Regardless of the source of your wealth, it takes sound investment management and skillful deployment of asset protection tools and strategies to preserve it.

Before deciding on an investment advisor, investors should consider how the advisor’s skill set and approach align with their own unique financial needs and objectives. Here are five questions every investor should ask their advisor.

With the S&P 500 posting a total return of nearly 6% in January, 2018 had gotten off to a very fast start, reaching a near-term high on January 26.

In January we observed three factors driving performance: strong “growth stock” performance, better corporate earnings trends, and a weak U.S. dollar.

The FOMC left the target range for federal funds at 1.25% - 1.50%. Futures markets predicted no change at the last meeting for departing Chair Janet Yellen.

Our proprietary Equity Income Strategy, with a focus on total return, invests in high-quality securities that exhibit dividend growth at a rate greater than the market.

As we begin the new year, we are encouraged that secular stagnation - the extended period of slow growth we have been experiencing - has finally given way to accelerated growth and a synchronized global economic expansion.

The MSCI All Cap World Index ex USA, which tracks both developed and emerging markets, was up 2.2% in December and finished up 27.2% for the year. This year also marked the first time since 2012 that the MSCI All Cap World Index ex USA outperformed the domestic S&P 500 Index.

Choosing a venue, making the guest list, ordering the flowers—these are all essential tasks for the happy couple. But there’s another important undertaking that no couple can afford to neglect, and that’s getting the financial house in order.

Our Multi-Manager Investment Program (MMIP) provides access to institutional-quality investment managers with strong, risk-adjusted returns across the full range of asset classes.

There are both company-specific factors as well as unique characteristics of our investment process involved in developing our Disciplined Equity Strategy.

Discipline is one of the most important factors in successful investing, as discipline is what keeps an investment manager focused on the characteristics of a high quality investment.

We’ve been honored this year to have Jack Uldrich, a prominent futurist and author, as a keynote speaker for our CIBC Atlantic Trust Speaker Series, which took place in seven cities across the U.S. and attracted more than 700 attendees.

If ever there was a time to describe employment numbers as “benign,” then this is it. Total nonfarm payrolls reported last Friday were solid and exceeded the Bloomberg consensus payroll estimate of leading economists.

The FOMC raised the target range for the federal funds rate by 0.25% to 1.25% - 1.50%. Fed officials have been signaling a willingness to raise rates at this meeting for some time and markets were prepared for the move.