The Medicare coverage you choose determines how much money you pay out of pocket for medical care during retirement, which medical providers can give you fully covered care, and other results. Choosing Medicare coverage can be a daunting process. First, you decide whether to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or stay with original Medicare and add a Medicare supplement policy and a Part D prescription drug policy. Some people choose original Medicare but don’t add both a Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug policy. Not adding that coverage often costs them more money in the long term. Then,…

You do things when the opportunities come along. I’ve had periods in my life when I’ve had a bundle of ideas come along, and I’ve had long, dry spells. If I get an idea next week, I’ll do something. If not, I won’t do a damn thing. – Warren Buffett in “Supermoney” (1972) Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK/A, BRK/B) fourth-quarter 13F was filed after the market closed on May 15. This regulatory 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…

In 2020, I explored several options for deferring capital gains tax on the sale of artwork. Since then, tax law has evolved, and new tools have emerged, offering collectors, investors, and estate planners updated strategies for managing highly appreciated art and collectibles. As of 2025, sellers face an effective federal tax rate that can exceed 31.8%, plus state taxes, when parting with artwork—making proactive tax planning more essential than ever. In this updated guide, I walk through the most relevant strategies available to defer, reduce, or even eliminate capital gains tax when selling artwork or collectibles—each tailored to different client…

Market volatility can make even the most seasoned investor uneasy. If you’re retired, those market swings can feel even more personal. After all, you’re no longer building your nest egg—you’re living off it. But here’s the good news: a little preparation (and a lot of perspective) can go a long way. Let’s talk about a few practical ways retirees can ride out market turbulence without losing sleep—or jeopardizing their financial future. 1. Focus on What You Can Control When markets get choppy, it’s easy to feel powerless. But the truth is, you have more control than you think. You can’t…

In previous discussions, we have highlighted several aspects of governance within family offices, particularly in relation to investment management. At the heart of investment governance is a vital document that outlines investment goals, objectives and strategies. In this article, we will explore the importance of this vital document that determines the success of family office investments. Understanding the Family Office Landscape Family offices are designed to manage the wealth of a single family, often spanning multiple generations, each with distinct financial needs, varying risk tolerances, and a wide range of long-term objectives. These objectives can range from wealth preservation and…

Walking into Venture Visionary Partners’ gleaming Sylvania, Ohio headquarters just outside of Toledo feels less like entering a wealth management firm and more like stepping into the lobby of a Silicon Valley innovator. A serene waterfall greets you at the door; sleek glass offices line the halls, while oversized digital screens pulse with real-time data and market updates. But the real centerpiece—and increasingly a beating heart of the operation—is tucked beyond the conference rooms up on the second floor: the Venture Visionary Lab. A brainchild of founder and CEO Craig Findley, the high tech control room is an unusual setting…

President Donald Trump got his “big beautiful bill”—at least in the draft version—and it certainly lives up to the moniker. The tax portion of the bill will cost $3.7 trillion over the next decade, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT). The draft bill (and subsequent markups) would make permanent a number of the expiring tax cuts contained in Trump’s signature 2017 tax legislation— the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It would also sweeten some of those cuts. The beneficiaries of the most recent proposal are largely individuals. But that’s because in the TCJA, many of the tax…

High net-worth investors (HNWI) are actively maximizing diversification in their portfolios beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Alternative investments are a significant area of focus. This includes inquiries about private equity, venture capital, private credit, real estate, hedge funds, commodities, and tangible assets like art and collectibles. Investors are concerned with the risks and rewards of these investments and their liquidity. Adding alternative investments to a portfolio can help with today’s market volatility and necessitates a strategic approach to portfolio diversification. Alternatives, a varied category of assets beyond traditional equities and bonds, can significantly enhance portfolio resilience and growth. Alternatives often…

As Congress advances into the 2025 legislative session, tax reform has emerged as a central focus for both the House and Senate. The Republican-led initiatives aim to extend and expand upon the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while also introducing new measures that could significantly reshape the U.S. tax landscape. This article provides an overview of the latest tax proposals, highlighting key provisions and their potential implications. (Kiplinger) House Republicans’ Tax Proposal: Extending And Expanding The TCJA On May 9, 2025, House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive tax package designed to make permanent many provisions of the TCJA, which are…

Apple is not keeping up with the new enthusiasm showing up in other tech stocks on the most recent Trump tariffs news. This is odd considering that the iPhone maker is the largest single position among all equities in the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio. That’s usually a mark of distinction. The Apple iPhone 16e was launched in February 2025 and replaced a number of older iPhones. It’s peculiar that the stock has dropped in price since then. The ever-changing tariff situation with China – and the company’s reported expanding reliance on India to make the product – have created uncertainty. To…