CIBC Private Wealth Management Blog

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Firm News

CIBC U.S. Private Wealth Management Wins Two 2020 Private Asset Management Awards

Dave Donabedian, CFA
February 24, 2020

CIBC U.S. Private Wealth Management is pleased to announce that we received Private Asset Management (PAM) awards for Best High Net-Worth Investment Platform and Best Private Wealth Manager Over $5 billion—Performance. PAM , a leading financial services industry trade publication, announced the award on February 6 at a ceremony in New York. This is the tenth consecutive year that CIBC...

Firm News

Welcoming Lowenhaupt Global Advisors Team

Jack Markwalter
September 03, 2019

We are pleased to announce that Lowenhaupt Global Advisors (LGA), a leading family office with $1.8 billion under management and 17 employees in St. Louis and New York, has joined CIBC Private Wealth Management ( see press release ). The combination of our talented teams further builds on our firm’s ability to address the complex needs of ultra-high net worth, multi-generational families. ...

Firm News

CIBC Brings Together Private Wealth and Commercial Banking Teams in New Office Space in West Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida

Jack Markwalter
June 11, 2019

I am pleased to announce that on June 3, our Private Wealth team joined CIBC’s Commercial Banking team and relocated to new office space at 525 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, Florida. The firm is also brings together the Private Wealth and Commercial Banking teams into new office space at 100 North Tampa Street in Tampa, Florida as of today. While both Private Wealth and...

Firm News

CIBC Private Wealth Management Wins Private Asset Management’s Award for Best Investment Platform

Eric Propper, CFA
February 14, 2019

CIBC Private Wealth Management is pleased to announce that we have received Private Asset Management (PAM)’s award for Best Investment Platform—Performance. PAM, a leading financial services industry trade publication, announced the award on February 7 at a ceremony in New York . The PAM Awards recognize the top investment professionals, wealth advisers, legal firms, consultants and other...

Firm News

CIBC Extends Brand Across U.S.

Jack Markwalter
June 25, 2018

Today, we announce that CIBC Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management has become CIBC Private Wealth Management. The same team our clients trust is backed by one of the strongest banks in North America with 150 years of providing exceptional client service. For nearly five years, CIBC has been investing in the U.S. and enabling us to build our private wealth business. Coming together under...

Firm News

CIBC Atlantic Trust Wins Private Asset Management’s Award for Best Investment Platform

Eric B. Propper, CFA
March 06, 2018

Download PDF We are pleased to announce that CIBC Atlantic Trust has received Private Asset Management (PAM)’s award for Best Investment Platform—Performance . The 2018 PAM Awards were announced last month at a ceremony in New York. This award—our sixth investment-related PAM award—is a significant accomplishment and reflects our unwavering commitment to investment...

Firm News

Talking Innovation with Futurist Jack Uldrich

Carolyn Donnelly
December 15, 2017

Download PDF 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. Uldrich’s specialty is helping organizations develop the foresight necessary to build a successful future. His central premise is...

Firm News

Expanding Our Chicago Presence—Geneva Advisors Joins CIBC Atlantic Trust

John S. Markwalter Jr.
September 01, 2017

Download PDF We are pleased to announce that CIBC Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management has completed its acquisition of Geneva Advisors , a private wealth management firm headquartered in Chicago. With the addition of Geneva, our firm now has more than 430 employees in 14 markets nationwide and approximately $40 billion in assets entrusted to our care. Together, Geneva...

Firm News

CIBC Announces Agreement to Acquire Geneva Advisors

John S. Markwalter Jr.
July 07, 2017

Download PDF We are pleased to announce today that CIBC will be acquiring Geneva Advisors , a private wealth management firm headquartered in Chicago with US$8.4B in assets under management and a team of approximately 100 client-focused employees ( see press release ). They will join our CIBC Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management team when the transaction closes in the fourth...

Firm News

Expanding Our Firm’s Services

John S. Markwalter Jr.
June 26, 2017

Download PDF We are pleased to announce that CIBC has completed its acquisition of PrivateBancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, The PrivateBank. Headquartered in Chicago, The PrivateBank is a high-quality, middle-market commercial bank. We expect this acquisition to benefit our clients by offering additional access to a full range of private banking, deposit and lending services. As...

Firm News

Linda Beerman Resumes Role as Head of CIBC Atlantic Trust’s Wealth Strategies Group

Eric B. Propper CFA
May 31, 2017

Download PDF We are pleased to announce that Linda Beerman has resumed her role as head of the CIBC Atlantic Trust Wealth Strategies Group . Linda has served 16 years with the firm as a leader in various roles, including chief fiduciary officer and as a member of the firmwide Operating Committee, in addition to her service as head of the Wealth Strategies Group, which she...

