day while the market is open, rather than waiting for the market close price required by mutual funds.

For the core of a growth portfolio, I look to the S&P 500, which has averaged a 15% return over the last five years.

• State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM/SPSM): This fund tracks the S&P 500 but was created to offer a lower cost (0.02% expense ratio) compared to the original SPY ETF. It is a massive fund with over $100 billion in assets, heavily weighted toward large technology companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft.
• S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG): If you want to lean more aggressively into growth, this fund tracks S&P 500 companies with high sales growth and momentum. It has a 3-year average return of 29% and a very low expense ratio of 0.04%.

While the S&P 500 is dominant, it has had "lost decades" in the past where returns were negative. To diversify, I recommend the S&P 600 Small Cap ETF.

• Unlike the Russell 2000, the S&P 600 index requires companies to be profitable, which filters out lower-quality stocks.
• Although it has lagged recently, small caps may be poised for a comeback due to economic shifts and tariffs. The expense ratio for this fund is just 0.03%.

The US has outperformed international markets recently, but that trend could reverse.

• Developed World ex-US (SPDW): This fund invests in developed economies like Japan, the UK, and Canada. It offers exposure to major global players like Samsung and AstraZeneca with a low expense ratio of 0.03%.
• Emerging Markets (SPEM): For higher potential growth, this fund targets countries with rapidly growing GDPs, such as China, Taiwan, and India. These economies have a growing middle class, which can drive corporate earnings. The fund holds major companies like Taiwan Semiconductor and Alibaba.

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Download my entire book for FREE

www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

529 college savings plans are a favorite tool for families looking to fund education, but recent updates have made them even more compelling. With the passing of the One Big Beautiful Tax Act in 2025, there have been some exciting changes to what you can use 529 funds for, including expanded coverage for K-12 tuition, test fees, vocational programs, and support for learning differences.

I also discuss the various tax advantages of contributing to a 529 plan, like state tax deductions, tax-deferred growth, and even the ability to roll leftover funds into a Roth IRA for your child. He offers real-life examples, highlights differences across state plans, and gives practical tips on maximizing your savings and tax benefits as the year wraps up.

If you're looking to make the most out of your child or grandchild's future education while being smart about your finances, this episode is packed with must-know information.

• [00:00] 529 Plan updates and expansions.
• [06:48] 529 Plans: taxes and benefits.
• [08:02] 529 Plan tax-free growth.
• [09:55] Investment considerations for 529 plans.
• [13:49] New rules on 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers.

Most people know 529 plans are great for covering college tuition, room and board, and required fees. The One Big Beautiful Tax Act of 2025 has expanded what 529 distributions can cover, opening up a wider range of education-related expenses, including much earlier in a student's academic journey.

Newly Eligible Expenses:

• K-12 Tuition: The annual limit for K-12 tuition expenses jumps from $10,000 to $20,000 in 2026.
• Test Fees and Credentialing: You can now use 529 funds to pay for standardized testing, college entry exams, and vocational credentialing programs.
• Homeschool & Specialized Support: Structured homeschool curricula, academic tutoring, therapies, and materials for diagnosed learning differences (including ADHD) are now eligible.
• Apprenticeships & Educational Equipment: Costs for apprenticeship programs and special technology or learning tools can now be covered.

However, there are still some limitations: transportation, school-purchased health insurance, and extracurricular activity fees remain ineligible.

The state tax deduction is a unique benefit offered by many states for 529 contributions, but often families overlook this: over 30 states offer a tax break, but the rules vary. In Connecticut, for example, you can deduct up to $5,000 per person or $10,000 per couple from your state taxable income. You must usually contribute to your own state's plan (though states like Arizona, Kansas, and Pennsylvania allow deductions for out-of-state plans). Be mindful of year-end deadlines, contributions must be made by December 31st to claim the deduction for that year. Even if your state benefit is modest, it's essentially "free money" for doing something you're likely planning anyway.

529 plans now offer more flexibility, even if the intended student doesn't use all the funds for education.

• Student Loan Repayments: Up to $10,000 (lifetime) per beneficiary can be used to pay down qualified student loans, helping recent grads reduce their debt burden.
• Roth IRA Rollovers: As of recent law, up to $35,000 can be rolled from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, provided the 529 is at least 15 years old, the money isn't a recent contribution, and the beneficiary has earned income. This can be an incredible jumpstart for retirement savings if college funds aren't fully used.

All 529 plans are not created equal. Look for low-cost, direct-sold plans rather than advisor-sold plans that carry extra commissions. Every dollar saved on fees is another dollar that can grow tax-free in your account.

• Retirement Readiness Review
• Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel
• Download my entire book for FREE
• Fidelity Investments

www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact

Subscribe to Retire With Ryan