Why Family Meetings Help Estate Planning Goals

The importance of well-crafted and proactive estate planning documents is widely understood by most families with significant wealth, but arguably an even more important element for successful wealth transfer is how such plans are ultimately interpreted and properly executed by the recipients after one’s passing. One practice that can really help the next generation better … Continued

Why Portfolio Diversification Matters

March Madness is a welcomed time of year in the basketball world, but madness in the stock market isn’t as joyful to watch. While both may be accompanied by nail biting and stomach-churning ups and downs, investors want more wins than losses in their portfolios at the end of the tournament. In our view, a … Continued

Caring for Our Feline and Canine Companions

The Covid pandemic was disruptive and even catastrophic in many ways. One of the few positive developments during the pandemic was the emptying of animal shelters as we were all homebound and craving companionship. For most lucky pets (and humans), the attachment with their humans has continued post-pandemic. While pet insurance has been around for … Continued

College Bound — Hip, HIPAA, Hooray

Congratulations, your son or daughter—or perhaps grandchild—recently got accepted to college, and soon is off to school in the fall. Together, you are probably discussing coursework and prospective majors and figuring out housing arrangements and meal plans. One important, but frequently overlooked, topic is what to do in case your child becomes incapacitated… now that … Continued

Understanding the Terms: All About That Basis

While you are probably familiar with the term cost basis, it is not likely something you think about very often. In fact, you may only think about cost basis information when asked for it by your Sand Hill Wealth Manager or CPA. Cost basis—also known as tax basis—is necessary to determine the capital gain or … Continued

The Advantages of Exit Planning: Secure Your Legacy and Maximize Your Wealth

As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor™ (CEPA), I am committed to helping my clients navigate the complex world of business transitions and secure their financial legacies. I want to shed light on the pressing need for exit planning by sharing some eye-opening statistics and highlighting the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead. Let’s delve into the … Continued

Cyber Risk and How to Mitigate

Sadly, fraud attempts are becoming much more frequent in our client conversations, and the classic—but rather obvious—example of the ‘Nigerian Prince’ needing money is long outdated. Scammers have become far more sophisticated in their tactics. Part of this is due to everyone being increasingly more comfortable interacting online, especially in the wake of the Covid … Continued

Include Personal and Financial Planning in the Sale of Your Business

According to The Goldhill Group, 75% of business owners surveyed regret selling their business after it’s been sold.1   This is an alarmingly high percentage. Did these business owners not set goals for what they envisioned life would be like on “Monday” after the sale? Did these business owners not have a team of professionals surrounding … Continued

Minimizing Theft Risks in Low and High Technology Environments

July 25, 2023 Earlier this year, two seemingly unrelated events took place at opposite ends of the technological spectrum. While a countless number of people were amused by the parlor tricks of ChatGPT and its artificial intelligence abilities, a smaller group of Silicon Valley residents were suffering financial losses from the manipulation and forgery of … Continued

Reinvesting Cash on the Sidelines

July 20, 2023 It is human nature to want to avoid loss and instead seek refuge in something that feels safe. After the very pronounced and painful market declines of last year, a new wave of participant risk aversion flooded markets as investors piled a record amount into money market funds, where $5.4 trillion of … Continued