March 17, 2022
FOMC Statement Side by Side Fed raises interest rates for first time since 2018 and signals intentions for 6 more hikes in 2022. At its meeting today the FOMC voted to raise the Federal Funds rate to 0.25%-0.50%. Bullard dissented, preferring a rate of 0.50-0.75%. The statement noted that the Fed will begin reducing its […]
Read MoreMarch 17, 2022
Nick Juhle discusses the Fed’s recent rate hikes combatting inflation on WOOD TV8.
Read MoreMarch 17, 2022
Nick Juhle discusses the the interest rate increases with MiBiz. Read more here.
Read MoreMarch 16, 2022
February retail sales up 17.6% (nominal) and 9.7% (real) year-over-year. Primary drivers of the year-over-year increase include spending on gasoline (+36.4%), restaurant dining (+33.0%) and apparel (+30.6%). Despite sustained strength in real retail sales growth, heightened inflationary pressures exacerbated by the Russia/Ukraine conflict are posing a threat to consumer demand and therefore economic growth. In […]
Read MoreMarch 15, 2022
Richard Carden, CFP® joins Greenleaf Trust in southeast Michigan as a senior wealth management associate. Richard is responsible for the development of comprehensive wealth management plans, the execution of goal-based planning strategies, and the management of investment portfolios. He has earned his Bachelor’s degree in trust and wealth management with a minor in financial planning […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
Consumer prices are 7.9% higher than they were a year ago – in line with forecasts and marking a fresh 40-year high. This data suggests inflation woes were intensifying even before Russia’s Ukraine invasion sparked a dramatic increase in commodity prices. Most economists were expecting February to mark the peak of YoY price increases, with […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
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Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
At this time of year retirement plan providers are busy completing the annual Actual Deferral Percentage (ADP) tests for qualified retirement plans which contain a salary deferral or Roth 401(k) component. This test in particular can be very impactful to certain plan participants. This is a non-discrimination test for 401(k) plans mandated by the Internal […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
Planning for retirement is not only important from a financial perspective, but from a psychological perspective as well. Being prepared financially for retirement is critical, but the emotional impact is one that is often overlooked. Moving from a busy career into uncharted territory creates excitement as well as anxiety. The path to retirement reminds me […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
Valuation discounts, often utilized in connection with the transfer of ownership interests in family-owned or closely-held businesses, are a valuable estate planning tool. These discounts have gotten a good deal of press lately. Last September, the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) (H.R. 5376) was introduced in the House of Representatives. In its original form, the […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
Greenleaf Trust has long been an advocate of diversifying equity portfolios across the stocks of both US and non-US companies. However, over the past several years, the returns of domestic equities have consistently outpaced non-US equities. This has led some to question whether investing in non-US equities is still prudent. Additionally, recent high profile geopolitical […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2022
We have all read the headlines about the tight labor market and have seen the help wanted signs around all of our communities (I counted 17 on my 20-minute commute into the office this morning). Without going into the myriad of reasons why we have a tight labor market, suffice to say that it is, […]
Read MoreMarch 4, 2022
Payroll additions surprise positively again. U.S. job growth boomed in February while wage growth slowed, highlighting a steadily improving, though extremely tight labor market that should keep the Fed on track for a rate increase later this month. Whereas some observers had seen potential for more than one 0.25% increase in March, economic uncertainties posed […]
Read MoreFebruary 24, 2022
Background on the Situation: Following a period of failed diplomatic reconciliation, Russian president Vladimir Putin officially declared war with Ukraine last night. Shortly thereafter, a series of military advances were made by the Russian army into Ukraine, extending all the way to Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv. Leading up to today’s events, the United States and […]
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2022
January retail sales up 3.8% month-over-month (+3.2% adjusted for inflation); topping forecasts. Retail spending increased 3.8% in January – marking the highest increase since March following a 2.5% decline in December. Demand for goods remains robust despite elevated inflation levels, while the omicron variant and related surge in Covid-19 cases likely dampened services spending in […]
Read MoreFebruary 11, 2022
Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle discusses the January Employment Numbers with Ken Lanphear on WKZO:
Read MoreFebruary 11, 2022
Chief Investment Officer Nick Juhle discusses the Consumer Price Index with Ken Lanphear with WKZO:
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
As of 2022, the federal lifetime gift and estate tax exemption is now $12,060,000 per person. If you are married, that means $24,120,000 can pass from you and your spouse to non-charitable beneficiaries without being subject to a 40% tax. The elevated lifetime exemption amount, combined with the recently increased annual exclusion amount of $16,000 […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
