Avare Financial(TM) offers personal financial coaching, consulting and planning that protects you from financial blind-spots.  

Joel achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA), the most rigorous credential in finance.  Avare Financial focuses on the human side of finance by explaining the 'why' and 'how' behind investing, which comes from decades of experience.  Combining high-touch service with disciplined project management makes sophisticated financial concepts accessible and actionable.  For those seeking analytical depth, Joel’s approach turns complex wealth optimization into a clear path for your long-term goals.

SERVICES

Personal financial coaching

Asset allocation review

Consulting

Speaking engagements

HOME ECONOMICS

  U.S. consumers faced severe financial strain in April 2026 as surging energy costs and geopolitical disruptions drove annual inflation to its highest level in three years, causing consumer sentiment to collapse.  Nominal retail spending managed a modest increase, the growth reflected drivers paying higher prices at the pump rather than true economic expansion. Households cut back on big-ticket discretionary items as real wages decline. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated 3.8% year-over-year in April 2026. This marks the highest annual pace since May 2023, up sharply from 3.3% in March and on a monthly basis prices climbed 0.6%. Energy costs jumped 17.9% annually, gas prices rose 28.4% YOY.  Energy accounts for more than 40% of the monthly CPI increase. Core inflation, stripping out food and energy, rose 0.4% for the month and 2.8% annually.  Shelter costs are up 0.6% monthly, airline fares 2.8%, and tariff-sensitive apparel 0.6%.  The impact on workers has a price surge that wiped out nominal earnings growth which forced real average hourly wages down 0.5% month-over-month and 0.3% lower over the year.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, advance nominal retail sales rose 0.5% month-over-month to $757.1 billion.  This represents the third consecutive monthly rise yet data is not adjusted for inflation.  The 0.6% rise in consumer prices outpaced the 0.5% spending growth, as a result real consumer consumption contracted.  Consumers prioritize transit which results in a 2.8% surge in gas station receipts.  Online retailer prices rose 1.1%, and restaurant receipts 0.6%.  Discretionary spending fell which offsets high fuel and food costs, households aggressively cut major purchases.  Notable monthly declines include department stores -3.2%, furniture stores -2.0%, clothing shops -1.5%, and auto dealers -0.5%.

The University of Michigan Sentiment Index, an inflation-sensitive indicator, plunged to a record low of 49.8 down from 53.3 in March. The survey notes one-third of consumers cite gasoline prices and 30% point to tariffs as a primary economic stressor.

Nearly 90% of Americans express worry that prices of everyday essentials will rise next quarter, and the financial cushion of the average household is wearing thin.  Above-target inflation and strong demand-side distortions mean the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates soon, thus borrowing costs for credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages will remain elevated this summer.

The housing sector shows a divergence between regional affordability and inventory availability.  On a national level, home price appreciation (HPA) is hovering in low single digits but the aggregate data masks regional variation.  The thirty-year national average mortgage rate is 6.58%, while 

National Home Price Appreciation YoY according to Zillow/Clear Capital has year-over-year HPA between 0.7% to 1.9% as of April 30.

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I traded the boardroom to help high-achieving individuals and retirees apply institutional-grade discipline to their personal balance sheet. Whether you are navigating a complex career transition, retirement planning, or seek to eliminate volatility in your financial life then you have an objective lens not found elsewhere.  Avare brings the same risk-management rigor used for Fortune 500 pension funds for your home.  Our shared goal is to help you master money challenges and biases.

You hire decades of market experience for your personal strategist-coach-partner with no conflict of interest.  Following a career managing fortune 500 company portfolios I found my calling to help bridge the gap between ‘having money’ and ‘having a plan’.  Avare Financial does not track your spending – we engineer your freedom.

Visit Uncle IRA on Substack for investment newsletters - Uncle IRA is an Avare Financial company.  

INVESTMENT TOOLS

Uncle IRA.substack.com

sofi.com/student-loan-calculator

navyfederal.org/loans-cards/auto-loans

bankrate.com/credit-cards

bogleheads.org