At Parametric, our years of experience have taught us that markets can swing up and down quickly and without warning. Since no one can time these swings, we believe it's imperative to seek both loss harvesting and benchmark tracking simultaneously.
A 529 plan is a popular tool for saving for college expenses. When it comes to who maintains control over the 529 plan’s assets, in most cases, it’s the account owner. This is often a parent or grandparent. The owner also has the ability to make investment choices and manage withdrawals.
US stocks rose on Friday as investors returned from the Juneteenth holiday break to evaluate recent comments from a top Federal Reserve official as well as the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
How big data, AI and the human element can combine to better pursue consistent alpha.
New strategies, shifting flows, and innovative technologies are driving a more dynamic and diversified marketplace in fixed income ETFs.
It's important to consider non-hardship 401(k) withdrawals carefully. Our Bill Cass explains why individuals should check plan eligibility and consider asset protection and tax implications.
When planning for future financial needs, take the time to understand the key differences between a 529 plan vs. IUL insurance. Both are valuable tools, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits.
The U.S. economy is growing accustomed to elevated uncertainty.
How do you make sure your prospects feel confident and clear about moving forward?
We remain bullish about many of the corporate changes taking place in Japan. Toyota Group recently announced it was taking Toyota Industries private (its auto parts and forklift business) to simplify the group’s structure.
If there is something the Federal Reserve (Fed) does not want to see today, as it approaches next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, it is a shock to oil prices.
A 529 plan can influence financial aid eligibility and the amount awarded. While these savings plans arevaluable for covering education expenses, they are considered parental assets on the Free Applicationfor Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) runs more than 1,000 pages. Analysis of the legislation has focused primarily on its impact on the U.S. federal deficit: the Congressional Budget Office estimates that passage would add almost $3 trillion to the national debt over the coming decade.
Let’s talk about life expectancy. More specifically – should it play a role in retirement planning?You might be surprised to learn that the answer is: Absolutely not.
The fund shines through as a prime option worthy of consideration among the vast alternatives present in the muni market. With their rare combination of credit quality and yield, munis are offering fixed income investors prime benefits in a still-uncertain bond environment.
President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday of a new trade agreement with China is the kind of headline that gives markets a sense of relief. As I overheard this week at Wealth Management’s EDGE conference, which I attended in Boca Raton, Florida, we may have dodged a recession.
If the market view on the administration's economic policies shifts and a strong dollar policy remains, the dollar could rally, and U.S. assets might see a rebound from their recent underperformance.
The ever-louder brouhaha surrounding BBD is much ado about nothing. It is expensive, dangerous, and likely to benefit only bankers and brokerage firms.
Tariff policy has clouded expectations for the second half of the year, but there are ways to navigate through the fog.
A 529 plan can play a strategic role in estate planning, especially for families looking to reduce taxes while saving for education. Contributions to a 529 plan may be excluded from your taxable estate, potentially lowering future estate tax liability.
The US 2025 tax bill enhances certain deductions and includes provisions for business growth and development. Our Bill Cass shares the highlights of what is being debated on Capitol Hill and the impact on business owners.
With tariff news providing constant equity market fluctuations, the case for bonds becomes more compelling. The added uncertainty also punctuates the need for an active management strategy, which one particular Vanguard ETF offers.
To anyone going through a breakup, just remember this lyric from Bernadette Peters: “If I’m patient the break will mend and one fine morning the hurt will end.”
Transitioning away from your current firm is always a big step, but leaving a non-Broker Protocol firm comes with unique complexities — and potential legal pitfalls — if you're not fully prepared.
The global economy is continually evolving due to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitics. How could these and other factors influence the major asset classes over the coming decade?
Long-time Kestra ecosystem firm SilverStar Wealth Management combines with existing Bluespring partner LifeBridge Financial Group, strengthening Texas-based presence
The US housing market remains in a state of inertia. Despite the arrival of the spring selling season, both new and existing home sales continue to underwhelm.
Virtually all the marketing activities are exactly what other advisors are doing as well. Never follow the crowd.
When it comes to selecting a person to be a healthcare proxy, here are a few characteristics that advisors can encourage their clients to consider.
Advisors can help clients and their families plan for the rising costs of tuition and other educational expenses by knowing the benefits of 529 plans — and staying up-to-date on evolving rules around these investment vehicles.
