Retirement is a milestone many dream of, but transitioning into it can feel daunting without a solid plan. Confidence in retirement stems from careful preparation, clarity on your goals, and making informed financial decisions. Whether you’re nearing retirement or still have decades to prepare, these tips can help you retire with peace of mind. 1. Define Your Retirement Vision Retirement isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Take time to visualize your ideal retirement: Do you want to travel? Start a passion project or volunteer? Downsize your home or relocate? Understanding your goals helps shape your financial plan and ensures your retirement aligns…

As the estate planning landscape braces for significant changes in 2025, the 59th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, held from January 13th to January 17th in Orlando, Florida, offered an indispensable guide for attorneys, advisors, and business owners. The conference highlighted the critical need for proactive planning considering a rapidly evolving tax and regulatory environment. Key topics included the anticipated sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the rising popularity of purpose trusts, and advanced business succession strategies. Below are the pivotal themes and insights poised to shape estate and business planning in the coming year. I…

The impact of a Trump’s return to presidency on alternative investments depends on the details of policy implementation, market expectations, and global economic conditions. While some sectors may benefit from deregulation or tax incentives, others might face reduced government support or policy shifts. Investors considering alternative strategies should proactively adjust their portfolios to anticipate these potential changes, prioritizing sectors that are likely to receive favorable treatment or have inherent resilience to policy-induced volatility. Sectors Likely to Benefit from the Impact From Trump’s Return Commodities and Natural Resources: Trump expressed intention to expand energy and mining by promoting policies that boost…

Within the S&P 500, 20 companies reported earnings last week, dominated by large bank earnings. 79% of S&P 500 firms reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter. The pace of the third-quarter earnings season picks up this week, with 40 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report. Better bank earnings and friendly inflation readings sent bond yields lower and stocks higher. The S&P 500 rose 2.9% for the week, and the Magnificent 7 gained 2.0%. The Magnificent 7 consists of Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA). Notably, bank stocks soared 8.2% on…

Retirement is often imagined as a carefree phase of life, filled with relaxation, hobbies, and quality time with loved ones. But for many, the transition to retirement comes with its share of stress—uncertainty about finances, adjusting to a new routine, and navigating unexpected challenges. The good news? With the right strategies, you can minimize retirement-related stress and fully embrace this exciting chapter. Here are five ways to reduce retirement stress and focus on what matters most. 1. Create a Clear Financial Plan One of the leading causes of stress in retirement is uncertainty about finances. To ease these concerns, establish…

As economic, technological, and demographic shifts reshape the wealth management industry, forward-thinking advisors can position themselves as indispensable partners to a new generation of clients. Here’s how wealth managers can capitalize on 2025’s key trends to stand out and grow their businesses. Focus on Agility and Expertise In an era of continued economic volatility, wealth managers who effectively navigate complex markets will stand out. Rising interest in alternative investments—such as private equity, real estate, and infrastructure—presents an opportunity to showcase specialized knowledge and meet the diversification needs of high-net-worth clients. Firms can leverage thought leadership content—white papers, webinars, and podcasts—…

Team Name: C2 Advisors Firm: UBS Private Wealth Management Senior Members: Cindy Brown, Daffan Nettle, Leslie Gunawan, Jay Boynton Location: Dallas, TX Team Custodied Assets: $1.5 billion Background: A team of majority women, C2 Advisors moved from JPMorgan to UBS in 2021. With 9 people in total, there are four senior partners, each with their own expertise. Daffan Nettle has an M&A background, Leslie Gunawan in fixed income trading and institutional consulting, Cindy Brown in institutional capital markets and Jay Boynton in portfolio management. They work with 100 clients today, from family offices and business owners to private equity firms…

The robust and much higher-than-expected employment growth in the December jobs report on Friday essentially wiped out any thoughts of another Federal Reserve rate cut on January 29. Job growth continued to bounce back from the hurricanes and strike-impacted October data. The economy entered 2025 with some momentum, as the Atlanta Fed currently estimates 2.7% GDP growth for the fourth quarter. Employment grew by 256,000 nonfarm jobs, which was well above expectations. Previous data was revised slightly lower, but not enough to diminish the strong report. The household survey data was even more impressive, with a gain of 478,000 jobs,…

Team Name: The Chen Group Firm: Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Senior Members: Robert Chen, James Ferrante, Libby Miller, Talal Bazzi Location: New York, NY Team Custodied Assets: $1.2 billion Background: The son of Chinese immigrants, Robert Chen grew up in South Carolina and was originally a pre-med student at Brown before majoring in economics. He then did stints at Credit Suisse working on leverage buyout deals before going to work at several different hedge funds. After his father passed away in a car accident, he moved home for six months to redo all of the family’s finances and estate…

Team Name: Laurella, Roundy & Associates Firm: Merrill Wealth Management Senior Members: Carl Laurella, Jeffry Roundy, Randy Joseph, Ashly Laurella Pantone Location: Salt Late City, Utah Team Custodied Assets: $1.8 billion Background: An auditor at Ernst & Young before becoming a financial advisor, Jeffry Roundy joined his team at Merrill in 1995. One of the first wealth teams at the firm, it has grown over the years to now include four senior partners and four support staff. They work with clients from all over the country, including many business owners, a number of institutions and a significant number of high…