Financial planning is largely an exercise in risk management, —, you prepare for the costs you can anticipate and set aside an extra amount to cover the costs you can’t Most people think of anticipated costs in terms of recurring expenses mortgage payments insurance payments groceries utilities and so forth Those are important of course but what many people don’t consider is regular healthcare costs which is certainly also part of risk management, To make healthcare management part of your financial plan consider the costs you’ll likely incur with normal health maintenance Those costs won’t be the same for everyone Most often people tend to focus on common recurring costs — prescription drug out-of-pocket costs premium payments associated with their health coverage and other top-of-mind bills But for some there are other predictable but…, How to plan for it financially, The most prudent way to pay for additional screening depends largely on your age and on how you plan to pay your healthcare costs Are you 65 or over Retired Planning to use Medicare or private health insurance Do you plan to use a Health Savings Account (HSA to cover expenses Or can you pay your anticipated medical expenses out-of-pocket and use your HSA as a tax-advantaged investment vehicle…

Raising financially confident children is one of the greatest gifts we can give as parents and grandparents Whether your goal is to fund higher education encourage responsible money habits or provide a head start on retirement savings there are several proven strategies that can set kids on a path toward lifelong security Below are some key approaches to consider, 529 plans The gold standard for education savings, When families ask “Where do I start” the answer is often a 529 plan A 529 plan allows you to save for future education expenses in a tax-advantaged way Contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals remain tax-free as long as they are used for qualified higher education costs Many states including Illinois also provide state income tax benefits for contributions In Illinois Bright Start and Bright…, Transferable, If one child doesn’t use the full balance funds can be moved to another child, Convertible, Thanks to recent rule changes up to $35000 can be rolled into a Roth IRA for your child’s retirement if the account isn’t fully used for education Given the rising cost of education starting early is key Even small regular contributions can have a meaningful impact over time, Roth IRAs Harnessing the power of time, For children who earn income whether from a summer job babysitting or part-time work a Roth IRA can be a powerful tool Because most teens earn less than the federal standard deduction (nearly $16000 in 2025 they often owe little to no federal income tax This makes Roth contributions especially compelling they use after-tax dollars but the growth and withdrawals in retirement are tax-free Parents…, Teaching smart money habits, While saving for the future is critical teaching kids how to responsibly manage money day-to-day is just as important, Debit cards with parental controls, Tools like the Greenlight card allow parents to transfer funds monitor spending and even introduce budgeting lessons in a safe controlled environment, Credit cards for young adults, When teens turn 18 becoming an authorized user on a parent’s credit card can help them establish a credit history Later they may transition to secured or student credit cards By age 21 they can access a full range of credit products making early guidance essential These steps not only prepare kids for financial independence but also help them build strong credit profiles early on, Balancing today and tomorrow, Conversations about money with children can be challenging especially when the concept of retirement feels so far away to a teenager But by framing saving as a partnership (parents covering essentials while kids save toward goals you help them understand both the value of money and the importance of discipline Even modest contributions whether toward a 529 or a Roth IRA can pay lifelong dividends…, Conclusion, From 529 plans to Roth IRAs from debit cards to credit-building strategies families today have more tools than ever to teach and prepare children for a strong financial future The earlier you start the more powerful the results At Mesirow we are committed to helping families build intergenerational wealth and confidence To explore which strategies make the most sense for your family reach out to…

Evaluating the effect of training period length on the performance of machine learning algorithms, Does more data mean better models Maybe not for neural network systematic FX trading strategies In this paper we explain a qualitative approach to estimating the optimal look-back window size to create training sets for deep neural network-based FX strategies Explaining the problem class over-representation vs lack of data dilemma Machine learning-based systematic FX trading algorithms utilise…, LOOK-BACK WINDOWS (LBWs,   Read more ​The information contained herein is intended for institutional clients Qualified Eligible Persons Eligible Contract Participants and Wholesale Clients or the equivalent classification in the recipient’s jurisdiction and is for informational purposes only Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell an interest in any Mesirow Financial investment vehicle It should not be…