News

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.

We help clients pursue their financial goals, but over time, we often become part of each other’s lives. Those relationships are built on trust, strengthened through shared experiences and remembered long after the portfolio reviews are over.

In the first half of 2026 investors weathered dramatic shifts in the economic and geopolitical landscape.

Estate planning is drafted at a single point in time. Most documents are drafted with as much flexibility as possible, but sometimes facts and circumstances change which may necessitate creative solutions. Some of the most common problems that need solving are discussed below.

Before taking investment advice from a friend at the next cocktail party, it is important to understand the elevated risks involved with IPO investing. If you choose to participate, make sure your investment is sized appropriately within your overall financial plan and that you are not investing more than you can comfortably afford to lose.

At first glance, it may appear that they would not be eligible for retirement benefits either. However, employers too often assume these workers are automatically excluded, which can lead to costly plan corrections and compliance issues.

One difference in trust directors between Michigan’s trust director statute and other states’ laws that authorize a trust director (or trust protector) is that Michigan’s statute is clear that a trust director serves in a fiduciary capacity, which means that the trust director owes duties of care and loyalty to the trust beneficiaries, from which liabilities can attach to the trust director who does not act reasonably and in the trust beneficiaries’ best interests.

Our Retirement Plan Services division provides administrative, fiduciary and investment management solutions for 159 employer sponsored retirement plan clients and over 18,000 plan participants across the country.

As we move into the summer months, our attention will remain focused on three key areas: incoming retail and labor market data, developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the Federal Reserve’s next policy decisions.

Tax planning for many closely held business owners frequently occurs through a series of independent decisions. It typically looks like a conversation with an accountant near year-end, an isolated retirement contribution analysis, a discussion about succession planning that gets deferred until “later,” or an eventual consideration of what a sale might look like.

Whether the decline is sudden, or gradual, diminished capacity can leave a person vulnerable, and this vulnerability is especially significant for business owners.

Economists typically categorize inflation into four types or stages based on speed: creeping, walking, galloping and hyperinflation. If we continue with the use of a mouthwatering sandwich as our example, we can examine each of these stages of inflation in turn.

What this moment calls for, perhaps, is a clearer-eyed understanding on all sides of how much retirement security has quietly been outsourced to employer goodwill, and what happens when that goodwill contracts.

The example lends itself to a central theme of the book that any business can be a hospitality business. We believe this too. We believe in the importance of making clients feel seen and cared for through thoughtful, purposefully personalized service.

At the end of the day, the conflict in Iran has introduced new risks. It will likely weigh on growth and keep inflation somewhat elevated in the near term but the bigger picture hasn’t fundamentally changed.

While there may not be many AI-drafted estate plan cases which have been litigated or published yet, there have been situations where unverified AI drafting has caused issues in the courtroom, including made up case law citations in legal briefs and using outdated laws.

Most investors picture market swings, worrying headlines and the uncomfortable feeling of watching an account balance bounce around. That is not risk. That is noise.

AI has the potential to meaningfully improve efficiency, personalization and participant outcomes in the retirement plan industry. However, its success depends on thoughtful implementation, strong governance and continued human oversight.

For many individuals, decades of financial records, online accounts and personal information now exist across a wide range of websites and services.

Laws continue to change, as do the needs of trust beneficiaries. Yet an irrevocable trust’s words are locked in on the date the trust becomes irrevocable.

Greenleaf Trust is structured to remain privately held into perpetuity. We have the ability to serve from generation to generation and intend to do so. We also may make acquisitions in the future as part of our long-term strategy to Serve Clients More. When and if that happens, we will always put client relationships first.

The U.S./Israeli strikes on Iran have materially altered expectations for 2026. Coming into the year, investors expected a solid combination of decelerating inflation, interest rate cuts, strong corporate earnings growth and low risk of recession. Rapidly rising energy prices have introduced a new layer of complexity for investors to navigate.

Financial Literacy Month is a meaningful reminder that building confidence in your financial future does not have to happen alone. Whether you are just getting started or refining an existing plan, having a trusted partner can make navigating financial decisions clearer and more manageable.

Greenleaf Trust offers multiple tools to enhance clients’ digital experience, one of which is the MyWealth platform. The MyWealth platform plays a role in the management and implementation of your comprehensive wealth management plan, as well as offers a secure way to house your important documents via the “Vault” feature.

As we age, the value of our health and access to good medical care increases significantly each year. It is important to approach healthcare decisions in a thoughtful manner.

As wealthy individuals exhaust their currently available applicable exemption amounts, or they find they have no exemption available if the sunset date for the large transfer tax exemptions occurs on January 1, 2026, more attention should be given to the use of a net, net gift agreement to reduce the effective transfer tax rate for lifetime gifts.

What has allowed us to adapt and thrive through changes as well as create improvements is the intentional preservation over the years of our core values and culture. Our core values of client first focus, integrity and accuracy, continuous improvement, teamwork, a budget focused on the client and inclusive employment practices provide a foundation for all that we do.

The economy and markets still appear to be on solid footing. Trade policy remains in flux, creating a potential headwind as businesses and consumers adjust to the evolving landscape.

As fiduciaries – whether personal or professional – we can help prevent that outcome for families and individuals who have placed their trust in us. The tools exist and the legal framework is largely in place. All we have to do is ask the question: “What digital assets do you have, and does someone know how to find then?”

For families focused on education savings, a 529 savings plan remains the gold standard, offering superior tax benefits, greater contribution flexibility and parental control. For families seeking general savings without restrictions, an UTMA may be appropriate, with the understanding of its limitations.

As a retirement plan provider, our sole goal is to help you save for a retirement you can be proud of, without sacrificing your current wellbeing. We have no interest in coercing you into a contribution rate that you are not comfortable with. We are here to help you every step of the way towards retirement, and are happy to provide the insight necessary to make choices you can feel confident in.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, OB3, made significant changes to charitable giving, and the income tax deductions that often motivate a charitable gift. Those changes impact what to give and how the gift is made.