A college degree may be a milestone that represents one possible career path. But it’s not your only route toward a future that is both financially sound and deeply fulfilling.
The Fear Trade is what most Western investors are familiar with. It’s the flight to safety during times of uncertainty, driven by concerns over inflation, interest rates, geopolitical risk and more.
I spent the last two weeks of May catching up with partners and clients in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Hong Kong. Following are some reflections on those conversations.
Markets may be fretting over Federal Reserve policy and economic soft landings, but a handful of momentum ETFs have quietly been stealing the show. Across the array of factor funds, momentum has performed best this year.
Our monthly workforce recovery analysis has been updated to include the latest employment report for May. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%. Additionally, the number of new non-farm jobs (a relatively volatile number subject to extensive revisions) came in at 139,000.
Yale University’s $41 billion endowment, led for decades by the late investing giant David Swensen, has been the envy – and the blueprint — for many US universities eager to secure their financial future.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) lost its chance to lower interest rates further during the first half of the year, when inflation came down to close to its 2.0% target with very limited risk that its decision would have triggered higher inflation.
Privacore Capital, an affiliate of Janus Henderson and an open-architecture solutions provider for alternative investment products tailored to the private wealth market, and Partners Capital Investment Group, a global Investment Office, today announced the launch of the Privacore PCAAM Alternative Growth Fund (“AltsGrow”).
Early signs of diminishing economic activity and inflation could be a harbinger for bond prices to rise. If so, consider taking advantage of a potential bond rally with a pair of ETFs from Vanguard.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is putting Marianne Lake, one of the leading contenders to one day take over for Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon, in charge of strategic growth and the firm’s fast-growing overseas consumer bank.
After more than a half-decade cleaning up Wells Fargo & Co.’s scandals, the chief executive officer has cleared away the firm’s biggest impediment to growth: the Federal Reserve’s seven-year-old cap on assets.
Here are some important insights and good open-ended questions to ask your clients to make sure they are thinking through life decisions.
U.S.-Europe negotiations involve more than just tariffs.
The “sell and stay” approach in wealth management mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a transformative trend reshaping how advisors approach their succession planning and business transitions.
On this week’s episode of ETF Prime, VettaFi’s Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discusses the rise of active ETFs and anticipated ETF share class structure. Later, Fidelity’s Eric Granat and Christine Thorpe spotlight the Fidelity Hedged Equity ETF (FHEQ) and the Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND).
Our role isn’t just to manage assets; it’s to help clients stay grounded. We remind clients that investing is a long-term journey, and short-term volatility doesn’t have to knock them off course.
Here are three universal, time-tested principles, that will protect you from“over-delivering” with information and value, and ultimately missing out on the opportunity to add a new, paying client.
Treasury floating rate notes and ETFs like the WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund (USFR) are often seen as beneficial tools to fixed income investors when yields on U.S. government debt are rising.
The House passed a comprehensive tax bill to avoid an expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at the end of the year.
Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions.
Personal income (excluding transfer receipts) rose 0.4% in April and is up 4.3% year-over-year. However, when adjusted for inflation using the BEA's PCE Price Index, real personal income (excluding transfer receipts) was up 0.3% month-over-month and up 2.1% year-over-year.
Summer is here. And for a select cohort of college students, that means swapping lecture halls for trading floors and seminar rooms for Wall Street office suites.
An "end-to-end" approach in process management means handling a task or product from its initial planning stages to the finishing point or delivery, without relying on intermediaries for specific steps. No nation does this better than China.
529 plans do not earn interest like a traditional savings account. However, they offer strong growth potential through a range of investment options.
Some of the most useful financial advice has a homespun tone, like to make hay while the sun is shining or save up for a rainy day. I recently encountered another helpful idea in that vein: Think of your house like a family member who is always sick.
Given the uncertainty of what potentially happens next, the recent rally is an excellent opportunity to adjust portfolio risks to navigate the next leg of this market cycle.
Clients aren’t asking their financial advisor to be everything. They’re asking for clarity and confidence in what matters most to them. Simplifying the client experience may be the most strategic move advisors can make.
The wealth management industry is prepared to court its newest potential clients: Gen Z. Instead of trotting out older professionals with decades of experience, companies are utilizing generative AI to develop digital assistants.
In this article, I focus on five essential age-based milestones and life events that collectively present more than 40 million advice opportunities, enabling financial advisors to showcase their care and expertise beyond traditional investment strategies.
