What to do when your retirement savings account tanks

Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle was featured in MLive about the current economy and the importance of long-term planning. Read more here.

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Greenleaf Trust announces Leadership Exemplar in Business award

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 […]

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Economic experts weigh the pros and cons of student loan forgiveness

Chief Investment Officer Nick Juhle participated in an interview focusing on Student Loan Forgiveness with Channel 13 News. Read and watch here.

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Greenleaf Trust recognized by Crain’s as #1 Cool Place to Work for Medium Companies for the second year in a row

Greenleaf Trust’s Crain’s #1 Cool Place to Work published in Yahoo! Entertainment.

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Greenleaf Trust recognized by Crain’s as #1 Cool Place to Work for Medium Companies for the second year in a row

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. […]

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July Retail Sales – Holding Up

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 […]

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How to build a ‘cool’ work culture, even when nobody is in the office

Greenleaf Trust was featured in culture article in Crain’s Detroit Business. Read more here. (Subscriber only article)

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July Inflation – Rolling Over?

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 […]

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Michigan Economic Update

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. […]

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Perspectives Newsletter August 2022

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Asset Protection Trusts in Michigan

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 […]

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Slow and Steady Wins the Race

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 […]

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Retirement Accounts Get Left Behind as Employees Take Part in the ‘Great Resignation’

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 […]

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Raising Responsible Beneficiaries

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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Cybercrimes Are a Growing Problem in Our Personal Lives

As Internet usage has increased over the past 20 years, there has been a shift in how we are relying on the comfort of online transactions and communications. It has become a normality to engage on the Internet with our email addresses, phone numbers, names, and other login credentials. At the same time, we have […]

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Fed Hikes 0.75% – As Expected

Fed raises interest rates by 0.75%, bringing the Fed Funds Rate range to 2.25-2.50%. The FOMC is projecting 4 additional hikes this year, taking the year-end range to 3.25-3.50%. The market is aligned with the Fed, pricing in a year-end range of 3.25%-3.50%. At its meeting today the FOMC voted unanimously to raise the Federal […]

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GDP Contracts Again; Looking Under the Hood

This morning, the Bureau of Economic Analysis delivered an advance estimate of second quarter GDP growth.  The report showed that real GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.9% in the second quarter following a decrease of 1.6% in the first quarter.  In yesterday’s Fed update, we cautioned that a negative GDP print could trigger […]

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Greenleaf Trust adds to Kalamazoo team

July 25, 2022, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust adds to Kalamazoo team Greenleaf Trust is pleased to welcome the following teammates to our Personal Trust, Retirement Plan, and Operations Divisions: Michael Holmes, JD joins the client centric team as a trust relationship officer. He specializes in providing a trust perspective to all wealth management discussions, […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces promotions in Business Information Services and Human Resources Divisions

Greenleaf Trust is pleased to announce three promotions: Ondrea Brussee has been promoted to database application support specialist as a part of our Business Information Services Division. She is responsible for the support and administration of applications within database systems.  She is also responsible for data reporting, data visualization and process documentation.  Ondrea is a graduate […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces CPWA® Certification

Greenleaf Trust announces CPWA® Certification Senior Wealth Management Advisor achieves Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation: Greenleaf Trust is pleased to share that senior wealth management advisor Corbin Donaldson, CFP®, CPWA® successfully completed the Certified Private Wealth Advisor Designation Program offered through the Investments & Wealth Institute and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces Qualified 401(k) Administrator® certification

Greenleaf Trust is proud to announce retirement plan certification for Chris Sharp Senior Relationship Specialist Chris Sharp, QKA® successfully completed the American Society of Pension Professionals program and examination to become a Qualified 401(k) Administrator®. The program focuses on the development of technical skills needed to work with 401(k) plans. Candidates for the certification must […]

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June Inflation – Acceleration Pressures Fed