Firm News

2017 and Beyond: Oil & Gas Outlook Event Speaker Series

John Winslow
May 05, 2017

Texas has long been at the epicenter of all things energy-related, and the past several years have been challenging and volatile. With this in mind, CIBC Atlantic Trust held three events last week in Houston (the energy capital of the U.S.) and Dallas . These interactive, dynamic sessions involved more than 100 highly engaged participants. Speaking first was CIBC Atlantic Trust...

Firm News

Family Wealth Report Recognizes CIBC Atlantic Trust with Private Client Investment Platform Award

Eric B. Propper CFA
March 17, 2017

Kishore Setty, Paulina Mejia, Kyle Edmonds, and I attended the fourth annual Family Wealth Report (FWR) awards ceremony in New York on March 2 and proudly accepted the Private Client Investment Platform award on behalf of CIBC Atlantic Trust and our investment Team. This is the third consecutive year that CIBC Atlantic Trust has been recognized by FWR , a leading trade publication...

Firm News

CIBC Atlantic Trust Receives National Recognition at Private Asset Management Awards

Eric B. Propper CFA
March 09, 2017

My colleagues and I were pleased to accept two awards from Private Asset Management (PAM) magazine on February 13 at their annual ceremony in New York: Best Investment Platform – Performance Best Trusts and Estates Division This is the seventh consecutive year that CIBC Atlantic Trust has been recognized by PAM, a financial services industry trade publication. The...

Firm News

Announcing New Office Heads in Atlanta and New York

Eric B. Propper CFA
February 17, 2017

We are pleased to announce that Kishore Setty , CFA, and Scott Thompson , CTFA, were named heads of our New York and Atlanta offices, respectively. A great deal of thought and strategic planning went into these important leadership transitions, and they reflect a commitment to ensuring continuity and consistency with our management team. Atlantic Trust invests in our rising talent...

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G2G Impact

Why Insurance is Your Safety Net, Not an Investment

Jordan Sheiner
December 19, 2018

Our four-part series about setting and achieving your financial goals concludes with an in-depth look at insurance: how to get it and how to use it effectively. When you think of insurance, the words “health” or “car” are probably closely associated. For most young professionals, these are generally the first and only types of insurance that are needed for now. However, as objectives...

G2G Impact

G2G Impact: How to Control Your Credit So It Doesn’t Control You

Jordan Sheiner
December 11, 2018

Welcome to Part III of our four-part series about some of the strategies you can use to achieve your financial goals—both today and in the future. More than ever before, debt has found a way to creep into nearly all of our lives. Today, 70 percent of college students graduate with significant student loan debt, and the average American has a credit card balance of $6,375...

G2G Impact

G2G Impact Planning Foundations: Savings and Investments

Jordan Sheiner
December 04, 2018

Welcome to Part II of our four-part series about some of the strategies you can use to achieve your financial goals—both today and in the future. When it comes to building your financial roadmap, both savings and investments are core components of a sound path to retirement. The good news is that the Millennial generation is already great at saving —a result of having the importance of...

G2G Impact

G2G Impact Planning Foundations: Planning For Your Future

Jordan Sheiner
November 28, 2018

Welcome to Part I of our four-part series about some of the strategies you can use to achieve your financial goals—both today and in the future. Millennial this, millennial that. News outlets love to cover them, and brands have struggled to understand them, but the fact remains that millennials are finally starting to come into their own. In fact, millennials are now the largest...

G2G Impact

In Partnership: Using Two Strategies to Target Sweet Spots in the Market

Dave Donabedian, CFA
September 25, 2018

Mid-cap stocks are often referred to as the market’s sweet spot—they are typically less volatile than small-cap stocks but offer more growth potential than large caps. This combination has resulted in favorable risk-adjusted returns over time, which investors tend to seek. Yet, historically, mid-cap stocks have been largely overlooked. In the early 1990s, two investment teams began to...

G2G Impact

How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child?

Shady Jadali
November 16, 2017

Download PDF The average cost of raising a child born in 2015 from birth to age 17 is projected to be $233,610, according to a recent study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture . That number varies based on the region of the country and each parent’s income level, but regardless, the point stands that having children comes with serious long-term financial obligations. Here’s a...

G2G Impact

Communication is the Key to a Healthy Family Wealth Culture

Ryan Christine Coulson
August 24, 2017

Download PDF Communication is the most vital component in any relationship, whether personal or professional because communication serves as the foundation of trust. However, achieving effective and constructive communication can be a challenge. As playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” ...