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Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
In 2021, the nation’s long-term care insurers paid out $12.3 billion in claims to 336,000 policyholders in which some claims totaled over $1 million. This represents a significant increase over prior years according to the Association of Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). The 2021 payout was approximately $700 million more than what was paid out in […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
Workaround clears the road for select Michigan business owners. During the final weeks of 2021, Michigan joined a growing number of states in adopting State And Local Tax (SALT) parity reforms. Governor Whitmer signed a bill into law December 20 that creates an election for owners of pass-through entities with Michigan-sourced income to pay state […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
Bequests that are subject to a condition or contingency are often referred to as “dead hand” control. They are often used to incent beneficiaries or to change unacceptable behaviors. A bequest to a beneficiary that is subject to a condition that the beneficiary must abide by the condition or forfeit the bequest is often used […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
Active equity managers face many investment paradoxes. Markets are inherently volatile and can be irrational. Long-term consensus expectations are often misestimated, all of which should create inefficiencies in security prices. And yet, most active managers fail to outperform their respective benchmarks. As Senior Equity Portfolio Manager, I’m specifically responsible for the Intrinsic Value Strategy, an […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
Remember starting your first job as an adult in the “real world?” You were excited, nervous, and wanted to make a big impression on day one. The problem was you were not exactly sure who everyone was nor what you were supposed to be doing. Our growth and commitment to client service has required the […]
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2022
Consumer prices are 7.5% higher than they were a year ago – slightly higher than forecast and the highest level reported in nearly 40 years. The writing was already on the wall, but when you couple these persistent elevated levels of inflation with the labor market strength we discussed last week, it leaves absolutely no […]
Read MoreFebruary 8, 2022
How can I get more money into my retirement plan? As a relationship manager for numerous retirement plans, I regularly receive this question from business owners and other highly compensated employees (HCEs). These same individuals are often surprised to learn there are no income restrictions on Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) dollars, unlike the income […]
Read MoreFebruary 4, 2022
Payroll additions surprise positively – Highlighting labor market strength and emboldening Fed plans. S. job growth exceeded all forecasts and defied Omicron headwinds in January. Following its meeting last week, the FED noted the impact of the Omicron variant on COVID-sensitive sectors like travel, but predicted a short wave of infection and, as a result, […]
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2022
Greenleaf Trust adds to client centric team in northern Michigan: Kimberly Lloyd joins Greenleaf Trust as a senior trust relationship associate in Traverse City, Michigan. She is responsible for day-to-day trust administration and fiduciary compliance while coordinating estate and tax planning strategies with other professional advisors for her clients. Kimberly has a Bachelor’s of Business […]
Read MoreJanuary 28, 2022
Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $17 billion in assets under advisement, announced that it has been recognized as a both a Best and Brightest West Michigan Iconic Winner and a National Brilliance award winner. The Best and Brightest Iconic Award is bestowed to distinguished companies that have been an Elite winner in […]
Read MoreJanuary 28, 2022
Fed statement side-by-side comparison Fed sets the stage for hiking to begin at their next meeting, March 16 At its meeting today the FOMC voted unanimously to maintain the Federal Funds rate at 0-0.25% and to finish tapering in early March. Some market participants speculated that the FED might raise interest rates by 0.50% in […]
Read MoreJanuary 18, 2022
Year in Review of Financial Markets and Outlook for 2022. Presented by Nicholas A. Juhle, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer, and Chris Burns, CFA®, CPA, CFP®, Vice President, Investment Strategist, Senior Fixed Income Analyst. Download the presentation
Read MoreJanuary 14, 2022
December retail sales declined 1.9% month-over-month (-2.4% adjusted for inflation); missing forecasts. Retail spending declined 1.9% in December, following a 0.2% gain in November, suggesting that elevated inflation levels are beginning to weigh on consumers. December data showed softer spending at furniture, electronics, and sporting goods stores and a more meaningful dip in online spending […]
Read MoreJanuary 14, 2022
Ken is joined by Nick Juhle, CIO, Greenleaf Trust
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2022
Greenleaf Trust was recently recognized by the NABR as a 2021 Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness winner, honoring companies that promote employee well-being, worksite health and wellness. Read more in Corp Magazine
Read MoreJanuary 12, 2022
