April 15, 2015
April, 2015, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust announces new hires Christine M. Czopek has joined Greenleaf Trust as a client fiduciary specialist. She is responsible for the internal review of client information to ensure compliance with policies and procedures and fiduciary responsibilities and requirements are met. Chris has over 27 years of experience in both […]
Read MoreJanuary 6, 2014
Kalamazoo, MI, November 2014 – Greenleaf Trust announces new hire. Greenleaf Trust is pleased to announce that Anne Johnston joins the firm as a Marketing and Business Development Specialist. She will be responsible for providing comprehensive support and administrative assistance for the business development and marketing team. Anne will assist the team in numerous activities […]
Read MoreFebruary 6, 2014
Kalamazoo, MI, February 2014 – Greenleaf Trust announces new hires Christine M. Hansen joins Greenleaf Trust as a Controller. She will be responsible for accounting, tax and financial reporting functions. Chris has over eight years experience in the accounting field, most recently as finance manager within the Global Product Organization at Whirlpool Corporation. Prior to […]
Read MoreNovember 6, 2014
Kalamazoo, MI, November 2014 – Greenleaf Trust announces new hire Greenleaf Trust is pleased to announce that Ean Hamilton, Esquire, has joined the team as a trust relationship officer. Prior to joining Greenleaf Trust, she practiced law specializing in trusts and estates, where she helped clients prepare comprehensive estate plans and assisted them with the […]
Read MoreNovember 11, 2014
Ashley Hamlin joins Greenleaf Trust as a team service coordinator. She is responsible for providing comprehensive support and administrative assistance within the personal trust area and has over four years of experience in client service. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Western Michigan University.
Read MoreJune 8, 2013
Kimberly G. Dudley has been promoted to a Human Resource Specialist. In her new role, she is responsible for assisting with and supporting functions within employee relations, recruiting, and benefits administration. Kim also functions as the new employee liaison welcoming new employees to the Greenleaf Trust team. She also works with scholars and interns as […]
Read MoreSeptember 3, 2013
Christine Rantz joins Greenleaf Trust as an operations technician on the tax, reporting and compliance team. She is responsible for providing assistance in the areas of organizational compliance, client and organizational tax reporting and general trust operations. Christine has a background in financial and retail business operations, general accounting and two years in public accounting. […]
Read MoreAugust 7, 2015
August 2015, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust announces new hires Rachel A. Mortensen joins Greenleaf Trust as a team service coordinator and is responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support, day-to-day servicing of account needs, and driving the efforts of the client centric team. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. […]
Read MoreMarch 5, 2013
Heidi H. Butchma joins Greenleaf Trust as a research associate. She is responsible for supporting the research team as an analytical and administrative resource with particular focus on leveraging systems and data to drive analysis. Prior to Greenleaf, she held various financial analyst roles at Sun Trust Bank, American Express and J.P. Morgan. Heidi holds […]
Read MoreMarch 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, March 2012 — Greenleaf Trust recently announced the hire of nine new team members. Kendra A. Johnson Team Service Coordinator Kendra is responsible for providing comprehensive support and administrative assistance within the personal trust area and has three years experience in the financial industry. Kendra earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with […]
Read MoreMarch 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, March 29, 2012 – The National Association for Business Resources (NABR) has recognized Greenleaf Trust as one of the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in West Michigan. “Our goal is to consistently exceed the wants, needs and desires of our clients with an unparalleled degree of commitment. Achieving that goal is […]
Read MoreApril 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, April 4, 2012 — Greenleaf Trust recently announced the hire of two new team members. Theresa A. Decker Team Service Coordinator In addition to providing comprehensive support and administrative assistance within the personal trust area, Theresa supports the business development team. Theresa has earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. Josh D. […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, August 2012 — Greenleaf Trust recently announced the hire of three new team members. Bethany L. Cwalina Participant Services Coordinator Bethany provides education and communication services to participants of various retirement plans. She also conducts retirement plan enrollment meetings, meets with plan participants, develops educational and informational materials, and supports the participant call […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2012