G2G Impact

5 Financial Priorities to Pass on to Your Kids

Halsey Schreier
July 18, 2017

Download PDF Helping your children make financial decisions is a good thing—you can point them in the right direction when they’re wondering if they can afford that car, which credit card to open or whether it’s a good idea to take out that loan. Helping them with decisions like these will teach them good financial practices— an undeniably necessary skill. However, it is even...

G2G Impact

How To Financially Prepare For A Job Transition This Year

John Switchenko
June 15, 2017

Download PDF Leaving a thankless job to pursue a better opportunity can be rewarding, but it can also be financially scary. Money is one of the main reasons people stay at jobs they don’t like, even if they could potentially earn more elsewhere. The comforts of benefits, a guaranteed paycheck, and familiarity are understandably hard to give up. Going through any job...

G2G Impact

What Does This "Me Generation" Really Want?

J. Kent Nossaman
May 18, 2017

Millennials (aka Gen Yers), as a group, don’t have the best reputation. They’ve been referred to as egotistical, shallow and lazy. But, let’s be honest—throughout time, hasn’t the younger generation typically been discredited? We’ve all heard the “When I was your age…” stories and the question, “What’s with kids these days?” Perhaps the generalizations about millennials is similar to...

G2G Impact

9 Important Financial Habits To Learn In Your 20s

Joe Waldvogel, CFP®, CAIA®
May 12, 2017

The 20s are the first truly formative decade of your financial life. Of course, you learn from examples around you growing up, and some people end up on their own financially at an earlier age. However, for the most part, your 20s are when you’re managing your money and making financial decisions independently for the first time. In this decade, not only is it important to gain confidence...

G2G Impact

6 Signs 2017 Is the Year to Monetize Your Hobby

Duncan Edwards CFP
March 15, 2017

Taking the leap from working at your hobby when it fits into your schedule to making money from that hobby is a significant commitment. However, if you have always wondered if your passion project could actually be lucrative, now may be the time to find out. If you’ve always had creative projects outside of work, but never made it into a career, or if you have made a certain product...

G2G Impact

Faith. Family. Friends. How a Family's Values Come to Life

Linda S. Beerman
March 01, 2017

While working with our client families, we have learned that families who are successful at transferring wealth to the next generations adhere to our G2G Impact 3 Principles: they integrate their family wealth planning, they evolve a healthy culture around wealth and they develop the rising generation family members. Central to all of these principles is a desire to transmit...

G2G Impact

7 Conversations You Should Have with Your Financial Advisor

Rogelio Duran
February 22, 2017

It’s difficult to know where to start with a new financial advisor. How do you get started, and what do you tackle first? Even if you’ve had a relationship with your advisor for 20 or more years, it’s entirely possible that there are financial topics you haven’t covered yet. For us, it’s important that you get the most out of your relationship with your advisor. We are here to give advice...

G2G Impact

Once Upon a Time: The Importance of Sharing Your Family Story

Cathy Schnaubelt
February 16, 2017

We all have a story. It evolves daily and grows along with our family. It becomes part of our personal history, and it is important to not only relive those moments for ourselves, but also to share those memories with our children and grandchildren. Communicating these experiences—whether positive or otherwise—connects the past to the future and provides the next generation with insights...

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Investments

May Investment Bulletin

Bill Norris
May 07, 2020

April Key Drivers As one would expect, the trajectory of global equity markets tends to be highly correlated with data flow and news on the spread of COVID-19. When a more optimistic view on treatment and containment became evident in April, global markets rallied strongly with the S&P 500 rallying by more than 12%, while bond yields remained flat. With the economic impact...

Investments

Making sense of the muni market

Gary Pzegeo, CFA
May 07, 2020

The economic strain of COVID-19 has had an immediate impact on state and local government finances. While fiscal and monetary policy has been introduced to lessen the blow, investors may be left questioning what this means for municipal bonds as an investment.

Investments

Equity strategy performance: Q1 and beyond

Patricia Bannan, CFA
May 04, 2020

First quarter market overview: U.S. and international equities The first quarter of 2020 came to a close with a steep sell off in equity markets around the world, resulting in the largest quarterly market decline since the Great Financial Crisis. Demand destruction arrived at breathtaking speed as individuals retreated to their homes in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus as...

Investments

COVID-19 fallout: An acceleration in de-globalization

Dave Donabedian, CFA
May 01, 2020

Background Perhaps the most important economic and investment trend of the last generation was globalization. Sparked by the fall of the Soviet Union, the rollout of the common euro currency, the accession of China to the World Trade Organization and the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), national borders opened up to goods and services from around the globe. From...

Investments

Prospects for economic recovery

Dave Donabedian, CFA
April 23, 2020

In recent weeks, we’ve experienced the beginning of a deep recession due to the public health policy put in place to combat COVID-19. While we can’t say that the worst of the virus’ toll is behind us, CIBC Private Wealth Chief Investment Officer Dave Donabedian, CFA, contemplates what the economic reopening process—and ultimately, a recovery—might look like.