Consumer prices rose at the fastest annual pace in nearly 40 years last month, setting the stage for the start of Federal Reserve interest rate increases as soon as March – a dramatic shift from the policy timelines projected as recently as a few months ago. Looking forward, we believe normalizing demand, tighter policy, and […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
Continuous improvement is one of Greenleaf Trust’s core values – it is a pillar of our culture and has become part of our DNA. Every tangible improvement we have made on behalf of our clients stems from a disciplined review of our practices. As we look for opportunities to serve our clients better, we begin […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
Payroll additions disappoint again; Lower unemployment provides underpinning for tighter Fed policy. U.S. job growth slowed to its lowest level in 2021, while participation was unchanged and unemployment marked a fresh post-pandemic best. Today’s report is an indication that in spite of robust demand for workers, the issues that have limited hiring (retirements, childcare issues, […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
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Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
I’m encouraged by a conversation topic that seems to be coming up more and more regarding philanthropy, trust-based philanthropy. It’s not a new topic, but one that has and will take time to become the norm. As with most changes, it is understood and adopted at varying rates and levels of engagement. For the sake […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
Increasingly popular methods to raise employee participation in defined contribution retirement plans are various “automatic” features. These include auto-enrollment, auto-escalation, and automatically diversified qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs). Let’s explore the opportunities auto-enrollment, in particular, affords plan sponsors. There are three forms of auto-enrollment, or automatic contribution arrangements (ACAs). Basic Auto Enrollment (ACA) Participants are […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
For much of 2021, there was plenty of angst expressed in the news with regard to the potential reduction of an individual’s federal unified gift and estate tax exemption amount. That exemption, $11.7 million per individual in 2021, was regularly threatened by several bills filed in Congress to reduce the exemption to a much lower […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
Back in July, we published our 2021 mid-year market review. Having hosted a virtual year-in-review seminar in January, the article highlighted how much changed in the first six months of 2021. An increasingly vaccinated population rediscovered a sense of normalcy. The optimists in all of us were ready to declare victory and move on, but […]
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022
We believe meaningful recognition should be appropriate and deserved. It should be acknowledgement for a job well done. At the end of the year, we announced the following 20 promotions. These were teammates from throughout the organization who successfully executed customized purposeful growth plans with their coaches. Promotions are always based on merit at Greenleaf […]
Read MoreJanuary 4, 2022
Greenleaf Trust is proud to share the following promotions: Karen Baldwin has been promoted to EVP, Director of Human Resources Jacob Barker has been promoted to Senior Manager Selection Analyst Patrick Bruining has been promoted to Trust Operations Analyst Sharon Conran has been promoted to Vice-President, Senior Estate Settlement Officer-Team Lead Steve Davis has been […]
Read MoreJanuary 3, 2022
Chief Investment Officer Nicholas Juhle was featured in Market Realist on interest rates in 2022.
Read MoreDecember 28, 2021
The impact of wealth on successive generations is never far from Dana Hushak’s mind. Over a 30-year career in trusts, he has advised clients in every conceivable family dynamic. A common thread: “What will inheritance do for our kids, and what will it do to them?” And another: “What financial steps can we take that […]
Read MoreDecember 28, 2021
Lisa Hojnacki, participant services coordinator/team lead for Greenleaf Trust’s retirement plan services division, said the monthly increase for SSI benefits are due to near-term inflation as a result of the pandemic. Read more in Grand Rapids Business Journal
Read MoreDecember 16, 2021
Fed moves to less accommodation, consistent with investors’ expectations.At its meeting today the FOMC voted unanimously to maintain the Federal Funds rate at 0-0.25% and to increase the pace of tapering. In its summary of economic projections, the Fed updated their projections to show slightly slower GDP growth, a lower unemployment rate, and slightly faster […]
Read MoreDecember 15, 2021
November retail sales rose 0.3% month-over-month (-0.5% adjusted for inflation); missing forecasts. Retail spending increased 0.3% in November, following an upwardly revised 1.8% increase in October. In recent communications, we highlighted expectations for month-over-month figures to continue to be a bit noisy (+/-1%) despite spending levels that remain decidedly robust in absolute terms. November data […]
Read MoreDecember 10, 2021
Consumer prices rose at the fastest annual pace in nearly 40 years last month, increasing pressure on the Federal reserve to tighten monetary policy sooner rather than later. We believe there is a high likelihood that November readings mark peak inflation levels for this cycle. Increasingly tough comps and tighter policy should cause the rate […]
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