Birmingham, MI, August 28, 2012 – The National Association for Business Resources (NABR) has recognized Greenleaf Trust as one of the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in Metropolitan Detroit. “Our goal is to consistently exceed the wants, needs and desires of our clients with an unparalleled degree of commitment. Achieving that goal is […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI — September 13, 2012 Greenleaf Trust, the Michigan-based wealth management firm, today announced the hiring of Thomas L. Drews, who will serve as Executive Vice President and Director of Operations. Mr. Drews is accountable for leading Greenleaf Trust’s Operations Division which consists of account administration, processing, tax, reporting and compliance. He has more […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI — September 2012 Greenleaf Trust, the Michigan-based wealth management firm, today announced the hiring of Nicholas A. Juhle, who has joined the company’s retirement plan services team. Nicholas A. Juhle, CFA Mutual Fund Analyst Nick is responsible for mutual fund investment analysis contributing to broader wealth management strategies and supporting retirement plan services. […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI — September 17, 2012 Greenleaf Trust, the Michigan-based wealth management firm, today announced the hiring of two employees who have joined the company’s retirement plan services team. Bethany L. Cwalina Participant Services Coordinator Bethany provides education and communication services to participants of various retirement plans. She also conducts retirement plan enrollment meetings, meets […]
Read MoreOctober 8, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, December 2012 – Greenleaf Trust, the Michigan-based wealth management firm, today announced the hiring of Patricia J. Chibende, who will serve as an Operations Technician. Patricia is responsible for all aspects of operations, focusing on the timely and accurate execution of operations activities, including dividend and interest posting, cash processing, reconcilement, and corporate […]
Read MoreOctober 8, 2012
Warren, Mich., Sept. 27, 2012 — With an impressive demonstration of innovative human resources programming, 12 local companies were recognized with the title of Elite Winner at today’s “Metro Detroit’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” annual awards competition. The event, presented by the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA), recognizes only 12 […]
Read MoreDecember 9, 2012
Kalamazoo, MI, January 2014 – Greenleaf Trust announces new hire Greenleaf Trust is pleased to announce that Michael Ruchti has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. Michael is responsible for Greenleaf Trust’s financial operations including all accounting, tax, financial planning and reporting, and business case development activities. He has over 15 years of experience […]
Read MoreSeptember 23, 2022
Stacy Beekman, CTFA 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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 23, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 21, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2022
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. […]
Read MoreSeptember 13, 2022
April 2019, Grand Rapids, MI – Greenleaf Trust announces CFP® Certification Wealth Management Advisor Jeff T. Pauza, CFA, CFP® at Greenleaf Trust in Grand Rapids 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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
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View PDFSeptember 9, 2022
The year 2022 has kept us on our toes. Stock market volatility, inflation, and world turmoil have led the way. However, among all the noise, there have been some highlights that are worth exploring. One catching our attention: Series I Savings bonds. But are they worth the hype? Since February 2022, nearly $11 billion in […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
My husband tells me that to do any job right, you need the right tools. He practices what he preaches because we have a garage full of tools for any job you can imagine. (He and Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor have a lot in common.) The problem is, I can stand in our garage […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
Many employers who sponsor a 401(k) plan use a pre-approved plan document with adoption agreements. Every six years, plan document providers update their 401(k) documents with regulatory changes and file them with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for review and approval. Once the documents have been pre-approved by the IRS, employers must adopt this pre-approved […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
Federal interest rates are on the rise, which opens new planning options for many individuals to consider. These federal interest rates are used to value retained interests for federal gift tax purposes. Specifically, the so-called IRC 7520 rate is equal to the mid-term applicable federal rate (AFR) times 120%, rounded to the nearest two tenths […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
Many investors and market pundits describe themselves as contrarians. They argue the way to investment success is to zig when others zag. Warren Buffet encapsulates the idea well with his famous quote, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” It sounds simple, but how do you know when others are […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2022
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 […]
Read MoreSeptember 2, 2022
Solid job gains and higher participation underpin consumer health, illuminates Fed challenges. U.S. employers added jobs at a healthy, yet more moderate pace in August, offering little definitive evidence of an economic slowdown despite an increase in the unemployment rate. Labor force participation increased and wage growth decelerated slightly. Overall, the report highlights a continued […]
Read MoreAugust 29, 2022
Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle was featured in MLive about the current economy and the importance of long-term planning. Read more here.
