Greenleaf Trust announces CFA Institute Investment Foundations Certificates

As part of their internship at Greenleaf Trust, Victor Perez and Eddie Warr have completed the CFA Institute Investment Foundations® Program. Each intern was awarded the CFA investment Foundations Certificate after passing an extensive exam that covered ethics, economics, finance, investments and risk management. Also Greenleaf Trust Scholarship recipients, the interns have successfully demonstrated their […]

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How Investors Can Make Sense of the Yield Curve

The inverted yield curve, while not a switchback roadway in Moldova, still has this air of Route 66 mystery to it. What exactly is this curve? Why does it invert? And how come some wicked smart market watchers get anxious about it…   Read More at U.S. News & World Report

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Greenleaf Trust announces Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist Certification

Rosalice C. Hall completed a course of study and examination through the College of Financial Planning encompassing design, installation and administration of retirement plans and earned the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ designation. Rosie has been with Greenleaf Trust since 2011 and is responsible for providing comprehensive support for individual and corporate retirement plan clients.

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Greenleaf Trust Scholarship Turns 20

We could not be more proud that the Greenleaf Trust Scholarship at the Haworth College of Business envisioned by our founder and Chairman, William D. Johnston, is turning twenty years old. We are so excited that we celebrated with cake at our annual reception honoring current and past scholarship recipients. The Greenleaf Trust Scholarship awards […]

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Dealing with Sudden Wealth

It is your wealth and you should be able to leave it to whomever you want on your death and in whatever fashion you consider appropriate. Most individuals intend that the purpose of their wealth, often transmitted by a trust, is to enhance the lives of their trust’s beneficiaries. Estate planning, however, focuses on when […]

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Philanthropy After the 2017 Tax Act

The long-term impact on philanthropy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 remains unclear. While lower income taxes and eased income tax administration would seem to be desirable ends, one area that has raised concern is the effect these changes have on charitable giving, and the services that charities will be able to […]

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Super-Size Your Roth IRA

Comprehensive and insightful retirement planning advice will typically encourage you to fund an emergency savings account, maximize your annual contribution to your workplace 401(k), collect your employer’s match, contribute to a health savings account and fund a Roth IRA if you’re eligible. Once you’ve maximized your allowable contributions to these accounts, saving in an after-tax […]

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Easy For You To Say

Imagine you’re offered an investment. A prospective borrower explains the deal. You will loan them $101.00. In twenty years, the borrower promises to pay you back, but only $100.00. The borrower will not pay you any interest over the twenty years. Do you make the loan? I know what you’re thinking. “Of course not! If […]

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October 2019 Perspectives Newsletter

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Corp! Salutes Diversity Award Winners

Greenleaf Trust is honored to be named among Corp! Magazine’s Salute to Diversity Award Winners. President Mike Odar explains how diversity is critical to our success: “Diversity in thought, leadership, background, education and experiences allows our company to think through situations from many different angles to make sure we’re providing the best service we can possibly […]

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Why 401(k) loans can be hazardous to your wealth

For many Americans, a 401(k) loan seems like the perfect way to access money. In this scenario, you borrow from your own account and repay yourself with interest. It sounds simple… Read more at the Grand Rapid Business Journal.

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Greenleaf Trust’s Year In Review: A Seminar on Financial Markets and Our Outlook for 2019

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Wendy Cox wants women to know where their money is

Wendy Cox needed a change. She had been working in law for more than 15 years, climbing the ladder to a partnership at a law firm. “The constant battle wore me out after a while,” Cox said. “With estate litigation, there’s a lot of fighting over china. I wanted to be in a position to […]

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Look Who’s Working Now

Something peculiar has been happening in the United States labor market. Hiring has been strong, but wages are growing more slowly than previous business cycles.   Read the full article at Value Walk

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US Federal Budget Deficit, Tax Rate Risk, and Your Retirement Savings

In a 1789 letter, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It makes one wonder if Mr. Franklin could have imagined the varied tax rates that would apply over the coming […]

