Staying the Course: Wealth Planning Amid Geopolitical Volatility and Rising Oil Prices
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 […]
Triple Whammy Shocks: Geopolitical, Labor and Private Credit
Executive Summary Last week, stock and bond prices were down and yields were up. Three simultaneous shocks are feeding off each other: oil at $100/bbl (up 35% in a week), a February jobs loss of 92,000 versus expectations of +60,000 growth, and a third major private credit gating event. Bonds are not providing their usual cushion because the […]
Week of March 08, 2026 – Weekly Economic Commentary
War always creates economic turmoil. It changes prices, adds to national debt and heightens uncertainty. As such, war may impact economic decision-making even in markets not apparently directly affected by combat. One example of such effect may be provided by the US housing market, where rumors of a recovery have, in the last 12 months, too often proved to be just […]
How to Help Your Children Buy Real Estate in Today’s Market
The domestic real estate market, which has remained largely stagnant for the past twenty-four months, may show signs of movement. Recent data, including reports from the Wall Street Journal, highlight a downward trend in interest rates, with rates reaching their lowest levels in several years. While this shift suggests a potential uptick in home sales, it does not […]
Market Leadership Broadens as Rotation Continues
Executive Summary The S&P 500 Index declined -0.8% in February, but the headline masked broad underlying strength. The equal-weighted S&P 500 gained +3.5%, Large Cap Value rose +2.6%, and the Russell 2000 added +0.8%, as the rotation toward smaller and more value-oriented companies continued. In contrast, Large Cap Growth declined -3.4% and the Nasdaq fell -2.3% as […]
Week of March 1, 2026 – Weekly Economic Commentary
The extremely valid question regarding the impact of war in the Middle East on the global economy simply cannot be well-answered at this time. Several immediate areas of concern are clear — oil and gas supplies and prices, transportation flows and costs in the Red Sea (headed to the Suez Canal) and the Persian Gulf (Straits of Hormuz), and […]
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 […]