June Retail Sales – Solid End to 2Q

Today’s report contradicts a recent trend pointing to gradual erosion of consumer strength, suggesting the economy’s main driver is holding up better than expected as inflation recedes and Fed policymakers consider rate cuts.

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Greenleaf Trust Announces 11 Promotions

Greenleaf Trust is pleased to share the promotions of 11 teammates

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June Inflation – Broadly Cooler!; Cuts To Come?

In June, consumer prices rose 3.0% compared to a year ago, down 0.3% compared to May and below expectations of 3.1%. This marks the third consecutive month of deceleration and another positive sign for Fed policymakers.

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Bloomberg: Rich People Are Freezing Themselves to Stay Wealthy Forever

Greenleaf Trust’s, George Bearup, discusses revival trusts and cryogenics in Bloomberg.

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Greenleaf Trust announces the addition of three team members

Greenleaf Trust is pleased to announce the addition of Christy Dewey, Adam Mangiapane and Zach Reed.

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Celebrating the Importance of Independence

I am proud that Greenleaf Trust is structured to remain a privately held, trust-only bank in perpetuity. This eliminates the possibility of an acquisition or merger.

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2024 Mid-Year Update

The first half of 2024 continued the positive momentum seen in 2023 across financial markets. The likelihood of a recession has diminished compared to a year ago.

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Taking It With You?

It is not surprising the number of individuals who want to be buried in their grave with particular items that have emotional, sentimental, and sometimes even intrinsic value.

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All From One or Some From All

Every person coming into retirement has struggled with the shift in mindset from work income to income from retirement assets.

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10-Minute Tasks to Reduce Estate Stress: Simple Steps Now to Save Hours Later

Here are eight things you can do now that take only minutes but can save hours of work and frustration for your loved ones in the future.

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Am I Small Now?

In the retirement plan world; size matters! A plan reports their number of participants on a required annual Form 5500 which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). If the plan is “large,” it needs an audit.

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July 2024 Perspectives Newsletter

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June Jobs – Gradual Deceleration Continues

Hiring and wage growth decelerated in June and the unemployment rate ticked up adding support to the case for interest rate cuts in the coming months.

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Next Gen Athletes: Ensuring Your Money Works for You and Lasts for Generations

By prioritizing financial planning, saving diligently, setting life goals beyond their sports careers, and seeking advice from seasoned professionals, athletes can ensure their money works for them and lasts for generations

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Greenleaf Trust receives three national awards for workplace culture and wellness

Greenleaf Trust is pleased to share the receipt of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, National Best and Brightest in Wellness, as well as 2024 Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®.

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4 Ways To Get Rich Earning Just $50K a Year

Wealth Management Advisor, Mike Laske, discusses the three levers for generating wealth in GoBankingRates.

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Choosing the Right Wealth Manager: Key Considerations for Your Financial Future

Finding the right wealth manager can make all the difference in achieving your financial goals and securing your future. Here are six considerations when choosing a wealth manager.

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May Retail Sales – Below Expectations

U.S. retail sales barely changed in May and prior months were revised lower, pointing to ongoing erosion of consumer strength.

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May Inflation – Broadly Cooler With Fed Ahead

In May, consumer prices rose 3.3% compared to a year ago, down 0.1% compared to April and below expectations. This marks the second consecutive month of deceleration – a positive sign for Fed policymakers.

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Wealth Management Industry Trends

As we approach the end of those 10 years, I have put together a talented team of forward-thinking leaders at Greenleaf Trust to develop our strategic goal for the next 10 years.

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Economic Commentary

After retreating 4% in April, the S&P 500 bounced back in May reaching a new record high on 5/21 and closing out the month with a 5% return.

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Beyond Bias: Navigating Financial Decisions with Kahneman’s Prospect Theory

Prospect theory acknowledges that human decision-making is at times irrational and influenced by psychological biases.

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The Key to Long-Term Gains: Smart Asset Allocation Explained

Asset allocation is the primary driver of long-term investment performance. So, what exactly is asset allocation? It is simply the mix between major investment types in a portfolio, including equity (stocks), fixed income (bonds), cash, and alternative assets (basically a catch-all for everything else).

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Inflation Alters Perceptions:
How Americans View the Economy and Retirement

By many measures, the U.S. economy is thriving, unemployment is near historic lows, economic growth remains solid despite high interest rates, and the stock market continues to reach all-time highs.

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The Modern Trust

A phrase commonly thrown around in estate planning literature is the use of a modern trust.

