In the intricate world of estate planning and administration, accurately estimating the market value of collectibles, such as sports memorabilia, antique firearms, or rare trading cards, are often overlooked both in estate planning and in estate administration. Not only does the market value influence the financial decisions surrounding these assets, but it also ensures a correct distribution during estate administration. Whether you’re helping a client plan their estate or you are helping to manage an estate, understanding how to evaluate these items can enhance the process immensely. Here’s a detailed guide, along with the latest tools, to help you navigate…

Since its mid-February high, the S&P 500 has fallen by 7%, with 3% of that decline coming last week. The Magnificent 7, consisting of Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA), has faired worse with a retreat of almost 16% since mid-December. The proximate cause of the pressure on stocks has been an economic growth scare and policy uncertainty surrounding tariffs. The Growth Scare The Atlanta Fed is currently forecasting a decline in U.S. economic growth in the first quarter. Much of the negative revision of its GDP forecast was due…

Contrary to a lot of popular belief about stocks benefitting from artificial intelligence hype, their price charts show problems. Some of the most mentioned AI-related companies are now in significant downtrends from their early 2025 peaks or their late 2024 all-time highs. A number of these have dropped below their 200-day moving averages, a technical analysis measure of relative longer-term strength. It’s better for investors when stocks trade above that rather than below it, generally. Those who own such equities with a “forever and ever” timeframe may ignore this. 4 AI-Related Stocks In Downtrends Arista Networks. The stock has slipped…

When it comes to retirement planning, there are a few milestone ages that stand out as crucial. These moments are your financial checkpoints—opportunities to make adjustments, reap benefits, or avoid costly mistakes. Understanding what to do at each of these ages can make your retirement journey smoother and more rewarding. Here’s a breakdown of the key milestone ages in retirement and what actions to take at each one. Age 50: The Catch-Up Contribution If you’re 50 or older, you can start making catch-up contributions to certain retirement accounts. This means you can contribute an additional $7,500 to a 401(k) (as…

Recently, Michael Sonnenfeldt, the founder of TIGER 21, a peer network of ultra-high-net-worth investors, discussed with Crain Currency how members of his organization are positioning their portfolios in response to tariffs and market volatility. With new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, an increasingly protectionist trade environment, and market volatility shaking investor confidence, many industries are bracing for impact. He highlights the importance of diversification, assesses sector-specific risks, and discusses the historically low cash reserves among wealthy investors, which could signal either confidence or market overvaluation. The discussion on the carried interest tax loophole adds a policy dimension to investment…

Mistakes fade away; winners can forever blossom. — Warren Buffett Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO and Chairman, writes an annual letter to provide shareholders with an owner’s manual for the company and never fails to contain tremendous insights. Buffett has a unique gift for explaining complex investing topics in a digestible format. More about the long-term track record later, but Berkshire produced arguably the most remarkable extended performance for investors ever recorded. Even over a shorter period, Berkshire has significantly outperformed the S&P 500. As a rough proxy for the growth of the company’s intrinsic value, the book value growth…

With Congress acquiescing to all of Trump’s wishes and the courts stacked in his favor, many are concerned about an unbridled president. To the rescue comes the market. By Sergei Klebnikov and Matt Schifrin, Forbes Staff This past Thursday, President Trump did it again–and so did the financial markets. In a Truth Social post, Trump said that he would be carrying through next week on his previously delayed threat to slap 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods because (he said) these neighbors weren’t doing enough to stop drugs at the border. Then, in the oval office later, he said…

Do You Remember Five Years Ago Today? It was late February 2020. Something called the novel coronavirus was spreading. It had started in Asia, then moved to Europe, and was now making its way through the U.S. We had no idea how bad it would get. I was a guest on a podcast recorded at the end of February, and we discussed whether the virus would end up being a pandemic; would it be like another SARS—serious, but relatively contained? Or something far worse? No one knew. We were standing on a precipice, peering into the unknown. And if, on…

Every year, one of the most common questions investors ask is, “What do you think about the markets this year?” While no one has a crystal ball, understanding key trends and indicators can help investors stay informed and prepared. Markets are fluid and ever-changing, but tracking certain factors can lead to better decision-making and a well-rounded investment strategy. Here are six key factors to closely monitor in 2025: 1. Federal Funds Rate The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions remain a top focus. After a few years of aggressive moves to combat inflation, the big question for 2025 is how the…

One of the most misunderstood Social Security issues is how working past age 62 affects retirement benefits. Misunderstandings often cause people to make the wrong decisions about claiming benefits or mislead them about the likely level of benefits. You can begin claiming Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, whether you are working or not. The starting level of the benefits increases each month you wait to claim benefits through age 70. There are no increases for delaying claims after age 70. Though they’re called retirement benefits, a beneficiary doesn’t have to retire to claim them. You can…