We are pleased to provide you with our Quarterly Market Review. Well, it finally happened. After months of will-they-or-won’t-they speculation, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in September. And it was a relatively big one: The half-percentage-point decrease was the biggest the Fed has made since its emergency rate reductions in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. The good news: With these cuts, policymakers acknowledged the progress they’ve made in...

The Impact of Elections on the Markets and Tax Policy With Labor Day behind us, we're in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential election race. As we follow the news and parse the most recent polls, some may ask, "How might what happens on November 5 impact my finances?” As financial professionals, we’ve done some homework and come to the following conclusion: you may care passionately about who wins, but your...

As our Tax Manager, Sarah will be working closely with our clients on tax planning strategies to complement the financial plans and investment strategies that we have developed as part of the overall fee-only wealth management process we provide. She will also be actively involved with our affiliate, SAGEbroadview Tax, preparing all forms of tax returns for our clients, their businesses, and their families. Sarah has 12 years of practical, hands-on...

Sending a child off to college is a major milestone for any family, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or close friend. It’s an exciting time, filled with anticipation and perhaps a bit of trepidation. There’s so much to do, and time seems to fly by. As the big day approaches, you might find yourself helping to check off items on their list (extra-long sheets, shower caddy, microwave mac & cheese, etc.)....

While we hope you are enjoying other types of summer reading, if you wish to examine world capital market performance for the past quarter, you can check out our Quarterly Market Review for Second Quarter 2024. In the U.S., it’s an election year, with the usual election rhetoric and high-stakes alarmism across the board. Elsewhere, global economic orders may be reshuffling as nearly half the world’s population heads to the polls...

If you are a small business owner—or plan to be one—you should be aware of a new reporting requirement. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), passed in 2021, changed beneficial ownership rules, which is expected to impact 32 million businesses in 2024 alone. Suppose you own more than 25% of a company, directly or indirectly. In that case, you must be included in the company’s Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report, filed with...

Summer break is here, and many young people will be working at a summer job or internship. While earning a paycheck is exciting, it can also be an excellent time to consider opening a Roth IRA and contributing a portion of their summer earnings. Not only does this jump-start retirement savings from an early age, but it can also serve as a positive learning experience about the principles of saving,...

A few years ago, there were ads from financial services companies asking, “What’s your number?” The number was the money you needed to retire comfortably. This was an effective way for financial services companies to get people thinking about retirement and encouraging them to strive toward a specific monetary goal. But is asking for a number the right question? If you are serious about retirement, it’s not simply about how much...

At the end of 2025, portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire. Many changes will come with the sunsetting of many rules, including the possibility that federal estate and gift tax exemption levels will revert to pre-TCJA levels. What’s changing?1 Currently, you are subject to federal estate tax only if your individual estate is worth more than $13,610,000 for individuals or $27,220,000 for married couples. These...

As a parent, you are well aware of your responsibility in helping your children grow up happy and healthy. Once they enter their teen years, the pressure can build to impart more of your wisdom. One area you shouldn’t overlook is how to handle money. Helping your children develop basic financial skills is critical to preparing them for the decisions they may eventually make as they age. Laying a solid foundation...