U.S. inflation came in higher than expected in June, which will keep the Fed on an aggressive tightening path intended to tamp down demand.  Policymakers have already signaled a second 75 bp rate hike to come later this month, which should be considered the base case following today’s report.  Some economists have suggested that June […]

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July 2022 Perspectives Newsletter

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Delaware Directed Trust OR Michigan Directed & Divided Trust

A directed trust is a feature that can be included in various types of trusts, and provides the ability to bifurcate trustee duties between administration, investment, and distributions. Grantor’s commonly use directed trusts to give more control to current and future beneficiaries. Especially in cases where the trust holds family owned investments so the family […]

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Annuities: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between

The word “annuities” can generate a range of reactions from clients, their family members, and their advisors. Some reactions are positive while others are not so much. Everyone, however, can agree that they can be very complex. That said, sales of annuities were exceptionally strong during 2021 up 16% to $254.8 billion. Some of this […]

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Retirement Security is Again on the Congressional Agenda

Retirement security has been a featured topic with legislation over the past several years and was recently on the agenda again.  Back in December of 2019, Americans saw a number of changes to their retirement savings plans when the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, or the SECURE Act, became law. One requirement […]

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Choosing the Right Trustee

“Many forms of conduct permissible in a workaday world for those acting at arm’s-length, are forbidden to those bound by fiduciary ties. A trustee is held to something stricter than the morals of the marketplace. Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive, is the standard of behavior.” Meinhard v. Salmon, […]

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2022 Mid-Year Market Review

In January, we delivered our annual outlook seminar. As is our custom, we described the range of risks and uncertainties we faced entering the New Year. We highlighted supply chain issues, the potential for persistent inflation, and geopolitical concerns including escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. We acknowledged that there were plenty of circumstances that […]

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Happy Birthday

It’s hard to believe but the little company we started in a historic home on the corner of South and Westnedge streets in Kalamazoo will be 24 years old this month. In May of 1998 we received our charter to become one of Michigan’s first trust only banks open to the public and in July […]

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June Jobs – Payroll Gains Top Estimates; Labor Market Strength Continues

Job gains top estimates, unemployment rate holds at 3.6%.  S. employers added more jobs than expected in June and the unemployment rate held near a fifty-year low, suggesting that for the time being, hiring needs are defying concerns about the economic outlook.  Wage growth (while still elevated) moderated slightly for a second month in a […]

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The ‘tough medicine’ on keeping your accounts recession-proof

Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle talks about the “tough medicine” when markets are volatile, and reminding clients to keep a long-term perspective on their investments. Read more on MLive (subscriber article).

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Greenleaf Trust announces project management certification

Greenleaf Trust is proud to announce project management designation for Quinn McCormick. Compliance Specialist Quinn McCormick, CAPM® successfully completed and passed the Project Management Academy Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Training and has been awarded the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) designation. The program aims to educate professionals in the fundamentals and terminology […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces Chartered Financial Consultant ChFC® certification

Greenleaf Trust is proud to announce wealth management certification for Richard Carden Senior Wealth Management Associate Richard Carden, CFP®, ChFC® successfully completed the American College of Financial Services program and examination to become a Chartered Financial Consultant®. The program covers topics such as tax planning, retirement planning, special needs advising and wealth management, among other […]

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May Retail Sales – More at the Pump, Less at the Dealership

Job gains top estimates, unemployment rate holds at 3.6%.  S. employers added more jobs than expected in May and wage growth (while still elevated) moderated slightly.  A sustained softening in wage growth would be welcome by the Fed as it endeavors to tamp down the highest inflation levels observed in 40 years.  The central bank […]

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We’re in a Bear Market… Now What?