While official estimates remain fluid and subject to change, our preliminary analysis at the time of this writing suggests that the House Reconciliation Proposal could significantly increase the national debt over the next decade.
Over many years of educating investors about direct indexing, we have noticed a common misunderstanding—conflating the economic value of harvested losses with the investment return on the performance statement.
Few leading men of the 1960s and 1970s were more dashing than Clint Eastwood. He played a series of gritty heroes, trying to do right in a world gone wrong.
How do you make sure your nest egg lasts as long as you do? Figuring out a safe withdrawal rate is tricky, because life is unpredictable. Markets and inflation rise and fall, tax laws change, and political philosophies come and go.
Without proper financial guidance and planning, the end of their career could be followed by serious financial difficulties. While every athlete’s legal, tax, and financial picture is different, here are some of the topics that should be reviewed with athletes.
A KEY PLANK of the new administration’s economic policy has been to embrace tariffs, a sharp reversal of decades of free market trade.
529 plans and Roth IRAs are two tax-advantaged accounts designed to help you save for future expenses.
Selling your real estate portfolio, especially investment properties you and your family have held for years or decades, can be a complex process.
Markets rallied after a surprise tariff rollback, but with valuations stretched and policy signals still mixed, investors appear to be leaning toward flexibility, fundamentals, and selective exposure.
The Endowment Tax was introduced during the first Trump administration as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
Your financial requirements are multifaceted, necessitating strategies tailored to your specific needs. Tailored lending can be a valuable addition to a high-net-worth individual’s financial plan, helping you optimize cash flow, maximize tax efficiency and realize important estate planning goals.
Investors should always be attuned to inflation risk, but it seems pronounced in this moment. How should your clients adjust behavior and investments?
As AI capabilities continue to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated financial planning tools to become accessible to the average person, potentially improving retirement outcomes for many.
Direct indexing has been in the news a lot more in recent years. Larger industry players have strategically acquired a number of providers—including Parametric. And many new entrants have entered the space, looking to build on its success.
Trade pacts with America will not mean a return to the old normal.
529 plans offer tax-free savings for a variety of education expenses, including K-12 tuition, vocational training and apprenticeships. Our Bill Cass discusses the trends in 529 savings plans.
In the aftermath of the 2018 trade skirmishes with China and the pandemic, nearshoring and friendshoring quickly became buzzwords. But like many other catch phrases, these two may soon fade from usage and memory.
Loyalty isn’t something you can demand, nor is it something that happens overnight. It’s something you earn, step by step, through trust, consistency, and a genuine commitment to your client’s well-being.
Debt collectors have been unpopular since ancient times, but they play a necessary role in the lending lifecycle. Their jobs are not easy: I recall one collector noting that there are few ways to communicate with defaulted borrowers.
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is looking to open more offices and boost headcount in the Middle East, joining Wall Street peers expanding in the region to tap its deep pools of capital.
The 60/40 approach has not been what it was just a few years ago. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
The signal of announcing trade pacts is an important start.
QTR Family Wealth, a full-service wealth management firm owned and led by brothers Wes and Chad Hunter, proudly announces the official launch of its independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
Over the past ten years, we’ve discussed this question with about 50 of our friends and clients, resulting in many animated and productive conversations.
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Long-dated Treasuries fell on Monday as investor attention turned to the US’ ballooning debt after Moody’s Ratings stripped the nation of its last top credit rating.
The recent rally began when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck a more conciliatory tone with China, saying he expected a de-escalation shortly.
The House Ways & Means Committee advanced a comprehensive tax bill this week. Our Bill Cass discusses the key provisions and how they may impact taxpayers.
Retirement. It’s a phase of life that brings with it unique challenges, particularly when it comes to healthcare. In the U.S., the average lifespan is 79 years (compared to the global average of 73 years).
Wealth Management
Lessons Learned: Potential Pitfalls of Loss Harvesting During High Volatility
At Parametric, our years of experience have taught us that markets can swing up and down quickly and without warning. Since no one can time these swings, we believe it's imperative to seek both loss harvesting and benchmark tracking simultaneously.
Who Maintains Control Over a 529 Plan’s Assets?
A 529 plan is a popular tool for saving for college expenses. When it comes to who maintains control over the 529 plan’s assets, in most cases, it’s the account owner. This is often a parent or grandparent. The owner also has the ability to make investment choices and manage withdrawals.
