October 12, 2021
October 7, 2021
Greenleaf Trust adds second office in Kalamazoo
Greenleaf Trust — which has offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Birmingham, Midland, Traverse City and Bay Harbor — said Monday, Oct. 4, it opened a new 6,200-square-foot office at 277 S. Rose St. in Kalamazoo, next to its current headquarters. Read more in Grand Rapids Business Journal
Read MoreOctober 4, 2021
Greenleaf Trust Announces Kalamazoo Expansion to Support Continued Growth
October 4, 2021, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust, an independent Michigan-chartered, trust-only bank and wealth management firm, today announced the expansion of its offices in Kalamazoo. The firm’s growing in-house research team will move into a new space at 277 South Rose Street, located next to its current headquarters. Greenleaf Trust’s expansion comes as the […]
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2021
Greenleaf Trust named National Best and Brightest in Wellness by the National Association for Business Resources
December 21, 2020 Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $14 billion in assets under advisement, announced that it has been recognized as a National Best and Brightest in Wellness. The 2020 Fall National winning companies were evaluated by an assessment created and administered by SynBella, the nation’s leading wellness systems […]
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2021
Greenleaf Trust recognized for diversity initiatives and for named by Crain’s as #1 Cool Place to Work for Medium Companies
Greenleaf Trust has been recognized for diversity initiatives as a Diversity Focused Company by Corp! Magazine, as well as a Cool Place to Work by Crain’s Detroit Business. The diversity award from Corp! Magazine recognizes Greenleaf Trust’s success in: defining and monitoring diversity; demonstrating how diversity adds value; committing to diversity among its workforce and […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Back-Door and Mega Back-Door Roth Reminders
Several articles within Perspectives have been written about Roth planning techniques. Taking advantage of Roth contribution strategies remains a good financial planning strategy as individuals consider higher income taxes that they may face in their retirement years. As a result, more attention than ever is being given to Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, Roth conversions, as […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Don’t Let That Unused Estate Tax Exemption Go to Waste
The basic federal estate tax exclusion amount (often referred to as the estate exemption) is the amount a person can pass to their heirs tax-free through lifetime gifting or at death. Currently, the exclusion is $11.7 million per person, which means a married couple can pass a combined $23.4 million to their heirs without any […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Evolution Of Education Debt
The facts are astounding. The figure now exceeds 43 million student borrowers, who are in debt by an average of $39,351 each. In an effort to attain a bachelor’s degree, the average public university student borrows at least $30,000. And now, the largest it has ever been, the outstanding Federal Loan Portfolio of $1.56 trillion […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Are Quiet Trusts Coming to Michigan?
One of the fundamental duties of a trustee is to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed with regard to the trust’s existence and administration. That could be soon changing in Michigan. The Michigan Trust Code imposes broad disclosure requirements on a trustee. Specifically, the Michigan Trust Code provides that a trustee must keep a qualified trust beneficiary […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
China – A New Beginning or More of the Same
Taking financial markets by surprise, Chinese authorities announced that the ride-hailing platform, Didi, was to be banned from app stores in China. This effectively severed the company’s ability to add new users within the country. Didi, the Chinese equivalent to Uber, received this unwelcome news just two days after going public on the New York […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Settling Our Estate
Recently updating our estate plan made me think about the actual implementation of the plan. After all, successful plans require attention and thoughtful execution. Do we want to burden our boys with it? If so, should we? Our plan isn’t complicated, but will they actually know what to do? How long will it take? How […]
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2021
Greenleaf Trust announces CHRS Certification
Human resources coordinator receives CHRS Certification Human resources coordinator T’Ausia Bronson has earned the Certified Human Resources Specialist (CHRS) certification from Michigan State University, the premier certification for HR professionals and managers who want to add greater value through a thorough understanding of human resources management. T’Ausia is primarily responsible for a variety of administrative, […]
Read MoreSeptember 7, 2021
September 2021 Perspectives Newsletter
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Read MoreSeptember 1, 2021
Greenleaf Trust announces CFA® Certification
Manager selection analyst receives CFA® Certification Manager selection analyst Jacob Barker has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession. Jacob is responsible for supporting the evaluation, selection and ongoing oversight of all external investment managers used in client investment portfolios. He joined Greenleaf Trust in […]
Read MoreAugust 27, 2021
Greenleaf Trust to celebrate renovation
Greenleaf Trust held a grand opening for its renovated office in Traverse City. Read more here.
Read MoreAugust 23, 2021
Greenleaf Trust announces new hires and role changes
Greenleaf Trust continues to grow and thrive in uncertain times: The importance of company culture is put to the test during uncertain times, most certainly throughout the last 16-months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Team members hired during this period represent 17% of our team. Our constant focus on clients and collegial team environment has allowed […]
Read MoreAugust 20, 2021
Greenleaf Trust announces CFP® Certifications
Two Senior Wealth Management Associates receive CFP® Certifications Senior Wealth Management Associates Michal Mikrut and Steve Davis, CFP® have 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 renewal requirements. Michal and Steve are responsible […]
Read MoreAugust 9, 2021
Focus Podcast: Jobs & Money
Nick Juhle explains what the latest jobs report means for the economy to 9and10 News: Listen here.