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June 2024 Perspectives Newsletter

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May Jobs Report – Very Strong Hiring Might Slow Fed Plans to Lower Rates

U.S. employers accelerated hiring in May and wage growth reaccelerated after a relatively weak report in April.

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GoBankingRates: 3 Ways President Biden’s Policies Impact the Middle Class’ Money

Chief Investment Officer, Nicholas Juhle, provides commentary on markets during election cycles to GoBankingRates.com.

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GoBankingRates: How Could a Trump Second Term Impact Rich People?

Chief Investment Officer, Nicholas Juhle, provides commentary on markets during election cycles to GoBankingRates.com.

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Greenleaf Trust announces Human Resources Certification

Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Gabbi May, has earned the Certified Human Resources Specialist (CHRS) certification from Michigan State University.

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April Inflation – Indications of Cooling?

Year-over-year, inflation rose 3.4% in April, down 0.1% compared to march and in line with expectations.

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April Retail Sales – Consumers Take a Breather

U.S. retail sales stalled in April after downwardly revised gains in the February and March.

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Greenleaf Trust’s CFO Achieves Milestone with Executive MBA from Bowling Green Schmidthorst College of Business

Greenleaf Trust proudly announces the recent achievement of its Chief Financial Officer, Steve McKiddy, who has successfully completed an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Bowling Green Schmidthorst College of Business.

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Taking Our Culture’s Temperature

As you all know, culture is something that is very important to Greenleaf Trust. It defines us and differentiates us. One of our founding goals in 1998 was to find really talented teammates and create a culture that would engage and inspire them. If we could do that, then just think about what that team […]

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At Any Rate…

As the year has unfolded, the labor market has been stronger-than-expected. The US has added an average of 276k jobs in each of the first three months and the unemployment rate has stayed below 4%.

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Preparing for Tomorrow: Navigating Long-Term Care Options and Planning Strategies

Discussions around long-term care can be emotional, but it’s important to begin these conversations early. Long-term care planning should be a part of your overall personal risk management plan and should begin as early as your forties.

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Diversification – The Only (Almost) Free Lunch in Investing

No single person can predict with perfect accuracy how markets will behave in the short term nor with consistency.

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Decoding Deepfakes: Navigating the Digital Mirage Safely

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies improve our ability to mimic real life, it’s becoming harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake in the digital domain.

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Investor’s Best Interest – The Final Retirement Security Rule

On Tuesday, April 23 the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued the final Retirement Security Rule. Department officials said the rule will be active later this year on September 23 requiring investment advisers to follow impartial conduct standards and acknowledge their fiduciary status. Other parts of the rule will not be effective until fall of […]

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April Jobs – Soft Report Highlights Moderating Demand For Labor

Job gains lower, unemployment higher.  U.S. employers scaled back hiring in April more than anticipated and the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose, suggesting some cooling may be underway after a robust start to the year.  The labor market added just 175K jobs in April, below consensus expectations of +240K, and the unemployment rate ticked up 0.1% […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces the addition of four team members

Debby Kasemeyer, Victoria Atkins, Nicole Simon and Emily Talcott join Greenleaf Trust.

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Greenleaf Trust announces CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification

Family Office Portfolio Manager, Steve Wilbur, earns CFP® Certification

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Greenleaf Trust named among Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness by National Association for Business Resources

Greenleaf Trust is honored to be named among the winners in the first round of Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness winning companies.

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Forbes: How Social Media Affects Our Financial Health

Senior Vice President, Director of Wealth Management, James Curry, provides commentary in Forbes on the impact social media has on lifestyle inflation.

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Greenleaf Trust announces CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification

Vice President, Northern Michigan Market Team Lead and Senior Trust Relationship Officer, Regina Jaeger, has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® certification marks in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements.

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March Retail Sales – Strong Print Supports Delayed Rate Cut Expectations

U.S. retail sales rose by more than forecast in March and February results were revised upward, highlighting yet-resilient consumer demand exiting the first quarter.

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Debby Kasemeyer

Growing up in West Terre Haute, Indiana, Debby felt the same as everyone else. Nothing felt unusual, nothing seemed out of place. When she got to college, however, she quickly learned, there were big differences in the world when it comes to wealth and poverty.

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March Inflation – Hot Print Likely Eliminates June Cut

Year-over-year, inflation rose 3.5% in March, up 0.3% compared to February and 0.1% ahead of expectations.

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April 2024 Perspectives Newsletter

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