Today's Wealth Management Pulse
Asian families shift inheritance from land to equity portfolios
A slowdown in real‑estate values and tighter credit are prompting wealthy Asian families to move away from traditional property inheritance toward diversified financial assets, with parents like South Korea’s Choi Nam‑joon gifting shares of Samsung Electronics to their children for long‑term growth.
10 Real Assets vs 10 Fake Assets (Most People Get This Wrong)
The post contrasts ten "real" assets that generate cash flow with ten "fake" assets that drain money, arguing that wealth hinges on what you buy, not how much you earn. Real assets include rental properties, dividend stocks, REITs, index funds, and digital products, while fake assets span primary residences, luxury goods, and high‑interest debt. The author urges readers to shift spending toward income‑producing items and offers a quick‑start checklist for building the first real asset. The piece concludes that stopping wasteful purchases is the key to financial transformation.
25% All‑
BofA on Asset Allocation: - The “sleep like a baby” portfolio (25% Stocks/Bonds/Commodities/Cash) is having the best year since *1933*. - Up 26% YTD, its third-best outperformance versus 60/40 (Stocks/Bonds) in a *century*. - Commodities have shined, despite remaining a significant underweight in...
Stocks and Shares ISA UK 2026: Is It Worth It or Risky?
In 2026 UK savers face a choice between cash ISAs offering 4‑5% interest and Stocks and Shares ISAs that provide tax‑free growth but expose capital to market swings. The annual ISA allowance stays at £20,000 (about $25,000), and investors can...
Citi Wealth Study Finds 848‑Basis‑Point Gap Driven by Six Investor Biases
Citi Wealth’s new report shows the average equity‑fund investor earned 16.54% in 2024 versus the S&P 500’s 25.02% return, an 848‑basis‑point gap. The study attributes the shortfall to six pervasive cognitive biases and offers advisors concrete tactics to mitigate them.
Warren Buffett Explains Passive Income: Making Money While You Sleep
Warren Buffett frames passive income as the long‑term result of owning high‑quality businesses and letting compounding work, not a quick‑cash hack. He emphasizes front‑loading effort—saving, learning, investing—and then allowing assets to generate cash flow for decades. Buffett’s own portfolio, from...
Cash On The Barrel
The Heisenberg Report highlights that a 25/25/25/25 portfolio—equal parts equities, bonds, commodities and cash—is delivering a 26% annualized return so far in 2026, outpacing the traditional 60/40 mix. The surge is largely driven by a 33% rise in the S&P...
What Should Victor Do if His Uncle Says There Is a Will but Refuses to Produce It?
Victor’s father died in British Columbia and his siblings began probate without locating a will. Their uncle claims a handwritten will from 2011 leaves the estate to him but refuses to produce the document. Under BC law, anyone asserting a...
The Fiduciary Rule Is Gone (Again): Why Your Retirement Safety Net Just Shrank
A federal court in Texas has vacated the Biden administration’s 2024 Retirement Security Rule, effectively dismantling the expanded fiduciary protections for one‑time retirement advice. The decision restores the original 1975 ERISA five‑part test, meaning advisers are not automatically required to...
Investment 101 With The Building Financial Podcast
The Macro Butler appeared on The Building Financial Podcast to deliver an Investing 101 crash course, emphasizing that starting early outweighs trying to be overly clever. The discussion highlighted compounding as the silent engine of wealth, and argued that investors...
Dividend Myths That Distort Markets (W/ Sam Hartzmark) | #628
In this episode, MedFavor hosts finance professor Sam Hartzmark to debunk common misconceptions about dividends, especially the "free dividend fallacy" where investors treat dividend payouts as extra income without accounting for the corresponding drop in stock price. Hartzmark explains how...
Ultra‑Wealthy Use Debt and Timing to Slash Taxes
"Tax deferred is tax reduced" Today, we’re looking at the tax secrets of the ultra-wealthy > Why they borrow instead of sell > How jurisdiction becomes a strategy > The steps at death that can reset a lifetime of gains > Why losses are assets >...
The Morning Briefing: Savvy the Squirrel Leads £10m Industry Drive to Close UK ‘Investing Gap’; Why Three Groups Are Tightening...
A coalition of 20 financial firms, HM Treasury and the FCA has launched the £10 m ($12.8 m) Invest for the Future campaign, fronted by a mascot called Savvy the Squirrel, to turn 10.1 million cash‑rich savers into investors. FCA data shows 7 million...
The Disposition Effect: Why Losing Investors Keep Getting Worse
New research on 189,530 Chinese retail investors shows that prior losses amplify the disposition effect by roughly 10%, while prior gains dampen it. The bias—selling winners early and holding losers—creates a self‑reinforcing “doom loop” that hurts portfolio performance, especially for...
Should Bitcoin Be in Your Retirement Account?>
Spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds, launched in January 2024, now hold roughly $96.5 billion in assets, making crypto exposure readily available inside IRAs and brokerage accounts. The tax‑advantaged nature of retirement accounts can shield frequent crypto trades from capital‑gain taxes, potentially improving after‑tax...
