Wealth Management
Precious metals miners specializing in the extraction of gold and silver from the earth had a good week. These five – four of the NYSE and one on the Nasdaq – blasted to new price highs mid-week before pulling back a bit on Friday. A widely followed gold stocks ETF also showed a new high. Two factors are at work: inflation and fear. That Donald Trump tariffs are basically inflationary have money managers looking for hedges and the classic for that is precious metals. That’s one of the reasons for this week’s price run-up in silver and silver stocks –…
Retirement often feels like the light at the end of the tunnel—a time to relax, enjoy life, and finally pursue the dreams that were put on hold during the busy years of work and family life. For many, this dream centers around travel: exploring new cultures, revisiting favorite places, and soaking in experiences that fill the soul. But achieving a retirement that’s full of travel takes more than daydreams and wanderlust. It requires thoughtful planning, financial discipline, and a clear roadmap. Here’s how you can design your retirement to turn those travel dreams into reality. 1. Envision Your Ideal Travel…
Gold’s been hitting new highs and a few gold and silver stocks have been running up to higher highs along with it. It’s hard to say with certainty what the reason is. Inflation concerns are the first thing that come to the mind of an analyst. Or, considering the strangeness in Washington, D. C. these days, the concern might be fear. Whatever the case, precious metals and the companies that mine for them are having a decent run. Gold Stocks and 1 Silver Stock: New Highs SPDR Gold Shares: This is the NYSE-traded exchange traded fund that reflects movements in…
Family offices, the private wealth management entities of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families are increasingly becoming sophisticated and influential players within the global financial ecosystem. According to Deloitte Private, there were an estimated 8030 single-family offices globally in 2024, with projections suggesting growth to approximately 10,720 by 2030. We have researched and reviewed what is to come in 2025, here we will outline the predictions, trends and outlooks shaping the family office sector in the coming year. Further Professionalisation The family office sector is expected to continue its trend towards professionalisation in 2025. Reports like the Global Family Office 2024 Survey Insights…
The U.S. Senate has introduced the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act (TAS Act), a legislative proposal aimed at modernizing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and enhancing taxpayer services. As tax administration continues to face scrutiny over inefficiencies and outdated processes, this bill seeks to address these concerns through targeted reforms. The TAS Act was released as a discussion draft by Senators Mike Crapo and Ron Wyden on January 30, 2025. f now, it remains a draft and has not been formally introduced or filed in either chamber of Congress. Key Provisions of the TAS Act The proposed legislation includes a…
This week is the busiest of the fourth-quarter earnings season, with 130 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report. 77% of S&P 500 firms reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter. Four of the Magnificent 7 reported earnings last week, with another two coming this week. The Magnificent 7 consists of Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA). Despite overall better earnings and resilient U.S. economic growth, the announcement of DeepSeek development and President Trump’s threatened tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico caused crosscurrents in the markets. The S&P 500 fell 1% for…
Follow Imaru Casanova deep underground with shares in mining companies. They’re a leveraged bet, so they’re riskier than gold bars. By William Baldwin, Senior Contributor In 1991 Imaru Casanova, age 16, won a foreign-studies scholarship, left Venezuela and arrived in Denver knowing scarcely a word of English. Her language instruction course happened to be at the Colorado School of Mines. So perhaps it was providential that after a roundabout career that began in mechanical engineering, she found herself last year visiting a gold mine near Jacobina, Brazil. Casanova, 50, runs the $700 million Van Eck International Investors Gold Fund. Among…
Combining annuities with IRAs or 401(k)s can be powerful. Annuities offer principal protection and guaranteed lifetime income. But often people don’t even consider the combination because of widespread misinformation and confusion. Some people say that an IRA isn’t allowed to hold an annuity. That’s not true. The tax code allows most types of annuities to be held in both traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Annuities also can be held in 401(k)s. In the SECURE Act, enacted in 2019, and the SECURE Act 2.0, enacted in 2022, Congress changed the rules to make it easier for employers to offer annuities in…
If retirement is on your horizon for 2025, now is the time to prepare. A solid plan ensures you’re financially secure and ready for this exciting new chapter. Use this checklist to make sure you’re covering all your bases as you approach retirement. 1. Confirm Your Retirement Date Decide on your exact retirement date and ensure it aligns with your financial goals. Speak with your employer about your planned departure. 2. Review Your Retirement Savings Check your 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, and other retirement accounts to confirm your balances. Evaluate whether your current savings can support your anticipated lifestyle. Contribute…
The ability to switch Medicare plans isn’t as available as many beneficiaries are told or believe. Most Medicare beneficiaries know that each year during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) they’re allowed to change their coverage. The new coverage will take effect the following January 1. During open enrollment, a beneficiary can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Or someone in a Medicare Advantage plan can move to original Medicare. A move from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan also is allowed. Of course, during the initial enrollment period (the seven months that include the month…
Uncertainty And Strategic Implications The Trump administration’s estate tax proposals and executive orders have introduced significant uncertainty into estate planning. While some of these changes remain in the proposal stage, they highlight a shift in priorities that could reshape how high-net-worth individuals and families approach wealth transfer and asset management. Proposed Estate Tax Repeal: A Major Policy Shift One of the most notable proposals from the Trump administration is the potential repeal of the federal estate tax. Currently, the estate tax exemption stands at $13.99 million per individual (just under $28 million per couple), but this exemption is set to…