“You need work, but I reckon it can be done; and I promise I won’t put no one above you. Death do us part, beach chairs in the sun”
-Medium Build
Welcome to the October Edition of Ryan’s Retirement Ramblings – The monthly newsletter that will bring you the latest developments from the qualified plan space & provide updates for the retirement team at Wheeler Retirement Plans.
On A Personal Note…
Nope, I was not cast in the most recent Yellowstone spinoff as the younger version of Rip. It’s hard for me to look at this photo and not think my true calling may have been rodeo. Ha. I think the bull riding records are safe for now. The hats were a gift from the 401k conference host that I attended in Dallas last week. It was my first time to Texas and they are right; everything is bigger in Texas. I stayed right next to the Cowboys facility and Jerry Jones assures that it is noticed. Can’t wait to visit again soon.
The Hidden Retirement Cost of Employee Caregiving
Recent data shows a notable overlap between caregiving and financial fragility. The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research, found that unpaid caregivers were more likely than non-caregivers to have limited savings and report problems with debt…
IRS Provides Update on Opinion Letters for DC Qualified Pre-Approved Plans
On August 5, 2026, the IRS announced that it expected to begin issuing new opinion letters for certain defined contribution (DC) qualified pre-approved plans. In Announcement 2026-15 (published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-35), the federal agency said it planned to send the letters on August 31, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter…
Court Narrows Earlier Ruling on Brokerage Window Fee Disclosure in Alas v. AT&T
On August 3, 2026, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted AT&T’s motion for reconsideration in the long-running Alas v. AT&T case. The order revised key conclusions from her March 2026 ruling on how indirect compensation tied to the plan’s brokerage window arrangements was disclosed…
Participant Corner
MoneyMaxxing
The Social Media Trend for Making Every Dollar Work Harder
Shopping hauls and unboxing videos are familiar fares on TikTok and Instagram, but finding ways to make more of every hard-earned dollar is finally having a moment, too. “Moneymaxxing” creators, an emerging category of financial influencers, focus on helping you get more out of the money you already have, and put more of it to work for the long term. The trend generally centers on a handful of habits:..
Mr. C’s Movie (Show) Review
Carrie
EVERYBODY’S GOT A LITTLE CARRIE IN THEM
I have to admit when the Prime series Carrie was released: is there still something new to say about Stephen King’s most iconic characters. Thankfully, rather than simply recycling the blood-soaked events we’ve seen (Sissy Spacek & Chloe Grace Moretz) , this new series expands the story while keeping its focus firmly on the awkward, bullied teenager at the center of the storm.
The adaptation opens with Carrie White (the excellent Summer Howell) trying to survive what may be even scarier than her telekinetic abilities: high school. Anyone familiar with Stephen King’s classic story knows where things are headed, but the journey gets a much needed injection of life in today’s High School environment. Rather than racing toward the inevitable disaster, the show spends time exploring Carrie’s isolation, her complicated relationship with her deeply religious mother, and most importantly how cruel High School can be for those just trying to fit in. Alison Thorton, as lead bully Chris Hargensen, is so convincing that by the end of the series, I had no desire to see her in film again. Ha.
Carrie is a confused teenager that wants nothing more to be a student. Having been homeschooled and for that matter under house arrest; High School might at well be outer space. The show’s real horror isn’t Carrie’s supernatural power but how we treat each other. Mike Flanagan (The director behind The House of Usher) is no stranger to extending a concept into a 8 episode format. The emotional weight behind the bullying and humiliation triggered experiences I had as a kid that didn’t necessarily fit in; hit harder than I would have thought.
Like any good horror series, Carrie understands that suspense is often more effective than nonstop gore. The show builds tension patiently, ending each episode with a glimpse to the horror that awaits. The effects are strong, the atmosphere is consistently creepy, and there’s enough blood to satisfy horror devotees without turning the entire experience into a gore showcase.
On a scale of “Like It,” “Love It,” or “Gotta Have It,” Carrie is a “Like It.”
The series won’t replace the original. King introduced us to one of the most frightening characters in the history of horror back in the 1980s. Mike Flanagan reminds us what would have driven that character to inflict that same pain in today’s world. If you’re looking for nonstop bloodshed from episode one, you may find the buildup slow. Just remember: high school is hard enough without being the joke that you are never let in on the punchline.