Investments

International markets in an uncertain world

Dan Delany and Matt Scherer
April 17, 2020

After a positive start for international markets in January with the signing of a Phase I trade deal between China and the United States, the novel coronavirus prompted a steep sell off in equity markets around the world. Investors are faced with unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the impact of the virus on economies and corporate fundamentals. Intensifying the uncertainty...

Investments

The math of the aftermath: Looking past the corona shock

Dave Donabedian, CFA
April 15, 2020

We’re already giving thought to what the world will look like when we’re past the worst of the coronavirus. A return to normalcy will, in a number of dimensions, still be a new normal. The last crisis left behind a changed financial system, a pile of government debt, a long road to full employment and a cycle in which the new normal for interest rates was much lower. So, we ask...

Investments

Federal Reserve announces lending program details on up to $2.3 trillion to support the economy

Gary Pzegeo, CFA
April 09, 2020

The Federal Reserve released an announcement this morning providing some detail around lending facilities to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Money allocated to the U.S. Treasury as part of the recently enacted CARES act will be used as a first loss equity investment alongside loans facilitated by the Fed in an amount up to $2.3 trillion with today’s announcement. The...

Investments

April Investment Bulletin

Bill Norris
April 06, 2020

March key drivers In what continues to feel like a bad movie, the beginning of the spread of COVID-19 in late February carried into March, and the virus was the single biggest driver of financial markets around the world. Volatility spiked, global equity markets sank, and the realization that we are probably in a shock-induced recession became top of mind for investors. The global...

Investments

The intentional recession: Markers along the road

Dave Donabedian, CFA
April 01, 2020

When will the economy begin to recover? CIBC Private Wealth Chief Investment Officer Dave Donabedian, CFA, provides insight into three critical issues: fiscal and monetary policy, Asian economies and the path of COVID-19 itself.

Investments

COVID-19 and the markets: Addressing four big questions

Dave Donabedian, CFA
March 23, 2020

Are we in a recession, and how bad will it get? Officially, recessions aren’t declared until after they are over. But, we are assuming that a recession began in March. The disruption to businesses and employees created by social distancing, shelter-in-place orders and more draconian measures to come will have an increasingly negative impact on activity. In short, hibernation is not good for...

Investments

FOMC expands efforts to support the economy

Gary Pzegeo, CFA
March 23, 2020

The Federal Reserve’s actions to date, including a reduction in the overnight target rate to a range of 0.00% - 0.25% and a massive increase in the availability of dollars to fund inventories of Treasury and Mortgage-backed collateral, were thwarted by uncertainty over the economic repercussions of Covid-19 and an absence of credit market liquidity. The Fed cannot address the...

Investments

Equity Market Update in Response to COVID-19

Patricia
March 20, 2020

Yesterday, I provided an overview of the current state of the equity market and an update on how our equity teams are responding. To learn more, please listen to my podcast below: Learn more

Investments

The Federal Reserve Steps Up (Again)

Dave Donabedian, CFA
March 16, 2020

As often happens during crises, the big stuff happens over the weekend. At 5 P.M. EDT, on Sunday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced a huge and multifaceted monetary policy move along with another substantial liquidity injection (details below). Meanwhile, the trend in social distancing accelerated dramatically around the world. While these prudent measures are a hopeful development for the...

Investments

Financial Markets Update - Headwinds Intensify

Dave Donabedian, CFA
March 09, 2020

Concern over the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus turned to outright fear over the weekend. As a result, stock prices declined at the market open Monday morning. Here are key developments that led to this next leg down in equity markets. Coronavirus news flow An accelerating number of cases confirmed in the U.S. and many other countries. Credit markets On...

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Uncategorized

Volatility Returns

Dave Donabedian, CFA
October 12, 2018

Download PDF The S&P 500 has dropped over six consecutive trading sessions and is now 7% below the all-time high reached on September 20, 2018. This follows a strong third quarter (+7.2%)—the best in more than four years. Here is where U.S. equity returns stand on a year-to-date basis as of the market close on October 11, 2018: Factors Behind the Selloff While a...

Uncategorized

Investing in China

Ohm Srinivasan, CFA
September 26, 2018

Emerging markets have become volatile in recent months due to the conflict over global trade, especially as it becomes a showdown between the U.S. and China. Both rhetoric and action on this front have been and may continue to be highly unpredictable. The trade war could also have a ripple effect on global growth. At the same time, waiting for all of these macro issues to resolve themselves...

