The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Keyser Söze, from the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” When censors first sat down and watched the movie Psycho, they deemed it to be too violent. In response, Hitchcock reviewed with them the violent scenes frame-by-frame. To their amazement, there was … Continued
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein Fictional narrative storytelling is one of the most memorable and effective ways to teach a lesson, capture a universal truth about the actions and consequences of human … Continued
“The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years.” – The Sound of Music, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II Are we at the top of the mountain, or are investors still scaling the foothills? As we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the global economic recovery and … Continued
“This is not a prediction, it is a certainty–there will be serious disruption in the world’s financial services industry…. It’s going to be ugly.” – The Times, London, 1999 (discussing the “Y2K” threat) Years ago in the midst of another date-specific moment in time, the world became obsessed that planes would drop from the sky … Continued
It is becoming a common occurrence to see new clients of Sand Hill arriving with excess baggage in tow. By baggage, I am referring to: 1) Assets held at multiple brokerage firms, 2) in multiple accounts, 3) registered with incorrectly titled names, 4) stock held in certificate form or held directly with transfer agents, and … Continued
We are humbled by the philanthropic nature of our clients and community. In 2012, (the most recent year statistics are available), charitable contributions from American individuals, corporations and foundations increased for a third straight year, reaching $316.23 billion in total giving. Of the top 50 philanthropists of 2012, 20 of them live in California with … Continued
For those who reached the age of 70 ½ and are required by the IRS to take a mandatory distribution from their tax deferred retirement accounts, the first quarter of the year provides a good planning point to determine the most effective way to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) in 2014. The most common ways … Continued
The beginning of any new year is a time for resolutions, like eating well, exercising, and flossing regularly. It is also a good time to think strategically about your financial life and, if necessary, resolve to implement a seasonal planning process that could make you “financially fit” by year end. A good place to start … Continued
This year, Sand Hill Global Advisors will celebrate its 32nd anniversary serving families and organizations here in the Bay Area. Over the years, we’ve built deep relationships with many attorneys, CPAs, and other advisors with whom we share responsibility for our mutual clients. We also have close relationships with our custodians, Fidelity and Schwab, and … Continued
“It was on this day when a solemn vow was made that the peacock became the great object of admiration, and whether it appeared at the banquet given on these occasions roasted or in its natural state, it always wore its full plumage … before all the assembled chivalry … and each made his vow … Continued