Finance

FEMA placed the director of New Mexico’s wildfire claims office on administrative leave after reporting revealed he and his wife received more than $500,000 from the program he oversees. The $5.45 billion compensation fund has paid out about $3.4 billion so far, as some claimants continue to wait years for relief.

A practical 2026 investing checklist starts with cash flow and an emergency buffer, then shifts to contribution increases, automation, tax organization, and disciplined rebalancing. For New Mexico taxpayers, state-specific deductions—such as the New Mexico 529 benefit—can influence which accounts to prioritize.

EP Wealth Advisors has added Santa Fe-based LongView Asset Management, a $390 million AUM registered investment adviser, in a deal that closed January 30. The move expands EP Wealth’s New Mexico presence and brings LongView’s sustainable-investing focus under a larger platform offering broader planning services.

Everfi said it and nine partners are committing more than $1.5 million in student scholarships tied to completion of financial and life-skills education. The initiative comes as college affordability remains a leading barrier to enrollment, according to data cited in the announcement.

New Mexico’s housing market is being shaped by a “mortgage lock-in” effect: homeowners with ultra-low rates are reluctant to sell into a higher-rate environment, limiting resale supply and keeping affordability tight for buyers.