Uncategorized

Emerging Markets: Looking Through the Storm

Dave Donabedian, CFA
August 21, 2018

Download PDF Most headlines related to emerging markets (EM) have been decidedly negative this year. The growing U.S. trade conflict with China (by far the biggest emerging economy) helped spark a bear-market-sized decline in the Shanghai Composite Stock Market Index over the last seven months. 1 More recently, the economic and financial travails of Turkey have rippled through...

Uncategorized

Private Equity: Too Much Demand?

Kyle Leavitt
May 22, 2018

Download PDF This past year saw record levels of capital being raised by Private Equity (PE) funds. This was the result of more firms coming to market to raise funds and a seemingly universal increase in the size of each fund raised. The graphic below shows how substantial the increase has been in both fund size and the number of funds being raised. This influx of capital has been...

Uncategorized

Co-Investments: A Closer Look

Lester P. Duke, CFA
September 20, 2017

Download PDF Co-investing, also referred to as direct investing, is becoming a larger and more dynamic element of private market investing in recent years, and we believe the trend will accelerate over time. Here we provide a brief overview of what co-investing is, how it’s different from investing in a traditional private equity fund, its key advantages and special considerations...

Uncategorized

Is Inflation Whipped?

David L. Donabedian CFA
August 24, 2017

Download PDF In 1974, President Gerald Ford encouraged all Americans to wear "WIN" buttons (Whip Inflation Now) as a way to rally the country against the inflationary spiral that was causing major economic dislocations and rapidly rising interest rates. Fast forward to 2017, and today’s WIN button could stand for “Where’s Inflation Now?” Despite a long economic expansion, a...

Uncategorized

Investors Beware…Of Investors

Scott M. Burg, CFA, CAIA
June 29, 2017

Download PDF Last month’s investment article highlighted the debate surrounding active vs. passive investment, framed by the notion that most professionally managed funds have struggled to keep up with indices in recent years. This month, we continue our discussion, but with a different dimension of active management, looking at whether individual investors are successful in...

Uncategorized

It’s Never Too Early to Plan

Judith A. Saxe AEP®
June 29, 2017

Download PDF Summer is here, and your adult children may now be home from college, your child may be getting ready for his or her first post-college job or you may be helping a child prepare to leave for college for the first time. As a parent, you can use these opportunities to discuss some important estate and financial planning issues that develop as your child becomes an adult....

Uncategorized

Asset Allocation Committee Update

David L. Donabedian CFA
May 24, 2017

Download PDF At its May meeting, the CIBC Atlantic Trust Asset Allocation Committee (AAC) determined that a higher relative allocation to developed international equity markets is appropriate under current market conditions. Developed international markets consist primarily of equities in Europe and Japan, which comprise over 85% of the MSCI Europe, Australia, Far East Index...

Uncategorized

An Active Debate on Passive Investing

John Tennaro
May 24, 2017

Download PDF There have been many existential debates about the “optimal” way to invest: growth stocks vs. value stocks, international vs. U.S.-only portfolios, and the list goes on. This type of discussion tends to crop up after one type of investment outperforms another type for a period of time, which leads some to declare that today’s winner will remain superior for years to...

Uncategorized

What Is Artificial Intelligence and Why Should Investors Care?

Jigar Patel
March 30, 2017

We believe artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting and transformative opportunities on the horizon. The foundation of computing was built upon the idea of people instructing a computer regarding the processes it should perform. Computers behaved like calculators, crunching data without having the ability to make decisions. In recent years, however, technology has made...

Uncategorized

What’s the Deal with Private Equity? Understanding Private Equity Returns

Daniel Criscuolo
February 23, 2017

For some investors, private equity (PE) may be a bit of a mystery. Their only exposure might be a story in The Wall Street Journal, likely titled, “Is this the end of private equity?” While it seems that this article comes out every year, the asset class has been generating attractive long-term performance over multiple investment cycles, and we believe performance will be attractive for years...

Uncategorized

Surprise, Surprise

David L. Donabedian CFA
December 01, 2016

Both the Election and Market Reaction Confound the Consensus At its November meeting, the Atlantic Trust Asset Allocation Committee (AAC) focused on the economic and investment implications of the election results. We believe the unique nature of the incoming administration, along with the Republican Congress and “one-party rule” in Washington, will bring significant change to the policy...

Uncategorized

Year-End Tax Planning Checklist: What to Know

Ryan Christine Coulson
December 01, 2016

Every year we advise our clients to engage in routine, year-end tax planning. This planning is needed now, especially as we take President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tax policies into consideration. With the new year quickly approaching, our Wealth Strategies Group has created the following checklist that may serve as a starting point for your year-end tax planning: ...

