Validus Financial Associates PLLC

When markets are noisy, consistency matters more than ever.

Recent data shows investors are continuing to contribute to retirement accounts at record levels—an approach that can strengthen long-term outcomes.

Dive into the full article for key insights and takeaways.⬇️

Retirement Savings Rate Reaches All-Time High Retirement investors didn't let inflation or market volatility deter them from socking away a record average of 9.6% of their pay in the beginning of 2026. The average employer match was 4.8%, leading to a combined record 14.4% savings rate in 401(k) plans.

"The best piece of advice I've ever received is to save a lot in your 401K! It definitely helps for Retirement!

If I was to give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to just enjoy everyday because you only live once! Don’t get caught up in all the bad things that happen around us! And Save for the future! Ok that is more than one piece of advice!😉"

-Sandi

“I am relatively new in retirement, but what I love most about it is I do not have to get up at 2:00 am to get ready and go to work! I also love that I get more sleep and I don’t have a crazy schedule never knowing whether I will get home on time or not at all!

Since I traveled for a living I have been to many places around the world, so the Best Retirement Spot I am looking forward to is spending many more months at our Lake house in Washington State.

Some hobbies I am looking forward to having more time for now that I am retired are painting, gardening, reading, volunteer flying rescue animals to their new owners and flying to TX and taking care of my twin grandbabies. And now with another baby due in Sept from my daughter in WA. I will be busy doing that. I am not one to sit around so I always find things to do!”

- Sandi

Have you checked in on the markets lately? 🗞️ Now’s a great time to catch up.

Take a look at this week’s Market Commentary for key updates and insights from the LPL Research team: https://www.vfateam.com/weekly-market-commentary-kf26a

“My 'main' first job was a Flight Attendant. I just retired after 39 yrs. I got the job because I had a college degree and a little bit of prior work experience and customer service experience.

My first car was a 1970 Pontiac Lamanns. I got it free because my parents gifted it to me for a college graduation present. I do not still wish I owned it because it kept catching on fire! However I did learn a lot about that car with that problem. I got to the point where I would say, Oh that is my car it’s on fire again! That car was very fast with a V8 engine and it was kinda fun racing other cars such as Camaros at the stop lights!”

- Sandi