Who’s Accountable for Your Investment Decisions—Advisor or Algorithm?
When it comes to your financial plan, accountability matters. Here’s how AI fits in—and where it doesn’t. Over the past year, I’ve heard a variation of the same question from many clients: “You’re not using AI to manage my portfolio… right?” It’s a fair concern. Artificial intelligence has become increasingly visible across industries, and media […]
The World We Live In
The constant stream of headlines today can make anyone feel uneasy. With so much happening in the world—politics, conflicts, tariffs, pandemics, and social issues—it’s natural to wonder whether “this time is different.” History shows that markets often react sharply to short‑term events, but patient investors who stay focused on long‑term plans have consistently been rewarded. […]
Q4 Market Commentary: Long-Term Thinking
What We’re Seeing “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” – Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr The fourth quarter offered a reprieve from what had been an extraordinary year of volatility. After April’s tariff shock sent markets tumbling and October’s government shutdown—the longest in American history at 43 days—delayed critical economic data, the economy […]
Q3 Market Commentary: Attachments
What We’re Seeing I cannot invest the way I want the world to be; I have to invest the way the world is – Jim Rogers Buddhism reminds us: all attachment leads to suffering. Yet not all attachments are the same, nor is all suffering. We cling to small hopes – the Mariners reaching the […]
The Big Beautiful Bill: What It Means for Your Taxes in 2025 and Beyond
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping tax and spending package that reshapes the U.S. tax landscape. Clocking in at nearly 900 pages, this legislation touches everything from individual deductions to business incentives, and even estate planning. Whether you’re a salaried worker, a small […]
Washington State Increases Estate and Capital Gains Taxes
Washington State Enacts Major Tax Increases Under Senate Bill 5813 On May 20, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5813 into law, marking a pivotal moment for taxpayers in Washington State. This new legislation significantly alters the state’s capital gains and estate tax systems, establishing Washington as one of the most aggressive states in […]
Navigating Market Volatility: Staying The Course With Confidence
Written by Rory O’Sullivan CFP® Market volatility can be unsettling, especially for investors with significant assets at stake. A 5% market downturn might seem moderate, but for a $10 million portfolio, that’s a $500,000 drop—enough to make even seasoned investors take notice. However, it’s crucial to remember that volatility is a natural part of investing […]
Tarriffied?
Written by Brian Frederick, CFP®, CIMA® Over the last 25+ years we have had a lot of challenges that some talking heads in the media classified as “it is different this time.” There have been many trying times for investors and 5 that quickly spring to my mind are: the Tech Wreck of 2000, 9/11, […]
Q4 Market Commentary: Oz – The Great and Powerful
Written by Brian Frederick, CFP®, CIMA® & Trevor Marston What We’re Seeing “There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy In honor of the release of the new cinematic version of Wicked, we thought we would take a moment to meditate on one aspect of L. Frank Baum’s classic story of The Wizard of Oz that […]
The End Is Near!
Written by Brian Frederick CFP®, CIMA® The End is Near! For once, I wanted to lead off with an inflammatory headline. Before we light the proverbial fuse, let’s think about this. I have always posited that if the headline was “Everything is going to be okay,” no one would click, read, or engage with the […]