AI Disruption Pauses While the US Economy Remains Resilient
Executive Summary Last week, the S&P 500 returned +1.0%. Markets continued to be whipsawed as traders assess the impact of AI across a number of industries; oil rose and perceived inflation risks kept a lid on bond prices as the U.S. continues a substantial military buildup in the Middle East. Late in the week, the U.S. Supreme Court […]
Estate Plan Communication: Why Talking to Your Family Is the Most Overlooked Planning Step
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 […]
Week of February 22, 2026 – Weekly Economic Commentary
“Head-spinning” is the word for the week. The Supreme Court rejection of many (not all) of President Trump’s tariffs served to sweep under the rug an almost embarrassing scramble to explain how the fourth quarter GDP estimate came in so far below projections, while the broad-based measure of inflation known as the Personal Consumption Expenditures […]
Market Rotation Accelerates as Manufacturing Rebounds and Al Volatility Rise
Executive Summary Stocks traded sideways this week before a late-week sell-off. The S&P 500 gained +0.5%, but it continued to lag the Russell 2000 and Equal Weight S&P 500. It’s now underperforming both indices by over -5% YTD, while the Nasdaq and Large Cap Growth are down over -2% YTD as investors rotate and market leadership broadens. Sector performance was mixed, with […]
California Billionaire Tax Act: What the Proposed Wealth Tax Means for High-Net-Worth Residents
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 […]
Week of February 15, 2026 – Weekly Economic Commentary
Although data released this week will largely be for the end of 2025, the data will serve to flesh out the picture hinted at by the Nonfarm Employment and Consumer Price Index numbers for January: a US economy that is doing considerably better than expected in terms of both growth and inflation. The most recent estimate […]
AI Disruption, Fed Pause, and Rotating Equity Leadership: What’s Driving Markets Now
Executive Summary Over the next few months, the market is navigating a delicate balance of a strong economy, soft labor market conditions, AI disruption vs. destruction, and a Fed pause. The narrative centers on a near-perfect outcome: a soft landing, strong earnings growth, AI capex that both boosts productivity and generates revenue, and a tailwind […]
Class of 2026 Job Market: Helping Your College Graduate Navigate Entry-Level Hiring Challenges
Recent headlines surrounding the “Class of 2026” have raised understandable concerns among parents and students alike that entry-level jobs are disappearing. Hiring outlooks for new graduates are being described as the weakest since the pandemic, prompting questions about whether the return on a costly degree may be delayed or diminished. These concerns are not isolated. […]
Key Data Delays and Investor Priorities: What to Watch This Week
Data releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — and from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which uses BLS economists and staffers to prepare some of its data — continue to be erratic and uncertain. The very short partial government shutdown last week, as a result of the fight over budget appropriations for ICE, interrupted and delayed […]
Charitable Remainder Trusts: How CRTs Can Manage Capital Gains and Provide Income
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 […]
Markets Reprice Risk as Fed Signals Caution and Breadth Broadens
Executive Summary The S&P 500 returned +0.3% for the week, recovering from a mid-week wobble. The Fed held interest rates steady and signaled no rush to lower rates amid a strong economy, while tech stocks fell with a weak outlook from Microsoft with investors questioning the timeframe for returns on its AI-related spending. However, markets looked favorably […]
With Warsh at the Fed, Markets Shift Focus to Fiscal Leadership
Donald Trump has nominated his new Federal Reserve Chairman, Kevin Warsh. The choice is largely considered a sensible one, validated by most of Wall Street, global financial markets and other central bankers. Coming on the heels of a Federal Open Market Committee meeting that was notable for its lack of surprises, and for encouraging statements about the US economy, one can sense a collective sigh […]