1. Earnings Reports & Is Funflation Over? 2. Jeopardy Recap | “Who Is…” 3. Annex’s Veterans On Staff. 4. Join Us! Annex University | Medicare Basics Webinar. 5. 60/40 Portfolio | …More Than The Fundamentals? | Employer Contributions & Savings Goals | Ask Us A Question!   6. Business Transitions. 7. Homes For Our Troops.

Special Recognition

Annex Wealth Management’s President and CEO Dave Spano was presented with The Seven Seals Award on Friday at our Elm Grove office!

The Seven Seals Award is the broadest and most inclusive award given by Employer Support Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and recognizes significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission to develop and promote supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws.

We thank Bob Strange, ESGR Employer Outreach Director, and Jim Malcolm, state chair for ESGR, for coming to our office to present Dave with this award.

Continuing to show his support for veterans, Dave in turn presented ESGR with a donation to Operation Finally Home, an organization that builds homes for veterans and first responders.

Click here to learn more about the Seven Seals Award

Click here to learn more about Operation Finally Home

1 | Week In Review

Annex strongly believes in frequent and meaningful communication. 

Each Friday after market close, our experts record the “Week In Review”- exclusive insights to help you stay on top of the latest financial news. 

Earnings Reports & Is Funflation Over?

The mood of the markets has certainly changed. Are consumers beginning to tighten their belts? Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen discuss.

2 | Jeopardy Recap

Find out how your response from last week’s Jeopardy clue, “During 2023 This Artist Holds The Record For Most Expensive Concert Ticket”, compared to those within the Annex community. 

• • • • 15% Who Is Beyonce? 
      • 8% Who Is Bruce Springsteen? 
      • 73% Who Is Taylor Swift? 
      • 4% Who Is Maroon 5?  

73% of you would’ve made Alex Trebek proud with the correct response of Taylor Swift! Regardless of your music choice or NFL team you follow, the numbers don’t lie, Taylor Swift’s ongoing The Eras Tour came in as the most expensive concert ticket at $14,000… yes, 3 zeros! An article in the Wall Street Journal recently highlighted the rising cost of live entertainment in 2023 including concerts, live sporting events and theme-park visits.  

Nearly 60% of Americans report having to cut back on live entertainment this year because of rising costs. In 2022 the cost of admission and fees increased more rapidly than the prices of food, gas and other staples and they don’t appear to be slowing down. Americans are on track to spend almost $95 billion in 2023 on tickets to spectator entertainment including movies, live entertainment & sporting events, up 23% from 2022.  

Live music specifically has faced “supercharged” increases in ticket prices due to strong demand from consumers who are willing to belly up and pay. Music executives credit the marketing power of social media and the globalization of pop music complements of streaming services available for the increase. Record attendance is being set everywhere and everything’s sold out. 

Some speculate families are using money saved during the pandemic (by not attending events) to afford the increase in costs to attend memorable performances, but how long will the funds last? The startling rise in rates to have fun has triggered a phenomenon analysts have dubbed “funflation.” You can now officially add the term “funflation” to your vocabulary (Source). 

3 | Did You Know?

Behind the scenes information to help you get to know more about Annex Wealth Management. 

Did you know Annex has multiple Veterans on our staff? As we celebrate Veteran’s Day, Annex would like to thank our Veterans we have on staff: 

Kent Halleen 

• • USMC, Sergeant, Infantry 

Brandon Lehman  

• • Army Reserves, Captain, Civil Affairs 

Alex Suarez 

• • Army Reserves, 2nd Lieutenant, Military Police  

Brady Michaelis 

• • Army National Guard, 2nd Lieutenant, Engineer Corps  

Jon Friedl 

• • Army National Guard, Specialist, Engineer Corps 

Those who live in freedom will always be grateful to those who helped preserve it.  

Thank you, Veterans.  

4 | Client Exclusive

Tips, strategies & information written exclusively for Annex clients. 

JOIN US! Annex University | Medicare Basics Webinar

Expand your knowledge with this Annex University webinar. 

We’ll help you:

• • •  Understand your healthcare needs as you reach Medicare age
    •  Approach Medicare enrollment with confidence
    • Navigate Medicare’s complicated rules and deadlines

Thursday, November 16, 2023 
1:00PM – 2:00PM CST | 2:00PM – 3:00PM EST 

5 | Ask Annex

Each week, members of the Annex Wealth Management team answer your questions about investing, money and the economy. 

6 | What’s Playing?

Broadcasts from our radio shows and videos from our YouTube channel to educate on comprehensive wealth management planning, including investment, estate, tax & retirement planning.  

Uniquely equipped to discuss this is Brandon Lehman, CFP®, AIF®, Director of Annex Private Client and Amy Kiiskila, JD, CFP®, CPA, CLU®, Wealth Strategist & Estate Planning Attorney at Annex Wealth Management.

7 | Annex In Action

The Annex team regularly seeks out opportunities to support and participate in events throughout the community.   

Homes For Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post- 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives.

Most of these veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

The Annex Wealth Management SWOT Podcast

Each week, members of the Annex Wealth Management Investment Team discuss the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the markets and economy. Go deep and listen to the team talk through what’s helping guide their decisions. 

Annex Exclusive

“Tax Planning In Uncertain Times” reviews several key strategies for the remainder of 2023 & upcoming in 2024, and if they’ve changed from last year. 

Graphonomics

3 Graphs that will help you make sense of the economy.

Events & Webinars

 Annex Wealth Management provides free workshops, open to the public, on key wealth management topics.