Our Three-Month European Sabbatical
One of our partners learned some valuable lessons when he took a three-month European sabbatical.
My Seven Cents
With embedded giving, we don’t get to plan out the gift, nor do we receive a tax deduction.
A New Record High for the Dow
Since May 26, 1896, there have been 1,227 record Dow days, which is almost 4% of total market days.
Multigenerational Wealth Management: Getting a Legacy Up
Once a family has significant wealth, the problem becomes how to preserve it for future generations—a surprisingly difficult task. Effective multigenerational wealth management requires a family to tackle the personal issues that determine who should benefit from the wealth, the tax hurdles that stand in the way of its efficient transfer, and the capital markets’ uncertainties that make it challenging to invest it prudently.
Investment Lessons from a Gay Bar
When word got out that Russian President, Vladimir Putin had signed a bunch of anti-LGBT laws, the LGBT community responded by saying: “Boycott Russian vodkas.” Easy enough. I followed the lead of pro-human rights bar owners and consumers and ditched the famous Russian beverage. I switched to Tito’s Vodka from Texas, because we all know how well Texas treats the LGBT community. Heck, even my dad said he’d stop buying his favorite rare treat, Stoli Elit. (Good call Dad—it’s too expensive!)
Same-Sex Marriage: More to Spend, More to Give
Now that DOMA is crumbling, married same-sex couples have some new opportunities to simplify their lives, reduce their taxes and boost their incomes. There is still some unfinished business around whether or not same-sex couples will receive the full umbrella of federal recognition if they reside in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage, but all arrows point towards yes. For couples who want to get married for symbolic reasons only, I recommend taking a closer look at the financial benefits of marriage as well. Here are my top three pointers for living in a post-DOMA world.
The End of the American Empire?
What if the U.S. is just another empire waiting to crumble? A client recently asked me this question. My personal opinion is that we’re not about to crumble. I believe we are one of the most innovative, socio-economically mobile and self-reflective civilizations in history. But in case our end is in fact near, below are my thoughts on how I would invest for such a scenario.
Hacking Your Finances: 5 Summer Travel Tips
Ah, summer. The weather gets warmer, days are longer and you may have an exciting international vacation on the horizon. While we all get excited about our summer plans, searching for a flight on Expedia.com or a similar site should only be the beginning of comprehensive travel preparation. Here are some quick tips.
More Income, No Kids
Many of you have heard about the dual-income-no-kids (DINK) community. There is a growing population, gay and straight, single and married, who are opting to have a child-free life (except the occasional visits to our favorite nieces and nephews). They are wondering how to squeeze out every last dollar from their portfolio without the risk of running out. Yes, it’s time to address the needs of what I will call the “more-income-no-kids” community, otherwise known as MINK.
Hacking Your Finances: 5 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Financial Crime
You are careful with your credit cards, keep your passwords longer than four characters, and always know that your well-meaning long lost family member in Nigeria may not actually have a $10 million inheritance to pass on to you. But with all the resources available to financial criminals, are you doing enough to protect your finances?
A New Industrial Revolution
The world of social entrepreneurship is changing waaayy faster than most of us realize. I spent last week with two veterans of the financial services world, collectively responsible for raising over $100 billion (yes, with a ‘b’) of investor assets who now want to redeploy assets for the betterment of the planet as a whole. I’ve met two brilliant ex-lawyers who are dedicating the second halves of their careers to helping businesses get more conscious of all their effects on the planet on the one hand, and elevating people out of poverty on the other.
The Mortgage Pay Down Question
On a recent trip to Boston, I had a chance to go see Paul Revere’s house, the oldest standing house in Boston. During the tour, I was told that Mr. Revere put a down payment on the home in 1770, and then took out a mortgage of five years for the balance of 160 pounds. Boring to some (OK, probably most), but I found this fact fascinating. Not only were mortgages in existence 240+ years ago, but even someone who was apparently quite well-off had one!
