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Our Advance is the most important part of our annual strategic planning process. Over three days every October, we bring our entire Executive Leadership Team together for a focused discussion about where we are, where we are headed, and what will matter most in the year ahead. The time together provides an important opportunity to step back from day-to-day priorities, assess the changing needs of our clients, and ensure that we remain on course to achieve our longer-term strategy to Serve Clients More.

Coming into 2026, our expectation was that tailwinds would outnumber headwinds for the economy and markets. We expected the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure would provide a powerful growth impulse. Nine months into the year, this thesis appears largely intact. Strong growth and persistent inflation have provided a surprise to interest rates and Federal Reserve policy, but as we enter the final quarter of the year, the most important lesson from 2026 may be that economic resilience has proven more powerful than many expected.

The final months of the year tend to move quickly. October is an excellent time to identify potential charitable assets, discuss the tax implications with your client centric team and contact the organizations you wish to support.

For nonprofits, October is also a good time to make sure your organization is prepared to receive gifts that may look different from the traditional check or online donation.

The best charitable gifts are not necessarily the ones that are easiest to write a check for. Sometimes, the most thoughtful gift is an asset that has appreciated quietly over many years.

Before making your year-end charitable donation list, take a look at what you own, not just what is in your checking account.

If you represent a charitable organization, ask yourself: if a donor called tomorrow wanting to give an asset other than cash, would your organization be prepared to say yes?

In the summer of 2025, Congress hurried to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act so that the President could sign the Act into law on July 4, 2025, an artificial deadline. This rush job was done solely for optics. And as we all know, when Congress enacts a law that most have not even read, we can expect mistakes to be discovered. Only now are we beginning to discover just some of those mistakes with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (referred to as “the Act”).

For many qualified retirement plans, December 31, 2026 remains an important plan document deadline for applicable SECURE and SECURE 2.0 provisions, particularly discretionary provisions that an employer has elected to implement. At the same time, the IRS’s September 2026 clarification confirms that certain required SECURE 2.0 provisions will have later amendment deadlines because they are being addressed through future Required Amendments Lists.

The Retirement Plan Division at Greenleaf Trust will continue monitoring IRS guidance and future Required Amendments Lists for provisions with later amendment deadlines and will be certain to communicate this information to our plan sponsors.

My advice for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is therefore pretty simple:
If something important seems unusual, stop and verify.

As one of our four “Cs” – Clients, Colleagues, Communities, and Culture – the communities that we live and work in are very important to us. We value giving back to them and making them stronger and more vibrant. As such, we empower our team to support their communities and causes within those communities in […]

The broadscale investment into AI and its related industries has been a primary factor influencing capital markets across the globe over the last two years. Within global equity markets, companies that are perceived as beneficiaries of this trend have benefited handsomely via appreciated stock valuations and higher projected future earnings. Industries deemed ripe for obsoletion due to AI have struggled to keep pace. While this phenomenon is broadly understood, what is more opaque are the downstream and indirect effects that this large-scale investment is having on other capital market segments.

Assets of equal value can have very different tax consequences when inherited. Traditional IRAs, appreciated investments, real estate, cash and other assets each have unique tax characteristics. Understanding these differences can help determine how assets should be allocated between family and charitable beneficiaries to maximize the overall benefit of the estate.

Real estate is more than just a place to live or an investment piece. For many families, it can represent years of hard work, cherished memories, and a large portion of their net worth. Whether it is farmland, a lake home, or your primary residence real estate can impact your cash flow, insurance needs, tax strategies, investment allocations and your estate planning. By understanding how your real estate holdings affect each of these areas, you can establish a more comprehensive financial plan and better position yourself to reach your current and long-term goals.

As you conduct your next financial review, something we recommend all our clients do at least annually, don’t forget to give your real estate holdings the same level of attention you give your investment accounts. They may play a larger role in your financial future than you realize. As always, your client centric team at Greenleaf Trust is here to help you evaluate how your current and future real estate fits into your broader financial plan and long-term goals.

An established document retention policy includes both electronic and paper records, secure storage, regular backups, and practices for protecting confidential participant information. Plan sponsors should also work with their recordkeeper, third-party administrator, and legal counsel to ensure retention practices comply with applicable federal requirements and any relevant state laws. With an upcoming 401(k) plan restatement period upon us, now is a good time to review your documents and ensure you have the appropriate documentation on file.

Your business is likely your largest asset and the foundation of your family’s legacy. Strategic wealth planning helps business owners reduce risk, prepare for future transitions and preserve more of what they’ve built. At Greenleaf Trust, we bring together tax, investment, estate and succession planning into one coordinated strategy; helping you make confident decisions today while protecting the opportunity promised by tomorrow.

As a holistic wealth management firm, we are compelled to help our clients wholly with matters that can impact their financial lives. Cyber security is definitely one of those.

Over the course of the year, we have been focused on two primary surprises affecting markets and the economy:

The Delaware Banking Modernization Act of 2026 (Senate Bill 16) was approved by the Delaware General Assembly on June 18, 2026, and signed into law by Governor Matt Meyer on July 6, 2026.

There is no clear moment when an investor crosses the line between wealth creation and wealth preservation.

By focusing on strong internal teams and investing in the next generation of retirement plan professionals, the industry can help preserve continuity, strengthen client service and advance the broader mission of financial security in retirement.

Companies and workers will find ways to best combine human intelligence with AI. This effort will lead to better opportunities for workers to add value and to enhance the profitability of the companies.