August 3, 2020
July 6, 2020
IRA Spouse Beneficiaries and the New Law
While IRAs are common, flexible vehicles for retirement savings and great planning tools, the beneficiary distribution rules are complicated, and became even more so with the passage of the SECURE Act in December. IRAs often represent a significant portion of a person’s investment portfolio; naming the beneficiary or beneficiaries is an important decision and worthy […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
Disciplined Investing in Distressing Times
What a change three months can bring. Back in April, Greenleaf Trust released a special Perspectives newsletter edition to address the rising concerns around COVID-19 and its impact on the economy and markets. At that time, domestic equity markets (as measured by the S&P 500) had experienced a 34% decline from market peaks on February […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
Supporting Your Community in Times of Crisis
You have your favorite charities and you know the areas of the community on which you wish to make an impact, but in times of crisis and emergency are you ready to pivot and provide support to those most affected by the crisis? Have you thought about whether or not you would want to pivot? […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
New Department of Labor e-Disclosure Rules
Since 2002, plan sponsors have been able to electronically furnish plan information and notices in relation to qualified retirement plans; however, electronic distribution was only allowable if the employee gave consent to agree to receive electronic communications. Also, if an employer determined electronic distribution was allowable on the basis of all employees having access to […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
Establishing a Donor Advised Fund
A donor advised fund is, in effect, a charitable savings account. A donor advised fund permits an individual donor to make a donation without choosing a specific charity at the time the gift. The transfer of cash or assets to the donor advised fund sponsor permits the donor to claim an immediate income tax charitable […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
Interesting Times
When we hosted 2020 outlook seminars in early January, the now-ubiquitous coronavirus didn’t even make the “other risks” section of the presentation. Instead, we discussed a late-cycle, though firmly-footed economy and a year likely to be shaped by things like the presidential election, US/China trade, and monetary and fiscal policy moves. When we delivered our […]
Read MoreJuly 6, 2020
Diversity and Inclusion at Greenleaf Trust
As you have heard from our founder and Chairman, William D. Johnston, making progress on elimination of institutional racism is indeed hard work and Greenleaf Trust in values, mission and deed is committed to that essential progress. There cannot be any distance between the values we express and our actions as a collective company. We […]
Read MoreJuly 2, 2020
July 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
June 5, 2020
Returning to the Office Safely
As the world begins to re-open and re-define what it looks like to return to some sense of “normal,” there are many factors to consider. From a federal, state and local level, information is rampant and quickly changing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. One thing has remained the same throughout, a focus on keeping […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
Volatility in the Equity Market and the Role of Bonds
After reaching a high on February 19, COVID-19 and the decline in oil prices drove selling pressure on the Standard & Poor’s 500, leading to a 34% decline by March 23. Actions taken by the Federal Reserve Board and spending programs by the federal government have helped this equity market index climb by almost 36% […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
An Introduction to Delaware Quiet Trusts
Given the current state of our environment, many estate plans have been accelerated, which could include creating and transferring assets into an irrevocable trust to benefit family members. For several reasons, grantors may worry about beneficiaries becoming aware of a trust. Delaware may be a venue to alleviate grantors’ fears. Traditionally, when someone is interested […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
Pandemic Reveals Financial Wellness Programs a Necessity
Financial wellness, and the need for employee financial wellness programs, has increasingly gained attention in the past decade. Pre-COVID-19, offering a financial wellness program to employees was considered a value-added benefit, but the coronavirus pandemic suggests it is now an urgent necessity with a major emphasis on emergency savings. Simply put, financial wellness is the […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
Durable Powers of Attorneys — Time for Some Limits?
A durable power of attorney is an important part of any estate plan. With a durable power of attorney, an attorney-in-fact (agent) can manage an individual’s (principal) financial affairs without the need for a probate court appointed conservator when the principal is either unable, or incapable, of making decisions. While a durable power of attorney […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
Crude Thoughts on Oil Investments
While certainly taking a backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic, oil markets have garnered their share of attention of late. Excess supply and lack of demand have driven prices down more than 60% year-to-date, at one point even turning negative. Recent volatility has caused many to ask about the level of energy exposure in their investment […]
Read MoreJune 2, 2020
June 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
May 1, 2020
May 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
May 1, 2020
Today’s World of College Savings and Student Loans
Undoubtedly, we have each endured a moment of fear over the last couple of months. Whether it be watching over your children, allowing your teen to take your car for the first time, worrying about catching a virus with no certain cure, or trying to keep your small business afloat during a pandemic; we want […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
Actions to Avoid with Your Retirement Savings Amid COVID-19
Recently, investors have faced unprecedented times as the impact of COVID-19 on the economy continues. After a strong decade for US equity markets, it comes as no surprise that the market’s recent drop and continued volatility is unnerving and downright scary for many. Nevertheless, a key concept to investing in a retirement plan is to […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
Long-Term Care, the Discussion No One Wants to Have
The recent coronavirus pandemic has brought nursing homes in the into the spotlight for the many challenges that the elderly face. Given medical advances, people in general are living longer and their families are tasked with the responsibility of providing the best care options for them. And yet, the discussion about how to pay for […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
What’s in a Name (or Gender)?
