Building Financial Resilience During Layoffs: A Wealth Planning Guide for High Earners
The recent wave of corporate restructuring and white-collar layoffs – particularly in technology and other high-paying sectors – has reignited an important conversation: how to build true financial resilience. Wealth management often focuses on growth and long-term objectives, but periods of economic transition remind us that preserving flexibility and mitigating risk are equally critical components […]
Gambling Income and Taxes: What the NBA Betting Scandal Teaches Every Taxpayer
The recent NBA gambling scandal, which led to more than 30 arrests, has drawn widespread attention to the broader world of sports betting. The fraud involved players and coaches selling sensitive injury and lineup information for cash or a share of betting proceeds. In some cases, players allegedly influenced game outcomes – such as Miami Heat […]
Investment Commentary – October 27, 2025
Executive Summary Investors are gearing up for a pivotal week, as Big Tech earnings and an expected U.S. interest rate cut could set the country’s economic trajectory for the rest of the year. A cooler than expected inflation report on Friday sent stocks to fresh highs as traders bet the Federal Reserve will trim the cost of borrowing […]
Economic Commentary – October 27, 2025
It’s back to Trump Time, it’s Trade Time, All The Time. A successful tour of Asia to negotiate favorable trade deals would go a long way toward easing the concerns of the Federal Reserve — and the US business community — about the negative impacts on economic growth from trade confrontation. There is also the issue […]
Economic Commentary – October 20, 2025
The release of the Federal Reserve’s Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions —aka “The Beige Book”—received considerable attention last week. The Beige Book is always a useful document for economists and thought-leaders willing to go beyond the headlines and the mostly backward-looking economic statistics. Now, of course, the flow of backward-looking data from the […]
Investment Commentary – October 20, 2025
Equities The S&P 500 returned 1.1% for the week amid continued optimism around AI, a strong start to the earnings season, from large banks, and increasing hopes for further rate cuts from the Fed. Markets looked past trade tensions with China and emerging credit issues at regional banks as Fed Chair Powell signaled that the […]
Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Rising Premiums, Reduced Benefits, and What to Do
Medicare Open Enrollment: Rising Costs and New Restrictions Medicare open enrollment for 2026 runs through December 7, and several important changes are on the horizon. Many participants will likely face higher premiums, reduced benefits, and more restrictive provider networks. The baseline Part B premium is expected to rise from $185 to $206 a month, representing […]
Annuities in 401(k) Plans: DOL Update and What Employees Should Consider
Annuities as a Default Option for 401(k)s? U.S. Department of Labor Says Yes, But Be Wary Recent updates to retirement plan rules are designed to make it easier for employers to include lifetime income options—most commonly annuities—inside 401(k) plans. The purpose is straightforward: to help you turn a portion of your savings into a dependable […]
Investment Commentary – October 13, 2025
Executive Summary Last week, stocks declined while bonds appreciated (price up / yield down). The MSCI Emerging Markets and MSCI EAFE indices outperformed the S&P 500. Across U.S. Russell style & market cap indices, mid-cap growth did the best, but the low volatility factor led more broadly. As for fixed income, the 10-year. treasury yield […]
Economic Commentary – October 13, 2025
It is a strange, somewhat unreal moment. A holiday that isn’t quite a holiday, a federal government that is mostly shut down while state governments go about their business, and government inflation reports that may or may not happen. Analysts have now been called back to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in something of a […]
2025 Year-End Wealth Planning Guide: Retirement, Gifting, and Tax Deadlines
Year-End Wealth Planning Guide (2025–2026) As we approach the end of 2025, we would like to bring to your attention several important year-end planning considerations and deadlines. The following sections outline key strategies and timelines related to retirement accounts, gifting, and tax filing considerations. Planning Considerations for the End of the Year 1. Tax Brackets, […]
Investment Commentary – October 6, 2025
Executive Summary Equity Markets Risk On Last week, global equity funds experienced the best week of inflows in nearly a year, led by U.S. technology and financial stocks. The third quarter was strong across both risk- and risk-control portfolios, with global equities gaining over 8%. In the U.S., small caps gained over 12% for the […]