The purpose of the Advance is to review and discuss divisional strategic plans for the upcoming year. We call it an Advance instead of a retreat because our plan is to move forward not backwards.

Investors and the Federal Reserve weighed stubborn inflation against a resilient labor market. That watchful waiting ended in September when the Fed cut interest rates—a long-anticipated move that marked a clear turning point from observation to action.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which means it is the perfect time to look at the latest threats in 2025 and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself.

Individuals who give to charity, particularly high-income earners and those who itemize deductions, will want to understand how their giving strategy might need to shift in 2025 and 2026.

They succeed through systematic application of proven principles, a disciplined approach, and unwavering commitment to long-term excellence. So, the next time you hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet or the smell of bratwursts cooking at the hometown tailgate, think of your “home” team at Greenleaf Trust and how a personalized Wealth Management Plan could help you and your family build a legacy!

Charitable bequests at death are commonly found in wills and trusts. They are used to implement the decedent’s philanthropic objectives and used, at times, to reduce, or minimize, the decedent’s estate’s exposure to federal estate taxes.

Due to the sensitive nature of these services, sponsors should feel confident with their providers to maintain proper internal controls over these functions.

I hope you get a sense of why we enjoyed our summer so much. It once again provided us with opportunities to nurture relationships with our clients and each other and continue to grow the breadth and depth of our capabilities to deliver more. I hope you enjoyed your summer as much as we did.

After a summer characterized by mixed economic signals, investors and policymakers now look ahead to autumn for clarity on the path of inflation, growth, and interest rates. Policy changes enacted earlier in the year are beginning to filter through and could become more visible in the data ahead.

A legacy love letter is not a legal document, it’s not about numbers or assets, nor does it carry any binding instructions for your estate plan.

In July 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) which introduced major updates to education savings plans—changes not only our team believes are impactful for every parent to understand.

Offering a high-quality qualified retirement plan, especially in a tight labor market, helps attract and retain talent. Structuring a plan focused on retirement readiness assists employees to prepare for a financially secure retirement.

The good news is that most individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are protected from the claims of judgment creditors. The not-so-good news is that not all IRAs are creditor-proof. As a result, some basic estate planning strategies may be impacted by limited exempt property statutes and other judge-imposed limitations when it comes to protecting wealth held in an IRA.

Perspectives on wealth management and the economy.

This first year has revealed the transformative potential of the Beneficiary Well-Being Trust model. By encouraging structured, purpose-driven education and support, these trusts represent a fundamental shift in how wealth is passed down—not only transferring assets but also preparing the next generation to use them wisely.

As we have added new board members over the years, we have remained steadfastly committed to finding respected leaders with proven track records of success and skill sets that will compliment those of our existing board members and strengthen our corporate governance platform. This is why I am especially excited about welcoming Bill Manns to our board of directors this month.

Market performance year-to-date reflects this complex reality. After a volatile first half, domestic equities have shown renewed strength, with U.S. large caps now up approximately 9% for the year. International markets, which led performance earlier in the year, remain strong, with developed international and emerging market stocks each up about 18%. The bond market has seen more muted results as hopes for imminent rate cuts faded. Overall, a diversified portfolio has continued to generate positive returns, rewarding investors who have remained committed to their strategic allocation.

In many ways, you can see how the whole idea of a sailing ship is like a wealth plan. The analogy is not perfect, but it does allow us to look deeply at one aspect of planning from a slightly different angle: What do we do when storms arise?

Retirement plans have undergone significant changes over the last 20 years as the opportunity to make tax-advantaged contributions has improved and the need to save for one’s own retirement has become more essential. For executives involved in shaping employee benefits, the conversation around retirement plan design is evolving.

The use of letters of wishes will continue to aid trustees so long as long-term trusts are used to avoid federal transfer taxes over several generations, and discretionary trusts continue to be effective to protect trust assets from the trust beneficiary’s creditors or in a divorce. Whether a Michigan court will consider or rely on letters of wishes remains unanswered, but these letters will continue to aid a trustee to better understand the trust creator’s purpose and intent with the trust where the trustee must implement subjective trust distribution provisions.

We deeply value the trust our clients put in us and understand the work we do for them is important. Our core values drive us to put their needs before ours. We get to know our clients on a unique level and build meaningful relationships with them. Our goal is to serve their families from generation to generation.

Mid-Year market update.

Looking for ways to gift education and medical expenses for children or grandchildren. A HEET generally works best for very wealthy individuals who have fully used their GSTT exemption.

The foundation for choosing the correct asset allocation starts with a simple question: when the time comes, how much money will you need to draw out of your portfolio on an annual basis?

Wealth 3.0 seeks to focus on the role of the beneficiary’s personal and skill development as the central goal of the estate planning trust, by using wealth as a vehicle to learn, or to intentionally create conditions where the trust beneficiary can thrive with the wealth held in the trust. Succinctly stated, Wealth 3.0 supports, rather than inhibits, the beneficiary’s engagement, education, and growth, with the goal of creating conditions where the beneficiary can thrive with wealth.

A 401(k) plan is one of the most popular retirement savings tools and can be a powerful way to attract talent. However, to maintain the plan’s tax-advantage status and ensure it benefits employees fairly, the IRS requires annual compliance testing.