US Stocks Gain as Fed’s Waller Offers Hope on July Rate Cut
US stocks rose on Friday as investors returned from the Juneteenth holiday break to evaluate recent comments from a top Federal Reserve official as well as the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Alpha Reimagined
How big data, AI and the human element can combine to better pursue consistent alpha.
5 Themes Defining Bond ETF Investing Today
New strategies, shifting flows, and innovative technologies are driving a more dynamic and diversified marketplace in fixed income ETFs.
Key Considerations for Evaluating Non-Hardship 401(k) Withdrawals
It's important to consider non-hardship 401(k) withdrawals carefully. Our Bill Cass explains why individuals should check plan eligibility and consider asset protection and tax implications.
529 Plans vs. Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance
When planning for future financial needs, take the time to understand the key differences between a 529 plan vs. IUL insurance. Both are valuable tools, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits.
Dog Days Ahead
The U.S. economy is growing accustomed to elevated uncertainty.
Why Your Prospects Aren’t Calling You Back
How do you make sure your prospects feel confident and clear about moving forward?
As Japanese Companies Change, Investment Opportunities Bloom
We remain bullish about many of the corporate changes taking place in Japan. Toyota Group recently announced it was taking Toyota Industries private (its auto parts and forklift business) to simplify the group’s structure.
Higher Oil Prices Complicate Monetary Policy
If there is something the Federal Reserve (Fed) does not want to see today, as it approaches next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, it is a shock to oil prices.
Will a 529 Plan Affect Financial Aid Eligibility or Amount Awarded?
A 529 plan can influence financial aid eligibility and the amount awarded. While these savings plans are
valuable for covering education expenses, they are considered parental assets on the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Treasury Tax Tension
The draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) runs more than 1,000 pages. Analysis of the legislation has focused primarily on its impact on the U.S. federal deficit: the Congressional Budget Office estimates that passage would add almost $3 trillion to the national debt over the coming decade.
Life Expectancy: The (F)Law of Averages
Let’s talk about life expectancy. More specifically – should it play a role in retirement planning?You might be surprised to learn that the answer is: Absolutely not.
As Munis See Increased Issuance, Here’s an Active Choice
The fund shines through as a prime option worthy of consideration among the vast alternatives present in the muni market. With their rare combination of credit quality and yield, munis are offering fixed income investors prime benefits in a still-uncertain bond environment.
Trump’s Trade Deal with China Is a Tailwind for Global Shipping
President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday of a new trade agreement with China is the kind of headline that gives markets a sense of relief. As I overheard this week at Wealth Management’s EDGE conference, which I attended in Boca Raton, Florida, we may have dodged a recession.
What's Happening With the Dollar?
If the market view on the administration's economic policies shifts and a strong dollar policy remains, the dollar could rally, and U.S. assets might see a rebound from their recent underperformance.
Buy, Borrow, Die: Why This Popular Tax Strategy for the Rich Doesn’t Work
The ever-louder brouhaha surrounding BBD is much ado about nothing. It is expensive, dangerous, and likely to benefit only bankers and brokerage firms.
Schwab Market Perspective: 2025 Mid-Year Outlook
Tariff policy has clouded expectations for the second half of the year, but there are ways to navigate through the fog.
How 529 Plans Are Treated for Estate Planning and Taxes
A 529 plan can play a strategic role in estate planning, especially for families looking to reduce taxes while saving for education. Contributions to a 529 plan may be excluded from your taxable estate, potentially lowering future estate tax liability.
What Business Owners Need to Know About the New Tax Bill
The US 2025 tax bill enhances certain deductions and includes provisions for business growth and development. Our Bill Cass shares the highlights of what is being debated on Capitol Hill and the impact on business owners.
An Active Option to Ponder as Bonds Look More Compelling
With tariff news providing constant equity market fluctuations, the case for bonds becomes more compelling. The added uncertainty also punctuates the need for an active management strategy, which one particular Vanguard ETF offers.
Trading Away From The U.S.?
To anyone going through a breakup, just remember this lyric from Bernadette Peters: “If I’m patient the break will mend and one fine morning the hurt will end.”
Navigating a Non-Protocol Transition: What Every Advisor Needs to Know Before Making a Move From a Captive Firm or Broker-Dealer
Transitioning away from your current firm is always a big step, but leaving a non-Broker Protocol firm comes with unique complexities — and potential legal pitfalls — if you're not fully prepared.
