Staying the Course When Markets Feel Unsteady
Geopolitical headlines over the last week have been nothing short of jarring. As news of the joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran continues to dominate the global cycle, it is natural for feelings of anxiety to surface. We are seeing a direct impact on energy markets, with oil prices surging and the critical […]
4 Strategies for Parents to Help the Class of 2026 in a Tight Job Market
As published on Kiplinger For parents of the Class of 2026, current headlines can feel challenging. After years of tuition payments and academic rigor, the prospect of a “weak” entry-level hiring market — the softest since the pandemic — raises a fundamental question: Is the return on investment for a college degree diminishing? Remember that market cycles […]
The Most Overlooked Estate Planning Step: Why Communication Matters More Than Ever
An estate plan should be more than the legal minimum. Foundational documents such as wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies are a great start. For more affluent families, additional trusts and advanced structures may further enhance tax efficiency and asset protection. Keeping those structures aligned with current tax law and properly modeling liquidity are […]
California Billionaire Tax Debate: Wealth Taxes May Be Coming
In recent news, Mark Zuckerberg is joining the California exodus of ultra-wealthy taxpayers and purchasing a home in Florida. The catalyst is California’s proposed 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, a ballot initiative that would introduce a state-level tax on net worth, effective January 2026. If the initiative makes the November ballot and passes, it would impose a one-time 5% tax on […]
Could You Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?
You may have encountered Charitable Remainder Trusts in conversations with others after a liquidity event or through tax professionals discussing strategies for managing large unrealized gains. In the appropriate situation, a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) can help address tax efficiency, income planning, and charitable objectives simultaneously. How a CRT Works A Charitable Remainder Trust is a split-interest trust funded with appreciated assets […]
Top Financial Planning Priorities for 2026: New Rules, New Risks
Last year, the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) preserved many key provisions of the federal tax code for individuals, including lower marginal income tax rates and a higher estate tax exemption. However, several planning rules have changed quietly. Provisions from recent legislation – most notably the SECURE 2.0 Act – are now taking […]
Why a Wealth Plan is the Ultimate Investment
In personal finance, conversations often center on strategies like Roth conversions or generation-skipping trusts. These tools can be useful in the right situations but using them without a broader framework is risky. The real risk isn’t missing a sophisticated strategy – it’s making decisions without a clear plan. That’s why we recommend starting with a wealth plan. A wealth plan provides structure and […]
The Best Gift for Recent College Grads
By Mallon FitzPatrick As published in Rethinking65 July 6, 2023 – Summer is here, and with it, a fresh flock of college graduates eager to assert their independence and embark on a new chapter of their lives. Many advisors and investors are parents or grandparents to these young achievers and are surely brimming with pride. […]