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The “Do Nothing” Default

There are countless statistics proving that Americans have not traditionally saved enough prior to their retirement years. Even though total assets in retirement accounts have now breached $26 trillion, the average employee’s 401(k) balance rests around $100,000, which is a little light for 30-40 years of retirement. In an effort to assist with this well-documented […]

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Corporate Sustainability: The Climate is Changing

Private enterprise is often lauded for the speed at which it recognizes and addresses society’s needs. However, the seeming failure of the business community to recognize and respond to the climate crisis and other mounting sustainability challenges has caused some to question whether business will play a positive role in addressing environmental challenges. Below, we […]

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What Is Your Trust’s Material Purpose?

If you read the Michigan Trust Code (admittedly not a particularly riveting read!), you will frequently encounter the terms material purpose. A trust’s material purpose will guide a trustee in the administration of the trust. If a probate judge is called upon to interpret the trust instrument, or the judge is asked to order a […]

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The Certainty of Uncertainty

The ever quotable Yogi Berra, who brought us such philosophical gems as “when you come to a fork in the road, take it,” and “you can observe a lot just by watching,” is also credited with the insightful idiom that “predictions are difficult, especially when they’re about the future.” This difficulty in predicting the future […]

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Greenleaf Trust Core Values

Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do are the core values that each Airman commits to when joining the Air Force. At Greenleaf Trust, we also have core values that all new team members make a commitment to before joining our team. Greenleaf Trust’s core values form the foundation of how […]

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What to Do When an Investment Fund Closes

INVESTORS PREPARING FOR college costs and retirement have long been told to pick a good set of funds, add money regularly and stick with it for the long term. But sometimes they’re thrown a curve…   Read more at U.S. News & World Report    

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Millennials’ values may come back to haunt them

Priorities of the workforce’s largest generation may be hurting long-term wealth creation, expert says. “Experiences over things” is a mantra many millennials embrace, but a local wealth manager sees it as a liability to their futures. Tom DeMeester is managing director of the Grand Rapids office of Kalamazoo-based wealth management firm Greenleaf Trust. He spoke […]

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What is the opportunity in Opportunity Zones?

In early 2018, few people outside of specialty economic development and real estate finance circles had heard of Opportunity Zones. Today, there is a national rush to raise money to invest in Opportunity Zones as the incentives are being cited…. Read more at Grand Rapids Business Journal.

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Midyear Economic Outlook: As Bad As It Seems?

Guest Column by Nicholas Juhle as featured in ValueWalk Read article here.

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Midyear Economic Outlook: Is it as bad as it seems?

In 2018, almost every major asset class posted disappointing returns as markets priced in an immediate recession that failed to materialize. 2019 began with a “miracle recovery” as equities captured new highs and declining interest rates boosted bonds. In recent weeks, anxiety and volatility have spiked once again amid escalating uncertainties. Read Nick’s full story […]

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Greenleaf Trust recognized for diversity initiatives and for being a “cool place to work”

August 2019, Kalamazoo, MI — In the span of one week, Greenleaf Trust has been named a winner of the 2019 Salute to Diversity Award by Corp! Magazine, and a “Cool Place to Work” by Crain’s Detroit Business. The two distinguished awards reflect Greenleaf Trust’s ongoing success in integrating “best practices” throughout its wealth management […]

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Greenleaf Trust announces new team member designation

August 2019, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust announces new team member designation Greenleaf Trust is proud to announce Julie Howes Certified Securities Operations Professional designation: Julie Howes, a Senior Trust Operations Specialist who will celebrate a 10 years at Greenleaf Trust this fall, received her Certified Securities Operations Professional (CSOP) designation. The CSOP designation is […]

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Greenleaf Trust Wins Dual Honors as Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® and Best and Brightest in Wellness™

August 28, 2019, Kalamazoo, MI – Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan-chartered wealth management firm with $14 billion in assets under advisement, announced that it’s been recognized as a Metro Detroits’ Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®, and a Michigan statewide Best and Brightest in Wellness. Best and Brightest Companies to Work For evaluates employee feedback […]

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The Doom Loop

The doom loop is the circle of vulnerability where a country’s banking system can be severely hurt by volatility in the price of the sovereign bonds they hold for reserves resulting in a contraction in lending provided by the banks.