Uncategorized

Winners and Losers: Potential Election Impact on Market Sectors

W. Brant Houston CFA
September 27, 2016

In this very political season, investors are increasingly focused on how the November election will impact the investment environment for 2017. In the upcoming issue of The Advisor , our quarterly newsletter, we cover potential consequences for the tax code as well as the economic implications for trade policy. Aside from these major macro issues, there could be industry-specific policy...

Uncategorized

"Is It Over Yet?" Thoughts on the Election and Markets

David L. Donabedian CFA
August 30, 2016

More than a year after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and businessman Donald Trump entered the presidential race, we still have over two months to go before Election Day. The “campaign season” has turned into a near-permanent state of affairs. A baby born on the day Clinton announced her candidacy will most likely be walking and talking by the election date, and a Major League...

Uncategorized

Creating Flexible Trusts in Uncertain Times

Judith A. Saxe AEP®
June 29, 2016

Attorneys and other advisors often recommend trusts to help manage and protect assets for the long term or to help achieve a certain tax benefit. If a trust is designed to be irrevocable, whether during life or after death, it is critical to consider whether it makes sense to add provisions that may enable trust modifications if necessary to adapt to changing times and circumstances....

Uncategorized

Negative Interest Rates: Paying to Save

Gary E. Pzegeo CFA
June 29, 2016

Exorbitant pricing has returned to markets, and not just in Silicon Valley or biotech stocks. Over the last several months, central banks in Europe and Japan have begun charging member financial institutions to store bank reserves anywhere from 0.1% to 0.4% of the value of those reserves. This has been called Negative Interest Rate Policy, or NIRP. The numbers are small, but the...

Uncategorized

3 Questions to Ask When Helping Aging Parents with Estate Planning

Carly Howard
May 25, 2016

What can you do to help your parents with their estate planning? It’s difficult to know what kind of “help” your parents may need—or when it’s the right time to step in—especially if your parents are reluctant to share information about their finances. Coordinating with your parents’ advisors is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of your parents’ estate planning needs. ...

Uncategorized

Brexit: Will They Stay or Will They Go?

David L. Donabedian CFA
May 25, 2016

"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" This is the question that British voters will answer in a June 23rd national referendum. As the vote approaches, this could be a source of volatility in global equity, fixed income and currency markets. ...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive planning with low market values using gifts

Theresa Marx
May 06, 2020

This is the sixth article in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. As the world economy trudges through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, many investment and financial plans are on hold. However, these challenging times may present an opportunity to focus on how best to preserve wealth for the benefit of future generations. With...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive planning with low interest rates using intra-family loans

Theresa Marx
April 29, 2020

This is the fifth in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. The current economic conditions and market volatility have left many lacking confidence about the future. Yet it is important, perhaps now more than ever, to continue to look for wealth planning opportunities and not lose sight of the things that matter most in life—which for...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive planning with low market values using a sale to a Grantor Trust

Theresa Marx
April 20, 2020

This is the fourth in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. Despite the current uncertainty and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there still may be opportunities for wealth planning. The current unfortunate circumstances have created a prime environment for certain wealth transfer strategies—such as sales to grantor trusts—which...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive Planning With Low Market Values Using Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts

Theresa Marx
April 13, 2020

This is the third blog in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. Much has been written about how market volatility and low asset valuations create an opportunity to efficiently move wealth to children and grandchildren.While those explanations might resonate, not everyone is ready to give away a significant amount of wealth.After all, what if...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive Planning in Volatile Markets with Roth Conversions

Theresa Marx
April 08, 2020

This is the second in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. Do you have a traditional IRA that will produce ordinary income on distributions? Would you like to possibly mitigate income taxes on those distributions for yourself as well as your heirs? Financial markets have declined over recent weeks, as investors digested evidence of a...

Wealth Strategies

The CARES Act: Key issues for individuals and businesses

Becky Milliman
April 01, 2020

On March 27, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This $2 trillion aid package is designed to provide financial relief and stability to individuals and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act includes relief for individuals in a number of ways including: changes to the treatment of retirement plan accounts,...

Wealth Strategies

Benefits of a GRAT when market values are low

Theresa Marx
March 26, 2020

This is the first in a six-part series that focuses on proactive planning strategies in a volatile market. Global pandemic fears, plunging stocks, the Fed’s emergency interest rate cut and a steep decline in 10-year Treasury yields wreaked havoc on many investment portfolios in recent weeks. Regardless of how bleak the situation may appear, low stock prices and rock-bottom interest...

Wealth Strategies

Proactive Planning During a Time of Uncertainty and Volatility

Theresa Marx
March 22, 2020

While COVID-19 spreads in our world, our country and our communities, many may feel that they are only reacting to the news and circumstances surrounding them. But, there are ways to be proactive during this time as we socially distance ourselves and worry about our health and the health of those around us, as well as the volatility in the markets. From a planning perspective now is a good...