Stocks and Shares Isas: Are They Right for Me, and Where Is Best to Invest?
The UK government is promoting tax‑free investing through stocks‑and‑shares ISAs, which let savers shelter gains up to $25,000 each tax year. Experts advise matching the ISA to long‑term goals, choosing ready‑made portfolios or low‑cost ETFs, and avoiding treating the account...
Why Filing Your Taxes Is the First Financial Step that Actually Matters
Newcomers to Canada quickly discover that filing a tax return is more than a legal duty—it’s the gateway to the country’s financial ecosystem. Statistics show that roughly 90% file within their first year, yet a TD survey reveals 76% fear...
TrustCo Q1 Net Income Jumps 14.1% on Wealth‑Management Gains and Loan Repricing
TrustCo Bank Corp posted a 14.1% increase in first‑quarter net income to $16.3 million, citing a 9% rise in wealth‑management noninterest income and aggressive loan‑portfolio repricing. The earnings beat underscores the profitability of its integrated banking and advisory model.
Fidelity Pushes Options-Based ETFs as a Hedge for Equity Portfolios
Fidelity is promoting options‑based exchange‑traded funds as a risk‑management tool for equity investors, emphasizing their defensive and yield‑generating strategies. The firm notes rapid growth in the niche, with assets in actively managed ETFs climbing sharply, and cites Morningstar research on...
Simplify to $100k: One Account, No Credit
Money advice I wish someone gave me at 22: Set a goal to stack $100k cash Until you have $100k cash, you are broke. The mainstream media will not tell you this because they want to keep you that way. Luckily, you have a...
Balanced 25/25/25/25 Portfolio Yields 26% YTD
BofA Hartnett: “sleep like a baby” 25/25/25/25 stock/bonds/cash/commodity portfolio tracking 26% YTD, best year since ‘33 https://t.co/NCGhsf54CS
Schwab Creates New Limits to RIAs Using Long-Short, Separately Managed Accounts
Charles Schwab Corp. announced that registered investment advisors can now allocate no more than 30% of their assets at Schwab to long‑short separately managed accounts (SMAs). The policy aligns Schwab with Fidelity, which recently halted new long‑short SMA openings. Long‑short...
Advisers Add Value by Preventing Costly Mistakes
Where advisers really add value Good advice is about avoiding costly mistakes, not picking winners. #FinancialPlanning #InvestorBehaviour https://t.co/LQ2FOLhpBT
Balance Growth Stories with Survival Fundamentals Across Markets
In bull markets investors focus on the story and growth. In bear markets investors focus on the balance sheet and survival. The key is focusing on all these things.
A Beginner’s Guide to Investment Diversification
The article offers a beginner‑level overview of investment diversification, explaining how spreading capital across asset classes—such as property, stocks, bonds, and crypto—reduces portfolio risk. It outlines a common crypto allocation model (60% stablecoins, 30% medium‑risk coins, 10% emerging projects) and...
High‑volatility, Uncorrelated Assets Boost Capital Efficiency
Most allocators miss this, because it’s counterintuitive, but a high volatility uncorrelated asset is more useful than a low vol one because it is more capital efficient (assuming expected returns are positive). So yes, this return stream could be useful in...
Crypto Needs Trusts and Insurance Like Traditional Assets
For traditional assets, family offices have structures in place. For crypto, most people hold it in their personal name because their advisor passed. That is the gap. Wyoming dynasty trusts and asset protection trusts handle succession. Charitable remainder trusts remove...
Rental Property Analysis: 5 Valuation Methods and Examples
The article outlines five core methods for valuing rental properties: sales comparison, income approach, gross rent multiplier, cost approach, and a hybrid strategy that blends multiple techniques. Each method offers a distinct lens—comps gauge market prices, income focus highlights cash...
Rising Volatility Reveals Opportunities in Corporate Bonds
Rising market volatility, driven by higher energy prices and geopolitical tensions, is creating pricing dislocations in U.S. corporate bonds. Active managers can exploit these gaps, and American Century’s KORP ETF positions itself to do so by targeting a 5‑7 year...
Transamerica Flags Looming U.S. Retirement Savings Crisis as Confidence Stalls
Transamerica’s latest study reveals that just 59% of U.S. adults think they’re saving enough for retirement, while median household retirement savings have only risen to $56,000—far short of rising living costs. The findings highlight growing anxiety over job security, health‑care...
An Interesting Corner of the High-Yield Bond Market Beckons
The VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (ANGL) now manages about $3.07 billion and offers a 30‑day SEC yield of 6.69%, with current yields nudging above 7%. Fallen‑angel bonds—once investment‑grade, now junk—have historically outperformed the broader high‑yield market, and ANGL...
How to Maximize the Benefits of Taxable Munis in Your Portfolio
Jeff Lipton outlines how taxable municipal bonds can boost portfolio yield and diversification amid heightened market volatility. He notes that spreads over tax‑exempt munis have widened to 160‑170 basis points, delivering 7.89% returns in 2025 versus 4.25% for the tax‑exempt...
