Engaging with Aging, Part I
Gradual changes in our physical and mental abilities, coupled with changes to our social landscape, bring many to consider a more dramatic change: – should they move to a residential community that provides built-in care services and new social opportunities Or should they stay in their home?
Debt Ceiling Déjà Vu
We recognize that the debt ceiling is a negotiation, and classic public negotiation tactics should be expected. While headlines can make it tough to find reasons to be optimistic, it’s helpful to look to the historical patterns of similar negotiations to put current events into context.
Protecting the Future, Celebrating the Present
Knowing what you’re spending money on or saving for, and importantly why, can help you to balance the future and present, allowing you to find fulfillment in the financial choices you make.
Missing the Forest for the Trees
Understanding how global economic systems affect global ecosystems allows for better economic and financial decision making. Together with consumer demand and policy changes, investors have the ability to influence our efforts to protect the environment through financial allocation.
Leaving a Personalized Legacy
To personalize your legacy, take a step forward with your estate planning, adopting an attitude of contemplation as you mentally meander through what you want and what you don’t want.
Straight-Line Thinking
It is human nature to assume the present landscape will continue unchanged. This straight-line thinking can impede our ability to make decisions about a future that is constantly in flux.
When Credit Gets Crunched
Businesses and consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to get new loans, and the impacts of a full-fledged “credit crunch” are becoming visible.
Moving Towards Sustainability in Real Estate
Impact in Action Report
Building and operating greener buildings that positively impact social equity, health, and environmental stability has been tricky to accomplish. That is rapidly changing.
Resiliency in a Messy Reality
Q1 2023 Market Commentary
It is a collaboration with our clients that spans technical details, emotional needs, and the irrational and unexpected elements of life goals that makes possible the process of determining the path forward.
The Right Amount of Liquidity
Many things can affect the “right” amount of cash to have on hand. In our conversations with clients, we compare it to financial decisions involving a trade-off between security, risk, and return.
Unraveling the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
There are key lessons to highlight as we unravel Silicon Valley Bank's problems and subsequent relief efforts, including the importance of diversification at all levels and the speed of response to financial crises.
Investing in a Changing World
ESG is not a cure-all for the environmental or social challenges we collectively face. It can, however, serve as a valuable tool for investors to reduce specific portfolio risks and align their investments with a changing world.
Moving House
There will always be unknowns when embarking on a big move to a new state or country, but it will be smoother – and more exciting – when you take the time to plan in advance.
The Return of Reasonable Alternatives
Markets are starting this year from more reasonable valuations and with bonds yielding stronger income than prior years. This balance should benefit patient investors and diversified portfolios as they navigate short-term storms and begin rebuilding portfolio values.
Broadening the View on Taxes
Good tax planning does not simply mean minimizing your tax bill every year. A broader view allows you to better balance tax considerations with other priorities in your life.
A Welcome Sight
The economic and market landscape still includes plenty of uncertainty, but it is a welcome sight to see portfolios rebuild some value early in the year.
2022 Community Engagement Report
Looking back at 2022, we reflect on our impact in our various communities and ask ourselves, why does community engagement matter to us? We remind ourselves that, as humans, we thrive on our connection to others.
Back to the Future: Electric Vehicles
If you enjoy having the latest technology and you’re willing to pay a slight premium for that experience, or you hate paying for gas and like the idea of fighting against climate change, then the new landscape of EVs provides some enticing options.
A Wandering Market
Financial markets can have phases of directionless wandering as investors await more information. We may be in one of those moments right now.
The Connection Between Voting for Change and Investing for Change
Impact in Action Report
Highlighting investment in affordable housing in the Bay Area and its connection to voter-approved bond measures in Alameda County.
Weather Patterns and Market Storms
Q4 2022 Market Commentary
Financial markets, much like our weather, are usually mild and uneventful. What sticks in people’s minds, however, are the extreme events.
Finding Inflation’s Silver Lining
As inflation emerges from a long hibernation, the impact on consumers is acute. It's important to acknowledge that inflation has been a normal and recurring part of economic growth throughout history - and can have some silver linings.
When Good News is Bad News
Market movements can feel chaotic over the short term, and the noise of daily market headlines can make investors question whether the historical patterns of growth will continue to hold true.
Moving From Innovation to Trust
The stakeholder-centric lens is an important innovation to the capitalist structure. It is also an important counterpoint to the shareholder-centric profit concerns that dominate the early development stages of the technical innovations that drive economic growth.
Midterms and Markets
While financial markets may breathe a sigh of relief following midterm election results, the present reality is that ongoing concerns about global recession, high inflation, and tighter central bank policies could limit the enthusiasm of any post-election rally.