Wealth Strategies

Cybersecurity – The Conversation that Is Missing from the Presidential Debates

Amanda Regnier
March 04, 2020

There is no doubt that advancements in technology are making the world we live in increasingly interconnected. Today, just about every aspect of how we live our lives—from how we communicate, store and transmit personal information, to the production systems and supply chains that are the backbone of our economy, and how we carry out geopolitical and national security—is dependent on the...

Wealth Strategies

Choosing the Right Fiduciary

Kimberly Dwan Bernatz
February 19, 2020

Over the next 25 years, 45 million U.S. households are expected to transfer $68 trillion to the next generation, according to Cerulli Associates. Given the wide use of trusts for estate planning purposes, it’s not surprising that the largest generational wealth transfer in history has resulted in increased trust litigation particularly surrounding the role of successor trustees. A successor...

Wealth Strategies

4 Gifting Strategies That May Work for You and Your Family

Judy Saxe, AEP®, CAP®
February 18, 2020

This is the third blog in a three-part series that focuses on effective philanthropy. Part 1: 3 Steps to Begin (or Continue) Philanthropy Part 2: 4 Steps to Create a Plan for your Philanthropy With a multitrillion-dollar intergenerational wealth transfer set to take place over the next few decades—and a significant portion of that wealth earmarked for philanthropic...

Wealth Strategies

Financial Planning Challenges & IPOs

Brad Craig
February 12, 2020

This is part 2 of a two-part blog series on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Read part 1: IPO Markets IPOs of common stock have generated enormous wealth for founders, investors and employees of emerging startup companies. Identifying an experienced wealth management team (Tax Accountant, Financial Planner, Investment Strategist, Trust & Estate Attorney) is critical to manage...

Wealth Strategies

4 Steps to Create a Plan for your Philanthropy

Judy Saxe, AEP®, CAP®
February 11, 2020

This is the second blog in a three-part series that focuses on effective philanthropy. Read Part 1: 3 Steps to Begin (or Continue) Philanthropy Developing a path to achieving a philanthropic goal can be challenging. The approach must be clear enough to be actionable, yet flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances. To determine your philanthropic path, it’s important for...

Wealth Strategies

3 Steps to Begin (or Continue) Philanthropy

Judy Saxe, AEP®, CAP®
February 04, 2020

This is the first blog in a three-part series that focuses on effective philanthropy. Part 2: 4 Steps to Create a Plan for your Philanthropy Part 3: 4 Gifting Strategies That May Work for You and Your Family Philanthropic giving can be an expression of your beliefs and values, a way to connect with others in the community or with family, and an opportunity to create a...

Wealth Strategies

The SECURE Act: An Overview of What You Should Know

Theresa Marx
January 23, 2020

While the SECURE Act reforms are supposed to make saving for retirement more accessible for a greater number of Americans, there could be unintended consequences, especially for beneficiaries of inherited retirement assets. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) now start at age 72 Americans are living longer and working longer, and now they no longer have to start taking...

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Women's CIRCLE

Healthcare and Wealth Management—Two Sides of the Same Coin

Becky Milliman
October 22, 2019

Advances in modern medicine have made it possible for people to live much longer than ever before. Of course, this is great news. However, a longer life also heightens the risk of running out of money in retirement. This, combined with ever-increasing healthcare costs, paints a potentially dismal picture for many retirees. Indeed, healthcare spending has reached over $3.5 billion in the...

Women's CIRCLE

In a Divorce, Equitable Doesn’t Always Mean Equal

Beth McRae Mayfield
October 15, 2019

No one goes into marriage thinking about splitting. Yet, statistics repeatedly show that roughly half of marriages end in divorce. For many divorcing couples, the signs of financial inequity present themselves well in advance of the divorce proceedings. Still, it’s natural to overlook them, especially when you’re not searching for trouble. Few divorce cases result in an even 50/50 split of...

Women's CIRCLE

3 Considerations for Building Flexibility into Your Trusts

Theresa Marx
October 01, 2019

This is the fourth blog in a four-part series that focuses on estate planning strategies. When the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) was passed, it included a doubling of the federal estate, gift, and GST tax exemption amounts to $10 million, adjusted for inflation. As a result, in 2019, those exemptions are $11.4 million per individual. While the increased exemptions...

Women's CIRCLE

3 Real Estate Transfer Strategies That May Be Right for You

Theresa Marx
September 26, 2019

This is the third blog in a four-part series that focuses on estate planning strategies. The estate and gift tax exemption is $11.4 million per person ($22.8 million for a married couple) in 2019. Depending on your circumstances, gift planning with real estate can be an effective way to take advantage of a large exemption amount without hurting your liquidity. Of course, there are many...

