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It is an open question whether investors in 2020 will remain as sanguine as they did in 2019. The U.S. and China are settling into a protracted battle over strategic interests, global economic growth is slowing, and central banks are running out of options. Meanwhile, political uncertainty is elevated with voters voicing their frustrations everywhe...

When developing capital market assumptions, most forecasters start with assumptions around two of the most fundamental economic variables: growth and inflation. Research indicates that demographics influence both growth and inflation for a given region. The supporting data behind the phenomenon and other initial baseline assumptions outlines our ca...

Jeff Raikes, co-founder of the Raikes Foundation, and Fred Kaynor, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Schwab Charitable, discuss a strategy that can help donors increase their charitable impact. Jeff outlines three important tenets:Choose a cause you are passionate aboutResearch causes and charities to understand how you can m...

Millions of new jobs have been created since 2010, with unemployment close to its lowest level since the late 60s. Though the U.S. has experienced one of the longest economic expansions ever, wage growth has been modest. Technological innovation and the impact of the Great Recession has altered labor market dynamics.

While the scale and pace of women’s wealth ownership may be growing at unprecedented rates, the culture around wealth and money decisions is deeply embedded in history that includes philanthropy, investment opportunities, and seeing the first self-made female millionaire in 1914. In this four-part series, we take a look at how women and ...

On June 21, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous opinion finding that North Carolina’s imposition of an income tax on trusts based solely on the residence of a trust’s beneficiaries is unconstitutional. While Kaestner 1992 Family Trust presents an obvious win for taxpayers, its application beyond the state of ...

Holistic financial planning is critical to family wealth management, and balancing financial and family issues is at the center of the process. Today’s Family Office requires highly skilled professionals to address changing tax policies, longer lifespans, and increasingly complex ownership structures and financial instruments. In partnership ...

If you are a global family and are considering an investment in the United States, you may have questions about the U.S. tax rules. Through a series of 10 key questions, answers are provided to help the non-U.S. individual investor better understand the U.S. tax system. Other takeaways, including reporting obligations and privacy concerns, may help...

2018 brought radical transformation in the federal tax landscape. The effects continue to cascade through the economy, and individuals, families and businesses are striving to find equilibrium amid the change. Of course, radical transformations can occur at the individual level as well. A good wealth plan anticipates personal disruptions, transitio...

Most of the time when families gather, the focus is purely social—reconnecting, reminiscing, and “rest and relaxation” as a group. Occasionally, family members may also gather for limited financial management tasks, such as settling a loved one’s estate, or planning for how to manage shared assets such as land or a family va...

Most companies begin life small and take on private investors as a means of enhancing growth through capital buildout or expanding marketing efforts. If successful, founders of the company or newer investors may decide to monetize the value they have created, or realize that access to more diversified funding is required. One method by which a comp...

Recent scholarly research has validated concerns about the comprehensive absorption of costs associated with the number of trade spats in which the United States is now engaged. That research implies that American firms and households are paying $3 billion-per-month increase in costs caused by trade policy. In this publication of The Real Economy, ...

As healthcare acuity continues to rise among assisted living and independent living residents, savvy providers are finding ways to expand their reach across the care continuum. While this often means branching out into services such as in-home care and insurance products, increasingly providers are opting to stick to the business of service-enhance...

Companies are starting to take notice of the increasing numbers of pet owners prepared to invest in their pets' health. Driving much of this growth is a secular shift referred to as the "humanization of pets," where pets are viewed as members of their pet owners' families. The animal health industry is structurally more attractive...

A board chair is perhaps the most important and meaningful job in any family foundation. If you are currently chair—or anticipate that you will be someday—you may find it’s one of the most rewarding roles you will ever have. It’s also a role of great nuance, calling for keen facilitation, leadership, and a healthy dose of se...