Crowd Street Launches Integrated Self-Directed IRA Account Setup with Equity Trust
Crowd Street announced an integrated self‑directed IRA solution built with Equity Trust, letting members open and fund retirement accounts directly on the platform. The new workflow eliminates the need to juggle multiple custodial sites, offering digital document signing and funding...
CPP, OAS and Other Strategies to Help Seniors Face a More Expensive Retirement
Canadian retirees are feeling pressure as inflation erodes the purchasing power of a 2021‑level retirement income. The article outlines strategies to boost cash flow, including delaying CPP and OAS, part‑time work, monetizing hobbies, and renting out assets, while emphasizing the...
What Happens to Your Brokerage Account When You Die — And Why Many People Haven’t Set It Up Right
When a brokerage account owner dies, the fate of the assets hinges on how the account is titled. A Transfer‑on‑Death (TOD) designation or joint ownership can move the holdings to heirs instantly, avoiding probate. Without a beneficiary, the account enters...
A Tale of Two LPs
Two family offices are taking opposite stances on venture capital exposure. One is sharply scaling back, limiting VC commitments to under 2% of its total assets, while the other is increasing its stake to roughly 12% of its portfolio. Both...
Trump Wants Private Equity and Crypto Accessible in 401(k)s. There Are Risks.
The Trump administration's Labor Department has proposed new rules that would make it easier for private equity, private credit, and crypto assets to be included in employer‑sponsored 401(k) plans. Proponents argue the $14.2 trillion retirement pool is overly concentrated in about...
Financial Planning: Lifelong Journey Through Three Core Questions
Financial planning isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifelong process. And it keeps coming back to three questions: …Where are you today? …Where do you want to go? …How will you get there? My new book, Your Money, is just a collection of ways...
Legally Exploit Tax Code to Minimize Your Taxes
You get taxed on your income... To then get taxed on your home... To then get taxed when you buy... And when you invest your money... You get taxed when you profit. Here's how to LEGALLY use the tax code to pay as little as...
Why Precious Metals Remain a Smart Financial Choice
Precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium are being promoted as reliable stores of wealth amid economic uncertainty. Their historical performance shows they can outpace inflation and hold value when equities and bonds falter. The article highlights both...
Buy‑and‑hold Global Index Outperforms Most Strategies over Life
When it's all said and done - if we're being totally honest - by the time one reaches a ripe old age, most stock investors will earn more money in a buy-and-hold total global equity index portfolio than doing anything...
Two Relationships that Will Define the Next Decade of Client Value
The article argues that over the next decade the two most enduring client relationships will be with a CPA and a wealth advisor. As AI and platform tools flatten technical advantages in tax preparation and portfolio management, differentiation will shift...
I’m Exactly 5 Years From Retirement. Here’s What I’ll Do First to Prepare.
The author, now 54½, has set a firm retirement target of age 59½, giving a five‑year window to solidify finances before accessing retirement accounts penalty‑free. Data shows the average 401(k) balance for 55‑59‑year‑olds is about $245,000, yet many workers still...
Bitcoin Sharpe Ratio Signals Generational Buying Opportunity
#Bitcoin is a generational opportunity, right now. The Bitcoin Sharpe Ratio has hit a level that's comparable to any broad market bottom. This early in 2026. If you flip that measure, it's actually the best time to be investing in the...
Stay Calm: Habits of Top Investors in Volatile Markets
The best investors stay calm when markets are volatile, and these financial habits can help you stay the course. https://t.co/hO1oDA3Gyi
I’m 56. My Home Has $400,000 in Equity. If I Lose My Job, Should I Do a Reverse Mortgage?
A 56‑year‑old homeowner with $400,000 equity, a $550,000 401(k) and $80,000 cash wonders if a reverse mortgage could fund early retirement. The article explains that most government‑backed reverse mortgages require borrowers to be 62 or older, while private products are...
Consensus Succeeds if Fundamentals Stay Steady; Contrarian Needs 5% Shift
Consensus stock bets can work as long as the business trajectory doesn't deteriorate. Contrarian stock bets can work with only a 5% shift by others to your point of view.
Know When Backdoor Roth Is Worth the Tax Risk
When Is The Backdoor Roth Even Worth Doing? While backdoor Roth conversions can be a valuable strategy, it comes with significant rules and nuances that, if not fully understood, have the potential to cause onerous tax complications for clients in...
Worst Bond Cycle Makes Credit Rotation Essential
Every portfolio manager has a fund they believe in more than the market does. For me, that's $JOJO. The worst bond cycle in a generation is exactly why credit rotation matters. https://t.co/5FJoUQuUwE
Valuation at Heart of Hedge Fund Tax Petition
Hedge Fund Head Petitions IRS on Charitable Contributions. If a "timely contemporaneous written acknowledgment and the qualified appraisal appropriately applied discounts... the central issue is likely to be valuation.” Great @TaxNotes A.J. Collins article https://t.co/s8CLOi8syQ
JOJO Leverages Utilities Signals for Credit Rotation
Advisors looking for differentiation in fixed income: $JOJO uses utilities sector signals to rotate between risk-on and risk-off credit. Systematic, transparent, and timely. https://t.co/vNSFE0Fce0