Read MoreAugust 25, 2022
Greenleaf Trust is proud to announce Karen Baldwin has been named Leadership Exemplar in Business at HumanEx Impact and Legacy Summit. Executive Vice President, Director of Human Resources Karen Baldwin, CSP™, SHRM-SCP™, was named a Leadership Exemplar in Business at last month’s HumanEx Impact and Legacy Summit. HumanEx Ventures is committed to collaborating with leaders […]
Read MoreAugust 25, 2022
Chief Investment Officer Nick Juhle participated in an interview focusing on Student Loan Forgiveness with Channel 13 News. Read and watch here.
Read MoreAugust 25, 2022
Greenleaf Trust’s Crain’s #1 Cool Place to Work published in Yahoo! Entertainment.
Read MoreAugust 22, 2022
Greenleaf Trust has been recognized as the number one Cool Place to Work for medium sized businesses and the sixth overall by Crain’s Detroit Business. Cool Places to Work in Michigan is a research-driven program from Best Companies Group. The award focuses on a company’s practices, programs and benefits and surveys employees from their perspective. […]
Read MoreAugust 19, 2022
July retail sales were flat compared to a month earlier as sharp declines in gasoline prices and auto purchases masked better results in other categories. Excluding gasoline and autos, retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.7%. The significant drop in gas prices likely aided consumer sentiment while freeing up cash to spend elsewhere. The Fed continues […]
Read MoreAugust 18, 2022
Greenleaf Trust was featured in culture article in Crain’s Detroit Business. Read more here. (Subscriber only article)
Read MoreAugust 10, 2022
U.S. inflation decelerated more than expected in July on lower energy prices, which may reduce pressure on the Fed to continue on its aggressive rate hiking path. The Consumer Price Index rose 8.5% from a year earlier, cooling from the 9.1% (40 year high) in June as a decline in gasoline prices offset increases in […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
Summer is a special time in our pleasant peninsula. Many Michiganders pack the kids into the station wagon and head off to explore areas outside of their home towns. This article will address what Michiganders might observe on their travels. Specifically, it will cover how Michigan’s economy is faring 10 years after the financial crisis. […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
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Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
Michigan previously enacted the Qualified Dispositions in Trust Act of 2016 which allowed for the creation of Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (“DAPT”). A DAPT is an irrevocable trust that, if certain conditions are met, can shield assets from the claims of a person’s creditors. Individuals who are in professions or businesses with high liability exposure […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
For an investor, this famous proverb can be broken down into three parts: Slow – be a long-term investor, and Steady – be disciplined and stick with your investment plan through varying market cycles Wins the Race – achieve your financial goals and objectives. Simple math, right? 1+2=3. Unfortunately, it is not that simple when […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
This year has offered its fair share of challenges for financial markets and global economies. The R-word has been a constant in the minds of employers and employees alike; not recession but resignation. In what is being dubbed the ‘great resignation,’ employers have faced a historically tight labor market, rising wages, and the need to […]
Read MoreAugust 8, 2022
Several years ago, my five-year-old was sitting at the table as I prepared his breakfast of cereal and fruit. I slid a bowl of Cheerios to him with a glass of milk and began peeling a banana. Just before I handed it to him, I took a large bite off the end. “Hey,” he remarked, […]
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