What's the 10-Year Outlook for Major Asset Classes?
The global economy is continually evolving due to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitics. How could these and other factors influence the major asset classes over the coming decade?
Bluespring Wealth Partners Acquires New Firm and Executes Merger to Create $1.4B AUM Firm
Long-time Kestra ecosystem firm SilverStar Wealth Management combines with existing Bluespring partner LifeBridge Financial Group, strengthening Texas-based presence
Notes from the Desk: MBS Opportunities Amid Quiet Housing Market
The US housing market remains in a state of inertia. Despite the arrival of the spring selling season, both new and existing home sales continue to underwhelm.
Stop Being One of Many
Virtually all the marketing activities are exactly what other advisors are doing as well. Never follow the crowd.
4 Expert-Backed Tips for Choosing the Best Healthcare Proxy
When it comes to selecting a person to be a healthcare proxy, here are a few characteristics that advisors can encourage their clients to consider.
It Can Be Tricky to Navigate 529 Plan Rules, But Advisors Can Help
Advisors can help clients and their families plan for the rising costs of tuition and other educational expenses by knowing the benefits of 529 plans — and staying up-to-date on evolving rules around these investment vehicles.
To Graduates: Skilled Trades Can Be a Practical Path to Success
A college degree may be a milestone that represents one possible career path. But it’s not your only route toward a future that is both financially sound and deeply fulfilling.
Meet the “Hermès of Gold” the Chinese Can’t Get Enough Of
The Fear Trade is what most Western investors are familiar with. It’s the flight to safety during times of uncertainty, driven by concerns over inflation, interest rates, geopolitical risk and more.
The View From The Far East
I spent the last two weeks of May catching up with partners and clients in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Hong Kong. Following are some reflections on those conversations.
Momentum ETFs Regaining Mojo
Markets may be fretting over Federal Reserve policy and economic soft landings, but a handful of momentum ETFs have quietly been stealing the show. Across the array of factor funds, momentum has performed best this year.
U.S. Workforce Recovery Analysis: May 2025
Our monthly workforce recovery analysis has been updated to include the latest employment report for May. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%. Additionally, the number of new non-farm jobs (a relatively volatile number subject to extensive revisions) came in at 139,000.
Yale’s $2.5 Billion Private Equity Sale Tests its Vaunted Endowment Model
Yale University’s $41 billion endowment, led for decades by the late investing giant David Swensen, has been the envy – and the blueprint — for many US universities eager to secure their financial future.
Lost Opportunity, Closed Window and Measurement Issues
The Federal Reserve (Fed) lost its chance to lower interest rates further during the first half of the year, when inflation came down to close to its 2.0% target with very limited risk that its decision would have triggered higher inflation.
Privacore Capital and Partners Capital Investment Group Launch Alternative Growth Registered Fund (“AltsGrow”)
Privacore Capital, an affiliate of Janus Henderson and an open-architecture solutions provider for alternative investment products tailored to the private wealth market, and Partners Capital Investment Group, a global Investment Office, today announced the launch of the Privacore PCAAM Alternative Growth Fund (“AltsGrow”).
2 Options to Take Advantage of a Bond Rally
Early signs of diminishing economic activity and inflation could be a harbinger for bond prices to rise. If so, consider taking advantage of a potential bond rally with a pair of ETFs from Vanguard.
JPMorgan Hands Lake, Seen as a Contender to Succeed Dimon, More Responsibility
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is putting Marianne Lake, one of the leading contenders to one day take over for Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon, in charge of strategic growth and the firm’s fast-growing overseas consumer bank.
Freed From Scandal, Wells Fargo Sets Its Sights on Growth
After more than a half-decade cleaning up Wells Fargo & Co.’s scandals, the chief executive officer has cleared away the firm’s biggest impediment to growth: the Federal Reserve’s seven-year-old cap on assets.
Questions to Ask Clients About Key Milestones
Here are some important insights and good open-ended questions to ask your clients to make sure they are thinking through life decisions.
Transatlantic Tussle
U.S.-Europe negotiations involve more than just tariffs.
Beyond the Exit: Why More Financial Advisors Are Choosing to Sell & Stay
The “sell and stay” approach in wealth management mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a transformative trend reshaping how advisors approach their succession planning and business transitions.
