How to Pay for College: Choosing the Right Dollars, in the Right Order
At a Glance How to pay for college depends not just on how much you save, but on which dollars you use—and in what order—which can affect taxes, financial aid, and long-term goals. 529 plans are often the most tax-efficient option, but brokerage accounts, cash, and income may still play an important role. Retirement savings...Continue reading→
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass): A Procedural Estate Planning Framework
At a Glance Estate planning at higher levels of wealth is an execution and coordination challenge—not merely a legal exercise. The greatest risks arise where intent, legal documents, asset titling, and beneficiary designations drift out of alignment. Sophisticated families approach estate planning as an ongoing, advisor‑guided process that evolves with assets, entities, and family dynamics.Continue reading→
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass): The Importance of Estate Planning for Sophisticated Families
At a Glance Estate planning failures are rarely legal—they are usually coordination failures that surface at the worst possible time. Even financially sophisticated families often delay planning, leaving loved ones to manage complex estates under emotional stress. A well‑coordinated estate plan reduces settlement delays, costs, and family conflict while preserving long‑term intent. Fact: When you...Continue reading→
When to Claim Social Security: A Break-Even and Capital Allocation Framework
At a Glance For high‑net‑worth families still accumulating assets, the decision of when to claim Social Security is not merely a retirement timing question—it is a capital allocation decision. Claiming earlier or later affects lifetime after‑tax income, portfolio withdrawal rates, Medicare premiums (IRMAA), and the ability to execute tax strategies such as Roth conversions in...Continue reading→
Five Behavioral Finance Resolutions for a Better Financial Year
At a Glance The greatest investment risk for affluent investors is often behavioral, not financial — emotional reactions, overconfidence, and narrative-driven decisions can quietly erode long-term outcomes. Improving decision quality matters more as wealth grows — avoiding large, irreversible mistakes is far more impactful than trying to optimize short-term returns. Disciplined frameworks and outside perspective...Continue reading→
Your 2025 Year-End Financial Planning Guide
A few intentional steps in December can lower your tax bill and strengthen your financial picture. Here’s your 2025 year-end financial planning guide, including retirement deadlines, charitable strategies, tax-loss harvesting, and home efficiency credits to consider before December 31.Continue reading→
In recent months, two themes have dominated investor conversations: AI investing and the renewed belief in gold as a timeless safe haven. Both trends have resurfaced at the exact moments when crowd enthusiasm is high. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the gold safety myths and the rising excitement around artificial intelligence as we enter the final stretch of 2025.
It’s our pleasure to report on the progress of your long-term financial plan through what proved to be a highly instructive first half of 2025. If markets seemed unusually dramatic, it’s only because they were, but not in ways unfamiliar to seasoned investors. Let me begin by restating a few principles that have guided us…
The first quarter of 2025 served as another vivid reminder that while history doesn’t repeat itself in investing, it often rhymes. We entered the year amid considerable volatility, as the largest technology stocks fell into bear market territory, triggering the seventh-fastest 10% correction in the S&P 500 since 1929. This correction gained momentum following President…
Over the years, I have spent more ink cautioning investors about the perils of bear markets rather than celebrating bull markets because discipline is tested in tough times. However, as evidenced by today’s somewhat stretched valuations, let’s talk about the other great pitfall: the fear of missing out (FOMO).
“The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.”
—Charles T. Munger
As we navigate a world of shifting dynamics, it’s wise to stay grounded in the fundamentals.
I am pleased to update you on our progress in the first half of 2024. Before examining the current market landscape, it is worth reflecting on what our disciplined approach has delivered so far.
While strong market performance is encouraging, it can also trigger a less favorable response within the investment community. On the opposite end of the spectrum from selling during market downturns, some restless investors might be tempted to chase after speculative trends, no matter how closely they resemble past “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) frenzies.
The unpredictability of markets became evident in 2023, as The Wall Street Journal aptly reported: “Almost no one thought 2023 would be a blockbuster year for stocks. They could hardly have been more wrong.” As we step into the new year, it brings the opportunity to reflect on the intricacies of the equity markets, not…
Contemplate how invaluable your steadfastness is to those you love and care for. This is the gift you give.
As we find ourselves at the midpoint of the year, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the long-term journey we’ve embarked upon together in the realm of investments. The financial landscape has unveiled its latest chapters, and I am pleased to share our insights and observations with you.