“Level of wealth to start a family office. How fat do I need to be?” A recent Reddit forum with that title grabbed my attention. The popular social media site is known more for being a bastion of memes, gaming and entertainment news, and user-generated content than being a place…

Outfits that manage people’s retirement funds, such as State Street, Northern Trust and Fidelity, are supposed to strive to get the best possible returns for their clients. That’s the law. Yet, shockingly, the majority of the largest money management firms are ignoring their fiduciary responsibilities by letting politics, not sound…

No matter how out of shape you feel financially, there are steps you can take to bring yourself back to financial health. 1. 30 reps of cash Every morning, wake up and immediately log in to your checking/savings accounts. This is a great healthy habit that accomplishes a handful of…

A new Netflix documentary has rekindled interest in the late Playboy model who almost walked away with $475 million from her 90-year-old husband, J. Howard Marshall. A look back at the tabloid tale that made its way to the Supreme Court—twice. “I t’s very expensive to be me.” That was…

While banks and stocks generally had a week of robust gains, the rally was trimmed on Friday when negotiations over raising the debt ceiling broke down. The U.S. banking system has been under pressure since the sudden collapse and seizure of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVBQ) by the FDIC on March…

We have all heard the saying “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”, there is a similar saying in Chinese that goes “Wealth does not last beyond three generations” (富不过三代 ). Both adages describe the general inability of wealthy families to maintain their wealth for over three generations. This has long…

The Current, Choppy Financial Landscape The global financial landscape is currently facing several challenges. Rising inflation, the war in Ukraine, possible US default, and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes all contribute to a volatile and uncertain market. Rising Sea of Inflation Inflation is rising in many countries, making buying…

When you’re watching your favorite mystery show, you often have to follow the money to find the motivation for the plot. The best espionage or bank heist plot almost always revolves around the money trail, and as the viewer you need to follow the money to get to the bottom…

“We’re thinking about paying off the mortgage on our house,” said my client in a recent meeting. This family also wants to pay for both their children to attend college, so their desire to use surplus funds to pay off their mortgage was surprising. “We’ve got extra cash and it…

“I wonder if the sad I’d be without you would be less than the sad I get from being with you.” – Tom Wambsgans as he contemplates the state of his marriage to Shiv Roy on the hit HBO series ‘Succession’ The words are so perfectly plain and simple, and…