Fidelity’s Edge and the Active ETF Boom
On this week’s episode of ETF Prime, VettaFi’s Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discusses the rise of active ETFs and anticipated ETF share class structure. Later, Fidelity’s Eric Granat and Christine Thorpe spotlight the Fidelity Hedged Equity ETF (FHEQ) and the Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND).
Turning Client Anxiety Into Opportunity During Volatile Markets
Our role isn’t just to manage assets; it’s to help clients stay grounded. We remind clients that investing is a long-term journey, and short-term volatility doesn’t have to knock them off course.
Are You Over-Educating and Losing the Sale?
Here are three universal, time-tested principles, that will protect you from“over-delivering” with information and value, and ultimately missing out on the opportunity to add a new, paying client.
Floating Rate Notes Are Appealing Fixed Income Ideas
Treasury floating rate notes and ETFs like the WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund (USFR) are often seen as beneficial tools to fixed income investors when yields on U.S. government debt are rising.
Special Tax Alert Update: House Passes Tax Bill
The House passed a comprehensive tax bill to avoid an expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at the end of the year.
Court Delivers Good News on Tariffs, But…
Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions.
The Big Four Recession Indicators: Real Personal Income Up 0.3% in April
Personal income (excluding transfer receipts) rose 0.4% in April and is up 4.3% year-over-year. However, when adjusted for inflation using the BEA's PCE Price Index, real personal income (excluding transfer receipts) was up 0.3% month-over-month and up 2.1% year-over-year.
Wall Street Interns Are Safe From AI. Here’s Why
Summer is here. And for a select cohort of college students, that means swapping lecture halls for trading floors and seminar rooms for Wall Street office suites.
China’s Growing Reach in Shipping
An "end-to-end" approach in process management means handling a task or product from its initial planning stages to the finishing point or delivery, without relying on intermediaries for specific steps. No nation does this better than China.
Does a 529 Plan Earn Interest?
529 plans do not earn interest like a traditional savings account. However, they offer strong growth potential through a range of investment options.
Housing Reforms On The Horizon?
Some of the most useful financial advice has a homespun tone, like to make hay while the sun is shining or save up for a rainy day. I recently encountered another helpful idea in that vein: Think of your house like a family member who is always sick.
The Stealth Bear Market
Given the uncertainty of what potentially happens next, the recent rally is an excellent opportunity to adjust portfolio risks to navigate the next leg of this market cycle.
Beyond Service Expansion: Why Better Client Communication Drives Growth
Clients aren’t asking their financial advisor to be everything. They’re asking for clarity and confidence in what matters most to them. Simplifying the client experience may be the most strategic move advisors can make.
Gen Z, Don't be Fooled by GenAI Financial Advisers
The wealth management industry is prepared to court its newest potential clients: Gen Z. Instead of trotting out older professionals with decades of experience, companies are utilizing generative AI to develop digital assistants.
40 Million Opportunities to Lead With Advice
In this article, I focus on five essential age-based milestones and life events that collectively present more than 40 million advice opportunities, enabling financial advisors to showcase their care and expertise beyond traditional investment strategies.
The Big Beautiful Bill: Stimulus Now, Tightening Later
While official estimates remain fluid and subject to change, our preliminary analysis at the time of this writing suggests that the House Reconciliation Proposal could significantly increase the national debt over the next decade.
Why Tax Losses Are Only Part of the Investment Return Story
Over many years of educating investors about direct indexing, we have noticed a common misunderstanding—conflating the economic value of harvested losses with the investment return on the performance statement.
Lights, Camera…Tariffs?
Few leading men of the 1960s and 1970s were more dashing than Clint Eastwood. He played a series of gritty heroes, trying to do right in a world gone wrong.
Making Your Nest Egg Last As Long As You Do
How do you make sure your nest egg lasts as long as you do? Figuring out a safe withdrawal rate is tricky, because life is unpredictable. Markets and inflation rise and fall, tax laws change, and political philosophies come and go.
Wealth Planning in a League of Its Own: Guidance for Professional Athletes
Without proper financial guidance and planning, the end of their career could be followed by serious financial difficulties. While every athlete’s legal, tax, and financial picture is different, here are some of the topics that should be reviewed with athletes.
