Articles, insights and analysis.

Back into a Bear Market and Near the Year’s Low The markets are experiencing another volatile quarter. We are writing today to provide an update on what’s changed since the official start of the bear market back in June. We will also provide some historical context on bear markets and share our thoughts of what […]

Stacy Beekman has been promoted to assistant vice president, senior trust relationship officer. She is responsible for the day-to-day trust administration and fiduciary compliance of her clients. She has over 20 years in the financial services industry and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand Valley State University. Stacy is also a graduate […]

Side by Side Statement Comparison: Attachment: https://file.ac/3J4OO5c0VOs/ Fed raises interest rates by another 0.75% as inflation remains too high. The policy range is now 3.00%-3.25%. The Fed projects 5 more 2022 hikes and a year-end target rate of 4.25%-4.50%. The Fed projects 1 hike in 2023 before easing in 2024. At its meeting today the […]

U.S. consumers showed resilience in August as real retail sales grew 0.8% year-over-year and 0.2% month-over-month. In nominal terms, retail spending increased 9.1% for the year and 0.3% compared to July. Economists were anticipating a month-over-month decline of 0.1%. The value of sales at gas stations dropped again on lower fuel prices, likely freeing up […]

Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $16 billion in assets under advisement, announced it’s been named a Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Metro Detroit, Wellness and the Nation. The three awards come after previously being named Best and Brightest to Work For® in West Michigan earlier this year. Best and […]

Greenleaf Trust is pleased to welcome two new teammates and announce the promotion of Steve Wilbur. Joining the Retirement Plan Division, Greenleaf Trust welcomes Katie Mallette, QPA®, QKA®, ERPA as senior recordkeeping analyst – team lead. Katie’s primary responsibilities include day-to-day recordkeeping of participant retirement accounts and annual compliance work on retirement plans, as well […]

U.S. inflation was more resilient than anticipated in August despite falling energy prices, keeping pressure on the Fed to implement a third 75 bps rate increase later this month. The Consumer Price Index rose 8.3% from a year earlier, down from 8.5% in July and a peak of 9.1% in June, but higher than expected. […]

Senior Wealth Management Associate Garrett Urman, CFP®, 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. Garrett is responsible for the development of comprehensive wealth management plans, the execution of goal-based planning […]

We have been focusing our commentary on a consistent number of indices and surveys over the past six months, to attempt to gain insight into economic trends in place relative to consumption, production, employment, inflation and recessionary trends. This month’s commentary will be more of the same, with perhaps a little deeper dive into some […]

Well, summer is just about over. There is a slight breeze in the air, the kids are back in school, football is back, and pumpkin flavored coffee is back in the stores. It was a beautiful busy summer with even more normalcy seemingly returning to our lives. We were certainly busy at Greenleaf Trust, so […]