Today, the S&P 500 officially entered a bear market closing down more than 20% from the peak on January 3.  Year-to-date, 2022 has been difficult for investors, offering limited opportunities for positive returns.  In this update, we offer historical perspective on the bear market experience, highlight issues likely to shape the path forward (for better […]

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May Inflation – Unexpected Acceleration; New 40-Yr High

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June 2022 Perspectives Newsletter

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Reprioritizing Retirement Plan Design

Over the past few years, our world and many workplaces have shifted dramatically as we endured a global pandemic. While employers focused on workforce reductions and remote work, setting priorities for their 401(k)/403(b) plans was often low on the priority list. However, as life begins to normalize, we are beginning to see a renewed interest […]

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Spring Harvesting

The year 2022 has been challenging across financial markets, to say the least. While it is best to stay disciplined during times of uncertainty to achieve long-term goals, that does not mean we avoid making changes. Tax-loss harvesting is a strategy that we consistently use for clients regardless of economic conditions. Given the challenging market […]

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Making Gifts to Individuals

As we work with clients to fulfill their goals and objectives, one of the most common strategies that we discuss is gifting. Making gifts to achieve goals and objectives, which are often generational in nature, requires a great amount of analysis and detailed execution to attain the desired outcome. Gifting strategies vary widely depending on […]

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Liquid Alternatives

A Case Study on Portfolio Diversification Many of you are familiar with the phrase popularized by Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” This rudimentary economic principle tends to hold true within the realm of economic theory; however, this idea was put to task by Harry Markowitz in […]

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Next Level Leadership

The development of our talent is critical to our growth. As we continue to find and hire new teammates we need to make sure they are properly supported. We do this by making sure every teammate in our organization has a coach. The coach’s primary responsibility is to support and develop those they lead along […]

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May Jobs – Payroll Adds Top Estimates; Unemployment Steady at 3.6%

U.S. inflation unexpectedly accelerated to hit a new 40-year high in May.  Record gasoline prices and geopolitical factors threaten to keep inflation high in the coming months suggesting the Fed – which has already committed to half-point rate increases at each of its next two meetings (starting next week) – will need to apply more […]

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Greenleaf Trust adds to operations and client centric teams

June 2, 2022, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, MI – Greenleaf Trust adds to operations and client centric teams Greenleaf Trust is pleased to welcome the following teammates to our operations and client centric teams: Jessica Brown joins Greenleaf Trust as trust operations specialist. She is responsible for cash processing, along with providing support to the operations […]

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Karen McNish

After graduating with a degree in business administration, Karen McNish began searching for a way to set herself apart in the job market. Law school was her answer. She earned a legal degree and went into private practice as in estate planning, where much of her day was spent interacting with the bank near her […]

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JP Morgan analysts predict gas will surge past $6 this summer

WXYZ Detroit discusses current gas price surging with JP Morgan analysts and economists. Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle, CFA comments. Read more here.

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April Retail Sales – Solid Spending

April retail sales up 8.2% year-over-year; basically flat after inflation.  In spite of elevated inflation, consumers continued to spend at a robust pace in April.  Increased spending on gasoline (+37% YoY) accounted for a large portion of the nominal increase, but strength was also evident in food services and drinking places (+19.8%), brick and mortar […]

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Greenleaf Trust Expands into Great Lakes Bay Region with New Midland Office

The independent trust-only bank and wealth management firm named banking industry veteran Jennifer West to lead its newest market Greenleaf Trust, an independent Michigan-chartered, trust-only bank and wealth management firm, announced the opening of its newest office serving the Great Lakes Bay Region, located in Midland, Michigan. The firm also announced the hire of Jennifer […]

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April Inflation – Moderating, but Hotter Than Expected

U.S. Consumer prices rose more than forecast in April, indicating that elevated levels of inflation could persist longer than expected and keeping the Federal Reserve on an aggressive path of monetary tightening.  The report did show a slight moderation in price increases, but a 0.6% month-over-month increase in core consumer prices (excluding food and energy) […]

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Greenleaf Trust Ranks Among the Highest-Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2022

Greenleaf Trust has been named to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2022 for the second year in a row, and the only winner from the state of Michigan. Hitting newsstands in the May/June 2022 issue, and as part of a prominent Inc.com feature, the list is the result of a wide-ranging […]

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