Gold is enjoying renewed popularity as both an investment and a store of value in 2024, buoyed by strong price performance and growing interest from investors. As of late November 2024, gold prices remain elevated at over $2,650 per ounce, following an all-time high of $2,736.35 in October—a roughly 30% increase since the beginning of the year. This surge is driven by multiple factors: Economic Uncertainty: Persistent global instability has reinforced gold’s role as a safe-haven asset. Inflation Hedge: With rising inflation and currency devaluation, gold is increasingly seen as a reliable store of value. Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing conflicts worldwide…

Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to be thankful for the rich bounty from stocks this year, with particularly robust returns in 2024. Still, it is also a crucial time to consider the “turkey problem” as it relates to investing. Nassim Taleb introduced the world to the “Black Swan” and used this tale to illustrate the concept. Imagine the life of a turkey where a kind farmer feeds and tends to it every day until suddenly, on the day before Thanksgiving, the situation takes an irrevocable turn for the worse. The turkey has only observed a positive trend during its lifetime…

You’ve reached a pinnacle in your professional life by building and growing a successful business that is now attracting interest from buyers willing to pay hundreds of millions of dollars. While selling a financially successful business is a significant milestone, it often comes with challenges many entrepreneurs and founders don’t anticipate. The psychological impact and the loss of purpose can be profound, especially when the business has been central to your or your family’s identity for decades. Here are some common challenges that business owners encounter after selling a business. Sense of Identity Loss For many entrepreneurs and wealth creators,…

Giving season is squarely upon us, and during this time, many high-net-worth individuals look to make a meaningful impact while maximizing tax benefits—especially with nearly a third of annual giving occurring in December. Yet, an Edward Jones report shows that only 23% of adults discuss charitable giving with their financial advisors, even though those who do feel more successful (35% vs. 17%) and excited (34% vs. 15%) about their donations. So, how can advisors better support clients in their efforts to be anything but Grinch-like in this season of generosity, and what benefits can they gain? Read on for the…

Each year, the IRS makes adjustments that impact retirement savings, tax contributions, and various other financial thresholds. Staying updated on these changes can help you get a head start on planning and make the most of your benefits. Let’s dive into the major updates for 2025 and see how they might impact your financial strategy. 401(k) and 403(b) Contribution Limits Increase For 2025, employees can now contribute up to $23,500 to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan if they’re under 50, up from $23,000 in 2024. While the catch-up contribution limit for those over 50 stays at $7,500, employees aged 60–63…

When Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election earlier this month, many nonprofits – especially those focused on issues like immigrant rights, racial justice, and climate change — worried they could be in for a bumpy four years. Judging by recent activity on Capitol Hill, the turbulence could get severe. The House of Representatives this week is poised to approve H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, a bill that would enable the Secretary of the Treasury to rescind the tax-exempt status of any nonprofits that the Secretary concludes are “terrorist-supporting organizations.” Nonprofits, foundations, media…

Family business owners face an overwhelming array of challenges—everything from succession planning and market risks to rising taxes and unpredictable regulations. Add to those concerns over privacy, feckless heirs, and the evolving social consciousness of the next generation, and it’s no wonder that many feel uncertain about the future of their enterprises. Now, with economic pressures like inflation, geopolitical tensions, and financial market volatility, it’s more critical than ever to evaluate whether your business is prepared to thrive across generations. But here’s the issue: Too often, families rely on a multitude of disconnected plans—trusts, LLCs, and other entities—without a holistic…

A low price-earnings ratio, a decent dividend and relatively low levels of debt: these 5 stocks may fit the classic value stock criteria. They have different levels of market capitalization, a diversification factor. Each one trades above their 200-day moving average, a generally positive sign. With the tech and social media growth stock mania now underway, these value-oriented names are largely overlooked and that might make them worth researching. How the economy will look under a new Donald Trump presidency, with deportations and “government efficiency” teams, make it tough to forecast anything. Nevertheless, here are equities with the old-school value…

Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK/A, BRK/B) third-quarter 13F was filed after the market closed on November 14. This filing gives us a quarterly opportunity to observe what Warren Buffett and his investment team of Todd Combs and Ted Weschler are doing within Berkshire’s publicly traded equity portfolio. Berkshire has a large stable of wholly-owned entities, but this report provides us with the details of the U.S. publicly traded stock portion of their investments. Berkshire’s third-quarter earnings were recently reported, containing significant information about the extensive portfolio of wholly-owned operating companies and disclosures of the reduction in Apple (AAPL) and Bank of America…

In the world of entrepreneurs and start-ups, the sale of a business is most often the goal of the founder and is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. For many founders, it represents the end of a chapter and the beginning of new ventures. However, as demonstrated by the recent actions of Matt Maloney, founder of Grubhub, selling a company doesn’t always mean closing the door for good. In some cases, owners find themselves wanting, or even needing, to regain control of the very businesses they once let go[1]. This scenario recently played out in dramatic fashion…