Read MoreAugust 9, 2021
SLATs: Not Something You Buy at Home Depot
Estate planning is rich with acronyms and can make you feel as though you are searching for an item within the vastness of a Home Depot store. Uncertainty looms as you roam the many aisles looking for the item. Even after you locate what you need, it can be challenging and frustrating to finish your […]
Read MoreAugust 9, 2021
It’s That Time of Year – Government Form 5500 Filing
The IRS requires that retirement plan sponsors file a Form 5500 by the end of the seventh month following the close of the previous plan year. Thus, if a plan is operating on a calendar year, the form would be due on July 31. However, in 2021, July 31 is a Saturday; when that date […]
Read MoreAugust 9, 2021
State Fiduciary Income Tax Savings – Delaware Trusts
A fundamental goal in creating an irrevocable trust is to minimize the effect of taxes on trust assets. Besides shielding trust assets from estate, gift and/or generation-skipping taxes, creating an irrevocable trust can also shelter it from state income taxes. Establishing an irrevocable trust in Delaware allows trust assets to potentially grow free of state […]
Read MoreAugust 9, 2021
A New Home for Research
As you know, we are extremely proud of our research team at Greenleaf Trust. Our 12-person in-house investment research team is led by Nick Juhle, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, and includes professionals from diverse backgrounds specializing in portfolio construction, manager selection, equity research, fixed income research, alternative investments, and trading. Seven members […]
Read MoreAugust 6, 2021
August 2021 Perspectives Newsletter
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Read MoreAugust 4, 2021
Ways to Invest to Slow Climate Change
Greenleaf Trust’s Lucas Mansberger recently discussed how climate change may impact investments with NextAvenue. Read the article here: https://www.nextavenue.org/green-investing-climate-change/amp/
Read MoreAugust 4, 2021
Holy smokes! I wish I had known that when I was a practicing attorney.
Led by George Bearup, J.D., Senior Legal Trust Advisor and ACTEC fellow with over 42 years of practical experience as an estate planning attorney on the topic of: “What I know now as a corporate trustee that I didn’t know as a practicing attorney” Followed by Q & A. Download the Presentation
Read MoreJuly 26, 2021
Adviser: approach family loans with care
Regina Jaegar explains how to approach family loans in this week’s Grand Rapids Business Journal. Read more here.
Read MoreJuly 22, 2021
Fortune and Great Place to Work® Name Greenleaf Trust One of the 2021 Best Workplaces for Millennials™
Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $16 billion in assets under advisement, announced that it has been recognized as one of the 2021 Best Workplaces for Millennials™. The Best Workplaces for Millennials award is based on analysis of survey responses from more than 5.3 million current employees. In that survey, 94% of Greenleaf […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
July 2021 Perspectives Newsletter
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Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
Lesson Learned: Be Prepared
What a year this has been! Life can be challenging enough without adding a pandemic to the mix. The sense of relief as life begins to return to ‘normal’ feels so good after such a long, unexpected time. Not only is this a good time to reflect on all we have to be grateful for, […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
Partnering for Success – Fiduciary Role
Offering a high-quality qualified retirement plan, especially in a tight labor market, helps attract and retain talent. Along with offering employees a retirement benefit, employers hold an important fiduciary role to keep the plan in good order through plan administration and following regulatory compliance. Ignoring fiduciary responsibilities may lead to penalties from the Internal Revenue […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
Asset Location, Location, Location!
Often in real estate we hear the mantra: location, location, location. The repeated statement suggests value varies based on the location in which the real estate resides. A similar phenomenon occurs in investing and is referred to as Asset Location. The placement or location of your investments can ultimately provide tax-efficiency and enhanced after-tax returns […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
Treating Children Equally – Hidden Inequities
Parents often treat their children the same when it comes to distributions of their estate in order to avoid conflict or claims of undue influence. While well intentioned, sometimes parents overlook the fact that distributing their estate equally among their children can still cause their children to feel that they were treated neither equally nor […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
2021 Mid-Year Market Review
In January, Chairman Bill Johnston and I delivered a 2021 outlook seminar via live stream from a studio in Grand Rapids. Six months later, the world is a different place as an increasingly vaccinated population rediscovers a sense of normalcy. It is too early to call this a post-Covid era, but the narrative is now […]
Read MoreJuly 8, 2021
The Doors are Open
As of June 22, 2021, the state of Michigan has been opened to full capacity! In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) have also recently rescinded their COVID-19 Emergency Rules. As a result, Greenleaf Trust will be moving to Phase II of […]
Read MoreJune 24, 2021
What Happens When The Fed Cuts Interest Rates?
Forbes quoted Chris Burns in its article on interest rate cuts, available here.
