It may be surprising to learn that Social Security remains the largest source of retirement income for Americans age 65 or older. However, there may be circumstances in which you may wish to claim benefits before reaching retirement age; it may also be beneficial to delay benefits until later in life in certain cases. Deciding when to begin claiming Social Security benefits depends on each...

      For better and worse, technology has permanently changed the way people interact. Perhaps you’ve done business with someone on the other side of the world or reconnected with an old friend on Facebook. On the other hand, maybe the guy sitting in front of you at the last movie you saw wouldn’t get off his cell phone.     Maybe you’ve tried to have a...

When it comes to charitable giving, choosing the right cause can be a difficult—and personal—decision to make. Even for those who have a preferred recipient in mind, thinking about how to give strategically can be just as challenging.   The truth is that strategic philanthropy—similar to intentional asset allocation—requires as much of a donor’s brain as it does his or her bank account....

We are pleased to announce that Atlantic Trust has been recognized as one of the top U.S. wealth management firms in the 2014 Luxury Brand Status Index™ (LBSI) Wealth Management survey! This independent research validates our dedication to serving as a trusted advisor to our clients and their families. Atlantic Trust is committed to providing investment excellence along with the highest quality...

I am pleased to welcome Susan E. Farris, CFA, to our Atlantic Trust team as a managing director and senior relationship manager, in our Boston office.   Susan Farris brings more than 18 years of experience helping high net worth families achieve their wealth management objectives.  Prior to joining Atlantic Trust, she was a managing director for seven years with Windhaven Investment...

One of our biggest fears as we age is becoming a burden to loved ones if we become incapable of living independently. Many boomers have helped care for their own parents and know firsthand how emotionally and financially draining long-term care can be. That’s why you may want to consider long-term care insurance as part of your retirement planning. Long-term care insurance is not the same as...

At Atlantic Trust, we often receive questions from grandparents who want to provide a financial cushion for their grandchildren in the future. But lately, these clients have been calling with a more pressing concern: How can they assist their adult children who are overwhelmed by the high costs of raising children? As the mother of two adult children, I know from experience that the costs of...

The year has been an excellent one so far: Atlantic Trust’s growth continues, with assets under management reaching $24.4 billion—an increase of $409.9 million, calendar year-to-date—including reaching a milestone of 7 years of consecutive quarters of positive net cash flows through April 30, 2014. A strong client retention rate—99% over the past year for clients with more than $5 million in...

It’s important to our Atlantic Trust management team to stay connected to our clients and give them access to the best thinking of experts both inside and outside of our firm. We commit significant time and resources to traveling across the country each year and hosting events on topics that address timely, relevant concerns for our clients and referral sources.      ...

As the S&P 500 reached progressive new highs, stoked by unconventional monetary stimulus and with evident pockets of valuation excess, many have asked the question, “Are we in another bubble?”   Our response is no, but this question is always a wise one to ask. Overall market valuations are middling relative to the long-term average, and interest rates remain well below average....

A team of eight hardy Atlantic Trust colleagues from the Boston office participated in the Best Buddies Challenge, a ride, run or walk charity event supporting Best Buddies, an international organization that creates opportunities for friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year’s event was held...

  We are very pleased to announce that a new senior relationship management team has joined our Chicago office—David M. Butts, CFP® as managing director and senior relationship manager and Michael D. Zeier as vice president and associate relationship manager. These hires are part of our ongoing, firm-wide initiative to attract respected industry professionals to our team.   ...

This is the third and final installment of our three-part series on family legacy planning. In Part I, we examined how your family’s values, history and long-term goals can help shape your legacy over time and discussed the importance of looking at wealth holistically, rather than exclusively in terms of the physical assets. In Part II, we looked at some of the ways to bring your family’s...

This is Part II of our three-part series on family legacy planning.  In Part I, we discussed the importance of looking at wealth holistically, rather than exclusively in terms of the physical assets. In Part II, we will look at some of the ways to bring your family’s vision to life. While vision is critical as a touchstone, legacy planning tools such as ethical wills, let­ters to trustees...

Family legacy planning is an opportunity to define, reflect on and express what wealth really means to the family. For most families, this process involves identifying the core values that make the family who it is. For some, it is an opportunity to groom the family’s future leaders. If done well, for all families, it may be what makes estate planning’s legal and tax provisions understandable...