One of the habits developed over four decades as an attorney was to skim the ‘legal notices’ section in the morning newspaper. While I no longer practice law, out of that habit I still look at the published legal notices. One that caught my eye a couple of weeks ago was a legal notice where […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
Signing Estate Planning Documents Remotely – A New Normal?
With the uncertainty that the pandemic has brought to our current situation, many individuals have taken the time to review their estate planning documents and determined that they need to make some changes. The challenge that has presented itself during these trying times is that people have determined that they want to make changes to […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
COVID-19: Where Are We Now?
About a month and a half ago on March 16, two things happened: 1) the S&P 500 dropped 12% and; 2) we hosted a conference call to discuss our outlook regarding COVID-19, the economic impact of containment efforts, and the market’s response. At the time, we knew with certainty that our nation’s experience with the […]
Read MoreMay 1, 2020
Virtual Progress
It is my pleasure to introduce Perry Wolfe, who joined the Greenleaf Trust team in January as senior vice president, executive director of development. In collaboration with our business development and marketing teams, Perry will lead the strategy and growth for markets outside of Kalamazoo. The timing of Perry’s arrival is fortuitous given the challenges […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
April 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
April 2, 2020
CARES Act Retirement Plan Changes
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law. In addition to numerous financial incentives provided to individuals and business, the CARES Act provides some major retirement plan changes allowing plan participants access to their retirement savings as a financial resource in this time of crisis. Employers […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
Wealth Management is Crisis Management
If you are like most, you’re experiencing quite a bit of anxiety right now as we grapple with a pandemic health crisis. The human, economic and market fallout are unnerving. Unfortunately, we know the headlines will get worse before they get better. Confirmed COVID-19 cases will grow exponentially, and dismal economic data resulting from the […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
Is Your Estate Plan in Order?
The world suddenly changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. We have all had to learn a new skill called social distancing. Millions now work from their homes. Isolation is the new mainstream lifestyle, albeit not by choice. Consequently, any discussion about estate planning seems pretty superfluous in this time of crisis. However, if an individual is […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
Money Market Funds Update
With all the market volatility lately, it is a little surprising that investors are concerned about the most stable part of their portfolios, their money market funds. We believe the concern has been driven by (1) a lack of knowledge about money market reforms instituted after the financial crisis, and (2) headlines in the financial […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
Municipal and Corporate Bond Market Updates
There have been disruptive flows in fixed income markets in March. Investors are concerned about the state of the bond markets. This article will give our current thinking on the municipal and corporate bond markets. Municipal Bonds – Disruptive Outflows, Some Opportunities, & Pockets of Credit Concern Municipal bonds are generally considered lower-risk investments and […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
COVID-19: The Disease, the Economy, and the Market
Please note: Throughout this article, we focus on the economic and market implications of the coronavirus, but we also acknowledge the significant humanitarian impact of the outbreak. Our hearts go out to those who have been directly affected and we wish you and your loved ones safety and health during this difficult time. What a […]
Read MoreApril 2, 2020
Separately Connected
Each year, starting in September, we purposely engage our entire company in discussion about our long-term strategic plan. Specifically, we ask and answer the question – what do we need to do next year to take one step forward in being top of mind? Because our culture is so important to us, each year it […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
Is Soft Dollar Remuneration a Conspiracy Theory?