Women's CIRCLE

2 Reasons Why a Dynasty Trust May be an Attractive Strategy

Theresa Marx
September 17, 2019

This is the second blog in a four-part series that focuses on estate planning strategies. There are many reasons to make gifts to younger family members in trust for their benefit rather than outright. Some of the benefits include asset protection, tax planning, and family control. When creating a trust for many generations, one common strategy is a dynasty trust. A dynasty trust is...

Women's CIRCLE

5 Gifting Strategies That May Work for You and Your Family

Theresa Marx
September 12, 2019

This is the first blog in a four-part series that focuses on estate planning strategies. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 has provided a valuable incentive to review existing estate plans and implement new family wealth transfer plans. When planning for the transfer of your wealth, you’ll likely be faced with an array of options. Whether you are leaving a treasured asset to a loved one or...

Women's CIRCLE

The Advisor Podcast - Navigating a Changing Healthcare System

Advisor Magazine
September 02, 2019

The healthcare system can be complex, especially as we age. Being informed about the costs and trends in healthcare while putting healthcare strategies in place can help you make better decisions. In this podcast: Diana Savastano , Founder and Principal of Health assist Becky Milliman , Senior Wealth Strategist To learn more, read the latest edition of ...

Women's CIRCLE

3 Strategies for Funding Education

Beth McRae Mayfield
August 26, 2019

One of the ways you can reduce your children’s financial burden is by funding your grandchildren’s education expenses. Unfortunately, gifting a large sum of money will utilize some of your lifetime gift tax exemption ($11.4 million per donor in 2019) or, if you have used your gift tax exemption, can subject you to a 40% gift tax. There’s also a generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax of 40% for...

Women's CIRCLE

3 Reasons Why Delaware May be the Best Jurisdiction for You

Halsey Schreier
August 20, 2019

This is the third blog in a three-part series that focuses on Delaware law for your trust. Delaware is known as the First State. Of course, this nickname refers to its position in line to ratify the U.S. Constitution. However, Delaware has also been at the forefront of trust law since the beginning of the twentieth century. Many states, including Alaska, Nevada, and South Dakota, have...

Women's CIRCLE

Managing the Stages of Cognitive Decline

Dianne Savastano
August 14, 2019

First, a bit of background… During a visit to his parents’ home over the holidays, our client Jack noticed that his dad, Bill, seemed a bit more forgetful than previously. Jack observed a slight change in personality and a significant withdrawal from all the family events that his father would normally embrace. Jack wondered if his dad’s medications were being taken appropriately as he...

Women's CIRCLE

3 Reasons Why a Delaware Trust May Be Ideal for Your Business Interest

Halsey Schreier
August 13, 2019

This is the second blog in a three-part series that focuses on Delaware law for your trust. Trusts can be used in a variety of ways to manage wealth and plan for the future. They offer broad flexibility for structuring and managing assets, can help reduce administrative costs and delays at death, and often provide substantial estate and gift tax savings. If you’re considering transferring...

Women's CIRCLE

5 Lifetime Gift Strategies for You and Your Family to Consider

Cathy Schnaubelt
August 08, 2019

Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that can help preserve your assets, facilitate the transfer of wealth and ease the tax burden on yourself and your estate. Here are five commonly-used lifetime gift strategies for you and your family to consider if you have significant wealth to transfer to future generations. Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) A grantor...

Women's CIRCLE

5 Reasons You Should Consider Delaware Law for Your Trust

Halsey Schreier
August 06, 2019

This is the first blog in a three-part series that focuses on Delaware law for your trust. When you’re creating a trust for the benefit of yourself or your family members, choosing the state law that will govern it has many implications and potential benefits for you and your beneficiaries. Delaware has long been the state law of choice for grantors. So, what makes Delaware law so...

Women's CIRCLE

2 Reasons to Consider a Dynasty Trust

Cathy Schnaubelt
August 01, 2019

The many advantages of gifting assets to a trust include asset protection, tax planning and maintaining family control until the beneficiary reaches adulthood. A dynasty trust—any trust that lasts longer than one generation below that of the grantor—can be a useful estate planning tool for multi-generational families. While it’s important to consider the advantages and limitations of...

Women's CIRCLE

Moving Forward After a Loss

Cathy Schnaubelt
July 11, 2019

No matter how much time you’ve had to prepare, losing your partner due to death, incapacity or divorce can be devastating. Not only do such major life events take an emotional toll, they can uproot your day-to-day life in more practical ways—often from a financial perspective. If your spouse handled the household finances, moving forward independently can be a challenge during those...

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