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Keeping Your Retirement Plan Beneficiary Up to Date

When was the last time you reviewed your retirement account beneficiary election? Many people forget to update their beneficiary after important life events such as marriage or divorce. However, it is very important to ensure your retirement beneficiary information is current. Greenleaf Trust makes updating your beneficiary information easy by offering an online option to […]

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The SECURE Act?

In late May 2019, with bipartisan support, the House of Representatives passed the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) by a vote of 417-3. This legislation, if passed, is likely to have an impact on workers, retirees, and heirs. The SECURE Act aims to improve the nation’s retirement system by providing […]

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Greenleaf Trust Book Club

Do you remember writing book reports in school? I often felt the structure of the specific questions, required formatting, and deadlines associated with the report took away from the enjoyment of actually reading the book. The joy in reading for me has always been the creative thoughts inspired by the content of the book, not […]

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Update on US Monetary & Trade Policy

We have been focused on two primary drivers for US markets in 2019: trade negotiations and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions. On Wednesday, July 31st, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25%. In his press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted trade policy’s impact on their decision to ease: “After simmering early in […]

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July 2019 Perspectives

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Servant Leadership

It seems fitting to me that a man whose last name was Greenleaf first coined the term “servant leader” in 1970. Robert Greenleaf’s concept was that a servant leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of […]

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Mid-Year Market Review

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. We also provided our outlook for the key themes we expected to influence markets in the near- term, and the capital market assumptions shaping […]

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Employer Review of Retirement Plan Benefit

What employers can do to help employees to utilize benefits as they near and enter retirement. For many years, you have helped employees save for their retirement by offering an employer sponsored retirement plan benefit. You have encouraged savings through ensuring education sessions were held, individual consultations were available, and maybe even set up automatic […]

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Topics for Your Nonprofit Committee Meetings

Volatility in the financial markets has increased, and the returns that we expect from equity and fixed income markets globally are lower than over the recent market cycles. What are the topics that should be on the meeting agenda for the Finance and Investment Committees for nonprofits? Sustainable Spending Rates One of the more difficult […]

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Repurposing Life Insurance Policies

Over the decades many families purchased life insurance, either to act as an income replacement vehicle when the breadwinner died, or to provide immediate liquidity to pay federal estate taxes on the breadwinner’s death. With the 2017 Tax Act’s temporarily doubled federal estate tax exemption amount to $11.4 million per individual, many believe that they […]

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Partnerships for Impact – the Nonprofit Perspective

A strong nonprofit sector is critical to the success of any community. Yet, there is an inherent power dynamic that enters many of the conversations between funders and the potentially fund-receiving nonprofits which can hinder the development of open and trusting relationships. To truly provide impactful support to our community, funders must recognize this dynamic […]

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Bitcoin: Spending On Speculation

At over $12,000, Bitcoin (BTC) has more than tripled in value this year garnering renewed attention from the investment community mainstream media, and the general public after a dramatic 1,700% rise (and subsequent fall) in 2017/2018.   Read the full article at ValueWalk.

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Digital Estate Planning: How to Plan for Online Accounts

What happens to email, usernames, passwords, banking information, social media and blogs when an individual dies? It’s a question most people haven’t considered, but should. Without proper planning and documentation, online information may become inaccessible and may eventually cease to exist.   Read the full article at ThinkAdvisor.

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June 2019 Perspectives

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Traverse City Growth

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Opportunity Zones

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Benefits of Data Aggregators

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Pending Legislation: Tenants-By-The-Entireties

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Warning: 401(k) Loans Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

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WILS Morning Wake Up with Dave Akerly

Greenleaf Trust Director of Research Nick Juhle talks tariffs, trade, the fed and what it means for investors on WILS Morning Wake Up with Dave Akerly.   Listen to the full interview at WILS1320

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May 2019 Perspectives

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