Trade Tariffs: What History Teaches Us to Mitigate Their Impact
A KEY PLANK of the new administration’s economic policy has been to embrace tariffs, a sharp reversal of decades of free market trade.
529 Plan vs. Roth IRA
529 plans and Roth IRAs are two tax-advantaged accounts designed to help you save for future expenses.
What Comes After the Sale? Turning Real Estate Liquidity Into a Long-Term Wealth Strategy
Selling your real estate portfolio, especially investment properties you and your family have held for years or decades, can be a complex process.
Tariff U-Turn; Lingering Doubts
Markets rallied after a surprise tariff rollback, but with valuations stretched and policy signals still mixed, investors appear to be leaning toward flexibility, fundamentals, and selective exposure.
The Endowment Tax: Thoughts and Considerations for Investors
The Endowment Tax was introduced during the first Trump administration as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
Tailored Lending: A Strategic Tool for Sophisticated Individuals
Your financial requirements are multifaceted, necessitating strategies tailored to your specific needs. Tailored lending can be a valuable addition to a high-net-worth individual’s financial plan, helping you optimize cash flow, maximize tax efficiency and realize important estate planning goals.
Portfolio Management as the U.S. Shifts Its Geopolitical Role
Investors should always be attuned to inflation risk, but it seems pronounced in this moment. How should your clients adjust behavior and investments?
Using AI to Create a Monte Carlo Retirement Simulation
As AI capabilities continue to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated financial planning tools to become accessible to the average person, potentially improving retirement outcomes for many.
What is Direct Indexing?
Direct indexing has been in the news a lot more in recent years. Larger industry players have strategically acquired a number of providers—including Parametric. And many new entrants have entered the space, looking to build on its success.
A New Dawn?
Trade pacts with America will not mean a return to the old normal.
529 Plans: Not Just for College
529 plans offer tax-free savings for a variety of education expenses, including K-12 tuition, vocational training and apprenticeships. Our Bill Cass discusses the trends in 529 savings plans.
The Friendshoring Dilemma
In the aftermath of the 2018 trade skirmishes with China and the pandemic, nearshoring and friendshoring quickly became buzzwords. But like many other catch phrases, these two may soon fade from usage and memory.
How To Create Client Loyalty for Life
Loyalty isn’t something you can demand, nor is it something that happens overnight. It’s something you earn, step by step, through trust, consistency, and a genuine commitment to your client’s well-being.
Student Debt Default Deluge
Debt collectors have been unpopular since ancient times, but they play a necessary role in the lending lifecycle. Their jobs are not easy: I recall one collector noting that there are few ways to communicate with defaulted borrowers.
Moody’s Debt Downgrade – Does It Matter?
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
Goldman to Boost Middle East Headcount, Eyes Wealth Fund Deals
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is looking to open more offices and boost headcount in the Middle East, joining Wall Street peers expanding in the region to tap its deep pools of capital.
The Rebirth of the 60/40 Portfolio Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
The 60/40 approach has not been what it was just a few years ago. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
Trade Progress: Small Steps
The signal of announcing trade pacts is an important start.
QTR Family Wealth Launches Independent RIA Firm
QTR Family Wealth, a full-service wealth management firm owned and led by brothers Wes and Chad Hunter, proudly announces the official launch of its independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
The Most Revealing Question in Personal Investing…and How Warren Buffett Helps Us Answer It
Over the past ten years, we’ve discussed this question with about 50 of our friends and clients, resulting in many animated and productive conversations.
A 401(k) in Every Pot? The Glidepath to Nowhere
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Treasuries, Dollar Fall as Moody’s Sharpens Focus on US Debt
Long-dated Treasuries fell on Monday as investor attention turned to the US’ ballooning debt after Moody’s Ratings stripped the nation of its last top credit rating.
Is It a New Bull Market?
The recent rally began when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck a more conciliatory tone with China, saying he expected a de-escalation shortly.
Better Tariff News, but Uncertainty to Limit Potential Benefits Near Term
Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions.
Special Tax Alert: House Committee Advances Tax Bill
The House Ways & Means Committee advanced a comprehensive tax bill this week. Our Bill Cass discusses the key provisions and how they may impact taxpayers.
Hidden Healthcare Costs: Understanding Financial Security for Retirees
Retirement. It’s a phase of life that brings with it unique challenges, particularly when it comes to healthcare. In the U.S., the average lifespan is 79 years (compared to the global average of 73 years).