Conspiracy theorists seem to lurk around every corner these days, imparting their less-than-logic-backed views and offering little evidence. The complex world of finance and managed assets provides ample opportunity for cynics and simpletons alike to assert similar claims — that institutions have rigged the system against them — often crying speculatively, “my broker makes more […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
The Importance of Rebalancing
When it comes to retirement savings, most people know the basic principle: one should strive to save as much as they can, as early as they can. In addition, a high level of importance is placed on selecting the right combination of investments based on risk tolerance to assist in reaching one’s retirement income goals. […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
mywealth by Greenleaf Trust
Welcome to the inaugural issue of mywealth tips, tricks, and tutorials! Greenleaf Trust offers multiple tools to enhance the client experience. Which one are we most excited about? mywealth! In this issue we’ll take a tour of the mywealth platform and how it plays a role in the management and implementation of your comprehensive wealth […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
Planning Opportunities After the Secure Act
We have had a couple of months now to digest the implications of the SECURE Act and its end to the stretch distribution rule that benefited most individuals who inherit an IRA or 401(k) retirement account on the owner’s death. Rather than permit an individual designated beneficiary to take distributions from the inherited retirement account […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
Proposed Changes to the Accredited Investor Rule
Late last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) attracted a lot of public attention when it issued a proposal to update the definition of an accredited investor. The definition relates to who can, and who cannot, invest in private, or unregistered, investment offerings. Registered securities, like publicly-traded stocks and bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
2020 Day of Caring
In the spirit of continuous improvement, each year we set out to identify ways that Greenleaf Trust could have an even greater impact on the communities in which we live and work. Our team currently serves on numerous non-profit and not-for-profit boards, partners financially with community impact firms through giving and fundraising efforts, and collectively […]
Read MoreMarch 13, 2020
March 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
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View PDFFebruary 20, 2020
The Best We Have
Over the past 12 months, I have read many articles on the topic of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology, and its potential medical uses. This subject is of particular interest because it is a developing genome editing technology that is controversial but yet shows great promise to treat cancers and other diseases. […]
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2020
SECURE Act – What’s Changed?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, or SECURE Act, was officially approved by the Senate and signed by President Trump during the final weeks of 2019. While much has been written, discussed and debated about the merits of the new Act, it includes significant provisions that improve access to retirement accounts, prevent […]
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2020
How to Think About Last Year’s Inverted Yield Curve
Regular readers of our Perspectives newsletter know that the investment research team at Greenleaf Trust focuses on leading indicators. One of the better-known leading indicators is the yield curve. In March 2019, the yield curve did something concerning to many investors, it inverted. This article will focus on historical yield curve inversions and highlight our […]
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2020
Best and Brightest
Being recognized for something that you believe in and work hard at is meaningful. We work hard at helping our clients achieve their goals, and along the way exceeding their expectations. In order to do this, we need a talented, highly engaged team. Which means we also work hard at attracting the best of the […]
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2020
February 2020 Perspectives Newsletter
February 18, 2020
The SECURE Act’s Impact on Retirement Plans
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was enacted late last year with a January 1, 2020 effective date. It has been publicized as the most significant piece of legislation affecting the US retirement system in more than a decade, and will inevitably affect a majority of Americans saving for retirement. The […]
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2020
Talk to Your Patient Advocate!
A durable power of attorney for health care, sometimes called an advance directive, is an important instrument that assures patient autonomy and ensures that a patient’s wishes with regard to their health care decisions and treatment will be followed. Overlooked, and sometimes misunderstood, is the right of autonomy of medical providers not to provide treatments […]
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2020
A FAST Track to Keeping the Family Together
A significant amount of time is spent with clients focusing on their current wealth plan and discussing strategies for passing wealth to the next generations. Often, the more challenging conversations center on identifying clients’ qualitative goals for passing family values over generations and keeping the family together after the oldest generation dies. Our Senior Trust […]
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2020
Higher Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 401(k)s and More in 2020
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced cost-of-living adjustments to the maximum amount of earnings that are subject to the Social Security tax, as well as a 1.6% increase to monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. This is good news for the nearly 69 million Americans receiving benefits, though this is a modest number […]
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2020
2019 Review and 2020 Outlook
What a difference a year makes. In our 2018 year-end seminar we recapped a period where almost every major asset class posted disappointing returns as investors grew increasingly concerned by the prospect of a global economic slowdown. To the pleasant surprise of most observers, 2019 unfolded as a year characterized by stronger-than-expected returns across most […]
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2020
Happy New Year
Welcome to 2020 and the start of a new decade! As I sit at my desk writing my first article of the new year, the Kalamazoo office of Greenleaf Trust is relatively quiet. The hustle and bustle of wrapping up end of year matters ahead of year end deadlines has been replaced with a more […]
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