Read MoreJune 14, 2021
Increasing consumer price index of clothing impacting local businesses
As pandemic restrictions loosen, consumers are finding that inflation is on the rise. Greenleaf Trust’s Nick Juhle discusses why this is and what it means for the economy in a recent interview with WZZM13 Read more here.
Read MoreJune 8, 2021
June 2021 Perspectives Newsletter
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Read MoreJune 8, 2021
Your Next Financial Milestone
There are few thrills in life that can compare with turning 16 and getting your driver’s license. It’s often the first true sense of independence and freedom that many experience. For me, cruising down the road, windows rolled down, parentless, in a 1992 Pontiac Grand Am was truly unforgettable. Before I could even figure out […]
Read MoreJune 8, 2021
SECURE Act 2.0: Retirement Security is Again on the Congressional Agenda
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, was passed two years ago. Get ready for more. The House Ways and Means Committee recently voted unanimously to advance a second bill, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of […]
Read MoreJune 8, 2021
Key to a Successful Family Loan—Document, Document, Document
With interest rates so low, intra-family loans (also referred to as family loans), using current low interest rates, have garnered significant interest for the purpose of wealth transfer to complement a holistic estate plan. While the majority of the conversation in recent years has focused on wealth transfer as the purpose of a family loan, […]
Read MoreJune 8, 2021
Cycles and Rotations – Are We Talking Spin Studios or Financial Markets?
Optimism abounds as we approach the summer months, with a return to pre-pandemic life appearing closer than ever. Economic optimism has also returned as businesses have reopened their doors and individuals have reentered the labor force. Consumer confidence is near all-time highs with the US personal saving rate remaining well above pre-pandemic levels. Not long […]
Read MoreJune 8, 2021
Coming Back to the Office
It seemed appropriate that on my drive into the office this morning I heard the song “Human Touch” by Bruce Springsteen. The song’s lyrics took on a broader meaning for me as I reflected on the last 14 months. During that time, Greenleaf Trust team members have been working remotely. That has meant long hours […]
Read MoreMay 21, 2021
Greenleaf Trust Receives Honor as Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Metro Detroit
Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $16 billion in assets under advisement, announced that it has been recognized as one of Metro Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®. Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® evaluates employee feedback based on key measures such as engagement, compensation, benefits and employee solutions, education […]
Read MoreMay 19, 2021
Greenleaf Trust Relocates to Newly Restored Former City Hall Building in Traverse City
Greenleaf Trust, an independent Michigan-chartered, trust-only bank and wealth management firm, announced the relocation of its Northern Michigan team to the historic Old City Hall in downtown Traverse City. Greenleaf Trust partnered with real estate developer and sister-company Catalyst Development Co., LLC on the restoration of the historic building. The wealth management firm’s new 5,100-square-foot […]
Read MoreMay 12, 2021
Greenleaf Trust Ranks Among the Highest Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2021
Greenleaf Trust has been named to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2021. Hitting newsstands May 18 in the May/June 2021 issue, and as part of a prominent Inc.com feature, the list is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of American companies that have created exceptional workplaces and company culture […]
Read MoreMay 5, 2021
May 2021 Perspectives Newsletter
At the time of this writing, 145,000,000 Americans have received at least one vaccination shot against COVID-19, representing 43% of the population. Ninety-one million people, or 29% of our population, are now fully vaccinated. The temporary pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccinations caused an 11% reduction in the five day average daily inoculation rate; […]
Read MoreMay 5, 2021
Knowing the Plan Today for What Will Happen Tomorrow
“Conventional estate planning focuses most of the attention on assets rather than family. Structures and strategies emphasize tax savings over family needs. The planning perspective needs more focus on protecting the family as opposed to protecting assets or preserving wealth.” -George Bearup, Senior Trust Advisor at Greenleaf Trust The philosophy of protecting the family while […]
Read MoreMay 5, 2021
Financial Literacy Month
April was Financial Literacy Month. Financial Literacy Month is a nationally recognized month created with a goal of improving financial literacy in America. As a financial organization with a holistic approach to wealth management, we want to ensure that financial wellness is at the forefront of all our client’s minds, from our family office and […]
Read MoreMay 5, 2021
Trusts and Divorce
One of the frequently mentioned benefits of a trust is to protect the trust’s assets from a beneficiary’s creditor claims. While many trust beneficiaries do not have creditor problems, many of those same trust beneficiaries are married, and nationwide statistics show that about 50% of marriages end in divorce. One question that frequently arises is […]
Read MoreMay 5, 2021
The Siren Song of Selling Bonds to Buy Dividend Stocks
Interest rates currently remain near all-time lows. Recently, clients have been inquiring about selling lower-yielding bonds & purchasing higher-yielding dividend-paying stocks instead. This article will debunk the myth that dividend-paying stocks are less risky than other stocks and will explain our thinking about why investors should probably avoid the siren song of high dividend stocks, […]
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