It’s easy to become confused by the array of different investment options, such as pre-tax and post-tax accounts. Are there optimal periods to open, contribute to, and withdraw from them? While we regularly advise on and manage strategic decisions for our clients, having a base familiarity with various investment vehicles and techniques is often helpful.
Rather than measuring debt as a percentage of GDP, which is primarily an income measure, measuring debt against total assets paints a far more solvent picture.
In response to recent years of high payouts, particularly for wildfire losses, insurance companies have declined to renew policies at a rapid clip and stopped underwriting in high-risk areas of California. This has led to much higher rates of enrollment in the FAIR Plan, which is only meant as a bridge until other insurance solutions became available.
Whether in planning, investing, or parenting, the best outcomes typically arise when you remain focused on the bigger picture rather than the swirl of daily headlines.
Innovation can create whole new markets that can be impossible to predict and can feel disruptive to our well-known patterns and expectations. However, another hallmark trait of innovation is that it often comes with unintended downsides that must be balanced against the benefits.
Q2 2024 Market Commentary
While increases in prices, temperatures, and political headlines have been quite noticeable, we have also been monitoring areas of the market and economy that have been on a cooling trend over recent weeks and months.
As we continue to rely on technology to make our lives more convenient, our digital asset landscape is becoming more relevant than ever. Including language in your estate plan that covers digital assets is an increasingly common practice to provide clarity over who has legal authority.
The exciting potential growth of artificial intelligence and hyperscale computing capability should account for the logistical and environmental challenges of expanding infrastructure to handle the dramatic increase in energy demanded by powerful chips.
Even though stocks haven’t traditionally done as well from May through October, they still tend to go up, suggesting that staying fully invested has been more reliable than attempting to time the market.
Beyond awareness of what types of scams are out there, it’s important to recognize why they succeed, and acknowledge the pitfalls of some common reactions should they happen to you or a loved one.
While overall spending remains strong, early cracks are emerging, suggesting that consumers are feeling the fatigue after four years of inflation pressures.
Having retirement money in both a Roth and a 401k gives you the choice to take either taxable or non-taxable income. This choice allows you to be deliberate about your source of income and taxes.
Measurement has historically been a catalyst for innovation, and companies concerned with environmental impact know that while measurable change is incremental, progress made is real.
Q1 2024 Market Commentary
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, while devastating, did not paralyze the nation's economy; similarly, a diversified portfolio is structured to absorb volatility without jeopardizing overall performance.
Whether couples combine their finances, keep them separate, or use some combination of both depends on their individual preferences, values, and circumstances. Whatever path they choose, having a full picture makes it easier to engage with major financial decisions.
AI has the potential to transform industries and reshape the way we live and work. It also carries significant risks for specific professions and our broader social fabric, presenting challenges for policymakers and regulators.
Even when you have sufficient assets to cover the cost of college, it doesn’t automatically mean that now is the best time to use them. There are still timing considerations that can significantly impact both taxes and liquidity. One strategy to consider in these scenarios is having your child take out student loans.
We experience the threads of community through our work with clients, interactions with people and local businesses, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Our Community Engagement Report explores how we strived to strengthen the fabric of our community in 2023.
When building your portfolio and saving for retirement, hitting singles and doubles is the safer, lower-risk route. It's the singles and doubles that win the game. Home runs are exciting, but good defense and strong pitching carry teams deep into the post season.
In honor of our team member Ariana Alisjahbana welcoming her first child this week, we are rerunning an article from June 2022 that highlights financial considerations to keep in mind as you celebrate this next phase of life. Congratulations to Ariana and her growing family!