Year-End Estate Planning Priorities
The final months of the year bring a natural deadline energy to financial planning — and estate planning is no exception. There are actions that must be taken by December 31 to be effective for the current year, and there are structural reviews that are most naturally done before the calendar resets. Here is a […]
Data Centers, Tech Volatility, and the Midterm Election Results
The stock market has swung in both directions in the days following the midterm election, driven primarily by technology and AI-related stocks. For financial markets, perhaps the most closely watched issue is the outlook for data center construction. This is because the buildout of data centers has been a significant driver of economic activity and […]
Special Update: Midterm Election Results and Implications for Investors
The latest midterm election results point to a change in political party control in Washington, driven by how voters feel about the economy. Democrats have won control of both the House and Senate, reversing the Republican majorities in Congress. This sets up a divided government for the remaining two years of President Trump’s term. Many […]
Monthly Market Update for October 2026: AI Volatility, the Fed Hawkish Hold, and Strong GDP Growth
The stock market experienced volatility in October amid strong year-to-date gains. Major indices delivered mixed results for the month, driven by declines in technology stocks. At the same time, the bond market experienced gains in many areas as long-term interest rates pulled back from their recent highs. Overall, these moves were driven by investors reassessing […]
What the Midterm Election, Budget Deficit, and National Debt Mean for Investors
As the midterm election season unfolds, investors are keeping a close eye on the outcome due to the implications for Congressional control. Current forecasts suggest that a divided government is the most likely scenario, since Republicans hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate.1 Although a shift in party control would represent a change […]
Inflation and Social Security COLA: Managing Purchasing Power
The annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is one of the most important developments for retirees and consumers. Not only does it affect Social Security recipients directly since it determines the increase in benefits next year, but it also reflects the broader inflationary trends affecting all consumers and investors. This is especially important today as […]
Creating a 3-5 Year Strategic Plan That Can Help Make Your Company Buyer Attractive
There is a version of strategic planning that most privately held companies do: a few days offsite, a lot of Post-it notes, a slide deck that gets reviewed once and then lives in a shared drive. That process has value. But it is not what we are talking about here. When your company has crossed […]
Asset Location vs. Asset Allocation in Financial Planning
Even the healthiest seed will struggle if it is planted in the wrong type of soil. Investments can work the same way since some assets benefit from being placed in specific vehicles, particularly when it comes to how they are taxed. This idea is often referred to as “asset location,” which doesn’t refer to where […]
Reviewing Your Estate, Trust, and Governance Documents After a Year of Change
Estate planning documents are written at a specific moment in time — reflecting the family’s structure, relationships, tax environment, and intentions as they existed on the day the documents were signed. Everything changes after that. The wealth grows. The family expands. Relationships evolve. Laws are amended. And the documents sit in a binder, often […]
The Bull Market Enters Its Fifth Year: Long-Term Perspectives
Four years ago, the S&P 500 reached its lowest level of the 2022 bear market in October. At the time, inflation was climbing at its fastest pace since the 1970s, the Federal Reserve was raising interest rates rapidly, and recession fears were widespread. Sentiment among consumers, businesses, and investors was deeply negative, and it was […]