Economic and Market Outlooks What’s on Our Minds We have a generally positive economic outlook entering 2026, with solid GDP growth driven by consumer spending, manageable inflation, stable employment despite modest job creation concerns, and balanced Treasury yields and credit conditions suggesting readiness for whatever challenges the year may bring.
Individuals and Families Is the Stock Market Overvalued? What Investors Can Do The last few years have been a good time for U.S. equity investors. But lately, people are questioning if we’re in another stock market bubble just waiting to burst.
Estate Planning Simple Ways to Help Avoid Probate: Revocable Living Trusts and More Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s estate is administered and distributed. While it serves an important function, it can also be time-consuming, expensive, and emotionally taxing. Fortunately, several strategies can be employed to help avoid probate and ensure a smoother transition of assets to loved ones.
Individuals and Families Retirement Planning for Single Women: How to Prepare Women already face gender-specific financial planning challenges. These include a longer life expectancy and a pay gap that results in lower salaries and lower lifetime savings unless they save a greater percentage of their salary.
Individuals and Families Private Placement Life Insurance The concept behind PPLI is simple: by investing inside a life insurance policy, you take advantage of the favorable tax treatment granted to life insurance. Learn more.
Individuals and Families The Year-End Financial Planning Checklist The end of the year is the perfect time to review your financial plan with your advisor. The following checklist will help you take stock of your savings, investments, retirement planning, tax exposure, and risk management, so you can make more informed decisions about your strategy for the year to come.
Family Office Webinar Recording: Tax Optimization and Thoughtful Wealth Planning for Liquidity Events A liquidity event—whether from a business sale, IPO, merger, or other transaction—creates a unique opportunity to design plans that minimize tax exposure and shape a lasting legacy. Watch our webinar to learn more.
Corporations The Role of Private Markets in Defined Contribution Plans Defined contribution plans have attracted growing interest and media coverage amid recent U.S. Department of Labor actions and a noticeable shift in tone from Washington, D.C., regarding the role of private markets.
Individuals and Families Splitting Retirement Accounts in Divorce When going through a divorce, the process of dividing assets can be a frustrating and confusing one. Retirement assets are an important issue in any divorce proceeding, since, after the marital home, they often represent the largest category of marital assets to be divided in a divorce settlement.
Cross-Border Planning A Comprehensive Guide for U.S. Expats in France Few countries capture the imagination quite like France. From sipping coffee at a Parisian café to cycling through Bordeaux’s vineyards to retiring under the Provençal sun, France offers a rare blend of culture, history, cuisine, and quality of life. Relocating, however, involves more than a one-way ticket and a charming apartment. France has one of the world’s most sophisticated tax and legal systems.
Cerity Partners Announces Merger with Austin Private Wealth January 6, 2026 - Cerity Partners, a leading independent wealth management firm in the United States, today announced that it has merged with Austin Private Wealth, an independent wealth…
Economic and Market Outlooks 2026 Economic and Market Outlook January 6, 2026 - Deglobalization and advances in AI and robotics are reshaping the 2026 global economy, helping developed nations mitigate slower growth and inflation risks. Central banks are…
Economic and Market Outlooks Video: January 2026 Economic and Market Outlook January 5, 2026 - As the new year dawns, Partner and Chief Equity Strategist Jim Lebenthal reviews the accuracy of our 2025 expectations before looking ahead. What did we…