Bond Update – June 2021
May 27, 2021
Three months ago, we wrote to you about updates to your bond portfolio that increased diversification and flexibility to better navigate the changing dynamics of the bond market, such as rate movements, changes in spreads, and inflation. Those changes were implemented and, thus far, have been additive as your bond portfolio has outpaced the market. […]
Simplifying Restricted Stock – What You Need to Know
May 25, 2021
Many companies offer restricted stock awards (RSA’s) in their executive compensation packages to drive performance and attract and retain top talent. The challenge often lies with understanding the value and opportunities of these packages. Today we’ll discuss a very important but not-so-well understood topic, the 83(b) Election. RSAs vs. RSUs First, it’s important to note […]
Demystifying Cryptocurrency
May 13, 2021
There are few investments that are as little understood and as over-hyped as cryptocurrency. The April 14 initial public offering (IPO) of Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, generated tremendous buzz on Wall Street. For “crypto-evangelists,” the IPO was viewed as a watershed moment and a signal that cryptocurrency investing had achieved mainstream status. For that reason, […]
Working Wealthy – It’s Not Easy Waiting
April 20, 2021
This past winter, I built an ice rink in our backyard. It was a labor of love—for every hour of work that went into it, we probably enjoyed about 10 minutes of equivalent ice time. Even with that trade-off, it was entirely worth the effort. Attempting to be a good neighbor in our new home, […]
Value’s Big Surge – Has It Gone Too Far?
March 25, 2021
You may remember us writing about “The Return to Value” in our December 2020 Wealth Watch. In that edition, we mentioned the developing rotation from high-flying growth stocks to value companies. That trend continues today in strong fashion. The question is, can it last? History suggests it certainly can. The Value Premium You hear us […]
SPAC Attack!
March 11, 2021
Over the past year, a new trend in taking firms public has garnered incredible momentum. The Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) has become a popular way to bring a company public. These so-called “blank check” companies raise capital from investors with the expectation that they will later find an attractive private company to bring public […]
Gifting Stock Options to Family Members – What You Need to Know
March 2, 2021
Stock options have long been an attractive component of executive compensation. Sometimes we are asked if it is possible to transfer employee stock options to family members as part of an estate reduction strategy. It’s an interesting question and possible under certain circumstances. For executives that know they have enough to meet other goals and […]
A New Normal for Bond Investing
February 25, 2021
The days of bond investing being as exciting as watching paint dry are long over. Once the predictable and boring part of an investment portfolio, bonds have been anything but since 2008. In the thirty years prior to the financial crisis, one could fall out of bed and make a decent return on their bonds. […]
Cash Balance Plans – What’s in It for Me?
February 23, 2021
Now that the political picture has come into sharper focus, many investors wonder what they should be thinking about in terms of tax planning. While the Biden administration has yet to roll out specific tax-related priorities, most observers believe that some tax reform is forthcoming. With that in mind, what should attorneys be thinking about […]
Diving Into Debt
February 11, 2021
While not yet passed, additional stimulus to the tune of over $1 trillion is on the horizon. This brings up the question: Should we be worried about the U.S. deficit? The deficit, the difference between the government’s expenditures and its revenues, was a concern for many even before the pandemic stimulus bills were enacted in 2020. […]
The Reddit Rampage
January 28, 2021
The markets have gone crazy again, at least on a small scale. A handful of stocks, known by some as Reddit stocks, have exhibited absolutely phenomenal performance as of late. You can see this below: While the above is certainly not all of the impacted stocks, it includes the highlights and, of course, the […]
Presidents, Pandemics, and Portfolios
On Thursday, January 14, 2021 we were glad to be joined by so many of our clients as we hosted the first part of our two-part Annual Client Event. The presentation, Presidents, Pandemics, and Portfolios: A Year (feels like a decade) in Review, was a great conversation led by our co-CIO’s Mark Balasa and Chad […]